Fallen Hero (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 3)

“Damn,” he cursed with a rueful shake of his head.

“Looks like you have yourself some trouble here,” Sir Hugo murmured as he closed the door and turned to study the unconscious man on the floor. “Know who he is?”

“Yes, unfortunately,” Aaron said. “What are you doing here?”

Sir Hugo lifted his brows at him. “I have been to Oliver’s house, but nobody has seen him for weeks. I have been to see Callum, who has been home, but I missed him too. Then I have been to Jasper’s home, but his housekeeper refused to even speak to me. However, I did manage to discover he hasn’t been home for months. The same for Niall, and so I decided to come here. It appears, in good time as well.” He looked at the very welcome sight of Aaron. “Care to tell me where the Hell everyone is?”

Aaron sighed. “Trying to find out if a dead man is really dead, and who has stolen three thousand pounds, if it is really stolen.”

“What about Horvat?” Sir Hugo asked in a conversational tone that belied the sharp look he gave Aaron.

Aaron told him succinctly what he could do about Horvat.

Sir Hugo studied him carefully. “This has to come first,” he declared quietly.

“Horvat is nothing to me,” Aaron spat.

“I know you are angry about Charity still. I can assure you that she has recovered, and Angus will be by her side when the baby is born. We aren’t completely cold-hearted, you know?” Sir Hugo drawled. “As a matter of fact, I want to speak to all of you about a proposition I have for you. It might help to alleviate some of your concerns about how big a bastard you think I am.”

“That isn’t what this is all about,” Aaron informed him contemptuously.

“Well, I have a proposition for you anyway. Am I to take it that the men are all together still?” His eyes were hopeful when they met Aaron’s.

Aaron nodded. “They are at the Lincoln house.”

“Thomas Lincoln? Your friend?” Sir Hugo asked.

Aaron didn’t need to either confirm or deny it.

“I have some news about the situation there as well,” Sir

Hugo added.

“Go on.” Aaron’s stomach dipped to his toes.

Sir Hugo nudged the unconscious man with the toe of his boot. “Does this have something to do with Thomas Lincoln?”

Aaron nodded and told his boss what he knew.

“Well, let’s get him to prison where he belongs. He can stew there for the time being because we don’t have the time to interrogate him. We will come back to him, though, if we need any pertinent information off him.”

There was something in Sir Hugo’s voice that was so deadly Aaron almost felt sorry for the man on the floor. Sir Hugo had a reputation for getting what he wanted from interrogations and had a fearsome reputation as a ‘can-do’ man who made things happen for people. While Aaron was still wary of what his boss had come to tell him, he was glad to have his support.

“Well, let’s deal with him. Are you staying here for the time being?”

“No, I am going back,” Aaron replied.

“Well, let’s get to it then. I am sure you will all want to hear what I have to tell you sooner rather than later,” Sir Hugo drawled.

Together, the men hauled the prone man off the floor and slammed him into a chair. The man moaned and jerked awake only to peer in stunned disbelief around the room.

“A nice long walk will help wake you up,” Sir Hugo smirked with satisfaction.

Minutes later, the men set out for gaol with their new captive trotting along behind them.

By the time Aaron reached the gaol, he was positively chomping at the bit to get back to Elspeth. The last thing he wanted was to have to leave her in the house by herself for the night, but it was looking inevitable now. While he knew his colleagues were there to protect her, he wanted to be there in case any more faces appeared at the window.

“What do you know?” he asked of Sir Hugo when he couldn’t stand the silence between them a moment longer.