Chapter Thirty-Three

The Return Of Kat

Three days later:

"You are looking very pensive, Edward. You've hardly said a word all afternoon. Is there anything I can do? I am a good listener, you know. Or is there something more you need to know about the business? Either way, I'm here for you."

"Thanks, Kitt." I leaned back in the passenger seat and frowned at the car's talking screen. "I was just thinking. I've got a few thorny issues on my mind."

I grimaced as I turned to look out the side window, wondering how much longer we were going to be stuck out here in the middle of nowhere. I needed to get back to Gull Cottage by six o'clock and the afternoon was almost gone.

After Kat had driven away from the house, I'd telephoned and made the appointment to see Kelvin Graves, the executor of Mrs Greig's will, the following morning. I got out of bed, showered and then dressed in one of my Boston suits.

I knew it was a mistake from the moment I put it on. Despite indulging in a lot of Maria's excellent cooking, the jacket and trousers still fit me, but they immediately began to itch against my skin. I felt confined. I had become too used to wearing jeans and casual, open-necked shirts.

After breakfast, I drove into town to the law firm's offices. "Good morning, Mr Bridges. I'm very pleased to meet you." Graves rose from behind his desk to greet me with a firm handshake. He was a comfortably plump older man with a keen eye and a watchful expression.

"Good morning," I replied, taking the chair before his desk that he indicated. "Thank you for seeing me at such short notice."

"I'll admit your telephone call intrigued me." As he sat down, he appeared to be studying me closely. "I have everything here you requested."

He wasted no time getting down to business. He opened a drawer in his desk and took out Mrs Greig's file containing her papers and will. He flicked the cover open and went quickly through her specific instructions about the sale of Gull Cottage and all its contents. I listened intently but didn't comment.

The old lady had bequeathed jewellery, some other personal items and the small amount of her remaining life savings to Kat in a private capacity. The house and grounds had also been left to her, on the understanding that she would not try to keep them because the cost of the property taxes would be too prohibitive on such a large place. And there was that singular instruction for Katt to take over the house and sell it to the right person for a fair and reasonable price.

"Miss Morton is a lovely young woman." Graves stopped reading to look up at me with narrowed eyes. "Mrs Greig trusted her implicitly to follow through on her detailed instructions for the property. Not many people would have taken on such a huge responsibility or executed it so well. Miss Morton could have sold the whole place for the highest price she could get, and no one could have done anything about it."

"But she didn't," I replied quietly. "She kept her word to her good friend and sold the house and ground to my parents. Knowing they were the right owners for it and could afford the ongoing upkeep."

"Yes, she did." Graves nodded. "I admire her for that. She secured the house's long-term future. Which was very important to both of them. They never did tell me why it was so important. I have my theories, of course."

"I see…" I stared hard at the old man, hearing all that he'd left unsaid.

Tangled emotions deep within me began to clash together painfully, making it hard to breathe. I closed my eyes briefly as I realised, I'd allowed my instinctive, hard-nosed Boston lawyer persona to distrust and question Kat's motives and cloud my judgement.

Over the years, I'd become too used to dealing with unscrupulous people who would have immediately betrayed their given word for a larger slice of the money pie. It was how that shady world functioned. It was a sobering reminder that I no longer lived and worked in that world. I shook my head.

All the time, Kat had been completely honest and up-front while I had hurt her with my suspicions and doubts. I moved sharply within the blasted suit I'd put on for this meeting. It now felt alien and uncomfortable, and I longed to get back into more comfortable clothing.

And I needed to see Kat again if only to apologise for my behaviour. I passed a quick hand over my eyes, knowing I had made a complete hash of everything. For the first time, in a very long time, I needed to trust and believe.

"Yes, of course, Miss Kat kept her word," the executor watched my reaction as he nodded slowly. "That is who she is. But she agonised for some days over her choice which I found very admirable in one so young. Your parents were very lucky in their purchase. The house will only appreciate as the years go by."

He laid one hand on the file. "It is a magnificent property, one of the jewels of our city. Its unusual construction allowed it to survive the nineteen-twenty-five Santa Barbara earthquake that levelled everything else within miles of the house. I've always felt it's blessed and very special. I would hate to see it torn down and the land sold for condos."

