A Promise Kept

by R E Gauthier

  Nanna went to the small woman sitting with her head bowed. Leaning over, she drew Miranda up and into a hug. “I know Kelsey will be back home with you. She’s trying to reach out to me; I can feel it. Tonight, I will make you a tea that will help you relax and sleep in peace. It may also help you feel Kelsey’s closeness.”

  Miranda sniffed. “I’d love that. I need to feel her near me. I’m lost without her.”

  Nanna closed her eyes. “I know you are. She is too, and you will be with each other soon. I’ll make you that promise as I live and breathe. You and Kelsey will be with each other soon and stay together forever.”

  Chapter Seven

  Nanna’s House, April 7, 2102

  “Nanna, I know you believe you’re doing the right thing, but your granddaughter is out there somewhere, and I promised her I’d find her.” Nikki took a few even breaths to settle her nerves and calm her boiling anger. Isla MacKenzie was a formidable woman, but Nikki held her ground. Nikki believed exhuming the bodies to be the only way she would find Mack, and Nanna was standing in her way.

  “I’m sorry, Nikki; I made a promise too, and I will never go back on that promise. Lives depend on me keeping that promise.”

  Hadn’t Nikki been explaining her actions based on her promise she made Mack to Torres only yesterday? “Mack’s…I mean, Kelsey’s life depends on you, allowing me to exhume their bodies. I’m investigating that night because I’m certain it is the only way I will find Kelsey.”

  “The reason my granddaughter is missing is that you and she wouldn’t listen to me when I said to stop looking into that night. If you persist with this, it could be what will get you both killed.” Nanna’s lips tightened into a thin line.

  Nikki knew that Isla MacKenzie wouldn’t budge on this matter, but she had to try. Nikki spent two days rifling through everything she could to trace where Paul Washburg had been since he escaped from a hospital outside of Greensboro, Virginia. She attempted to find out where he got his phone. Nikki found evidence that someone entered the text, sent to Mack’s phone that morning, into the phone given to Paul Washburg. This Unsub wanted Paul Washburg to appear to be behind luring Mack to the location where her SUV went down into the ravine. That person went to great lengths to make it look like Washburg was involved in Mack’s staged death. Somehow, Nikki needed to find this person or persons. Today she had hoped she could convince Nanna, with Miranda’s help, to allow her to exhume the bodies of her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter. Nikki believed the answers to how they died would lead her to find out who killed them and then ultimately allow her to answer the questions of who wanted to stop Mack. Finding this person or persons would then help Nikki find Mack. Nanna wasn’t budging, so she knew she would have to go about the exhumations outside of the law. “I know you think you’re doing what is right, but I cannot stop from learning the truth. I made a promise to Mack, months ago, to keep looking into that night, even if something should happen to her. I think she had a premonition that she may not be able to continue.”

  Miranda’s eyes filled with tears. “Kelsey could be hurt or worse. You need to help Nikki with this…Please!” Miranda went down on her knees in front of the older woman.

  Nikki watched but knew that Miranda would have no more effect than she had on the stern ninety-one-year-old. Isla wasn’t about to allow anyone to come between her and the vow she made. What angered Nikki the most was that Nanna’s solemn word was preventing her from learning the truth and with it, the answers to the question of what happened to her best friend. “It’s no use, Miranda. Nanna is as stubborn or even more so than her granddaughter. I wasn’t able to get Mack to budge when she set her mind on something, and I’m sure she inherited that steadfastness from Nanna. I’ll find my answers by other means.”

  Nanna shook her head. “Don’t do this Nikki, once you find what you’re looking for; you won’t be able to unknow it. It could be your undoing.”

  “That is similar to what Mack said, her mother told her when she crossed into the…” Nikki stopped herself from finishing her sentence. Mack wouldn’t want Nanna to know about that conversation.

  Nanna gasped. “I knew Kelsey was keeping something from me, but I never thought she had…what else did her mother tell her?”

  Hearing the desperation in Nanna’s voice, Nikki frowned. What did Nanna worry about Mack learning from her mother? “Mack never said anything else, only that her mother warned her that she had to be sure she wanted to know before she left. Mack thought her mother was warning her about going to Scotland to find out who Uncle Ethan had been before he came to the US.”

  Nanna started mumbling. Nikki didn’t understand all of the words, but some sounded like words Mack had spoken the day she summoned her gift during the ritual. A faraway look entered Nanna’s eyes, and she went silent.

  Miranda glanced at Nikki. “What is happening? Nanna looks like she is asleep, but her eyes are still open.”

  Nikki shrugged. “Mack went into a similar trance-like state when she said some of the same words. I think Nanna is summoning the spirit world.” She and Miranda watched on as Nanna remained silent with unseeing eyes for several moments. Then Nanna spoke in Gaelic.

  “Bidh spioradan ga shàbhaladh bhuaipe fhein agus ga dion,” whispered Nanna before she slumped back onto the sofa.

  “Nanna? Are you alright?” Miranda leaped to her feet and checked Nanna’s pulse on her wrist.

  “I’m fine, my dear. It has been a long time since I tried to contact the spirit world. I’m not as young as I used to be. Nanna opened her eyes and smiled weakly.

  Nikki closed her eyes and shook her head. Trying to convince Nanna was a mistake. I should have listened to Torres. “I’m sorry,” Nikki whispered to Miranda. “I didn’t want to upset her, and Mack will never forgive me if anything should happen to her while she’s not here.”

  Nanna spoke up. “I’m here and not going anywhere, and nothing is going to happen to me. I only need a rest, and I’ll be fine. You have nothing to worry about, Kelsey is alive, and I know this for a fact because she isn’t in the spirit world. You won’t find answers in that night to what happened to her, you only have to stop looking for her, and all will be revealed in due time.”

