Grave Diggers: Knight Agency, #7

By Cay Reet

"We're too late. But, believe me, you'll want to see this."

Something is going on in high society. Even though Jane had other things to do recently, she's felt it. Elitists are on the rise, looking down on 'new money' as well as on those they think are below them. And they're not just looking. When young women who might have had the chance to marry into high society are kidnapped and horribly killed, Jane starts to hunt those who are doing it. And when they make the mistake of threatening what is dear to Jane herself, her rage is only too happy to assist her with the hunt. But Jane is not the only hunter in this case, someone else is following traces as well, shadowing people. But Jane and Steven wouldn't be one of the best teams of the Knight Agency, if they couldn't draw a shadow out into the sun. In the end, the grave diggers are digging their own graves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cay Reet
• Release date: Aug 31, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393201311

Book preview

Grave Diggers

A Knight Agency Novel

by Cay Reet

© Copyright 2019 Text: Cay Reet

© Copyright 2019 Cover Design: Holz Vanderhuetten

All rights reserved. No part of this may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems - except in case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews - without permission in writing from the author.

This book is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and places portrayed in this book are products of the author’s imagination and are either fictitious or used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

In memory of Jeff Zahn and Holz Vanderhuetten

You shall never truly die.

Table of Contents

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty-One

Twenty-Two

Twenty-Three

Twenty-Four

Twenty-Five

Twenty-Six

Twenty-Seven

More by the Same Author

One

––––––––

Jane Browne rolled over in bed with a sigh and glanced at the clock on the nightstand. I’m getting up way too early these days... She grabbed her phone from beside the clock and woke it with her thumbprint. Good morning, Steven.

Good early morning, Jane. He was just too awake for this time of the day, but then, she’d thought she could wake him at a little before six once and he’d been up and impeccably dressed. You have a lot of plans for the day, don’t you?

Not that much ... parcours this morning, it’s been too long since I had a real run. My strength is up to par, so I don’t have to do that much kickboxing right now.

And you enjoy parcours much more. I’m sure you’ll have fun. Then there’s the sage coup which we’re going to do this week or next, you should keep in shape.

I might have to take an unusual route?

Yes. I have already ruled approach by air out ... the place you need to get into is too close to the ground for you to take off again ... but you might have to resort to an approach over nearby roofs. Simply taking the door will not be an option, I’m afraid. They have in-house security also doing regular rounds.

She nodded to herself. Yes, in that case I might have to climb and jump a lot. Parcours will be helpful. Her plans for the afternoon came to her mind and she sighted deeply. Well, this afternoon, I’ll be in a charity meeting.

You’re not annoyed about that normally.

No, I like the charity work. Not as much as Cynthia does, but I like it.

Then why are you annoyed about that meeting?

Because we’re not doing the planning for this event alone. I really love the ladies I normally work with, but Mrs. Caruthers is a nightmare ... if you’re young, unmarried, and don’t have a boyfriend she considers suitable...

Mr. Thornton isn’t suitable, I take it?

Neither is Frank, which is why Cynthia, Celeste, and I are the main targets for her incessant advertising of her son.

He chuckled. A horrible fate.

And something I’m sure never happened to you.

Well, I don’t make a suitable bride.

Yeah, but no society lady would ever have tried to get you to marry her daughter, either.

I didn’t move that high up in society. My official persona was firmly settled in the middle class ... as I still am.

Why did I go into high society then? He travelled as much as me, if not more often, after all.

Because you have the right air and character for that. I would never have made it in high society, not with my intimidating air. You can be charming and personable, if you want to, yet you also manage to be cold-blooded and scheming enough to survive among the nobles.

She laughed at that. Well, I will have to be scheming later on, that much is for sure.

I wish you good luck with that.

Nothing important to do today, then?

Nothing from my side, no. Until tomorrow, Jane ... have a good day.

She slipped out of bed and padded towards the bathroom. You too, Steven ... until tomorrow.

Jane showered, washed her short hair, brushed her teeth, and combed the hair out, then she went to the bedroom to dress in a hoodie, a pair of cargo pants, and ankle-high, black sneakers. She ate a quick breakfast and grabbed her keys. Whenever she went for a parcours run, she didn’t take her car. Instead, she walked to the nearest tube station.

