A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

gaze narrowed. “I love to watch them twinkle like diamonds.”
    Diamonds. It brought back all the guilt of
helping Dallas steal the gemstones. I gulped, heat rushing to my face.
    “It’s not too late,” Aidan said, softly.
    I peered at him. It wasn’t too late for
what?
    “I guess it’s a no then.” Aidan’s jaw set
as he turned away, calling over his shoulder, “You should clean those scratches
before you catch an infection. There’s a first aid kit in the top cabinet of
your bathroom.”
    I waited until he was gone before walking
up to my room. The wounds would have to heal without Band-Aid because I couldn’t
be bothered to rummage through the bathroom at this ungodly hour. I considered
taking a shower, but I couldn’t drag my aching feet beyond the bed. So I just
dropped on it, exhausted but too agitated to fall asleep. By the time the sun
rose through the clouds, I was still tossing and turning. With a sigh, I threw
the covers aside and rose, giving up any hope on finding sleep, even though my
eyes felt swollen and dry from the lack of sleep.
    It was Saturday, my first day off. After a
quick shower, I searched through my still unpacked suitcase for something
wearable, maybe a shirt that didn’t smell of McDonald’s . In all the week’s frenzy, I had forgotten to wash my
clothes. After slipping into a black, long-sleeved top that emphasized my
narrow waist and a pair of blue skinny jeans, I strolled to the kitchen for a
cup of tea and a bowl of cornflakes.
    The fruit basket was filled with fresh apples
and bananas. Three small bowls of ripe blueberries occupied the upper shelf of
the fridge. The other shelves were jammed with vegetables and dairy products.
Whoever went shopping didn’t penny-pinch. Particularly since no one but me
seemed to ever consume anything.
    I rinsed some blueberries under the cold-water
tap and sprinkled them on top of my cornflakes, then sat down for breakfast, my
thoughts returning to last night’s events. Someone had given chase. Someone had
been sneaking around the hut while I was inside. Hopefully, Dallas was right
and we had nothing to worry about, because I sure couldn’t deal with one of my
mother’s lectures if I landed in jail.
    I finished eating, drained the bowl and
cup, and headed out the backdoor in the hope to meet someone. A cold October
wind rustled the leaves; the ground was still damp with last night’s dew. I
scanned the garden. Apart from two squirrels, I saw no one, but the loud
clanking of metal carried over from the garage on the other side of the house.
    As I inched nearer, I saw the large shape
of a man bowed over a lawnmower, hammer in hand. I knocked on a piece of metal
to announce my presence. “Hello. I’m Amber.”
    The old man turned, exposing a pair of
remarkably red cheeks and a friendly smile. “Well, hello. I’m Harry, the
gardener. You met my wife Greta the other day.” He held out a dirty hand and
shook mine with enthusiasm.
    “Yes, I did. She made me breakfast.”
    “That’s my Greta, always cooking. That’s
why I look like this.” He patted his round belly. “Before marrying her I
actually had a waist.”
    I smiled.
    “Greta said you were from London.”
    “That’s right.” I changed the subject,
uncomfortable talking about me. “You don’t sound Scottish.”
    Harry wiped his greasy hand on a stained
cloth. “I’m from the south. Cornwall.”
    “Beautiful place,” I said.
    “Not as beautiful as Scotland. Aidan left a
note you might want to do some shopping today.” He raised his eyebrows as if to
question the sanity of the idea of driving to town. I could understand why. It
was two hours away. “He asked me to accompany you.”
    “He did? That’s very kind of him.” I couldn’t
remember asking him, but I felt grateful for the opportunity, particularly
since I hadn’t made any plans for the weekend. Money was tight, but what the
heck? I still had my student loan. Besides, I wasn’t planning on spending a
fortune, and Aidan would pay me soon.
    “I can drive you now. The shops are open
until six, but I’m tired of fiddling with this old thing.” He pointed at the
lawnmower.
    “I’d love that.” I ran back to the house to
get my handbag and coat. When I returned, Harry was gone. I waited until he
appeared a few minutes later with a jacket around his broad shoulders and a
pair of dangling keys in one hand.
    “That’s the car.” He pointed at a white
van, the only vehicle in the driveway. He