“Where is Mrs. Blackwood? Can you bring her to us so we can talk to her?” The Detective Inspector studied him closely as he spoke.
“She is resting and I can assure you she is safe. Things became difficult for her in London and I had to take action. She will be staying with me now.”
“Has she told you why she remained with Ross Blackwood? I take it she has done.”
“Yes, and I am not letting her go back. You put her in danger.”
“It was her choice to help us and she has done remarkably well.”
“Yes, but no more.”
“Mr. Deucalion, I am not here to disparage you for the decision you took to remove Scarlett from the situation, on the contrary, we are grateful. If I had been you, I would have acted the same way. We were getting ready to pull her out anyway. I just want to make sure she is as safe as you insist.”
Alexander leaned back in his chair and pressed his fingers together. He smiled at both men.
“I am sure you have checked out my background and you know I am more than capable of handling a situation with Scarlett’s father.”
Detective Inspector Taylor raised an eyebrow at his younger colleague.
“Oh, yes. I am well aware of who you are and who you were, but on this occasion the bomb that needs diffusing is very different. We have reliable information that Litvenko is looking for Scarlett. The plan is to kidnap her and force Bartlett to reinstate the business relationship they originally wanted and more. Ross Blackwood is helping them now because he owes them a favor and is on the run from us. He had been planning on emptying your accounts as much as possible and laundering money through them, allowing Boris Litvenko to force you in to giving over a stake in your oil business to keep quiet. I am glad to see you were able to put a stop to that.”
“Yes. I was lucky. Ross was a competent manager but I made a mistake placing my trust in him. I received an anonymous email telling me what he was doing. The information they gave me was correct. He’d covered his tracks well and if they hadn’t sent the message he would have got away with it.”
“And have you now been able to find out who tipped you off?”
Alexander frowned. By the sly smile on the Inspector’s face he knew who it was.
“No. Have you?”
“Yes. It was Scarlett Blackwood. Seems she was acting to protect you. We asked her to search through Ross’ accounts, private documents, his office and more. She is very adept at finding out information. She would make a good undercover police officer. She took a risk informing you.”
Alexander stared at him in surprise. He hadn’t even thought for one moment it might have been Scarlett and he felt angry at himself for having underestimated her.
“Thank you for telling me. I never thought…” his voice trailed off thinking how brave Scarlett had been and how she had placed herself at risk for him.
“Anyway, Mr. Deucalion, the purpose of my visit today is to ask you to make sure Scarlett stays here with you. We will provide extra protection on top of your security. We are very close to having all we need to bring down the Litvenko family, Ross Blackwood and hopefully, Lance Bartlett who we have been trying to prove ordered the hit on Scarlett’s child and mother. I will send you a number to ring should you need us. We plan to make arrests soon and will let you know when this is all over.”
The Inspector and his colleague stood. Alexander followed suit and moved out from behind the desk.
“Before we go I want you to take us to Scarlett so I can confirm she really is here with you.”
It was Alexander’s turn to raise an eyebrow. But he nodded, dismissing the man’s doubts about the truth he spoke and led him to Scarlett. She was perturbed at first but the Inspector reassured her she was safe and this would all be over soon.
“It is imperative you stay here with Mr. Deucalion. If you leave you will be putting yourself in grave danger.”
She nodded and the officers took their leave content she was safe and secure.
Alexander swept his hands over her shoulders.
“Why didn’t you tell me it was you who warned me with that email? Why did you risk being exposed like that?”
She looked distressed.
“Because I couldn’t let him ruin you. Alexander, you mean too much to me.”
He moved to hold her but she suddenly pulled away from him.
“I just need to be alone for a moment.”
He looked after her, confused as she made her way up the grassy bank that led down to the lake at a quick pace before, without warning, she fell to ground. As he rushed towards her, her muscles began to seize over and over again.
“What do I need to do, Scarlett? Tell me. I will call an ambulance.”
“No. There is nothing anyone can do. The fits will stop. They aren’t dangerous. Just stay with me.”
Alexander remembered what she told him in the car about her illness and nodded. With trembling hands caused by the worry of the ferocity of the attacks, he removed his blue suit jacket and folded it to place it neatly underneath her head. He stroked her forehead, whispered endearments and was feeling helpless for the first time in his life. But there was more to come. When the fits ceased she lay paralyzed for a while. All he could do was hold her hand and wait for it to pass. Eventually that moment came and he was able to help her to her feet. Alexander tried to
