Cold Comfort (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 5)

“I wonder if there is something wrong, and that is why he didn’t come back?” It was highly unusual for her to get so many visitors let alone male ones. The men on her doorstep this morning must have something to do with Oliver. “The neighbours are going to have a wonderful time with their arrival as well.”

Emmeline made her way to the door and yanked it open without giving a moment’s thought to the possibility that it might not be Oliver’s colleagues on the doorstep.

“Yes?” She asked, wishing now she had stopped to check the clock on the mantle for the time. Whatever time it was, the morning was still incredibly early given dawn had barely snuck over the horizon.

Rhys stared for a moment or two. Eventually, his mouth snapped sh

ut and he nudged Harry, who was openly staring in disbelief at the stunning young woman who had just yanked the door open.

“Miss?” Rhys croaked. “Miss Emmeline Elkins?”

“Good God,” Harry mumbled only to jerk and look contritely at her. “Good morning,” he corrected, looking sheepish.

Emmeline looked tousled, but still downright beautiful. For a moment, Harry looked warily at Rhys. To see her thus was enough of a warning as to why Oliver was so reluctant to spend any time with her but might explain why Oliver hadn’t returned to the safe house last night. Given the look of her now, he had made his presence felt while he was here as well.

“May we speak with Oliver, please?” Harry asked politely.

Rhys grinned because he suspected if Harry had been wearing a hat, he would have snatched it off his head and held it respectfully before him. His smile fell, when Emmeline frowned at them in confusion and clearly had no idea what they were talking about.

“I thought he was with you,” she replied blankly. “Did he not come back?”

“He returned here,” Rhys said looking hesitantly at Harry.

“He didn’t come back here yesterday.” Emmeline stepped back and waved the men into the house. “He said he was going to about eight o’clock but didn’t. I just assumed he was busy with his investigation, or something.”

“One of our colleagues spoke to him around midnight. He said that he hadn’t been able to come back to check on you because he had been delayed with the coroner. Our colleague saw him last around midnight,” Harry replied without telling her exactly where Oliver had intended to go. He couldn’t say because nobody had any idea why Oliver had left the house. Niall had said it was probably to see Emmeline again. To find it wasn’t the reason why Oliver had just vanished was disturbing.

“Is it likely he has gone home?” Emmeline suggested.

“We don’t live around here,” Rhys replied instinctively.

He suspected that telling this young lady such things wouldn’t matter. He wasn’t divulging any secrets per se. None of the Star Elite who were working on the investigation into finding the kidnapped young women came from Leicestershire or Derbyshire. The local groups, who would invariably have investigated such crimes, were busy investigating other criminal activity going on in the area and didn’t have the manpower to conduct the investigation. Rhys, Oliver and the rest of the men did.

Emmeline paled as her concern grew. “Where is he? What has happened to him? He said he was going to speak to the magistrate about the discovery of the young woman in the graveyard yesterday. Did he not?”

“Yes,” Rhys replied. “But then he came back to the – us – and left again. He didn’t tell our colleague where he was going. We just assumed he had returned here.”

“We are sorry to bother you, miss,” Harry offered, back-stepping to the door. “If he does appear, can you tell him to come and see us as quickly as he can, please?”

“Why? Has something else happened?” Emmeline asked. She waved a random hand wildly around the hallway. “Of course, I will tell him you wish to see him, but why is he not where you expect him to be? Do you think something has happened?”

It was startling to realise just how rattled she was by that prospect. It was unnerving, and deeply upsetting to think that something had happened to a man like Oliver. Yesterday, he had been so solid and strong, so vibrantly alive, that he had seemed invincible.

“No. This happens quite often in the course of our investigations, miss. It is nothing to worry about. It is just a miscommunication, that’s all,” Harry assured her. “Think nothing of it. If he does appear then please, tell him to come and speak with us, preferably before he goes off anywhere else?”

Before Emmeline could ask him anything else, Harry yanked the door open and stepped outside.

“Wait!” Emmeline called when his friend joined him. “Do you still need my help with your investigation?”

Rhys and Harry looked at each other. “That is something you will have to speak to Oliver about. It is his responsibility.”

They both eyed their horses.

“Sorry for the intrusion, miss,” Rhys offered. “Good day.”

Emmeline opened her mouth to call after them but there was nothing more she could say. They clearly had no idea where Oliver was, or what he was doing, and as such couldn’t offer her the assurances she needed.

“Now I have to spend another day waiting and worrying.” Emmeline sighed and stepped back into the house and closed the door to the sound of retreating horses.