Lacybourne Manor (Ghosts and Reincarnation #3)(120)
Author: Kristen Ashley

Colin said not a word and Robert shifted nervously in his chair.

Then Robert pulled himself together and continued, “We investigated Tamara Adams, of course. And the police have been talking to her. I know a few blokes with police and they tell me she admits to the vandalism of the house, asking a friend to make the threatening phone call and, of course, the tranquilliser darts. She does not and adamantly refuses to acknowledge any part in trying to run you and Miss Godwin down with a car. Further, outside of shooting you with a tranquilliser that night, she refuses any knowledge of what happened in Miss Godwin’s office at The Centre with the two boys and the knife.”

He held Colin’s eyes, eyes that were regarding him with disbelief.

Then Colin pointed out, “She would of course deny some of the more serious allegations. She loaded the tranquilliser dart with enough drug to kill Sibyl, she’s facing grievous bodily harm at the least –”

Colin didn’t finish, Robert cut in, “She swears she didn’t know that either. Just loaded it as the instructions she found on the internet told her. Unfortunately, the instructions were for a very large animal, not a person of Miss Godwin’s weight. Apparently, she used the same load on you but it didn’t all release. She’s using the excuse that it was a mistake.”

“Mistake or not, it could have killed Sibyl.” Colin bit out.

“Mr. Morgan, you are failing to hear what I’m trying to tell you,” Robert was losing his patience and Colin’s eyes narrowed but in his zeal to get his point across, the investigator didn’t notice. “Miss Adams is not our concern, not now and not ever. She, unfortunately, wasn’t harmless but only due to ineptitude. There were no large sums of money drawn from her account, her trust fund or her investment accounts. We’ve been searching but have not found any evidence that she sold anything of value or even several things or borrowed money from anyone to pay the boys who attacked Miss Godwin. And they were paid plenty, enough money that it couldn’t have been just laying around, she would have had to withdraw it or find it one way or the other. We’ve been talking to the boy all night and he says the woman’s voice on the phone was old, not young or posh as Miss Adams’s is. He tells us the voice was female, old and scratchy as if she had something wrong with her throat. They never met her. When she paid, she did a drop with the money.”

“Tamara might not have made the call,” Colin noted.

“We thought of that but we questioned him about the other events and he says he knows nothing of tranquilliser darts or vandalism and… well, the way we’ve been questioning him, he would have admitted it by now. And I believe he’s not lying because he’s has admitted that he was paid to kill you. He has also admitted to striking Marian Byrne on the head and dragging her body behind The Community Centre. He’s explained that the terms of the agreement were that he and his partner neutralise Mrs. Byrne, grab you both and slit both of your throats. Not stab you, shoot you, poison you, give you an overdose with a tranquilliser dart but quite clearly and emphatically slit your throats. And under no circumstances were they to do it while you were apart, but together, so you could both watch while it was happening.”

Colin entire body seized and his stomach felt like it had been kicked hard.

Tamara may have been angry at being jilted, angry enough to do something immensely stupid but Colin could not believe she was capable of that.

And the specific instructions that would make Sibyl and Colin’s nightmare come true with the addition of Mrs. Byrne being targeted for “neutralisation” in this heinous plot were chilling.

He made an instant decision and rose from his chair. “I’ll have a word with him.”

Robert flew out of his. “Mr. Morgan, there is no need.”

Colin rounded his desk but stopped by his investigator. “I said, I’ll have a word to him.”

When Robert hesitated Colin said one more word.

“Now.”

Robert Fitzwillams looked in his employer’s eyes and what he saw sent a shiver down his spine.

Then, without further delay, he led the way.

* * * * *

Colin learned nothing from the frighteningly young man whose arm he’d broken weeks before. Nor did he learn anything from his friend who was also frighteningly young but had a malevolent gleam in his eye that did not in any way match his age.

With a great deal of patience, he did try to get further information and he did so without harming either of them (unduly) as he promised Sibyl. He, however, allowed himself the satisfaction of watching the malevolent gleam in the eyes of the boy who held a knife to Sibyl’s throat turn to genuine fear.

Once he’d finished, he’d instructed Robert to turn them over to the police.

Without giving them a thought (as he had a great many other thoughts on his mind), he’d gone back to his office and walked by his harried secretary who was saying into the phone, “I already explained to you, Mr. Morgan has no comment.” Then she paused and said far more fiercely and disturbingly, “Neither does Miss Godwin, no matter what you heard.” Then she slammed down the phone.

Once inside his office, he picked up the newspaper that Mandy had put on his desk and opened it to the page to which she’d folded it back.

Cursed Reincarnated Lovers Stalked by Evil Socialite, read the headline.

He skimmed the article and his eyes narrowed on the words.

He didn’t bother to finish it and threw the newspaper in the rubbish bin.

He barely settled into his chair when Mandy positively stomped into his office.

“Mr. Morgan…” she said threateningly and he knew her resignation was nigh.

“Mandy,” he cut her off, again coming to an instant decision and putting it into action. “I need you to run an errand for me.”

“Mr. Morgan,” she said more forcefully, not wishing to be denied her moment.

He interrupted her again. “I want you to find the best jeweller in Bristol or Bath or Cheltenham, I don’t care where it is. Go to London if you need to. Take a company car and when you get wherever you’re going, chose an engagement ring for Miss Godwin.”

Mandy’s mouth snapped shut with an audible clatter of teeth and her eyes bugged out.

Colin carried on, “It has to be something… unique. I don’t want her to see her ring on someone else’s finger. It has to be quality but should not be ostentatious. However, I don’t care what it costs. Can you do that?”