Ben frowned. “This sounds serious.”
“There’s more. On Lena’s opening night, I took a phone call. You were all busy and I thought it was probably someone looking for a booking but it wasn’t.” He gave Ben a wan smile. “It was someone threatening your daughter. They said you’d been warned. She’d made the biggest mistake opening a restaurant again.”
“You think Cole is behind this?” Ben sat up straighter in the bed. “You think he did this to me?”
“I’m not certain it was Cole, but it’s connected somehow to Simon’s case. We just have to figure out how.”
“What else did Simon say, Adam?” Ben leaned forward and shuffled his position in the bed.
“Well, he claimed at first that he knew nothing, which I kind of expected. So I gave him an option: tell me and I’d look after him and his family, or take his chances on his own. The way I see it at the moment, whoever is behind this is worried he’s going to talk, otherwise you wouldn’t have been targeted. I wouldn’t be surprised if they try to get at him anyway.”
“What’s the plan now then?” Adam was thankful for the level-headed lawyer resting in bed.
“I spoke to a friend of mine who works for the federal police. Seems they knew more than I thought. Even though it couldn’t be proved, they knew Simon was covering for someone. I’ve arranged for them to pick up his family and move them to a safe house. Simon will be moved to a more secure place as well, and then he’s going to tell us what we want to know.” Hopefully.
“Oh my God, I don’t believe this. Just who the hell they are and how does opening a café fit into the mix?”
“I wish I knew, really I did.” Adam wanted to have all of the answers for him, but it was going to take time. He just hoped they had enough.
“So what are we supposed to do now? Sit here and hope they don’t come back?” Ben was pale but composed.
“We have no choice. Once Simon is in a safe place Jeremy will call me and we can set up an interview. I’m afraid until then my hands are tied.” Adam stood. “I’m going to suggest something. I think Kyle should stay where he is with Gail and I can sleep in his bed.”
Ben lifted his hand. “Do you really think that’s necessary, Adam? Cole wouldn’t hurt the boy surely.”
“Bit hard to tell. Look what they did to you.” He looked over at Ben, whose face showed discoloration from the bruising. “I think it would be wise at least until they have them all somewhere safe. I can spend the evenings with Lena when she’s at the café too. For all concerned, I think it would be safer.”
“I don’t need babysitting, Adam.”
“It’s not just for you. It’s to make sure the women are safe too. There are staff to consider as well. Jeremy told me we should all watch our back until this is all over.”
“Is there more to this than you’re telling me?”
He pushed down the guilt. “No. I’ve told you everything I know up to this point.” Most of it anyway.
“What are you going to tell the girls?”
As little as I can get away with. “I’ve thought about that. I was going to mention the police finding out about a case you dealt with years ago. A man you sent down has escaped and they warned you to take care. I doubt they would question you on that one.”
Ben nodded his head “Yes, I suppose that’s as good an excuse as any. I’ll let you tell them that one and then we can eat. I’m sick of this bed and need to get up.”
Chapter 26
Lena watched Adam drive away with her father in the passenger seat for a meeting with Simon. A hollow ache settled in her chest as she looked across the road to the man keeping watch on her and Sofia. He nodded and looked in his rear vision mirror as the car disappeared around the corner onto the main road.
She missed her son and after a fierce argument they agreed that he would come home after school today. But Lena had to accept the officer sitting outside the house keeping an eye on them. Once her father and Adam agreed on how to protect her and the family, they could proceed with Simon’s case and do the best they could there while the police searched for the escapee.
Lena sighed. Hopefully today’s meeting would sort it out because she couldn’t stand the thought of Simon not being with his own family. Not having her boy around for one night brought it home to her exactly how he must be missing his own children. He deserved a retrial at the very least, and with Adam and her father on it, it might happen.
Her night had been fraught with unsettled sleep but she couldn’t blame it all on Kyle not being there. The sun shone warmly on her face as she stood and thought through the emotions. Having Adam sleeping down the hall was playing havoc on her heart as well as her body. It had been more than a little tempting to go and snuggle up with him for comfort once the lights had gone out.
Propriety in her parent’s house was the only thing stopping her. That and the little niggle that he was keeping something from her. Something that could impact on the budding relationship they had. No good would come of her standing outside all day when there was work to do. She reached down and picked up the morning newspaper, peeling off the plastic wrap as she walked back inside.
Sofia was already out in her garden, weeding her tomato patch and picking herbs for drying. Thankfully her mother was the pragmatic type and didn’t believe in stewing over anything. “No point, bella, wasting emotions on what might be. Life is
