Needful (Remastering Jerna #3) by Ann Somerville

Author:Ann Somerville [Somerville, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mm, mf, murder mystery, polyamory
Publisher: Ann Somerville
Published: 2012-03-11T16:56:13+00:00

Chapter 10

"And they think she can come home tomorrow," Evai said. "Though I'd rather she stayed until she was completely back on her feet. She'll overdo it if she comes out now, and Jesire can't seem to make her slow down."

"My mother's the same," Jerna said, nodding in sympathy. "But she has to take it easy. At least with her being a doctor, and Papa too, there's no arguing with the facts." He looked at his superior critically. Evai looked exhausted, and very nearly on his last nerve. "You need to get more sleep."

"Jesire says that too," Evai said, shaking his head. "Should be easier when she comes home. It's the hospital visiting which is tiring. Anyway, enough of my personal matters. Show me that interview plan--"

He looked up, as did Jerna, at the sound of footsteps coming to the front desk. Even after all this time, and knowing that, realistically, it couldn't be about him, Jerna couldn't stop the way his stomach clenched at the sight of the two men in inspector's uniform approaching them. He forced a smile on his face as Evai, carefully revealing nothing in his expression, greeted them.

"Good afternoon, Inspectors. How may I help you?"

The older of the two men showed his official identification. "We'd like to speak to Master Warim Deti, please."

Evai bowed. "Certainly. He's not expecting you? Jerna, please let Warim know he has visitors."

The last thing the hotel needed were two inspectors hanging about the front desk, so as Jerna made the call, Evai discreetly ushered their unwanted callers into a little waiting room used for the reception of business guests. By pure fortune, and despite the fact it was when guests would normally start to arrive, there were no regular clients around. Warim would have a fit.

He was none too pleased anyway, but asked Jerna to bring them up to his office himself.

"What's that about?" Jerna muttered quietly to Evai on his return, and as they pretended to concentrate on their administrative matters.

"No idea. I hope it's not trouble for the hotel."

So did Jerna. He couldn't imagine what could require the inspectorate to take an interest in them. The only blessing was that they hadn't come to arrest him. Which was a novelty in itself.

A bare twenty minutes later, Warim's assistant came down, smoothly escorting the two officers out of the hotel without any fuss, then came to the desk. "Jerna? Warim wants you up there now."

"Me? Did they--" He collected himself. If they'd wanted him, they'd have said so. "Yes, of course."

Evai gave him a brief concerned look before schooling his features into studied politeness. "Go on. Don't keep him waiting."

It was ridiculous to be nervous, Jerna thought, but he supposed he would never really lose the fear of being arrested again. He'd have thought seeing Ria in his uniform would have inured him to the instinctive reaction, but it didn't seem to have done so.

Warim frowned as Jerna walked in. "Sit down, sit down, Jerna. Sorry to drag you away from work.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.