It was still early enough for a lot of commuters on the train, but Jane didn’t mind that. She’d pulled the hood up when leaving the house, to protect herself against the chill in the air, and just kept in an area which wasn’t too crowded. As a small person of undetermined gender, she was usually left alone. Not that it would have been a problem for her had someone decided to try and attack her.

At the right stop, she left the tube and jogged up the stairs and towards her actual destination, which was an empty warehouse by the docks. She stopped underneath the fire escape outside and judged the distance to the short ladder. From earlier excursions in the area, she knew the ladder, which should have slid down, was rusted solid and wouldn’t budge. With a calculated jump, she reached the ladder and pulled herself up far enough to put her feet on the lowest rung. Afterwards, it was just a matter of climbing the ladder to reach the actual metal staircase. She jogged upwards and reached the roof without any problems. There, she took a moment to look around and figure out where to go on this day. The warehouse made a good starting point and allowed for her to start her actual run from up high. It also allowed for her to move in several directions, through several different parcours routes.

For this day, she decided to go with an easier route, since she’d not been able to get any runs in for a few weeks. She turned east and started to run. Once up to speed, she ran to the very edge of the warehouse roof and pushed off at the last possible moment. Her jump carried her easily across the narrow alley and she landed gracefully on the next roof, which was at the same height. She didn’t even need to dispense energy, she just ran on. The roof she’d aimed for was riddled with pipes. She avoided most of them by weaving in between, but there were a few she couldn’t run around. She slipped underneath the first one, sliding over the pebbles making up the roof, then she jumped over the next two. The last one was at about hip height for her and she swiftly vaulted over it. The next roof was a little lower, so she didn’t put too much energy into the jump and rolled as soon as her feet hit the tar foil. She approached the next roof quickly, jumped, managed to grab the rim, and pushed herself into a somersault with her feet. After a perfect flip, she landed gracefully and continued to run. A very narrow beam connected this roof to the next and she ran over it as if it were a wide bridge, not even hesitating for a second. She’d never been afraid of heights and she knew what her body could and couldn’t cope with. From this roof, she took the fire ladder down halfway and pushed off, turning in mid-air. Like this, she could grab the ladder of the opposite warehouse across a slightly wider alley. She climbed it and pulled herself up to the roof, then she ran on. There was a construction scaffold at the next warehouse which was renovated. Since it was daytime, there were workers on it. She veered off course and jumped to another warehouse, which was slightly lower. A street was in the way - it wasn’t possible to cross it over the roofs, it was too wide. She climbed down a drainpipe, hand over hand, using her feet mostly to stabilize herself, and jumped off at about first-storey height. Gracefully, she landed on the ground and crossed the street, then she used another drainpipe to climb up again, since neither of the warehouses had a fire exit of sorts. This time, she made a little more use of her feet. Off again, she crossed the roof and dared a diagonal jump, not to the nearest warehouse, but to the one which she would have reached without the detour around the scaffold. She just managed to touch the wall with her feet and to grab the rim with her fingers. Taking a deep breath, she let go, landing on an outside air conditioning unit below. From there, she scaled the rough brick wall of the building, digging her fingers and toes into the narrow crevices. Her blood was rushing and her heart was pumping adrenaline through her system. Deep inside, the rage wagged its tail, enjoying the run. This is what I was born for ... to be a predator in any kind of environment I’m in. She reached the roof and climbed up and over the edge. From this roof, she jumped to a few lower ones, nearing the end of her run. Close to another tube station, she reached the ground again. She doubled over and put her hands on her thighs for a moment, catching her breath. This was a very nice way to spend my morning...

* * *

After a shower and a very big lunch, Jane dressed up for her afternoon meeting with the charity committee. As usually, she went with conservative looks for those meetings, which by now meant a nice, charcoal-grey pair of pants, a light-blue blouse which went very well with her blue eyes, and a pair of oxfords. She did a swift makeup, mostly a bit of lip-gloss and a bit of powder, and ran her comb through her hair again to tame it a little. The pixie cut she’d been wearing for fifteen years now luckily was easy enough to handle and looked just as good when wind-blown. Finally, she slipped into a warm winter coat, grabbed her keys, car keys, and purse, and went to the elevator to get to the basement parking lot.

