Page 10 of Hold a Candle

“Aye, that one. Angus told me about it.”

“I can’t condone it of course, given my position, but I can certainly applaud Darro privately. Too many of our youth are traveling down the wrong roads these days and getting themselves or the people around them mixed up in a world of hurt. Pauley’s had a hard row to hoe and doesn’t deserve that lad causing her so many problems.”

“Maybe ye should put a bug into Darro’s ear,” Jamie suggested.

Quinn shook his head. “No, thank ye. I’ve told Pauley she needs to put Luca somewhere he can lie low for a while until all this blows over, but I would no dare to make plans for her. That lass can skelp the hide off yer back with just words if ye get on the wrong side of her.” His eyes narrowed at Jamie. “Why don’t ye suggest it? Yer daughter is Lady MacCandish after all. She has a soft spot for bairns, maybe she could talk Darro into taking Luca on as a hand while he’s waiting for the hearing. Which could lead to a trial.”

Jamie opened his mouth for a blistering reply, then abruptly closed it. Mayhap this would be a good reason to see Pauley again. And he did want to see her again if he was being honest with himself. It was the whole reason he was visiting Quinn, although he wouldn’t tell him that. It might provide an opening to get to know the beautiful detective a little better.

That is, if she didn’t skelp him with her temper. Then again, his Rhonda had a temper too, but it hadn’t done her any good when Jamie decided that it was her little butt that needed the skelping.

“So, ye want me to do yer dirty work for ye?” Jamie taunted. “The great Quinn Tannock, scared of his female employee. I never thought I’d see the day.”

Quinn wagged his finger at Jamie. “Laugh if ye must, but ye are no fooling me, Jamie MacNamara. Ye like Pauley, I can tell.”

Jamie stood up with a scoff. “There hasn’t been a woman born that could hold a candle to my Rhonda. I just came in to find out why ye changed the detective on my case.”

Quinn stood up to. “Technically, it’s yer daughter and Darro’s case, but I won’t split hairs with ye.” Then his voice softened. “Pauley is a good woman; she could use a friend. Don’t tell her I said that, but ye have my blessing.”

Jamie’s eyebrows rose with interest. If Quinn Tannock spoke highly of her, then that was a plus in his book. Quinn didn’t suffer fools gladly. “Point me in the direction of her office then, and I’ll do yer work for ye,” he teased. “We’ll see about getting the lad out of town for a bit.”

“I’ll do ye one better,” Quinn replied, hitting a button on the intercom sitting on his desk. “Detective MacBride, I need to see ye in my office.”

A minute later, Pauley appeared in the door of Quinn’s office, her eyes narrowing with surprise when she saw Jamie standing inside the room.

Her eyes slid from his to Quinn as her body stiffened. “Ye wanted to see me, Chief?”

Her voice was soft, yet firm, and Jamie could feel his interest quicken more. She was a stunning woman, no doubt about that.

“Aye, Pauley. I believe ye have met Jamie?”

She nodded. “Aye, we met at Happy Housekeepers.”

“Jamie is a personal friend of mine, and I’d take it as a favor if ye’d listen to what he has to say regarding Luca.”

Her soft lips tightened in disapproval, but she finally nodded.

Jamie decided it was time to take his own initiative. “How about we go somewhere and have a cup of coffee? Then we can talk about it,” he offered, expecting her to resist. He was surprised when she didn’t, although she didn’t look very happy about it.

“Fine, I’ll meet ye at Oates Pub on the riverwalk,” she replied. She shot Quinn a warning glare and turned on her heel and left.

Both men watched her until her bum rounded the corner and Quinn shot him a grin. “Ye are on yer own now, lad. I’ve paved the way all I can, the rest is up to ye.”

Jamie snorted and rolled his eyes, then headed after her with Quinn chuckling behind him. Parking wasn’t bad at 4:00 in the afternoon, so it wasn’t but a few minutes before he entered the pub, the tinkling of glassware and muted conversations all around him. She hadn’t taken a table yet. “Would ye like a table or a booth?” he asked, walking up to her.

“Since we are talking about my son, I’d prefer a booth,” she responded, disapproval dripping off her in waves.

He waved his arm in front of her. “Lead on then, take yer pick.”

Once they were seated and turned over the coffee cups sitting on saucers on the table, the waiter poured the rich dark brew into their cups and handed them menus before he hurried away. She dropped a lump of sugar in her cup and stirred in some of the rich cream from the cream decanter. She took a drink, closed her eyes, and sighed with bliss for a few seconds before setting her cup back on the table. “So, what’s this about Mr. MacNamara?”

“It’s Jamie,” he corrected. “We discussed that already this morning, Pauley. Let’s not cover old ground.”

Picking up her cup again, she studied him over the brim. He couldn’t tell if she was figuring out where she could hide his body, or if she was interested in what he might have to say.

“Quinn is an old friend. He knew I wouldn’t say anything, so he told me about yer son when I asked him why ye were taken off the case. It’s going to be in the news tonight at any rate. He also told me ye might be open to a suggestion as to where to stash Luca for a while until this business is over,” he told her. “As a parent, I know ye are highly concerned for his welfare. I can relate to that.”

Her hand trembled slightly when she picked her cup up again. “Aye,” she agreed. “I am worried about my son, but he is of age, and trying to stash him anywhere he doesn’t want to go is going to be a problem. We are supposed to talk about it tonight. If I can get him to open up to me, I’ll be very surprised.”

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