Page 15 of Hold a Candle

Everyone brought their plates to the sink where Lucerne was running some water. Each person cleared their plate on one side, rinsed it in the soapy water on the other side, and Lucerne tucked it into the big dishwasher. The scraps would be saved for the chickens and other animals that might be in need of a meal. Nothing was wasted under Lucerne and Darro’s watchful eye if they could help it. They certainly weren’t poor by any means, just frugal, and Jamie wholeheartedly approved.

Once the kids left to work on their homework and get their baths for bed, the adults settled in at the table, the others curious as to what Jamie had to say. He didn’t keep them waiting.

“Darro, would ye and Angus have need of another temporary hand here at Neamh? He’s unexperienced, but loves animals and needs a place to lay low for a while.”

Darro’s eyebrow shot up. “I think ye’d better explain the situation, Jamie.”

“What’s he hidin’ from?” Angus asked bluntly.

“The lad I’m talking about is Detective MacBride’s boy, Luca,” Jamie explained. “He’s the one who broke into Happy Housekeepers this morning. As ye know, Pauley has been taken off the case, but it’s because her son is involved. That part will be out on the news tonight.”

Darro frowned. “Ye mean a mere boy took out that thug? How old is this lad, and what’s his record? I’m sorry, but I’m no interested in hiring criminals, Jamie.”

Angus looked interested. “Are ye on a first name basis with the detective then?” he teased.

Jamie’s eyes narrowed at Angus. “I’ve had a chance to talk with her, and she admitted the truth of why she was taken off the case.”

He turned back to Darro. “Her lad is 21 and is no a criminal, but he’s been arrested for manslaughter. It’s clearly self-defense. Quinn doesn’t believe he will actually be charged with anything, but while they are waiting for the hearing, Quinn’s worried about who might not be happy that Ruskag was killed. That man has a record as long as yer arm fer everything from extortion to suspected murders they couldn’t prove. Quinn advised her to get him out of sight for a while until things cool down.”

“Does he have a job now? What does he do with his time?” Darro asked, drumming his fingers on the table.

“He works for the animal shelter, and he’s had a couple of years of higher education,” Jamie explained. “Pauley’s worried about him because since he left school, he’s been hiding things from her, and he won’t explain why Ruskag was chasing him.”

“And just how did ye get cozy enough with this Pauley to find out all these things?” Angus mocked.

The tips of Jamie’s ears turned red and he scowled at Angus. “That’s none of yer business.”

Angus chuckled. “Looks like Jamie’s finally found a lass who can hold a candle to Rhonda,” he practically purred with satisfaction.

Lucerne placed her hand on Darro’s arm. “Dad would nae put anyone in danger, honey,” she said softly. “If this Luca needs a place to lay low, I can’t think of a better place to hide than here at Neamh.”

“Me either,” Poppy chimed in with a chuckle. “Ye two have this place better guarded than Fort Knox. I know from personal experience.”

“If Luca wants to carry his weight around here, I can always use another hand,” Darro finally growled, running his fingers through his dark hair. “Make no mistake though, Jamie, if he puts one foot wrong, he’ll answer to me.”

Jamie nodded in satisfaction. “Which is exactly why I think ye and Angus could do him a world of good if he’s been hanging around the wrong crowd.”

Darro drummed his fingers some more, then asked, “Ye say he likes animals and works at a shelter? Mayhap Dal could show him around then. They aren’t too far apart in age.”

When Jamie’s cell phone suddenly rang, he didn’t recognize the number, but he instantly thought of Pauley. She’d promised to text him and hadn’t done so. He didn’t usually answer numbers he didn’t know, but his instincts were flaring. He pushed the answer button. “Hello?”

“Jamie? This is Pauley. Have ye had a chance to speak with yer daughter and her husband?”

She sounded out of breath or teary, he wasn’t sure which, and Jamie’s chest tightened. “I’m here at Neamh discussing that right now,” he replied in concern. “What’s wrong, Pauley?”

“Luca and I are at the police station filing a report. Someone threw a bottle bomb through the window in Luca’s bedroom. Thank God he wasn’t in it at the time, but the fire department had to come and put the fire out. My house is a mess right now.”

“Cripes, Pauley,” he swore. “I’ll head that way right now.”

“Nay. If yer family is in agreement, I can come up there when I’m finished and bring Luca with me.”

“Can I put ye on speaker phone?”

She hesitated, then replied, “Aye.”

Jamie covered the phone with his hand. “It’s Pauley. Someone threw a bottle bomb into her son’s bedroom. They are at the police station filing the report. I’m putting her on speaker phone.”

Lucerne and Poppy gasped while Darro and Angus’s brows crawled towards the ceiling.

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