Adam took the seat opposite his father. “I can’t let him sit in jail any longer for what Sally did. If this is half as bad as I think it could be, she needs to pay for it. I won’t have my friends hurt for her.” I need you to help me here.
“Friends?”
“Yes, friends. They live next door to my farm and I’ve become rather fond of their daughter.” He smiled. “She used to have a restaurant in Sydney, Cibo Buono. You’ve probably even been there before, but she lost it to her slime ball of a husband.”
Adam looked up at the sharp intake of breath. His father was wiping his hand shakily over his lips. “What’s wrong?”
The judge met his gaze, a forced smile on his face. “Nothing.”
Liar.
Adam drove home dreading telling Lena about what he’d found out. She would be beside herself over this and once he told her she’d been threatened, there would be fireworks. By the time he got to the house and let Spencer out it was late afternoon. With the little dog at his heels, he fed the deer while composing the information in his mind. Ben would want to know everything that had gone on and no doubt inquire about their next move. He glanced toward the darkened dairy, thankful tonight was one of the few nights that it was closed.
After a quick shower and change of clothes, he hooked a lead onto Spencer and headed over to the neighbor’s to tell them the news.
Lena answered the door. She swallowed before reaching out to him and he stepped forward. When he wrapped his arms around her, tears rushed to her eyes. Oh honey.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Adam eased her back and looked into her face. He hated seeing her upset.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to lose it like that.” She sniffed and wiped her eyes, struggling to smile.
“Honey, I know you’re worried about Ben but he’s going to be okay. You know what the doctor said.” I’ll deal with the rest.
She snuggled against his chest, but the last few days had taken its toll and she was nervous. He stepped into the entrance way and closed the door behind him. Spencer pranced off into the kitchen to be greeted by her mother. Adam kissed her on the hair, his body tense.
“What is it? There’s something happening, isn’t there?” The panic in her voice worried him. “Do you know who did this? Have you been speaking to the police?” She sounded verging on hysterical.
“Wow, slow down and stop getting upset. No, I haven’t been talking to the police. Not the local guys anyway.” And I can’t tell you what they said just yet. Not until I’ve spoken to your father.
“Adam, what’s going on? There’s something you’re not telling me and I don’t like it.” Lena pulled away and crossed her arms over her chest, her mouth turned down.
“I need to talk to your father. Is Ben awake and up to visitors?”
She glanced down at the bedroom and nodded her head. “Yeah, he’s getting rather stroppy about being made to stay on bed rest so I’m sure he’d love to see you.”
“Let me say hi to Sofia and then I can go and see him. Is Kyle home?”
“No. He went to footy practice, and then he and Mitch are doing an assignment together. Gail said it would be easier if he stayed there tonight.”
That would save one problem. “Good.” He held her hand and walked into the kitchen where Spencer was sitting looking up at Sofia as she stirred a pot on the stove.
“Adam, hello. Can you stay for dinner? I’m making Ben his favorite veal ragout.”
“Thanks, that would be very nice. Smells terrific.”
“It’s the garlic. I roasted it before I put it with onions. Gives it so much more flavor.”
“If I’m any judge, it’s worth the extra work. Thought I’d come over and see Ben. We have some things to talk about and I wanted to do it before he gets too tired if that’s all right.”
She frowned and glanced at Lena, before turning down the stove. She put her spoon on the bench and wiped her hands on her apron. “Okay, let me check with him and then I’ll leave you both to it.” Sofia bustled off down the way down the hall to the bedroom. She came out minutes later and patted Adam on the shoulder. “He said if you don’t hurry up and get down there, he’d come out. I think he’s getting better.”
Ben was sitting up with pillows behind him, a newspaper in his hands when Adam walked into the bedroom. “Adam. You won’t believe how good it is to see you.”
Not sure how good you’ll think it is once I tell you. “I do hope you’re not complaining too loud. I think Lena and Sofia would skin you alive.”
“See what I have to put up with.” He gave a smile and folded up his newspaper. “Right, I can see this isn’t just a sick bed visit. You have something to tell me, Adam. I suggest you take a seat and get on with it then.”
“Papa, are you sure you’re up to this?” Lena was standing at the door watching the two of them.
“I’m fine. If you could shut the door and go back to the kitchen while we sort this out, thank you.” Adam walked over and rested his hands on the end of the bed wondering how Lena was taking to being shut out without the answers she wanted.
“I saw Simon today since you had already booked a visit in last week. I figured there was more to this case than we knew after the letter you got on Friday.”
“And what did you find out?”
“He knows more than he’s saying. Claims that before we get the information we want, he wants his family
