Chapter Twenty-One
Grinning, Nick headed back to her room. Today was going to be a good one. As she gathered her laptop and notebook, her phone rang and she smiled as Paddy’s face filled the screen.
‘Hello, you! What’s Ireland like? Have you found out anything about Da yet?’
‘Not a thing, but my trip so far has been eventful.’
‘Eventful?’ said Paddy intrigued. ‘Clem eventful or Ari eventful?’
‘Clem eventful.’
Nick smiled as she heard Paddy exclaim loudly and watched as she settled down into a sofa. ‘I need all the details right now! Quick, before Elly wakes.’
And so Nick told Paddy all about the little dog and horrible crossing.
‘—and Gabe says Ohana means “family”, so I thought that sounded like the perfect name.’
Paddy had been listening as attentively to what her sister wasn’t saying as to what she was. And for the first time in weeks she hadn’t mentioned the investigations once. Nor did she seem particularly focussed on the reason for her trip to Ireland: to find out more about their father. If anything she sounded a bit scatty.
‘And Gabe is?’
‘Oh, he’s another guest staying here. In fact, he’s helping me with the research as the causeway is broken and we’re all stuck on the island. It’s a huge adventure,’ she said happily .
‘An adventure? You’re stranded on an island with a stranger called Gabe and a dog called Ohana?’
‘I know. Mad, isn’t it?’ Nick rarely spoke freely and the only person she did that with was her twin but now she was positively chatty. ‘I don’t know. I just feel reckless. And Gabe is a great person, he’s got a great sense of humour and he’s really—’
***
‘—fascinating. I know it sounds daft. I’ve only just met her after all, but there’s just something about her.’
Gabe laughed self-consciously down the phone as he heard his brother snort.
‘You’re supposed to be there to work. Not fall for some dog-toting airhead.’
‘She is not an airhead. Did I mention she speaks Mandarin? She was just out of sorts when she arrived.’
‘And you had to ride in and rescue her?’
‘No, I—’ Gabe broke off. There was no point in trying to hide anything from his brother. ‘Anyway, I can’t snoop on Nick Byrne because she’s not here. Plus you know I thought this was a fool’s mission. Anyone that smart is unlikely to leave herself vulnerable just because she has left the city. In the meantime, I will entertain myself as I see fit.’
‘And does that entertaining involve a certain Letta?’ Gabe chuckled sheepishly and Rafe continued. ‘Honestly, I’m just teasing. Have fun. In a way, I’m glad you didn’t meet Nick Byrne. I’m fed up with our brothers yanking our chains. If they were stupid enough to screw up the bank that’s on them.’
‘So you don’t think they were innocent either? ’
‘Seems unlikely, wouldn’t you say? Knowing them as we do. Pretty convenient to have some traders to blame. I mean, clearly those traders were guilty but really, how independently were they working, do you think?’
‘I know. We’ve been over this a thousand times. Father says he knew nothing about it. And I believe him.’
‘So what about Byrne?’ asked Gabe. ‘Do you think she’s innocent?’
‘Oh, she’s probably as bad as them. I’m sick of all of them. People who make money with no care for those they trample on.’ Rafe sounded tired and Gabe was concerned, his brother wasn’t usually so judgemental.
‘Rough day?’
‘Sorry, yes. Problems with the property.’
He and Gabe had bought a large dilapidated mansion in the Cotswolds. The main building had burnt in a fire and they were living in the east wing and renovating the west wing. The goal was to sell both halves when all the work was done. They were hoping that there would be enough profit for Gabe to start up his own firm and for Rafe to do the same. Both brothers wanted to be their own bosses and were working hard towards that goal.
At the moment, Gabe was working for a corporate law firm with strong ties to the Harrington business. He was using his salary to support the build, whilst Rafe had invested all his savings. This was their biggest project to date and Gabe was feeling the stress of it all. He wanted to set up his own firm but right now he and his brother couldn’t risk the drop in income.
‘Tell me about the house. What’s wrong? ’
Gabe listened as Rafe let out a deep sigh. He could picture his twin pulling at his hair in frustration.
‘We’ve lost our site quantity surveyor – he’s ill – and now lots of things are going awry. I’m trying to keep an eye on it, but my actual job is currently up in Northumberland and I’m a bit stretched.’
Gabe tried to think of a way to cheer his brother up. All he could do was reassure him that he knew he was working flat out.
After they’d hung up Gabe sighed. The house build was hopefully going to make them enough money but at the moment all he could do was pay the bills. Which meant doing his half-siblings’ bidding: if they told him to jump he had better have a spring in his step.
Shaking his head, he decided to focus on the day ahead. At least that was something to look forward to. Who knew family research could hold so much appeal? Checking himself in the mirror he grinned and then headed off to the archives. A date with a girl in the stacks. He smiled, hoping he wasn’t making a nuisance of himself, he wondered how he could make himself useful to her, without coming across as over eager.