CHAPTER 6

Avery swallowed her frustration and shoveled more cereal into her mouth. This inactivity was killing her. Yes, she’d been awake for less than twenty minutes, but usually by this point she’d be well on her way to work. Instead, she was facing down the prospect of a day sitting around with nothing to do except call a friend about a lab and think about the mess that awaited her at home. Could she even call it “home” if there was no longer a house there? Probably not. That’s right, she was homeless.

Gareth watched her expectantly. Had he asked something? “Can you repeat that?”

“This work you’re doing for the government,” he said. “How’d you get into it?”

Chewing the last of the cereal, she pushed the bowl aside. “Do you know what I studied at university?”

“Soil science,” he replied, offering her an encouraging nod.

“That’s right.” He must have paid some attention to her over the years. “Specifically, I studied isotopes in the soil and whether the composition of isotopes varied depending on climate.”

“Fascinating.”

Briefly, it occurred to her that he might be mocking her, but he looked enthralled. Don’t doubt him without any evidence. Besides, even if he’d found her postgraduate study utterly dull, of course he’d be interested in her answer because it had brought her to where she was now: using her knowledge and skills to advance law enforcement.

“Remind me what an isotope is,” he said.

“Isotopes are the different forms of chemical elements. Oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, metals… many of them exist in different forms which have slightly different characteristics.”

“Right, I remember now.” He looked pleased with himself. “We learned about them in high school chemistry.”

“That’s right!” She grinned. “I spent a couple of years travelling around to some of the hottest and coldest places in the world to get samples of soils from places with extreme climates. I spent a few weeks each in Antarctica, Alaska, Russia, California, Libya and Mali.”

He whistled through his teeth. “Wow, what an interesting group of places. I can’t believe you visited Antarctica. That’s incredible. What was it like?” His gold-brown eyes were alive with curiosity.

She summoned the memory of Antarctica to the forefront of her mind, so vivid she could almost feel the bitingly cold wind whispering across her cheeks. “Just like what you’d imagine. Snow and ice as far as you can see in every direction. Like a frozen desert. Bitterly cold, but completely beautiful. Distance gets distorted there. An ice shelf might look like you could walk to it in five minutes when it’s actually a day’s walk away. On clear days, you can see for miles, but then the fog rolls in and if you’re not careful, you can get trapped outside, unable to see more than a couple of meters ahead, walking in circles for hours.”

“Amazing,” he breathed.

“Yes, but terrifying too.”

“I can see how it would be. What about the other places? Some of them don’t sound very safe.”

She laughed at his concern. “I survived.”

His expression darkened, and she thought she’d ruined the easy conversation between them, but then he asked, “Which place was your favorite?”

She thought for a moment. “They were all so different, and while I tried to have a look around while I was there, I didn’t always have much free time. Still, I’d have to say I enjoyed Antarctica the most. It’s just breathtaking.”

“I’m proud of you, Avery.” He spoke quietly, his expression—when she glanced up at him—soft but intense. “You’ve done things no one else from Itirangi ever has. I don’t know if you realize it, but the whole town is proud of you.”

Her chest felt like it might bubble over with emotion, but at the same time, she wanted to duck her head and shrug off his compliments. She wasn’t a great adventurer or anything, just a girl with a lot of unanswered questions and the motivation to chase the answers. “Thank you. That’s sweet of you to say.”

“It’s true,” he insisted. “For years, the gossips couldn’t stop gabbing about your latest adventure.”

Strangely, she had no desire to rub his face in the fact she’d made something of herself after they broke up, though she’d always believed she would, given the chance. Instead, she found herself hoping he didn’t have any regrets over how his life had turned out. Ridiculous, but there you had it.

He must have seen something in the way her nose crinkled or her mouth slanted, because he said, “I’m happy with how things have gone for me. Coming back to Itirangi wasn’t what I expected, but there’s nowhere I’d rather be. Sometimes life has plans for you that don’t mirror your own.”

At that moment, the door creaked open. They both stiffened, but it was only Snookie returning. She curled up on the rug and wagged her tail.

“Very wise of you,” Avery said. He’d always had a good head on his shoulders. Even if he wasn’t an academic, he had common sense and understood people.

“If there was one thing I could change…” He trailed off. “Never mind.”

She didn’t push him, too afraid of what he might say. She remembered what she’d overheard earlier. Gareth assuring Rata that there was nothing at all to worry about when it came to keeping the relationship between them professional. She wasn’t hung up on him, but hearing him say what amounted to having no regrets over ending their relationship… it hurt. She’d like to think he’d doubted his choice once or twice over the years. Certainly, she’d doubted her decision not to fight for him. He’d been her lover and her best friend rolled into one; how could she not have mourned his loss?

Gathering their bowls, she carried them to the outside tap to rinse them off. Then she put them upside down on the countertop to dry and sat cross-legged on the bottom bunk. There was nothing else she could do, and she hated it.

“So tell me,” she said to Gareth. “What have you gotten up to since high school?”