He sat forward behind his desk. "It was my privilege to know both ladies. Though I was Mrs Greig's lawyer for many years before Miss Kat came on the scene. She made the old lady feel young again. She became the daughter Mrs Greig never had. But they both knew that the costs of upkeeping the house and paying the taxes were well beyond her means and would soon cripple her financially. Mrs Greig did not want that." He cleared his throat as he held up Mrs Greig's folded will and frowned at me.

"No, thanks…" I shook my head, knowing what he was asking of me. "I have heard all I need to know. Please seal that with your firm's stamp and then have it witnessed that it has not been opened at any point in front of me."

"Thank you…" Graves sighed as he closed the file.

He steepled his fingers as he frowned at me over the rims of his spectacles. "I have kept an eye on Miss Kat these last few months as she struggled with her loss. I would hate to see her hurt or taken advantage of in any way by anyone. She has been through a great deal in her life. I wish her every happiness now that she has completed the difficult task she was set."

He hesitated and then said, "She came to see me two days ago to inform me she's thinking of moving on from the area, now that there's nothing more to keep her here now that the house is in safe hands."

He shook his head. "That, I would hate to see. Many people rely on her and she's a real asset. But she was deeply upset and seemed determined to leave. She wouldn't tell me the cause, but I can guess some man is at the bottom of her distress."

His dark eyes censured me. "I tried to talk her out of it, but to no avail. She is quite determined to move on and soon."

"I'm truly sorry. I didn't know that." I stood up and held out my hand for the older man to shake. "Thank you for your time."

"I hope I have allayed some of your concerns," Graves replied as he got up to show me to the door. "Give my best to Miss Kat when you see her again. Tell her I am thinking of her and wish her well, whatever she decides."

"I will…" I absorbed what he had said and left unsaid. I nodded to him and walked out of his office and into the sunshine, intending to find Kat and try to make amends before it was too late.

I had seen her wipe her eyes as she looked back at me in her rear vision mirror when she drove away from me that night. I was shocked and confused that I had upset her. It was never my intention and I wanted to fix it. I just didn't know how.

But that was where my determination to make amends - and my investigation - had abruptly stalled. The moment I stepped out into the street, I was swept up into the frenetic world of Knight Investigations. Since then, I haven't had time to think about anything else.

"There you are, Edward…" Kitt pulled up next to me in the street. "Devon told us where you'd be."

"We called by the house to pick you up, but Devon said you'd already left," Michael added through his open window. "Come on and get in. We're late already. There's a lot you need to know about this business and we're wasting daylight."

"Okay, thanks…" I circled the car and barely had time to get seated before we roared off down the street.

We drove to Michael's newly acquired office premises in downtown Montecito. "If you're gonna survive in this business, you'll need to keep your wits about you at all times," he said after he introduced me to Bonnie and RC who were working on cases at their desks. "We've got a lot to cram into these next three days. Once your secretary gets out here on Monday, we'll set you both up in that empty office over there."

He waved one hand toward a large corner office with windows that looked out over the street on two sides. It was flooded with sunshine. "When you've got your results from the bar exams, we'll put you to work right away. The cases are mounting up and our old lawyer's itching to retire and go fishing full time."

"I'm sure I've passed the exams." I nodded. "And thanks. It'll suit us just fine," I replied as a phone shrilled.

RC picked up the telephone on his desk and answered it. "A call for you, Boss," he said, waving the receiver toward the windows of the large central office. "I put it through to your phone. It's old Mrs Pearson again. She wants to know if you've found her missing husband yet."

"All right…" Michael shook his head and grimaced. "Hang here for a bit. I won't be long," he instructed before he went through to his office and shut the door behind him.

RC turned to grin at me. "Good luck with the next three days."

"You're surely going to need it," Bonnie joined in with a thoughtful frown at my formal suit. "Just hang on in there and try not to scream."

"Yeah, try not to scream…" RC's grin widened as they looked at each other knowingly. "Michael doesn't like it. He says it's bad for business."

"Is there something I should know that you're not telling me?" I asked suspiciously, shifting uncomfortably within my formal clothing, wishing I had time to go home and change.

