The other officer chuckled. “They’re not standard issue. I’m Gerry. That’s Nelson.”
Gerry was a fraction shorter, which made his shoulders appear even broader. He reminded Josh of a rugby player—one of the powerful and bulky forwards—because his gray suit struggled to contain his shoulders. He had a shaved head, blue eyes, and groomed, two-day stubble on his powerful jaw.
Josh held out his hand to Nelson. “Hi, I’m Josh Williams.” He shook Nelson’s hand and turned to Gerry to repeat the action.
“You’re ex-NZSAS,” Nelson said.
“I am. Only recently retired, and I’m helping Ashley with behind-the-scenes stuff while I decide on my next steps.”
“You’re not carrying.” Nelson’s expression indicated trouble if Josh supplied the wrong answer.
“No, that would be against the law. I do have a firearm license, and my rifle is locked up at my father’s farm in Eketahuna.” Josh didn’t doubt they’d checked him out because he’d have done the same.
Ashley glanced at her watch. “It’s time to hit my office and my first meeting at the university. Who wants to drive?”
“I will.” Gerry held out his hand for the car keys.
“I have two spare bedrooms. You want to stow your gear now?”
“It’s fine in the car,” Nelson said. “We’ll sort it out when we get back.”
Ashley collected her handbag, laptop, and briefcase and exited the house. Josh grabbed his phone and the notebook where he’d been scribbling his investigation details. He shoved them both into his inside pocket before setting the alarm and locking the door.
“You have a decent alarm system.” Nelson’s deep bass held approval.
“A mate put it in yesterday after Ashley’s stalker broke into the house. Hopefully, that will put a stop to him breaking in again.”
“Is it monitored?”
“Yes,” Josh said. “The alarm company will contact the police should anything go awry.” He joined Ashley, and Nelson took the passenger seat.
Ashley was hard at work, returning phone calls from her fellow members of parliament. Her voice was crisp and decisive and kind of hot. Josh grinned. She hadn’t realized that he’d need to share her room now that the DPS were underfoot.
“Charles, this is none of your business,” she said.
Josh started to pay attention to the conversation. He hadn’t liked what he’d seen of the man while they’d been in Wellington.
“I have this situation under control. You know that none of those posts are true. I am not a criminal or any of the other things they accuse me of. I have been upfront with the party regarding my history. No, I do not intend to resign.” She listened, frowned, her brow puckering. “Stop. Enough. You go to the party manager and complain. Do what you have to do. You’ll just look like a dick. Oh, wait. You are a dick.” She hung up and groaned. “I shouldn’t have spoken that way. Charles was probably taping the call.”
“Who was that, Ashley?” Nelson asked.
“That was Charles Jamieson. He’s standing for the Auckland Central seat and thinks he can do a better job than me. We dated once. Once was enough. He tried to tell me women belong in the kitchen where they can cook meals for their man. He believes a woman like me, one who might have a family in the future, has no right to stand for a parliamentary seat. The man is an ass. He certainly brays like one.” She slapped her hand over her mouth. “I apologize. You did not just hear me slag off a fellow MP. I won’t do that again.”
“I didn’t hear a thing,” Josh said.
“We’re covered by confidentiality. As long as you don’t break the law, you’re good.” Nelson spoke in a deadpan voice, but his eyes flashed with humor before he turned back to Gerry.
Gerry pulled into a parking space outside the electoral office. “How long will you be here?”
“Half an hour.” Ashley opened the door to exit her vehicle, and Josh stayed her.
“Let the guys check things out first. Let them do their job.”
Josh watched in approval. The two men scanned for danger then Gerry opened the door for Ashley while Nelson waited to flank her as she walked to the office entrance. Josh followed at the rear and took a seat in the waiting room while the DPS officers did their thing.
Charles Jamieson.
He’d poke deeper into the man’s background and see what he discovered.
