She hadn’t even started.
9 – Politics and Danger
It was two hours later when Josh returned Summer’s call.
“What’s up?” he asked when she answered the phone.
“I’ve gone through everything published in the papers at the time of Ashley’s accident, and I’ve started to research Jessica Webster’s family. She had a younger sister and brother. From what I can work out, the parents split up about nine months after the accident. The father worked on a cattle station near Queenstown. He retained custody of the son while the daughter remained with the mother. I’ve found the daughter and mother on social media. The mother lived in Auckland with her parents after the divorce. Irene, the daughter, is currently working in England, and judging by the mother’s social media page, she is visiting her daughter and taking the opportunity to see the European sights with her current husband of six years.”
“And the father and brother?”
“The father died in a quad bike accident on the station where he worked. I found a death notice in the local paper plus a write-up. He was a popular guy and coached the local rugby team. I found photos of Joseph—the brother—at school, but nothing after that. He doesn’t appear to have a social media presence. I’ve tried everything I can think of to learn what happened to him. Nada.”
“Is it possible this Joseph is our stalker?”
“I don’t know.” Summer pursed her lips. “Nothing stands out as odd. The divorce went through quickly, and there were no associated legal battles. Oh, that Charles character. He has alibis for days and nights when things have happened. He might’ve hired someone, but from what I sense of him, I’d place him low on the list of suspects.”
“All right. Keep digging, just in case. I’ll ask Ashley tonight if she knows anything about Joseph,” Josh said.
“The online posts are awful.” Summer muttered under her breath. “Trolls! Some have been taken down, but people are still commenting and sharing them. How is Ashley holding up?”
“She’s taking this in her stride. The posts upset her, but she decided to use them to her advantage to sway public opinion. She has likened it to bullying.”
“You like her,” Summer said, sounding surprised.
“Why is that so strange? She’s attractive and smart. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t hit on every woman I meet. I enjoy a decent conversation.”
“Even if it is about the Labor party and their policies?”
“We discuss things other than politics,” Josh said tartly.
Summer paused for a beat. “Are you sleeping with her? Josh! You cannot play around with her. She has an important job and doesn’t need you playing mind games.”
Josh gripped his phone more tightly. Indignation rose, and he ended the call before he uttered something he’d regret. “Thanks for the info. Later, Summer.” Why did everyone assume he intended to walk away, leaving Ashley in a helpless puddle of femininity? For one, the assumption was an insult to a classy lady. And two, he’d never, ever made promises to women about a future. He’d always made his stance clear before he started anything. With Ashley, it was different. She intrigued him, and he found himself wanting more, wanting to deepen their connection, not that he’d confess this to Summer. A scowl dug deep into his features, Summer’s assumptions irking him.
He strolled over to Nelson and told the cop he was going for coffee. With Nelson’s and Gerry’s coffee order in mind, he stomped away to regain his equilibrium.
One meeting and talk flowed into another. Josh wasn’t sure how Ashley kept her smile fixed in place since the media and the public asked her the same questions over and over again. Ashley remained patient while giving her answers a spin to impart information covering Labor’s policies and their promises to voters.
“You’re doing great, sweetheart,” Josh whispered as he slipped into the car beside her. “What’s next?”
“We have an hour at home to change for a business meeting and cocktails, then we’re going to the red-carpet showing of a new fantasy movie set in the South Island.”
“Fantasy?” Josh suppressed a groan. “Not with Hobbits?”
“This time it’s dragons. We’ll get to meet the director and stars, including the dragon, from what I hear.”
Oh, joy. Josh buttoned his lips, deciding to follow his mother’s oft-heard advice of it you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all.
Ashley hid her amusement. Matt hated what he called airy-fairy crap, and obviously, Josh stood in the same camp. Her brother enjoyed car crashes and high-octane thrillers. You’d think he got enough of that type of action during his workday.
When they arrived back at her house, Ashley showed Gerry and Nelson to her spare bedrooms, and since Matt had ordered her—for reasons he failed to expound on—to continue the pretense that Josh was her fiancé, that meant she and Josh had to share.
Josh had dumped his things in her bedroom before Gerry’s and Nelson’s arrival. Now, she pulled clean linen out of the cupboard.
“Gerry and I will make our beds.” Nelson wrestled the sheets from her hands, determination stamped into his features. “You take a break and get ready for your evening.”
Ashley brushed a lock of hair from her face, glad to have one less task. “Thanks.”