"Nope…" RC shook his head. "We all had to start somewhere. You'll soon get the hang of it. Provided you can hang on." He chuckled at his own joke.

Michael reappeared, looking disgruntled. "Old Mr Pearson ran away with another woman years ago, but the wife still wants him back. And she'll pay very well if we can just locate his sorry hide."

He shrugged and turned toward the office door. "Come on, we've got places to be and we're wasting time."

He looked me over. "The beard suits you. But we don't have time for you to go home and get changed out of that suit. Tomorrow, you'll need to dress more casually. I'll pick you up at dawn. Make sure you're ready to roll."

"Fine by me. I'll be ready," I replied as I followed him back outside to where Kitt was parked.

Over the next three days and nights, Michael and Kitt showed me all sides of their extensive investigation business. It had been very informative, but also hectic and exhausting. Both the car and the man seemed to enjoy doing everything at a breakneck speed that left me breathless. I was very pleased that I hadn't yet found a reason to scream.

But Michael got excellent results, and that was what mattered most. The firm had billed many very satisfied customers who were willing to pay well for the services of Knight Investigations. And spread the word amongst their well-heeled friends and business partners.

Privately, I could admit I'd been pitched way out of my comfort zone. I smiled wryly. The safety of my oak desk back in Boston seemed a world away now but I certainly had no intention of crawling back there. I would hang on and prove myself to my mercurial new boss.

But, for me, the downside was I had barely slept. I hadn't been allowed any personal time. My eyes felt gritty, and every limb ached. And I had no time to try and make contact with Kat to apologise for my crass behaviour. It settled as a burning need in the pit of my stomach. I knew Mum had her phone number, but I wanted to see Kat in person.

This morning, Kitt and Michael had picked me up before dawn as usual and we'd worked through several hours of intensive investigations. It was well into the last afternoon when Michael had taken an urgent call and we'd driven out to a remote location in the hills behind Montecito.

My new boss told me to stay put in the car. He said he had an important meeting and he needed to go alone. He promised not to be gone long.

Then he left us to confer secretly with one of his many shady connections in the city. I had been truly impressed with his extensive network of informants and operatives. He certainly knew how to make things and people work to his benefit and advantage.

But I instinctively disliked the eerie remoteness of our present location. My spine began to crawl with rising unease as the minutes ticked by and there was no sign of his return.

I was also becoming increasingly impatient to be gone. "Come on, Michael. Where are you?" I tapped my fingers on my knee. He had still not returned, and I couldn't help glancing down at my wristwatch again.

"Ah, Edward…" Kitt said then when I hadn't elaborated on my thoughts. "I need to say that I have been thinking, as well. We are alone and I do hope you don't mind the presumption…"

When he paused, I turned back to frown at his screen. "If you've got something to say, then spit it out. I'm listening." I kept one eye on the world outside the car.

"Thank you…" he replied, still with that note of hesitation in his voice. "Well, it's just that since Devon was my creator and he has been revealed as your father…" The moving red lines on his screen paused again.

"Go on…" I encouraged, now thoroughly intrigued.

I had never known the car to be hesitant about anything, except some of Michael's wilder exploits. I had to keep reminding myself he was only a machine and not a living being. But that was becoming harder and harder to do the more we interacted.

In many ways, he reminded me of my little brother, Danny. I shook my head at the craziness of the idea, but it wouldn't go away. There was another thorny issue that would soon have to be dealt with.

My siblings, the children of Ian Bridges, had been told about their father's arrest and they had taken it well. The trial back in Santa Fe was due to begin soon and they'd both said they would attend. I had to wonder whose side they would be on.

"Well, you see, Edward, it's like this…" Kitt tried again, bringing my wandering attention back to his screen. "I have been doing some in-depth calculations and I keep coming back to one singular conclusion. That is, that you and I are natural –"

Whatever he was about to say or confess was abruptly interrupted by the sound of gunfire. Bullets whizzed past the car or bounced off its bodywork. I ducked down and turned in my seat to see Michael dodging out of the nearby bushes at breakneck speed. A spray of bullets kicked up dust at his feet and flew past his head as he made a desperate dive for the car.

