Betrayal of Innocence (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 1)

“And they get home again relatively easily if there is any threat. They tend not to venture too far. If they do expand their target area, they usually get locals in the new location to help them,” Aaron added.

“Like minded criminals,” Oliver said.

“It may be someone from the village then,” Vanessa replied with a shudder.

Weeks sighed heavily. “But that isn’t to say these kidnappings have anything to do with Curtis. It would be wise for you not to go around accusing him and getting yourself into trouble.”

“I haven’t accused him of anything, Mr Weeks,” Vanessa assured him firmly. “Neither would I, or could I. I have just asked him questions about the last time he saw my sister, that’s all. He claims not to have noticed anything untoward, but I know the night before she disappeared she had a discussion with him that was fraught.”

“What was the discussion about?” Justin asked, but suspected he already knew.

“I don’t know. She didn’t tell me. Geraldine got too upset when she tried to tell me, so I let the matter drop. I was going to speak with her about it when she was a little calmer, but she disappeared before I could,” Vanessa replied.

“Where in the village do you live?” Justin asked suddenly.

Vanessa forced herself to ignore the shiver of awareness that shimmered through her when her eyes met his. This was the first time she had met his gaze this close, and it was distinctly unnerving. She wanted to step back and put some distance between them not least because she suspected his piercing gaze missed nothing. He could read her thoughts, she was sure of it, and that suspicion seemed to be confirmed when a small smile curved his chiselled lips. She just wished those deep, dark eyes of his were as easy to read.

“At the far end of the village,” she replied quietly.

“Is your father nearby?”

Vanessa nodded. “We share the same house.”

“Well, let me escort you back there. It isn’t safe for any lone female to be walking the streets right now, even in daylight given some of the women have been snatched in the morning,” Justin murmured.

“Thank you,” she murmured when she tried, yet failed to come up with an adequate objection.

“We will let you know how we get on with the investigation,” Oliver assured her before she left. “Meantime, if you need anything or hear of anything new then do let us know. We are staying in the tavern.”

“Really?” Vanessa’s brows lifted in astonishment.

She looked at Weeks. It was unusual for the magistrate not to accommodate them himself. They were, after all, here to help him.

“If you want somewhere to stay that would afford you a bit more privacy, Miss Clarkson’s father owns the house next door to his that is empty, doesn’t he?” Weeks lifted his brows at Vanessa. “I am sure he wouldn’t mind you using it for a few weeks. It is full furnished still, I believe?”

Vanessa nodded slowly, her gaze straying once more to Justin.

“He won’t mind, if you have no objection to me telling him why you are here. The house is big enough,” Vanessa assured them. “It would also afford you some privacy but is close enough to the village for you to keep an eye on things if you wanted to.”

The men looked at each other. Justin caught Angus’s faint nod. When none of the men came up with any argument, Justin nodded his thanks, relieved to have found a useful alternative to the tavern.

“If you are sure your father would be amenable to it, we would love to accept your kind offer. We will recompense you, of course,” Justin replied.

“That’s settled then,” Vanessa said weakly, a little perplexed at how swiftly everything had changed.

Within minutes, Vanessa was escorted out of the house, and found herself walking beside Justin down the narrow side road that would take her home.

“How long have you lived in the village?” Justin asked, determined to make full use of his time alone with her to find out everything he could about her.

He tried to assure himself it was professional interest, but knew it was anything but. He wanted to listen to her speak. There was something about her melodic voice that was eminently soothing. He had a mental vision of sitting with her before the fire on a cold winter’s evening listening to her tell him about her day.

“Pardon?” he asked blankly when he realised she had asked him something and he hadn’t heard a word.

“I asked where you come from,” Vanessa replied patiently, wondering if he found her boring. He was looking at her with such a strange expression on his face she wasn’t at all sure what to think. “You seem distracted about something.”

“I am just thinking over everything you told me,” Justin lied as he shoved all thoughts of a personal nature to one side. “Tell me what discord there is between you and Weeks.”

Vanessa sighed. “Until Geraldine vanished, I had had a perfectly good association with Mr Weeks. He is a good man, but I haven’t had need to use his services, or call upon him for anything. I have heard he is good at what he does, although can be considered, well, weak.”