Jake held out his phone and pushed a button. The short excerpt he’d prepared earlier started. Ebony’s voice filled the suddenly quiet room. When it finished he looked at his notes. “We also have fingerprints that match yours from the scene and Ebony’s water bottle from the day care centre. I sent it off to Sydney for tests but we both know what it’ll show.” Jake leaned back and frowned. “Now, how were you going to destroy me in court, Eric?”
“You can’t prove anything. It’s all circumstantial. My niece owns the day care centre. Of course my fingerprints are going to be all over it. And as for the barn—get a grip, Jake. Where do you think I spent most of my childhood playing? Helping the old man repair stuff.” He snorted in disgust but Jake noted his skin had paled considerably and small beads of sweat broke out on his top lip.
“That may be so, but we have more than that, Eric. I’m nothing if not thorough, as you should remember. Always follow the money trail, isn’t that what you say in your cases?” Jake slid a sheath of papers from under his writing pad. “Records of payments from you to the security company. Owner has turned belly up on you, Eric. Payments from your personal account to his. Silly move, pal. We’ll find more once we gather all your business and personal records, but so far this paperwork and Ebony’s interview will do for me. Mick.”
Mick stepped forward. “Mr. Eric Stubbens, you are under arrest for the abduction of Ebony Quinn.”
* * *
Later that afternoon, Jake arrived with a pizza, ice cream, dog treats and a bottle of wine.
Ryder was crouched on the grass digging in the garden with Ebony and Milo running around the yard when he drove in and parked his car. She stood up and looked at him, grinning as he held up the grocery bags. “I was kind of hoping you hadn’t started cooking yet or made plans for dinner.”
She put down her trowel and pulled off the dirty gardening gloves, letting them drop to the ground. Ebony walked over to the fence and looked at him. “Do you have ice cream? I can see through the bag you know.”
“I sure do but its up to your mum if we have it for dinner or not.”
Ebony turned and looked at Ryder. “Maybe. We’ll see.”
Jake opened the gate and walked in holding up the chilled bottle of wine. “I thought we could sit outside and have a quiet glass or two and chat. You up for it?”
Ryder tried to read the expression in his eyes. If he was here to tell her they’d arrested Eric and her problems were over, would he have brought wine? Or was Jake interested in more than just a working relationship. “Maybe we need to clear the air first. Make sure we’re both on the same page before you open that bottle.”
“I think we are. Unless I’ve been reading you wrong. Seems if there’s trouble, I’m the first person you call. You tell me, is it because I’m a cop or because you think I fit the bill to save you?” He stepped forward and she could see the heat in his eyes.
Ryder swallowed. “I’m a cop too so I guess you have your answer.”
He smiled, the crinkles around his eyes softening his whole face. Tension drained from her shoulders. “So, is everything else under control?”
Jake held out the shopping bags. “How about we go and put this away before the ice cream melts and we can talk about it.” He fished around in one bag and held a small red package out to Ebony. “This is for Milo if you want to give it to him now.”
Milo sniffed the package and promptly sat down, his tongue drooping from his mouth as he looked between Jake and Ebony. “I think he wants it.” She took it and ripped it open.
“Just one for now, Eb. He can have the other one tomorrow.”
“Yes, Mummy. Good boy, Milo.” She handed it over and the dog who drooled until the rawhide treat was between his teeth. “Thank you, Jake.”
“You’re welcome.” He followed Ryder up the back stairs into the house where she took the bags and peeked inside.
“Wow, you are organized.” She put the pizza on the kitchen bench and the ice cream in the freezer leaving him to open the wine. “Glasses are in there.” She pointed to the glass cupboard. “Right, tell me what happened before I break out into a sweat with worry.” Ryder leaned against the bench and watched him pour wine. Once he’d passed her a glass, he started to talk.
“Eric came in and fluffed around as he does, thinking we were going to release Ethol. Once I played the short version of the tape to him, he blustered around and then caved. Not a pretty sight but you would have been proud of Mick. I let him do the arrest; kid did well.”
Ryder took a gulp of her wine, noting the way her heart pounded. “We have enough evidence to keep him inside, don’t we?” Imagining what he could do to her and Eb if he got released didn’t sit well with Ryder. He’d already been in her house before.
“Yes, I believe so. Once we get the court order and go over all of his records, I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to track it back to Paris Bonneville’s abduction too. Every little bit of evidence will nail the coffin lid tighter, but he won’t get away. I’ll make sure of that.”
“There is one more thing. Wait here a moment.” Ryder put her glass down and hurried to her bedroom. From inside the bedside drawer, she withdrew a plastic folder. Holding it as if it was fragile, she carried it out and handed it over to Jake.
“Who