"Open up, Kitt!" he shouted. "I'm comin' in hot!"

Kitt opened the driver's door in a flash for his partner to hurl himself in behind the wheel. The door slammed shut behind him and futile gunfire continued to rattle across Kitt's impenetrable armoured body and ping off the windows. Three darkly dressed, burly men came running out of the brush as they kept firing at the car.

"Floor it, buddy! Get us outta here!" Michael commanded before he grinned at me like a big kid who'd been given a candy store. "Sorry about that. I should've known it was a set-up and I was walking into a trap. It was all a little too neat and remote. I must be getting soft."

He drew a long, steadying breath as Kitt took us out of danger. "They forced my informant to send me an urgent message and then killed him and waited for me to show up. A client's very disgruntled husband didn't want me telling his soon-to-be ex-wife about where he's hidden all his money and assets."

He shook his head. "He paid for some serious muscle to rub me out and bury my investigation. Well, he picked on the wrong guy. And he's too late anyway. She already knows because I told her this morning."

"Okay…" I stared at the shreds of thin rope that were still bound to his wrists. I turned to see the three men running after the car, still firing. "Is this a normal occurrence in your working day?" I managed to ask, still trying to process what had just happened. "Do people often shoot at you?"

I was beginning to see the point of what Bonnie and RC had said to me on the first day. Michael certainly didn't shy away from trouble. But I hadn't screamed.

"Not so much, anymore…" Michael's grin widened as he used a pocketknife, he took from the glove compartment to slice through the bindings on his wrists. "But there are some times when I sure as hell miss it. Of course, we don't tell my wife about what just happened this morning. Because then, my life really would be in danger." He opened the window and tossed out the pieces of rope.

He slanted me a compelling look. "And we don't tell Devon, either. Because he'll tell Carolyn and then my goose will be served up for Christmas dinner. This is strictly between you, me and Kitt. Call it our introductory package to the darker side of our investigation work. Comprende?"

"You have my word that I won't breathe anything about this morning to a single soul," I promised solemnly. "I'm still not sure I believe it myself. Do I need to take out more life insurance to become your lawyer?"

"You're all right, Edward Bridges. You proved you could handle yourself back in Santa Fe and you didn't get in the way this afternoon." Michael began to laugh with the joy of being alive and getting out of Dodge with a whole skin. "You'll do me. Welcome to Knight Investigations. And no, it's not usually this lively. Most of our work is about cheating husbands and straying wives. But not too many want to shoot at us."

He reached across to punch me lightly in the shoulder as we flew down out of the hills at breakneck speed. We finally slowed and joined the flow of traffic heading into the urban areas of Montecito at a much more sedate pace. I breathed a long, slow cautionary breath of relief as I finally released my tight grip on the seat beneath me.

I glanced down at my wristwatch again. I knew I was going to be late back to Gull Cottage. But it couldn't be helped. I would just have to make the best of it.

"You can drop me off at Devon's," I said. "I've got something on tonight."

Michael shrugged. "Fine by me. I'll see you in the office, first thing on Monday morning. Bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and ready to get to work the moment your bar results come through next month. We've got a ton of work waiting for you that you can do in the meantime."

"Thanks, I'll be there…" I frowned at Kitt's screen and wondered what sort of conclusion the car had said he'd come to and had been about to confess.

But the car remained silent and his screen blank. I was forced to make my own conclusions.

※※※※※

"It's good to finally have you at home again," I said to Edward, as I handed him a glass of wine. "You've hardly been around here these last three days. Did you get a good grasp of what the work entailed? Did Michael show you everything you needed to see?"

"Yes, he did…" My son nodded and smiled a little mysteriously as he drank his wine. "And a lot more besides. Let's just say, I'm glad mine will be a desk job. I doubt I could keep up with his pace, full-time."

"Ahhh, I see…" I nodded, as I remembered some of Michael's more outrageous exploits when we both worked for FLAG. "He gave me a lot of my grey hairs," I confessed with a chuckle as we walked together into the living room.

We would order takeout later. Carolyn had other, more pressing plans, for tonight. She was already seated on the couch, going over her notes for her upcoming book about the Greigs. I placed her glass of wine in front of her on the coffee table.