She smirked at the sight of her light-blue mini among the upper-class limousines, then she opened it and slipped behind the wheel. Her first destination wasn’t the charity meeting, though, but a house in Park Lane. She parked at the curb and hurried through the gate and up the driveway. At the door, she hardly got to ring the bell before it was opened.

She smiled brightly at the butler. Good afternoon, Martin.

He smiled back. Good afternoon, Miss Browne. I hope you are well.

I am, thank you. I hope you’re well, too.

Oh, I can’t complain. Miss Cynthia will be down in a moment.

As if to prove him right, Cynthia hurried down the steps of the staircase, already dressed completely, including a coat Jane couldn’t remember. You’re always early, that’s not nice.

Jane laughed. Well, you should be used to that by now.

Yes, I should be. I’m very punctual, too, by now. Cynthia’s brown eyes sparkled. I’m becoming a very good and very sensible businesswoman.

I don’t doubt that.

They left the house and went back to the car. Inside, Cynthia made herself comfortable in the passenger seat. I was looking forward to this meeting all morning, you know.

Well, I was looking forward to seeing the ladies, but not Mrs. Caruthers.

Cynthia made a face. Right ... I forgot she’d be there, too. Do you think it’s too much to hope for that her son has found a suitable girlfriend now?

Knowing her son, it’s more likely for Steven to find the love of his life.

Cynthia giggled, then sighed. That’s actually a rather naughty thing to say. Steven does deserve happiness.

And I’m sure he has it. But let’s stay realistic: neither is he looking for a relationship, nor is he Prince Charming.

He’s the kind of guy Prince Charming usually rescues the princess from, Cynthia admitted. I like him, but even I find him scary.

He is scary. Jane swerved past a lorry. By the way ... is that coat new?

Yes ... I was bored with my last coat and this one is more elegant and timeless.

It is ... and it looks good on you.

Thank you ... what did you do today so far?

Parcours ... it was a lot of fun.

Cynthia sighed. That’s too dangerous for me. I’d probably be dead if I tried it once.

You don’t start out with routes like the one I did this morning ... you train your reflexes and the jumps and everything close to the ground where you won’t get seriously injured. Once everything has gone to muscle memory, you can start running easy routes, then you can switch to more challenging ones whenever you are sure you can master them. What kind of sports would you like to do?

Something like yoga ... I tried it once and I could do with all the peace and quiet.

Yes, that would be a nice balance to your work life.

Why don’t you do yoga?

Jane shrugged. I don’t need it.

But your life is far more stressing than mine! What with you being a secret agent and everything...

I know, but I don’t mind that kind of life. And I know a lot of meditation techniques, should I need to calm down. Steven taught me about them when I was a kid and had problems keeping the rage under control. They were pretty effective.

They reached Mortimer House and Jane parked on the premises, since the meetings could take a while. Together, they went to the house, where Jacob, the butler, let them in. Jane stopped in the entrance hall for a moment, glancing around hopefully.

Jacob picked up on it. I’m afraid, Miss Browne, that Mr. Thornton is currently not in the house ... he’s on an errant for Master Abraham.

She sighed. Too bad, but it can’t be helped. And I might be even more happy to see him after the meeting.

Jane and Cynthia followed the butler through the house to the blue salon, where the meetings were usually held. They stepped inside and greeted Lady Maria and her granddaughter Celeste, who were waiting already.

I’m sorry we’re so early, Jane apologized afterwards. It’s my fault.

Lady Maria just laughed. Being early is much more recommendable than being late, Jane.

One by one, the other members of the two committees planning the event together arrived. Jane and Cynthia greeted them politely. They were the youngest members by far, except for Celeste, who had just started attending the meetings herself. Both also made sure to keep their distance from Mrs. Caruthers who was, unfortunately, usually speaking for the second committee.

Today, Lady Maria pointed out, once they were all seated, we will have to figure out a few last details, so we can make sure the party will be a great success. Since we have a lot of different people at this one, we need to offer a large variety of food and drink and we need to make sure to choose a large variety of music for the entertainment, once the speeches are over.