He sat at the other end of the bed, his legs extended before him, ankles crossed. He’d changed back into his blue uniform shirt and pants, but his vest was draped over a chair. “Nothing as exciting as what you’ve done. It’s a boring story. Sure you want to hear it?”

She gestured around them. “We’re in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. I haven’t got anything better to do.”

He huffed a laugh. “True. After school, I went away to police academy in Porirua,” he said. “You already know that. Then I spent a year as a rookie in Wellington and another year in Christchurch before I moved home.”

“Really?” She’d never asked about him, never looked him up. Had, in fact, preferred to pretend he didn’t exist until she encountered him again at a social function. She’d always known there was a reason she didn’t go out much, and that day had reinforced it. Seeing his face had been like receiving a kick in the gut. But she’d gotten over it.

“You were still at university then,” he continued.

She studied her palms. He’d given her an easy out. An excuse for not showing a polite level of interest in him. She wasn’t sure if she deserved it.

“I worked out of the Timaru office for three years before I was given the senior position at Itirangi,” he continued, oblivious to her discomfort with talk of the past, and she had no one to blame but herself. She had asked. “No one else particularly wanted to work here, so they were all relieved when I had enough experience under my belt to take over.”

“I bet they were.” Many people loved to vacation in Itirangi, but few would choose to live or work there. It was too small, and too far from any large cities.

“During those first five years of my police career, I studied psychology part-time through the University of Canterbury.”

Avery’s head jerked back and her lips parted. “What?”

He shrugged, like it was no big deal, but she knew how much work it must have taken to fit in study, assignments, and exams while learning the ropes of a new job. His cheeks turned pink under her scrutiny and he cleared his throat. “I was always attracted to the science of the mind, and it’s relevant to my work.”

“How come you never told me?” And how had she not known? Itirangi was a hive of gossip. Everyone knew everything about everyone else. One of her friends should have filled her in if this was common knowledge. “Wait.” She leaned toward him and continued in a softer voice, “Does anyone know? Your parents?”

He laughed and it felt like a knot loosened inside her chest. “Of course they do. It’s not a secret. It’s just not something I talk about a lot.”

“But why not?” She grabbed his arm, feeling his bicep flex beneath her palm. “Earning a degree while you’re working full time is difficult. You should be proud of yourself.”

“I am.” He smiled and it warmed his eyes, which twinkled as they met hers. She licked her lips self-consciously. His breath caught. Her heart hammered as they locked eyes. She had to break this moment, before she said or did something she’d regret.

“Underwear,” she said, then mentally slapped herself as his brows tugged down into a befuddled frown. Of all the things she could have said.

“Underwear?” he asked, confused.

Well, she’d dug herself into this hole, she’d have to get herself out of it. “I need more,” she told him. “Other supplies, too. We should go into town and pick a few things up.”

“No.” His expression closed off instantly, giving her the distance she’d needed, but she wasn’t as relieved as she thought she’d be. “We’re not leaving here,” he said. “End of story. If you need things, make a list and I’ll arrange for someone to drop them off.”

“Fine,” she grumbled, frustrated she’d failed to convince him to leave, but not surprised. “I’ll do that.”

When a car engine hummed up to the cabin, Snookie barked and Gareth ordered Avery to lie flat on the ground while he checked to see who it was. A gray four-wheel-drive vehicle had parked outside. His shoulders relaxed as he recognized the driver and he motioned for Avery to get up.

“It’s Mum,” he told her. “With supplies.”

She grinned. She and his mum had always gotten along like a house on fire. Poor choice of words.

The point was, she adored his mum, and the feeling was mutual. Sharon Wayland had cried nearly as much as he had when they broke up, if not more so. She’d said he was being thick-headed, and as far as he knew, her opinion hadn’t changed. She’d never approved of any other woman he’d brought home, though she’d never been openly hostile. During the last few years, she’d suggested several times that he should get his head out of his ass and ask Avery out before someone else did.

To be fair, if Avery had shown the least bit of interest, he probably would have.

The door swung open.

“Sharon!” Avery cried, rushing forward to hug her, Snookie following close behind, also a fan of his mother. “It’s so good to see you. It’s been ages.”

Sharon’s eyes widened. He hadn’t mentioned that her favorite past-prospective daughter-in-law would be here.

“Avery!” Sharon exclaimed, recovering quickly and wrapping her arms around the younger woman. “Hi, honey.” Releasing Avery, she stepped back, dropped to one knee to cuddle Snookie, then looked from Avery to Gareth. “Does one of you want to explain what’s going on?”

Gareth hadn’t told her anything on the phone, other than that he was at Ram’s cabin and needed supplies—and yes, it was work related. As if he’d have his mother running personal errands just so he could have some downtime.

Sharon caught his eye. “You said you were here for work.”

There was an accusation in her voice. She thought she’d been misled. The smile hovering at the corners of her mouth proved she wasn’t too upset—if he’d actually gotten back together with Avery, he suspected she’d be excited enough to throw a party—but nonetheless, she didn’t like being deceived.

“I did,” he confirmed. “Did you read the newspaper this morning, Mum?”