"Thank you," she said, looking up. "Kat and I have finally managed to get everything down in my notebooks." She glanced at our son. "She'll be here soon. She said she has one last thing to tell us and then their story will be told. I wonder what it is."

She moved her shoulders as she sipped her wine and frowned up at the Captain's painting. "Maria's taken a few days off to go and visit her son and his new baby. I didn't want her to worry about what I suspect Kat is going to tell us about this house tonight. The final and biggest confession of all."

I sighed heavily as I frowned at Edward. "You might as well know that your mother has become convinced this place is haunted by the ghosts of the Captain and his wife. She's talked about nothing else for the last three days."

"Well, that will put an interesting twist on your story," Edward replied. "It would make a great ending. If it were true. Do you have any proof?"

"Well, no…" Carolyn replied with a dissatisfied grimace. "For the last three days, I've stood there in front of his painting and told the Captain he has nothing to fear from us. We mean them no harm. We just want to know the truth."

She raised her shoulders. "So far, not so much as a rattle of chains, a moan or any sign he's heard me. Even his eyes are flat and lifeless. He isn't watching us anymore."

"I see…" Edward ducked his head but I saw his disbelieving smile.

"Yes, well it's all very fine for you to smile," I grumbled. "I've got to live with the not knowing what exactly is happening in my own house. I can't settle to any of my photographic work. I keep getting distracted by any shadows that move. It's very disconcerting to think someone unseen is watching us."

"That's where Kat comes into it," Carolyn inserted quickly, tossing me a quelling glance. "I know she knows more than she's telling. She's been putting it off until tonight. She said she was now ready to tell us everything she knows."

Edward cocked his head. "Well, that sounds like her driving in now. I'll go and let her in so you can ask her. But I very much doubt this house is haunted. It's just old and creaks in the wind." He put his glass of wine down and hurried from the room.

I frowned after him, wondering why he suddenly looked on edge and unsure of himself. Like he had something thorny and troubling on his mind. I already had enough to worry about.

The whole evening was becoming more mysterious by the minute. I glanced up at the Captain's painting. But my wife was right, his eyes were flat and lifeless. I kept telling myself it was some fanciful, feminine imagination to think they had ever been alive and watchful. But that same unwelcome shiver of doubt ran up and down my spine, making me feel as on edge and watchful as my son.

※※※※※

I inhaled a long and steadying breath as I crossed the kitchen to open the back door for Kat. I had no idea what reception I would get, but I suspected she would be cool and remote. I couldn't blame her.

I knew I well and truly deserved it for the way I had treated her at our last encounter on this same spot. But my earnest words of greeting and intended apology died on my lips as she turned off her vehicle's engine, opened the door, and stood up from the sleek red convertible sports car I belatedly recognised.

I was aware my mouth dropped open in surprise, but I couldn't help it. And that I was staring at her like a crass teenager. I couldn't help that either. Her barely-there makeup had been expertly applied and the soft application of a peach lip gloss to her mouth glistened in the dying rays of the setting sun.

Kat's narrowed gaze slid over me coolly as she walked toward me, her high-heeled black sandals clicking confidently on the paving stones. She was wearing slim black trousers with a fine white voile blouse. A slim black leather belt cinched the trousers around her slender waist.

Her glossy brown hair was tucked behind her ears and dainty gold chain earrings moved as she walked. I caught a glimpse of an antique gold locket nestled against the frills of her blouse as she stopped in front of me. Her soft, floral perfume curled around my senses. I swallowed tightly as I noticed she held a soft black leather tote tucked beneath one arm and appeared to be all business.

"Good evening, Mr Bridges," she said formally, with her chin slightly raised against my staring. "I've come to settle that bargain we made the other evening. Then we will finally be even and I can move on."

"Hello, again…" I regained control of myself and shook my head. "Look, I want to apologise to you. I am truly sorry for the way I acted the other night. It was unforgivable."

She paused to stare up at me with a long look of cool dismissal. "Yes, it was. I did not deserve to be treated in that way. I told you the truth and you chose not to believe me."

"I've been too long in Boston and I saw the worst of what people can do where a lot of money or property is involved," I replied, with a sigh as I placed a delaying hand on her arm. "Look, I—"

"I believe your parents are expecting me," she interrupted smoothly looking down pointedly at my hand on her sleeve. "We should be going in."

