Free The Reckless Engineer by Jac Wright

easily? I mean, there’s a ladder that falls down from the loft to the third floor he would have to climb, right?’ Jeremy alerted her to the flaws in her story and immediately thought: Maybe I shouldn’t have done that.
    A pause. She looked at him, a sharp, searching, and tense look.
    ‘There’s a stairwell up to the roof terrace from the third floor. Papa loves to get up there with a beer sometimes, sit in the sun, and take in the views. He steps into the attic through the low set window. We leave it ajar in the summer, or he gets Félipé to open it. Besides, Papa’s okay with the stairs. It’s mom who’s having difficulties with them.’
    Lies, more bloody lies! And he wouldn’t know if he had not overheard the call.
    Jeremy’s mobile vibrated in the back pocket of his trousers and reminded him how desperately he needed the loo.
    ‘Caitlin, I have to give Maggie a call. She sometimes comes up to my place in London during her weekends off. She’s in the flat now, wondering where I am. I have just received a text.’
    He was lying too. It was merely a text from his mobile service provider. Maggie had not made any effort to connect with him for months. He looked at his watch; 4:12 in the afternoon.
    ‘Later I can continue putting Jack’s lab back together and I can also help you put your office back in order. Harry should like a set of copies of the papers they took so that he knows exactly what the police have got their hands on, if you don’t mind.’
    ‘That’s fine, and thank you, Jeremy. I think I shall take Jasper out for a ride into town. I need some fresh air and I need to clear my head.”
    Off to buy some new untraceable mobile phone SIMs, you mean.
    Caitlin had five horses in the stables close to the house. Jasper, the black thoroughbred, and two grey Lippizans, the filly Blue, and the gelding Ash; and two Arabians, the chestnut female, Quill, and the brown male, Cantor. There were more out on the paddocks and the stables further out.
    ‘Félipé.’ Caitlin slid the French patio doors open and called out. ‘Saddle up Jasper for me, will you.’
    Jeremy bounded upstairs to his room two steps at a time. It was Harry’s mobile that he dialled as he stepped into the bathroom.
    ‘Jeremy, what’s up? I’m about to see Jack at the police station.’
    ‘Hey did Caitlin and Douglas McAllen explain to you about the portfolio that the police had?’
    ‘Yes, Douglas said he hired a private detective to keep an eye on Jack to see if the affair was still going on. I—’
    ‘What’s the name of the detective firm? Who was his contact?’ Jeremy interrupted.
    ‘The firm is Blackmoon Investigations, based in Acton, London. Their guy’s name is John Smith, although it sounds like a work alias.’
    ‘Anyone with the initials K.C.?’
    ‘Not that I know of, but it could be someone who works there. How did you get the name, or rather the initials?’
    ‘I have to go now. I shall talk to you later about this, Harry.’ Jeremy hung up.
    Out of the window he could see Caitlin leading Jasper out of the stables.
    He opened the window and shouted, ‘One minute please, Caitlin.’
    She was on Jasper by the time he got to her. How powerful and majestic she looked, blending into one with the grand creature with effortless elegance and empathy. Jasper brushed back damp earth with his hooves in anticipation and nodded his head at Caitlin’s show-winning bearded Silkie birds strutting their pristine white and blue-silver plumage in the large open pen in the backyard to his left. A few yards on his right the heated pool made steam into the cool air.
    ‘Maggie’s driving herself back home. I’m on thin ice with her, having forgotten our anniversary this weekend. I need to drop by her place at Southampton to make amends,’ he lied. ‘I can take the train and I should be back by 10:00 p.m. Is that okay, Caitlin? Will you be okay for a few hours?’
    ‘Of course, I should be fine, Jeremy. Thank you for spending