“No.” She looked puzzled. “Never do. If there’s anything worth knowing, someone will tell me.”

“Apparently you missed the news,” Avery said wryly. “My house burned down yesterday.”

“Oh my god!” Sharon gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “That’s awful. I’m so sorry. I saw the smoke, but I assumed it was a burn-off gone wrong. What happened?” She glanced between the two of them and her brows lowered. “Was it arson?” she whispered, finally reaching the inevitable conclusion.

“Yes,” Avery said, at the same time as Gareth replied in a more circumspect way, “We believe so.”

Sharon pulled Avery back into a hug and squeezed her tightly. Avery buried her face in her hair.

“I’m so sorry, baby girl,” Sharon murmured. “I can’t believe anyone would do that. You’ve always got a home with me if you want one.”

“Thank you.” Avery’s voice was thick, almost as though she were crying, but when she extricated herself from Sharon’s grasp, her eyes were dry, her complexion white.

“Tell me everything,” his mum ordered, dragging a chair over and dropping into it. “Was it random, or did someone target our girl?” Her questions were directed at her son.

“I can’t share any details,” he said, repeating the comment he’d been making non-stop for the past twenty-four hours. “It’s an ongoing investigation.”

She harrumphed. “I don’t give a shit about your politically correct answers, Gaz. I’m your mother, and I deserve to know the details.”

Gareth’s lips firmed. She knew better than anyone not to push him on this. He wouldn’t budge an inch. Not only for the sake of his job, but also for her own safety. The fewer people who knew about the connection with the Grant case, the better.

But Avery had no such compunction. She brought the other chair over to join Sharon. “I’m working on a forensic tool for the police,” she explained. “And someone doesn’t want me to use it.”

He leveled her with his darkest glare but her chin lifted in a challenge, letting him know he didn’t intimidate her. He sighed. At least she’d kept the particulars to herself.

“So this person burned your house down?” Sharon asked, shocked. “Why? Wouldn’t this tool be at your work?”

Gareth and Avery exchanged looks. He nodded, giving her permission to go on. Now she’d shared half of the story, they’d never get rid of his mum until she knew the rest.

“My lab was vandalized, too,” Avery explained. “Everything was destroyed. Well, nearly everything.”

“How horrible,” Sharon said. “You poor thing.” She turned to Gareth. “I hope you’ve got everyone out looking for this monster.”

“We do.”

She nodded. “Good. Is there anything I can do?”

He motioned to the bags she’d set on the floor when Avery hugged her. “You’ve been a great help by bringing that over. We need to keep Avery out of town until my colleagues track the perp down.”

“Is she in danger?” she demanded, the color leaching from her cheeks.

“We don’t know. But we’re taking precautions, just in case.”

“Good.” She jammed her hands in her armpits, arms across her chest as though she were hugging herself. “I guess I’d better get going. I don’t want to distract you when you’ve got such important work to do.” She jerked her head toward the door. “Gaz, can I talk to you outside for a minute?”

Gareth nodded and waited while Sharon forced a smile—which came out as more of a grimace—then followed her outside.

“What is it?” he asked when the door clicked shut behind them. He was curious about what she felt she couldn’t say in front of Avery.

His mum unhooked her hands, grabbed his elbow and tugged him toward her car. She spoke in a low voice. “You take care of that girl,” she hissed. “You hear me? Nothing happens to her on your watch. Nothing.”

He swallowed around the lump in his throat. “I’m well ahead of you on that one. Trust me, I’ll keep her in one piece.”

“You’d better.” Her eyes narrowed. “She’s too stubborn for her own good sometimes.” Then she hesitated, glanced away, and hunched her shoulders the way she did when she needed to say something uncomfortable.

“Out with it,” he demanded. “Whatever it is, get it off your chest.”

Sharon craned her neck to meet his eyes. “This is your chance,” she whispered. “Reel her back in. Don’t let her go again. Promise me you won’t blow this.”

“Mum—”

“No.” She shook her head forcefully. “Don’t deny it. I can see there’s still something between you. I stood by and let you make mistakes in the past, but I won’t do it again. I want to see you happy.”

He hadn’t planned on denying it. Fact was, he did want to see whether he and Avery could have a future. But that couldn’t happen until this case was wrapped up. He couldn’t be distracted from his duty, or take advantage of her during a difficult time. There was a thin line between good cops and bad cops. A line that was easy to cross.

Running a hand through his hair, he muttered, “You didn’t exactly ‘stand by’ last time. I remember you calling me a brainless nitwit, or something along those lines.”

She snorted. “Well, you were.”

Ouch. Her jab landed like a well-placed fist in his diaphragm. His darling mum didn’t pull any punches.

“The breakup was mutual,” he said. “We made the decision together. It was the best thing for both of us. Anyway, I can’t make a move on Avery while I’m working her case, but I promise you I will when everything is finished. Okay?”

She pursed her lips. “I suppose that will have to do. Now, give your old ma a kiss and I’ll be off.”

He kissed the cheek she offered and waved as the vehicle rumbled back toward the road.