Free When in Bruges (Humorous Romantic Mystery) by Nic Saint Page B

bag filled with the contents of Gnat’s safe. “Yeah, mission accomplished. Funny thing, that. Kate’s dad was also being blackmailed by Gnat.”
    “Small world.”
    “And apparently he also had an affair with Jeanie Geyser.”
    “Very small world!”
    They’d arrived at Kirt’s apartment building, just behind the train station, and Chris pulled up in front of it, the engine idling.
    “For a moment, I really thought we had a connection, you know?” he said, staring before him into the night. “While we were working together to open the safe, it almost felt like old times.” He rubbed his eyes. “And then I saw the ring, and I knew it was all over.”
    “Yeah, well…”
    Chris looked over to his friend. “I’m sorry, Kirt. I’m monopolizing the conversation. Tell me about Lauren.”
    Kirt’s eyes lit up with the holy fire of love at the mention of that hallowed name, and for a while he talked well and at some considerable length about his serendipitous meeting with Lauren. He could have talked even more, but considering the hour, he finally decided to call it a night.
    “I’m happy for you, buddy,” finally said Chris, and gave his friend a quick hug before the latter stepped out of the car.
    “Are you gonna be all right?” said Kirt, eyeing Chris wearily. “You can stay at my place if you don’t want to be alone.”
    “I’ll be fine,” assured Chris. “Say hello to Lauren from me when you call her, all right?”
    “How did you know I was gonna call her?” said Kirt with mock surprise. Then he raised his hand and disappeared into the building.
    Pulling away from the curb, Chris felt a pang of sorrow. Nothing like seeing your best friend fall in love to remind you how empty your own life is. And meeting Kate had really driven home the undeniable truth that he still missed her. He wanted to be with her. And now he probably never would.
    Arriving home, he decided to check the contents of Gnat’s safe before turning in for the night. Taking a seat at his desk, he flicked on the lamp.
    He hadn’t had time to go over the night’s spoils, and for all he knew there might be nothing there. The pictures could very well be on Gnat’s computer, which meant they’d done all this work—and damage—for naught.
    He sank into his chair, and emptied the contents of the plastic bag onto his desk, spreading out the material across the blotter. The first thing he saw was a small brown bubble envelope with the name ‘Van Damme’ scribbled across it.
    Of course. That’s why Kate had put it in his pile. They hadn’t had much time back at Gazet Street, but still she’d managed to quickly sort through the stuff. She really was an amazing woman.
    He quickly opened the envelope. It contained a single USB stick. He toyed with it for a moment, then inserted it into his laptop and waited for its contents to appear. All picture files.
    Bingo!
    He clicked on the first one and stared at it for a full ten seconds before he realized what was wrong with it.
    Uh-oh.

Chapter Fifteen
    K ate sat on the couch , sipping a cup of hot chamomile-and-ginger tea. In spite of her misgivings about Queenie, she now appreciated the foresight the woman had had by putting a thermos of the steamy brew in both her and Lauren’s room. How she knew that they’d be in dire need of the soothing steaming beverage, she didn’t know, but finding it upon arrival with a little note—written in Queenie’s tiny hand on a flower card—had done much to lift her spirits.
    Hearing from Lauren how she’d just done the craziest thing in her life—kissing a practically total stranger in the middle of the street—the notion that she was a happily engaged woman had somehow lost much of its initial power to stave off a twinge of jealousy. She should have been happy for Lauren, and giggle along with her in girlish delight. Instead, she felt a deepening sense of gloom at the thought of returning home to Franklin in one week, and spending the rest of