"All right, but we do need to talk. Please, come in…" I stood aside to indicate the kitchen behind me. "My parents are waiting for you in the living room."

"Thank you," she replied in that same cool tone that matched her outfit. "And we'll have to talk another time. I won't be staying long. I will tell Carolyn everything I know then I must be on my way. I have a dinner date I cannot be late for. It's very important."

"Of course…" I replied, knowing I sounded lame, but I couldn't help it. "Would you care for a glass of wine?"

"No, thank you," she returned, as she continued on her way out of the kitchen toward the living room. "My dinner date will be waiting for me in half an hour. He is not a patient man."

'He…' I grimaced as I followed her into the other room. So she had moved on, after all.

I hunched my shoulders and pushed my hands into the side pockets of my jeans as I followed her. I was being punished and I knew I well and truly deserved it.

"Hi, Carolyn…" Kat's greeting to my mother was friendly and warm as she bent to kiss her cheek. She knew more questions needed to be answered.

"Hi, there…" Devon smiled as he shook her outstretched hand. "You look very lovely tonight. I was sure I heard my old sports car just now. How are you finding it?"

"An excellent drive. Thank you for agreeing to sell it to me…" Kat smiled warmly at him as she accepted Carolyn's invitation to sit next to her. "I needed something more stylish than my truck. I have an important date waiting for me. I cannot be late."

"You're welcome." Devon nodded. "It was only gathering dust in the garage. We find the Jeep is more to our pace these days. But we mustn't keep you too long if you have someone waiting for you."

"You have a date tonight. I see…" My mother looked from her guest to me and there was censure in her eyes.

I could she was asking what I had done wrong and what was I planning to do to fix it. I shrugged my reply, knowing this was not the right time or place.

"Well…" she said, turning back to Kat. "As Devon said, we mustn't keep you. Our book is almost complete. But you promised me you would tell us the final part of their story tonight. I have been in tenterhooks all day, wondering what more there is to tell."

She shook her head. "Even though, I might have an idea or two…"

"That is why I finally chose you to be the new owners of this house." Kat took her hand between her own. "Because you fitted so well together. The estate agent told me the first time you stepped inside she could see how much you were taken with everything. It is a beautiful house and it deserves to be cared for and loved."

My father moved nearer to her. "You chose us?" he asked with his eyebrows raised. "Would you care to explain that statement?"

Kat glanced at me and a measure of frowning doubt crept into her look. 'You haven't told them yet?' Her narrowed gaze seemed to be asking. She seemed surprised I had kept my side of the bargain.

"No, of course not…" I replied verbally. "I keep my promises."

"What promises?" Devon demanded to know. "What are you two talking about now? Did I miss something?" He turned back to Kat. "How did you choose us for this house?"

"Yes, will someone please tell me what exactly is going on here?" Carolyn complained. "The estate agent we saw that day told us the current owner had said he was keen to sell, but it must be to the right people. He wanted the house and grounds to remain intact. The agent said it was a binding stipulation in the late owner's will."

"I'm sorry about that…" Kat replied, shaking her head. "People just assumed Mrs Greig had left the house to some man. Mr Graves decided it was better that way. It would cause less fuss. But Emma did leave it to me, on the understanding I did not try to keep it. No matter how much I love it, I knew I couldn't."

"I see…" Carolyn nodded as she returned Kat's clasp to her hand. "That explains rather a lot. I did find it odd that it was a man who had inherited this house when there was no such person anywhere in their story. Please go on. Tell us everything."

"Very well…" Kat looked up at the Captain's portrait. "You've heard the love story of the Captain and his beloved Emma when they were alive. I have told you about how they were tragically parted. I feel privileged to have been the one to tell their tale. It needed to be told."

"Before I say anything more…" Kat opened her leather tote and drew out some folded sheets of paper. "This is a copy of Emma Greig's will. I would like you all to read it and then we will talk."

She looked back at me. "I don't want there to be any more misunderstandings between us. Tonight, I will tell you everything I know. The story of an enduring love that is truly without an ending…"

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