Mrs. Caruthers nodded. Yes. I would prefer it, though, if we kept it to classical music. We will have a lot more older than younger guests and modern music is just so ... loud.

Jane bit back a grin, remembering that Mrs. Caruthers was younger than Steven who, apart from classical tunes, preferred Rock’n’Roll himself.

Laura Wingate nodded curtly. We should keep it mostly to classical tunes, yes, because they make a very good background music. I would suggest adding a bit of swing or jazz, though. I always found those tunes very nice as well and they’re surely not too loud.

Celeste bit her lip. Well, perhaps we could play something more modern towards the end of the party? A lot of the older guests will probably leave a little early and that way the younger ones can have some fun as well.

Charity is not about fun, Mrs. Caruthers told her immediately.

As a matter of fact, Lady Maria pointed out, charity is about fun ... for those who attend an event. Not for us planning and organizing it, true, but for our guests. Celeste’s suggestion does have merit. From other parties, I can say that a lot of the older guests stay no longer than ten or eleven. Afterwards, it won’t hurt to switch to something a bit more modern. Not the loudest music imaginable, but something a bit louder and faster than the classics.

Jane exchanged a glance with Cynthia, who rolled her eyes for a moment. As junior members of the committee, they’d both been rather silent during the meetings so far, even though they certainly discussed things lively with their regular group.

Mrs. Caruthers glowered for a moment, but she knew she could hardly talk down to a noble who was several years her senior and ruled high society. It won’t hurt too much, I imagine.

Esther Grayson nodded to Celeste. It’s a good idea, dear. How about you, Jane, and Cynthia choose the music for that part of the party?

Celeste glanced at Jane and Cynthia. Yes, we’d love to.

Jane, however, couldn’t completely keep out of this. Well, I hope you’re not adding any Beethoven for the classical part, though. His music is always pretty loud and sometimes outright aggressive. Wagner, too, of course.

Mrs. Caruthers stared at her. And how would you know?

My uncle. From the corner of her eyes, she could see Lady Maria, Celeste, and Cynthia - all of whom knew her supposed uncle - grin at that. He insisted on teaching me about classical music, since he enjoys it very much himself. He even took me along for concerts and opera performances regularly while I was still a small girl. Not to mention he made sure I went through his large collection of recordings.

Immediately, the other woman sensed a chance: In this case, you could help my son to get a better understanding. He’s always listening to the most dreadful music.

Jane pretended to be sad about her answer. I’m so sorry, but I have a lot to do at the moment, what with the charity event and my duties as my father’s daughter. And I don’t really think you can force people to develop a better taste. She glanced at Cynthia, who was fighting a grin at that. It might also be a lot easier to get into classical music while you’re still a child.

Yes, perhaps... Mrs. Caruthers sighed - for the moment, the catastrophe was averted.

Two

––––––––

It took them two more hours to figure out the buffet, the regular music, the overall schedule, and the right times for speeches and suchlike. Most of the time, Cynthia and Jane had only given minimal input, agreeing or disagreeing politely with the older members of the two committees. They both were relieved when the meeting broke up and they could finally leave. Yet, they both stayed back a bit, in order to make sure Mrs. Caruthers wouldn’t accost them in the hallways or entrance hall to advertise her son again. Once in an afternoon was more than enough for both of them. Together, Jane and Cynthia walked into the entrance hall and started looking for their coats. Jacob seemed to be occupied otherwise, so he wasn’t around to help them. Cedric came inside, carrying a package under his left arm and an umbrella hooked over his right one.

He spotted them and smiled. Hello, my badass agent ... Cynthia.

Cynthia smiled. Hello, Cedric!

Hello, my hero! Jane greeted him with a very bright smile.

He came over to them and carefully put the package on a side table and the umbrella into a stand, then he slipped out of his coat. As always, he wore a suit underneath. He looks forbidden good like that. His suit, his build, his ass, and his eyes are just so perfect together. Swiftly, he opened the rather hidden cloak room and put his own coat into it, then he removed Jane’s and Cynthia’s. With a smile, he helped them into their coats. His hands rested a little longer on Jane’s shoulders than they would have had to.

She smiled. It’s too bad you weren’t in when we arrived. That would have fortified me much more against the lure of Harold Caruthers.

There is one? He grinned.

