I gaped at the men. All this time, I’d thought we were running from criminals. My sister had told me so. “We’re not being chased?”
“Your father and sister defrauded the government. There is no one pursuing you but us.”
All that running for nothing.
But I couldn’t regret it. Without coming to Falls Ridge, I’d never have met Bull. The man I loved. Loved. The brand-new emotion slammed forward in my chest.
I bounced my gaze from one man to the other. Neither glared now, but they watched my reactions carefully.
“Miss Phillips,” the second officer said. “The message you left can and will be used as evidence in the case against your father—”
“Am I under arrest?” I burst out.
He held up a hand. “You will need to provide a written statement, and of course the properties will be seized.”
They believed me, didn’t they? Otherwise they’d be arresting me. “I’ll provide anything you need! I don’t care about the properties, or any money my family had. I don’t want anything to do with them now.”
With a crash, the door flew open behind the men. Bull materialised in the frame, and I sucked in a gasp.
Both officers whirled, reaching for their guns.
“Stop!” I screamed.
Bull barged through, and I lurched to my feet, my chair toppling, and Benjamin clutched to my chest. Then, in a flash, Bull had us behind him, his arm holding us close.
Benjamin chuckled. “Bull!” he said, beaming at the man’s huge back.
“Don’t shoot. That’s my boyfriend!” I struggled to get around him.
“I am Bhaltair Graham,” he barked. “I dinna give a flying fuck who ye are, but if you’ve laid one finger on my lass—”
“Put the weapon down!” the two officers snapped in unison.
It was only then I noticed the gun in Bull’s hand.
Oh God, no.
“Listen to them. Put the gun down,” I begged him, my heart hammering.
“Are you okay, lass? Did they hurt ye?” he said, not dropping his arm and not looking around.
“I’m being interviewed. I’m fine. These men work for the military. Please, Officers, this is Bull. He’s only trying to protect me. Bull, they didn’t touch me. Do what they say.”
“You’re nae hurt?”
“I’m fine. Please, Bull.”
Finally, his arm lowered. I slid around him and hugged him hard, Benjamin held tight between us. “You found me,” I said. “I can’t believe you came for me.”
“How can ye doubt it?” he replied.
“You know, Miss Phillips. I have to say this: For a good person, you certainly seem to attract trouble.” The first officer gestured for Bull to hand over the gun. He did. The men kept their distance but holstered their own weapons.
“Bull!” my nephew uttered again.
“Yes, Benji, Bull came to save us,” I said. Maybe it was the reduction of the constant fear I’d been living under, or maybe it was the new-found rush I got whenever Bull was near, but a sense of safety suffused me.
“I’ve been giving evidence,” I told my mountain man.
“I thought you’d been kidnapped,” he replied, his face pale.
“Kidnapped? Miss Phillips is here voluntarily,” Officer Moustache said. “You, Mr Graham, are interrupting a formal investigation.”
Bull stood taller, intimidating in his stare and exuding menace. “Am I now?”
“Is there anything more you need to know?” I asked the officers, more than a little frazzled. “Am I free to go?”
“We have your address, so for now, you can.” Moustache tipped up his chin. “Be aware, you may need to give evidence again but, as things stand, the case is cut and dried. We have what we need, and you’ve witnessed the fact that this pack of letters was your sister’s property. We also have evidence from the solicitors who handled the purchases—they are under investigation for other crimes. Maybe don’t switch your phone off, and we’ll call if we need you.”
Utterly relieved, I nodded agreement. “I never asked. How did you find me?”
“After yours, Lena’s name was on a list of Benjamin’s next of kin when he was in nursery. We found she’d left the country, so it only made sense to follow her trail.”
Bull collected Benjamin from my arms. “We’re going home,” he told me, then his gaze landed on the suitcases. “Are these yours?”
“Yep. I was all ready to travel home to give up the papers. These men saved me a job.” I lowered my gaze. “I wouldn’t have left without saying goodbye.”
“I know, lass.”
I grabbed a case, and Bull took the other, then we left the guesthouse and went to his car.
“Is that Archie?” I peered in the front window at the sleeping toddler.
“Long story,” Bull said with a heavy sigh.
“I have all the time in the world.”
We drove back into town, and Benjamin dozed on my shoulder as Bull told me the story of what had happened with Cindy. Both boys woke when a fire truck and an ambulance screamed past, speeding around the corner at the top of the high street.
“What the heck? I don’t think I’ve even seen a police car in the weeks I’ve been living here.”
“I have a bad feeling about this,” Bull said. “Cindy practically threw Archie at me then drove this way. She was in a bad state. She said things I barely heard because I was so worried about finding ye.”
Twisted fear rose once more in my gut.
“Let’s keep going,” I mumbled.
We pressed on, trundling down the icy road. Halfway along the route, a rocky ravine plunged to a river far below. The town of Falls Ridge was named for the beauty spot. On my walks, I’d hurried past this part, the howling winds terrifying and ghostly.
As we reached it, emergency vehicles blocked the way. Craning forward, I spotted a gap in the railing, like a car had punched through it. “I think someone went over.”
Bull killed the engine then leapt out, closing us in. He marched up to the scene and put a question to one of the attending crew. Then his hands flew to the back of his neck, and he whirled around, anguish plain on his face.
Oh no.
It was Cindy. I knew it. Archie gave a cute little gurgle, and Benjamin copied him. Then both boys were grinning at each other and making friends.
But my heart had sunk to the ground.
Hours later, Bull returned to Lena’s. He’d driven us home, leaving Archie in our care, then left again to help with the rescue efforts.
I met him at the door, and he sank into my arms, freezing cold, and damp with river water and mud. “She’s dead,” he said, his voice fraught with despair. “She drove her car off the bridge. How am I going to tell him?”
I had no answer but I held him close. Whatever he needed, I was there.
For the next several weeks, Bull and I carried out a complicated juggling act of working at the bar and managing the two boys.
Cindy’s cremation marked the lowest point, and it was awful to see Archie suffer. He cried for his lost mother. I did, too, though I never knew her. Bull kept us all together.