After a year long break, his mother decided he’d hidden himself away from the dating scene for long enough and it looked as though Ryder was the new target. Jake didn’t know whether to warn her or not. He didn’t think she’d find it amusing considering she’d already declined dates from a couple of local bachelors according to the grapevine. “Waiting for a decent man to come along.” At least that was Alice Roberts’ opinion.
Amy called out and hurried over to meet the stars of the day. Ebony ran ahead and wrapped her arms around the childcare owner. Such a shame she didn’t have children of her own, but she made up for it with the love and care she gave her charges. Jake watched her wind a hand through Ryder’s arm and guide her around the groups of people chilling in the large back yard.
His father stood at the barbeque with a couple of his old cronies holding fort. No doubt the discussion would be the price of lamb which continued to climb to a ridiculous price. Great for the farmer, but hell for the average housewife. His mother stood beside Ethol Stubbens and Jake watched as the old man followed Ryder with his gaze. He was a strange duck, that was for sure. But he stuck to himself on the whole and never caused any trouble so that was the main thing. A collector of sorts, Ethol made his living buying and selling antiques, specializing in farm machinery, and he was a whizz at restoration. His mechanical background made him popular amongst the older farmers for minor repairs and replacements for their trusty old tractors and farm machinery.
Jake’s mother looked over and connected glances with her son. She smiled and raised a glass in silent toast before greeting his newest employee and her daughter.
“Heard she’s stirring up a hornet’s nest.” Jake turned to listen to Eric Stubbens, son of Ethol and uncle to Amy. “Don’t know why you can’t let sleeping dogs lie. Those parents have been through enough if you ask me.” He raised a beer to his lips and took a long slurp, a thin line of beer trailing down his chin before he wiped it away with the back of his hand.
“Parents deserve the best we can give them, Eric. Just doing our job.”
“Ain’t right, bringing her in to do that, family member and all. Doesn’t look good. Upsetting the town and getting the old man more dirty looks. You know he had nothing to do with it and this is only stirring things up again. What next, a brick through his window like before?”
“If you have any trouble let me know. I’m letting Ryder go over everything we have because she comes with fresh eyes and the sort of experience none of us have had. Be plain daft not to let her look over a few cold cases.” Jake watched as she spoke to her grandfather. Her stance was off, ready for flight if he had any guess in it. She certainly didn’t look relaxed and calm. The whispers around town must be getting to her. What a shame. She could probably do with all the family she had around her now she’s a widow.
“Dad won’t appreciate it, not matter what the reasons. You saw what happened last time. Poor bugger deserves to live out his later years in peace without the hassle.”
“I agree with you. As you know, there isn’t really anything I can do about it other than advise people to pull their heads in and mind their own business. If it gets too much, you could always write the perpetrators a letter of cease and desist.”
Eric nodded his head. “Just might do that too. Appreciate it if you could tell Ryder to hurry up and close the damned case though. Sooner the better for Dad.”
“I’ll pass on your concerns, Eric.” Jake caught Ryder’s eye and she smiled, giving him a small wave. “Excuse me.” He walked off leaving the upstart lawyer to himself and headed toward Ryder.
* * *
She breathed a sigh of relief when Jake walked toward her. “Hi.”
He smiled and she stepped toward him. “Ebony, I want you to meet Mr. Roberts, my boss.”
“Name’s Jake.” He pointed his finger at his father. “That over there is Mr. Roberts, my Dad.”
“I’ve got a cat with babies.”
Jake crouched down in front of Ebony. “Really? You’re one lucky little girl then. Have you given them names yet?”
Her glossy black pigtails swayed with the shake of her head. “Nope. They only met me today.”
Jake looked up at her and grinned before rising to his feet again. “Walk with me and I’ll introduce you to my father if I can drag him away from his old mates.”
“Can I stay with Amy?” Ebony reached for Amy’s hand.
“I’ll look after her, Ryder. You go on with Jake and meet more people. That’s the reason you’re here today.”
Ryder gave an apologetic glance to Amy and her grandfather and took Jake’s outstretched hand. She didn’t realise how tense she was until they were half way across the lawn and she let out a sigh. “Thank you for that. Don’t know what came over me, but it was kind of…”
“Creepy?”
“Yeah. Very kind of creepy.” She watched Amy walk her little girl over to another couple who had a child around Ebony’s age and introduce her, feeling better now she was getting involved with other children.
“That might be my fault for telling you what people feel. Eric, your uncle, had a few words with me before about letting you stir up trouble as he described it. Seems people are talking about your grandfather again as if he had something to do with those little kids going missing.”
“Let me guess, he wants me to stop looking into it, right?” She watched the corners of his lips twitch and suddenly had a sense of appreciation for her new boss.
“You got it.”
“Not