Not really. She ran her fingers down the red-and-blue-striped tie he wore. It was one of his favourites.

Thought so.

You’re my happy thought, after all. Nobody could replace you.

He smiled. I’m very happy to be your happy thought.

She sighed. Well, we need to leave now. I’ll see you tomorrow, though?

Of course.

She lifted her head and he lowered his, their lips met, and for a few heartbeats the universe went on vacation as they kissed.

Aw, Cynthia cooed.

Cedric blushed very slightly. I should get the parcel to Sir Abraham.

And I should get Cynthia home, before she melts of romantic feelings. Did you already borrow a tux?

Of course.

Wonderful. I’m starting to look forward to the party.

Cedric grabbed his parcel and left the entrance hall, Jane and Cynthia left the house and went to the mini.

Cynthia snuggled into the passenger seat. That would have been such a nice meeting without Mrs. Caruthers. I still wonder why she wants her son to date one of us. It’s not as if he needs to marry up...

I think she just doesn’t like the girls he normally goes out with. Harold always has his flavours of the month ... he never stays with a girl for long.

And they’re usually not from high society.

Jane nodded. That, too.

Still, she should be talking to her son, if it’s so much of a problem for her, and not trying to sell him to every girl who doesn’t get away from her quickly enough.

I think deep down she knows he’s not going to change his tastes, so she tries to force him into a relationship she thinks is suitable. Which is pretty stupid. Plus, I’m not a suitable girl for her son to be with ... I’m not really high society, after all.

And you have that scary uncle. Cynthia giggled.

And that, yes.

But you are high society, no doubt about that. You’re more firmly settled than I am ... you play them much better than I do.

Jane sniggered. I learned how to do that ... manipulation is an important tool for a Branch Two agent.

No wonder you started training when you were ten...

Yes, I had an awful lot to learn.

Are you going to go out with Celeste and me this weekend?

Sure.

Nothing coming up you have to do?

There’s a coup coming up, but it will most likely be during the week and not on the weekend, so we can go out on Friday or Saturday.

Or both days?

Jane pretended to think about it. Well, I would like to have Cedric over Saturday night, but he could come along beforehand. I’m not flirting, anyway, so having him around won’t change things much.

Perhaps I can get Frank to come along, too. But that would be unfair for Celeste...

Well, I could pick up Cedric when I take Celeste home. Same place, after all.

Or we could just go out on Friday.

Or we could do that.

They reached Park Lane.

Cynthia glanced at Jane. Do you want to come inside for a bit of gossiping?

Well, does coming inside include a cup or two of Martin’s first-grade coffee?

It could. I could do with some coffee myself right now, to be honest.

Jane drove the car onto the premises of Cynthia’s home. Then I definitely want to do some gossiping. There’s a lot more happening in high society than one person can hear about.

Unless that person is my cousin Sheila, of course.

She’s still doing that blog, right? I should bookmark it, easiest way to keep informed while I’m doing other stuff.

You definitely should ... I’m getting the information right from the source, of course, what with Sheila being on my side in the feud against my dad.

Is anyone on your dad’s side? Jane was truly curious about that.

Nobody I know, to be honest. He never fit in well with the Wilmington clan himself and, after learning what he had done to me, most of our relatives chose my side. A few are remaining neutral, which is pretty clever on the whole, of course.

Yes, it’s always good to stay neutral if you don’t really, really have to take a side.

Martin opened the door before Jane or Cynthia had had a chance to ring the bell. He took the order of a pot of coffee and disappeared as usual.

Jane glance in the direction into which he had disappeared. I swear he knows how to teleport.

Cynthia laughed at that. What would Steven say, if you told him?

That I should keep my senses together, because the supernatural and the metaphysical don’t exist. Jane shrugged. He’s right, of course.

And he’s good at using very scary long words. Cynthia pulled Jane along to the green salon, where she usually spent her time.

They settled on one of the sofas and started gossiping.

* * *

Late on Thursday afternoon, Jane drove her car to Mortimer House again, but not for a visit to anyone living there. Cedric, her boyfriend, lived in the house as Sir Abraham’s secretary and personal assistant - it was part of his contract. She left the car outside at the curb for a moment and went up the driveway. Jacob let her in and Cedric came down