Therefore, I’d agreed. Before I did, I asked them to investigate this Connor bloke Kelly had mentioned to London. I wanted that wannabe pedophile found and locked up. The police agreed to look into him.
I sucked in a deep breath of sea air as I stood on the steps of the police station, trying to shake off the rage I felt every time I mentally replayed Kelly’s words from Monday. As grateful as I was that she’d confided in London, I hated that she’d needed to.
The sound of Leth Sholas alive and awake shattered through my thoughts—boat horns and traffic, the shouts of the harbor master and his staff in the near distance.
It occurred to me I shouldn’t linger outside the station just as a familiar blond strode out of the homeware boutique next to it.
Cameron McQuarrie abruptly halted at the sight of me, her bagged purchase swinging into her thigh with the movement with an unpleasant rattle. “Shit.” She peeked into the bag and sighed in relief. “It’s fine. Glass lamp.” She explained. Then her eyes moved to the police station before returning to me. “Everything all right?”
“Fine.” I moved toward my Discovery that was parked behind her old Defender. “You all right?”
Cammie sauntered over, cocking her head in thought. “Seriously, is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine, Cammie.”
She didn’t appear to believe me. “Have you told London?”
“Told her what?”
Cammie made a face, gesturing to where we were. “I mean, you don’t have to tell me, but maybe you should tell your wife.”
“Tell her what?” I repeated.
She rolled her eyes. “Murray, you’re a terrible liar. I don’t know how you and London have gotten away with this fake sham of a marriage. But … maybe if you were more honest with her, it could be something real.” She shrugged like she hadn’t dropped a bomb.
My heart thudded in my chest. I’d spent the last few days avoiding the one person I wanted to be around the most. Especially after I witnessed the way she was with Kelly. But I was trying to be good. Not give in to temptation.
However, if Cammie was telling me … had London mentioned something? That she was open to a real relationship?
Fuck, it was the worst timing ever, if so.
“London’s stronger than some people think.” Cammie continued, “It would do London a world of good to feel like she was needed, that she was relied upon,trusted. She thinks so poorly of her own judgment that I think the people who care about her need to let her know they trust her judgment. They trustherto be able to take care ofthem. A relationship is give and take, you know. Each partner’s shoulders are metaphorically able to withstand equal burdens.”
Hadn’t I been the one to tell London that, if only through a song?
Was I failing to show her that through my actions?
But before I could question Cammie any further, my phone rang. I pulled it out of my back pocket: Ramsay. Thinking he was calling about the Walsh brothers, I gestured with it to Cammie apologetically. “I need to take this. It was nice to see you, Cam. And thanks.”I think.
“See you. Remember what I said.” She waved before turning to her vehicle.
I answered my phone as I jumped into mine. “McRae?”
“Look, it’s nothing to worry about because Nick and the rest of the Hustons are about to be fucked in almost every way a person can be, but he texted London again. His texts were vile and if I ever see him, I’m going to slice his wee dick right off. She had a panic attack in the car park at the B and B. She’s okay. But thought you’d want to know.”
Fury and concern had my heart pumping fast and hard. “I’m on my way.”
“Thought you’d say that. I’ll let you go. You can tell me what happened with the police later.”
“Right.” All at once, the worry about the brothers and my business was on the back burner as I headed toward the B and B.
When I stepped inside the Victorian guest house, the sound of the old-fashioned bell over the door was lost in the cacophony coming from the dining room. It seemed the B and B was busy with breakfast. Heading past the empty reception, I strode down the hall toward the kitchen, the noise of the dining room fading until I could hear London and Tierney talking.
The sound of London’s voice released some of my tension and I was almost at the doorway when I heard my name.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I paused to eavesdrop. Not exactly my finest moment, but that’s how in knots I was over this woman.
“Do you think I need to tell him? According to Ramsay, the Nick thing isn’t a worry.”
