Page 42 of Into the Rain


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They’d never got around to discussing why Charles had asked her into his office. Nico had been much too preoccupied with Lacey’s attacker to remember to ask. He’d assumed Charles was merely confirming her backstory. Making sure she really checked out, just as Nico had told him. But wait, hadn’t Charles been the one to remind Nico to make sure Lacey’s credentials were verifiable? How could he be putting her on the suspect list in one breath and then offering her a job with the next? Charles must not truly presume Lacey to be a realistic suspect to be offering her a job. So what had his little lecture been all about then? Just a way to get Nico to dig a little deeper into her life? But why? Charles had feigned innocence when Nico had told him about her career in the Victoria Police Force, but Nico had a growing feeling that Charles had this information tucked up his sleeve all along.

“He said your station is short-staffed and they’re hiring two more constables. He said I should consider applying for one of the positions.”

“Wow.” Nico was a little lost for words. “Are you going to? Apply, I mean.”

“I don’t know.” She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. The rain was getting heavier now, and she pulled up her hood, effectively hiding her face. “The offer came out of nowhere. Shadbolt said he’d talked to my old commander, Anthony Blaxland, and from what he heard, he’d be happy to have me on his team.”

“Wow,” Nico said again. “Would you want to stay down here, though? I thought you were keen to get back to Victoria.”

“Hmm,” she hummed an indistinct answer, then shot him a look. “I don’t have any solid plans. But yes, I was eventually supposed to go home.”

He just stopped himself from sayingwowfor the third time. This was an interesting development. And Nico was unsure how he felt about it.

Yes, he had just asked Lacey to stay on. For a few more days. But if she took up this job offer… What would that mean? To him? To her? To their relationship? If in fact they even had a relationship. One night of fun between the sheets—albeit the best fun he might ever have had with a woman—did not a relationship make.

And the biggest question of all, did he want Lacey working in the same precinct as him? Would he be able to cope with that?

In the end, it was Lacey’s decision. He might be able to sway her one way or the other, but only if he could make up his own mind about what he wanted first. And was it even fair to influence her?

He tried not to let this news rattle him. The walk in the rain had been refreshing, easing his stress. And he and Lacey had been getting on well. After the weird tension between them this morning, it’d been nice to feel that easy camaraderie return.

They loaded Smudge into the van, and Lacey offered him the keys. “I thought you’d never ask,” he said with a grin, jumping at the chance to drive this old heritage vehicle.

It wasn’t as easy as it looked, and Nico had to concentrate to get the gear changes right; even though his Jeep was a stick shift, this old gearbox required a gentle hand and some extra coaxing. But they were soon jaunting down the road, and he had to admit there was a feeling of freedom driving this old girl along the coastline, almost as if the car was enjoying the drive as much as he was.

As they drove up his street, they were laughing at the comical look on Smudge’s face as he tried to draw in as much air as he could through the small gap in the window they’d left open for him, when Nico slowed the van suddenly. There was a car parked in his driveway. It was Gabriel’s little MG. Gabriel was pacing back and forth at the front of his car, being watched by the constable on duty, who followed his pacing with a wary gaze.

Nico pulled up alongside the MG and wound down the window. “Gabe,” he greeted his friend with a big smile.

“Where the hell have you been?” Gabe jogged around to the driver’s side. “I just heard someone attacked Lacey. I was so worried.” His friend peered in through the window, so he could stare at Lacey. “This cop wouldn’t let me near your place, so I’ve been waiting here for the past half hour for you to come home.”

“Sorry, we’ve been for a walk along the beach,” Lacey called, leaning past Nico.

“Good. Right. Okay then.” Gabriel took a step back. “I’m just glad that you’re both okay.” He ran a hand through his hair and appeared to regain some of his equilibrium.

“Yes, we’re fine.” Gabriel’s reaction seemed a little over the top, and Nico studied his friend. It was the first time he’d seen the doctor since Lacey had revealed his little secret. Gabe looked exactly as he always did. Dressed in black trousers and a woolen black overcoat, clean-shaven, he was the epitome of the fashionable modern man. But now Nico saw the way his friend dressed in a new light. Gabe always took a lot of care with the way he looked, but Nico had never questioned his friend’s tendencies before. Nico drew in a breath.Act normal. That’s all he needed to do.

“Why don’t you come in for a coffee,” Nico suggested. “I’ll park the Kombi and tell the constable to let you in.” He felt a stab of guilt that he hadn’t told Gabriel about the attack yet. But even though he considered Gabe his best friend in this town, he didn’t need to tell him every little detail.

“Thanks. But no thanks.” Gabriel glanced up at the house and then back at Nico. “I’ve got another engagement. I just wanted to make sure you were both good. When I heard the news, I was shocked. How could someone attack Lacey at the house of our local detective? Whoever it was must have some balls.”

Nico couldn’t disagree. The guy was either terribly stupid or terribly desperate to attack Lacey in the open and in the backyard of a well-known officer of the law.

“But I would like to talk more with you both. What about lunch tomorrow at my place? I’ll cook up a roast lamb, you can bring the red wine. What do you think?”

Nico glanced over at Lacey and she nodded her consent. Why not? It might be good to catch up with his old friend. See what was going on in his head. Nico wasn’t all that keen to bring up the question of Gabe’s sexuality, but he guessed it needed to be addressed at some stage. He’d need to do some more work tomorrow, perhaps even pop into the station, but he could fit that in around the lunch. See, he was getting better at this work-life balance thing.

“Sure. We’ll see you around midday, then,” Nico agreed.

“Great.” Gabriel seemed pleased they’d accepted his invitation. “See you tomorrow.” He shot the constable a hard glare before he got back in his car and drove away.

Nico eased the Kombi up the driveway.

“I love a good Sunday lamb roast,” Lacey commented as he reversed the van in next to the shed. Then the smile fled from her face. “It sounds like word has definitely got around about the assault, though.” She bit her lip and turned to face him.

“Yep. This is a tight-knit community. You can’t keep anything secret for long.” Nico paused for a second. “Gabe seemed really worried about you,” Nico commented.

“He knows I’m important to you. That’s probably why,” she countered.

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