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‘And make a statement to the garda and a complaint against the stalker who’s been harassing you.’
‘Gemma…’
‘Don’t personalise a psycho who frightened the living daylights out of you,’ Rafael incised with ruthless bite. ‘Five minutes ago she almost ran you down!’
‘But that was an accident: she didn’t see me. I walked out in front of her car. I saw her face and she was distraught, not looking where she was going.’
‘You think that makes me feel better? Excuse me…I’ll be back in a few minutes. Boyce, make sure your sister stays where she is.’
‘OK,’ her half-brother answered, like an obedient schoolboy.
‘Are you just going to let Rafael tell you what to do?’
‘I really would prefer the media not to get hold of this particular story; the lid could blow off it so easily,’ Boyce admitted heavily. ‘It’s only thanks to Rafael that the situation is under control. He’s had his people keeping an eye on you since yesterday.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘Events organisers aren’t usually so muscular. Most of the staff he sent over to help you today work for him in the security field.’
‘I had no idea. But before Rafael comes back tell me about Gemma and what happened between you. For a start, who is she?’
‘She’s the daughter of a wealthy property developer. When I first started seeing her she was a lot of fun, but that didn’t last long. She began listening in on my calls and throwing jealous scenes. She stole a key to my apartment, showed up uninvited all the time,’ he recited wearily. ‘I couldn’t handle her, so I ended it. She threatened to top herself. I talked to her parents and they were very decent about it, but I felt guilty.’
‘You mustn’t.’ Harriet was impressed that he had tried to help Gemma even after she had become a real headache in his life. ‘How did she find out you were in Ireland?’
‘That was my fault too. She phoned me to ask me to her twenty-first birthday party and I said I’d be over here. She seems to have got the details of when and where from a mutual friend, who wasn’t aware she’d become a problem. I was shattered last night when Rafael told me what had been happening. I wish you’d told me about the threat painted on the wall. You see, I did think I’d seen Gemma in Dooleys, but just assumed I’d been mistaken…’
Her brow was furrowed. ‘When did you see Rafael last night?’
She soon realised how deceptive Rafael’s apparent unconcern had been. Once her brother had confided that it was possible that his ex-girlfriend might be behind the disturbing things that had been happening, Rafael had insisted on taking careful precautions.
‘He said that his gut instinct was to cancel the gymkhana, but that in the long term you’d be safer if Gemma came out of the woodwork and got caught. His security team got a photo of her and circulated it. I called her parents last night, and they were able to confirm that she was in the area. They were making arrangements to fly over and bring her home.’
Rafael opened the rear door of the Range Rover and deposited Peanut in the luggage bay. Harriet heard the pig’s signature snuffle and turned her head in surprise. ‘You found Peanut?’
‘I knew you’d have them with you.’ Rafael opened the door beside her and produced Samson from the inside pocket of his Barbour. ‘Real men don’t carry chihuahuas in public, a thaisce.’ He settled the little dog on her lap. ‘Right, one pig and one dog on board. You don’t want the rooster as well, do you?’
‘Albert? How did you find out about Albert?’ Harriet laughed.
Rafael lifted an aristocratic brow. ‘His fame has spread.’
‘He’s a little home bird. He hangs out round the cottage. He wouldn’t thank you for a trip in a car.’
Boyce’s mobile phone rang and he answered it. With a muttered apology, he swung back out of the Range Rover and told them to go ahead without him.
‘You’re his sister. Tell him to steer clear of all further involvement with Gemma Barton’s parents,’ Rafael drawled in wry undertone. ‘He can’t be on both sides.’
‘How do you know it’s them he’s speaking to?’
‘ESP. He should back off. She’ll be arrested and charged—’
‘Not for anything she’s done to me. I won’t make an official complaint just because of that stupid message on the wall or that wreath.’
‘Boyce believes she was inside the cottage as well. I’m fairly certain she also let the horses out.’
‘You think she was behind that?’ Harriet was aghast.
‘You were lucky. One of those horses could have caused a serious accident in which someone was injured.’
