The Legacy: Trouble Comes Disguised As Family (Unspoken Book 2) by T. Belshaw (the best books to read .txt) 📗

like to have a security camera fitted on the wall overlooking the property.’

‘Seriously? Well, you are a bit out of the way down there. It might be burglars, sizing the place up.’

‘Don’t say that,’ replied Jess with a nervous laugh. ‘I doubt if the person, or persons involved want to rob me. It’s more of a personal thing.’

‘Oh, right. How soon would you need it doing? I’ve got a pretty full schedule this week.’

‘I’d like it fitting as soon as possible really. Look, thanks for answering so promptly. I’ll give Bits and Bytes a ring in the morning. I think they do all sorts of electronics stuff.’

‘Don’t go to them, Jess. Is it all right if I call you, Jess?’

Without waiting for a reply, he continued.

‘They’ll charge you a fortune to fit it and they’ll put a big mark-up on the actual camera.’ He paused. ‘Look, Jess. I fit a lot of security stuff, inside as well as out. I have a nice outdoor, weatherproof camera in stock, it’s high definition, has fantastic night vision, and comes with a big memory card and a month’s free cloud service with the manufacturer. You don’t have to subscribe to that. Any images will be sent to your laptop too.’

‘Sold,’ replied Jess, ‘but when could you fit it?’

‘How does twenty minutes sound?’

‘Really? Look, Wade, I don’t want to spoil your Sunday. I can wait a few more days.’

‘I’m happy to do it,’ said Wade. ‘You don’t want to take the chance if you have a stalker.’

‘I didn’t say I had a stalker, but thank you. I’ll get the kettle on.’

Wade was as good as his word and twenty minutes later his van pulled onto the asphalt drive of the farm. Jess opened the front door and smiled to welcome him.

‘Thanks again for being so kind. The kettle’s on.’

Wade, wearing just a t-shirt and jeans despite the cold weather, flexed his muscles and looked down at his own broad chest as he walked towards her.

‘I’ll get the thing mounted first. I’ve brought you a wireless camera because your Wi-Fi is really good. We even got a signal up in the attic. I’ll have to drill a hole through the wall as it will need to be plugged into the mains.’

‘That’s fine by me,’ said Jess. ‘Where were you thinking of putting it. I have a plug socket on the landing.’

‘Can I have a quick look?’

Jess stood aside to let Wade get by. He took the stairs two at a time, checked the position of the double power socket on the landing, then opened the window at the front of the house and stuck his head out to get his bearings.

‘The socket is perfect,’ he called. Wade came back down the stairs and walked back to the van, showing off his wide shoulders.

Jess held her hand in front of her mouth to muffle the giggle that she couldn’t stop. Wade was a body builder, that was obvious, but did he have to walk like he was carrying two rolls of invisible carpet all the time?

He returned a couple of minutes later, lugging a big drill and a dust sheet.

‘That’s a big one,’ said Jess with a smile. ‘I’ll leave you to get on with it. Just call if you need anything.’

Wade nodded his ginger head and carried his equipment up the stairs. By the time Jess had walked through to the kitchen and opened up her laptop, the drilling had begun.

‘It’s mounted on the side wall, but I’ve angled it so that it covers the parking space and the land on the other side of the gate, where your old bed is lying.’ Wade stood, arms folded, showing off his biceps.

‘Fabulous. How much do I owe you?’

‘I’ll leave an invoice. I trust you to pay.’ Wade sniffed. ‘Can I smell coffee?’

Jess filled the kettle and switched it on.

‘I still have to set it up with the router and install the app on the laptop.’ He pointed to Jess’s computer. ‘Okay if I…’

Jess nodded and continued making the coffee. ‘No sugar, is that right?’

‘I’m sweet enough,’ replied Wade. ‘Hey, I must have made an impression the last time I was here for you to remember that.’

‘I’ve only made coffee for three people since I moved in,’ replied Jess. ‘It wasn’t much of a memory feat.’

Wade took the coffee without acknowledgement and began the camera set up. One computer reboot and two router restarts later, the software was installed and Jess was able to see outside the house from her laptop screen.

‘That’s a fantastic view. It’s so clear.’ She patted Wade on the arm, then instantly regretted it.

‘Wait until you see the night vision. It’s so good you could pick out a snail crawling across the floor.’

Wade took his time finishing his drink. ‘Did you consider my offer?’ he asked as he wrote out and tore off an invoice from his pad.

‘Offer?’

‘I asked you out, remember?’

‘I do remember, Wade, and it was very sweet of you. But as I said. I’m not looking for a new relationship at the moment. I’m still getting over the last one.’

‘It’s only a bloody night out.’

Jess took a step back as Wade turned his angry face towards her.

‘I understand that, Wade, but honestly. I’m right off men at the moment.’ She smiled reassuringly at him. ‘It’s not you. It’s just men in general.’

‘Men are all right when they come out on a Sunday afternoon though?’

‘I didn’t ask you to come out today. You offered.’

Wade got to his feet and snatched up his invoice pad.

‘I forgot to include my unsocial hours rate on the invoice.’

‘Send me another one with everything included then, Wade. I don’t want you to be out of pocket, I’m very grateful, honestly.’ She smiled at him, then continued. ‘I might have a bit more work for you soon, anyway. My laptop’s playing up. The blue camera light comes on at random. I’d like a bit of advice… you know, whether to scrap it and get a new one,