“Is Jordan going too?”
Gretchen shook her head. “He needs to be in school, but I haven’t sorted out childcare yet.” It was too much to ask Holly to have him for several weeks.
“I can probably rearrange my work hours for a week,” Georgie said. “He can stay with me.”
It was a lovely offer, but Georgie spent most of her nights out at the Ridge with Matt these days. “I’ll sort something.”
Georgie placed her hand over Gretchen’s, stopping her from reaching for the corn. “Let me help. The prac is three weeks, right?”
Gretchen nodded, fighting the urge to say no outright. Relying on people left her vulnerable when they let her down.
“Maybe I can have him for a week, then he could stay at the Ridge for a week, and then with Cody’s family.”
It would spread the load, and Gretchen planned to come home on the weekends, so it would only be five nights each. Cautious hope filled her. “Let me talk to the others.”
Georgie nodded, satisfied, and finished her wine. “I’d better get going.”
Gretchen walked her to the door. “Are you heading out to the Ridge?”
She nodded.
“Tell Amy I’ll find out what I can about Arthur.” Gretchen was curious about the man anyway.
Georgie hugged her. “Thanks. I’ll see you later.”
Gretchen waited until she drove away and then smiled, closing the door.
Jordan wandered out in his superhero pyjamas. “Who was that?”
“Georgie dropped by to say hi.”
He frowned. “Why didn’t you get me?”
“Sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t think. She wasn’t here long.” Georgie was one of Jordan’s favourite people.
His bottom lip poked out.
“Why don’t you watch some tele while I finish making dinner?”
He turned to do as she suggested, dragging his feet again. Gretchen sighed and returned to the kitchen. Her phone rang and her heart sank lower as she saw the caller ID. “Kurt.”
“You’re testing my patience, Gretchen.”
Nausea swelled in her, and she checked to make sure Jordan was occupied in the living room before she spoke. “I haven’t seen the Stokes in a couple of weeks. They had a family issue and were busy.”
“Did you ask Georgie for information just now?”
Gretchen clutched her stomach and lowered herself on to a stool. “No.” It had been over four weeks since Kurt had turned up in Retribution Bay unannounced demanding she spy on the Stokes family, but she’d thought he’d left. Had hoped his threat had been just to mess with her, because he’d only called once since then for an update. “She was upset about something. I didn’t get a chance.”
“You’re not trying hard enough. Maybe you need some motivation. Do you know what happens to a child when a horse bolts?”
She clenched her hand. Jordan had pony club tomorrow. “No.”
“Let’s hope you don’t find out.” He hung up.
Gretchen gasped for breath as her heart raced. She closed her eyes to remember exactly what he’d asked her to do. That night at the brewery was a little hazy because she’d had a couple of drinks. Running into Kurt had sobered her fast enough.
He’d spoken about some company… Scorpionfish… no… Stonefish Enterprises, wanted to know what the Stokes knew about them. It wasn’t something she could easily bring up in conversation. She’d googled the name and hadn’t found a website, so she didn’t know what they did.
