“A country boy,” Robert said, friendlier than when they’d met on earlier occasions.
“I haven’t lived at home for a while, but I’m still a country boy at heart.”
Ashley emerged from her office before Josh could gather more information from Robert. He already had the basics but intended to dig more in-depth.
Robert picked up the credit card and noted the details before handing it back to Ashley. “Thanks. I should have the flights firmed up by this afternoon.”
“Excellent. I’ll grab the details tomorrow morning when I’m in the office.”
“I’ll email you everything as well,” Robert said.
“The car is ready,” Gerry called.
“Okay. Robert, ring or text me if you need anything while I’m out of the office.”
Josh moved to the door and waited for Ashley.
“I’ll get the door,” Gerry said.
Josh nodded. They’d perfected the speed of getting Ashley in and out of venues by working between the three of them.
Once they were in the car and on the motorway driving south to Matamata and Hobbiton, the site of their first meeting, Josh asked about Robert.
“How long has Robert been working for you?”
Ashley glanced heavenward, her exasperation clear. “Surely, you don’tstillsuspect him?”
“I didn’t say that, but our clues are pitifully small. We’re digging deeper in all areas and combing through the info again,” Josh said.
“Josh is right,” Nelson said. “We haven’t found anything useful. We’re going over everything again. This man or woman—we still don’t know for certain, but let’s call him a man—upped the ante when they shot Josh. It wasn’t an accident. It was a cool, deliberate attempt to murder him. We’re digging into the personal lives of everyone who works or volunteers for you again since we’ve hit a wall with everyone in your past.”
“Oh. Well. I trust Robert implicitly. We met at a meeting of the Young Labor party. I was twenty and Robert twenty-four.”
“Did he not want to stand for a seat?” Gerry asked. “I thought that was the goal of all youngsters.”
“Yes, but the senior party officials award the positions to those they consider have the best shot of winning. Robert is steady and reliable, but he can be standoffish with those he doesn’t know well. He says himself he prefers to stay behind the scenes. We work well together, and I couldn’t run a successful campaign without him.” Shock filled Ashley’s expression. “I can’t believe he’d harm me or upset the campaign. He’s blunt. If he has a problem with something I do or say, he tells me to my face. What he wouldn’t do is skulk in the shadows or use violence.”
“Do you know his boyfriend?” Josh asked.
“No,” Ashley said.
“Did he give a name?” Nelson demanded, fingers poised over his phone.
“No,” Josh said.
“We need to check out the partner. Especially since Ashley hasn’t met him. It’s the sort of thing workmates share between each other. Partners come to parties and other social functions, no?” Nelson turned to glance at Ashley.
“Not if the relationship is new,” she said. “I hadn’t mentioned Josh to anyone, mainly because he was in the military and he couldn’t attend because he was overseas. With me, it was a security matter, yet none of you are looking into Josh’s background.”
The pulsing silence had Josh barking out a laugh. “They have checked me out, sweetheart.”
“You did?”
“He appeared suddenly in your life.” Nelson shrugged his unconcern.
“Because I was with the New Zealand Special Air Service,” Josh said. “As is Ashley’s older brother. That’s how Ashley and I met.”
“You checked out,” Nelson said.