  “What does that mean?” Miranda spoke the words before Nikki could formulate them and utter them herself.

  “It means that Kelsey is alive and will remain safe as long as you stop looking into that night and leave well enough alone.” Nanna’s words were soft, yet held a firmness as if she had screamed them.

  Nikki ducked her head and frowned. Today’s events added more questions to her growing list of how this gift Mack and her grandmother shared worked. Learning that Mack was indeed alive did serve to fuel Nikki’s resolve to find her even if Nanna’s warning to stop looking added to her growing fears. “Again, I’m sorry, but I won’t go back on the promise I made Mack. I’ll only stop when I hear her voice, see her face, and know she is safe.”

  Nanna’s eyes closed, and her voice rose to tell Nikki to leave her house and not return until she is willing to abide by her words.

  Nikki could feel the air escaping her lungs as if someone had punched her. She saw the hurt and worried look in Miranda’s eyes. Miranda mouthed the words: I’m sorry. Nikki lifted out of her seat and turned to go before she looked back. “I hope you’ll understand why I cannot do as you ask. I owe Mack this and love her too much to stop.”

  ***

  Canonsburg Memorial Cemetery, April 9, 2019

  On her way to the cemetery, Nikki checked her phone twice. Her contact said that she would find what she had hoped for once she arrived at the Canonsburg Memorial Cemetery. Her police scanner picked up the call for more officers and a forensic unit to be dispatched to the cemetery. There had been a series of events that looked like vandals had dug up numerous graves. Nikki knew immediately that this was the work of the men she contacted to help her with her exhumation problem.

  Two days ago, Nikki left Isla MacKenzie’s
home and went directly to her bunker. She contacted a man who knew someone who could make things happen, as Torres had suggested Nikki call if she needed anything that required “special” attention. Nikki knew that special meant he could make things happen that others could not. When she asked if there was a way this man could dig up graves in a certain cemetery. The man, who remained unnamed said to forward him the specific graves and then leave it to him, Nikki would know when he completed his job. Nikki thought that once the graves were disturbed that the police’s investigation would allow her to examine the contents of the caskets of Mack’s cousin, aunt, and uncle. She may even be able to convince an investigator of improprieties that could warrant a forensic examination of the bodies to ensure the right bodies were returned to the proper caskets.

  As she pulled into the nearest parking space for the cemetery, she saw the news station trucks, several police officers cordoning off a large area up on the hillside. Large piles of dirt and sods were scattered around the area, and the police had covered what may well be caskets and bodies strewn about the ground with large yellow tarps. Nikki frowned, she had hoped her man would have been more respectful of the human remains, but she had asked for it to look random so that no one would be suspicious.

  Making her way towards the scene, Nikki was stopped by a woman police officer.

  “Sorry, Mam, I cannot let you pass. If you have a loved one in this area, you can contact the Cemetery’s Office for more information. I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

  Nikki looked the young officer over. Taking in the badge on the pressed shirt and brown hair and pretty blues eyes, Nikki gave herself a mental shake. The woman looked too young to have completed police training and too young for Nikki. Drawing out her FBI credentials, Nikki mumbled, “I’m here on official FBI business, who is the officer in charge?” She hoped that officer Manning wouldn’t ask many more questions because Nikki hadn’t thought about what she would say if someone asked her about the investigation. She didn’t know in what state the cemetery would be in to understand how to proceed.

  “Detective Hansen is in charge, Mam. She is over there wearing a brown coat and jeans.” Officer Manning said, indicating a tall woman speaking with a large man in a yellow hard hat.

  “Thank you, Officer Manning. I appreciate your help. Please keep everyone out. I need to seal this crime scene off to everyone who isn’t police. Do you understand?”

  Officer Manning nodded and said she understood.

  Knowing that she could trust the pretty police officer to do her job and keep everyone out, Nikki trekked up the slight incline to where Detective Hansen stood. When Nikki heard the name, she hoped it wasn’t who she thought it was. She had dated a Detective Hansen three years ago. The relationship went sour, and Detective Hansen wasn’t too friendly with Nikki. As Nikki neared the tall woman with her back to her, the woman turned around, and Nikki’s heart sank. Damn, this may not be as easy as she had hoped.

  “As I live and breathe, I thought I would never see Special Agent Nicole Hyland step on this hallowed ground. The rumors must be true; the world is coming to an end.” Detective Hansen’s stern eyes didn’t waver as they drew up and down Nikki’s frame.

  Nikki felt the detective’s eyes rake over her body as the words slapped her in the face. “Hello, Lindsay,” Nikki whispered as she awaited the barrage of angry words she knew would come.

  “Three years, and all you can say is; Hello Lindsay. I didn’t expect ever to see you again, but if I did, I had planned…” Lindsay paused and closed her eyes before she continued. What are you doing here at my crime scene?”

  Nikki had expected Detective Lindsay Hansen to scream, yell, or at least demand she leave, but this calm, professional demeanor left Nikki stammering. “I…Ummm, I’m here because, well—” A cynical laugh halted Nikki’s words, and Lindsay’s eyes didn’t waver as they bore down on Nikki.

  “I’m sure you are, and that’s great, but this is an official police crime scene, and I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” The smile on Lindsay Hansen’s face looked smug.

  Nikki grimaced. Shit! Get it together, Nikki. Shaking her head and trying to make herself appear taller, she said, “I’m here on official FBI business, and I need to examine the scene.”

  “Official FBI bullshit is what you mean. How did the FBI even know about this, we only got the call…?” Lindsay reached a hand toward Nikki.

  Nikki jumped back. The last time they were together, Lindsay had warned Nikki that if she ever saw her again, Nikki had better be wearing a bullet-proof vest. Nikki wasn’t wearing one. “I’m here on an FBI case about missing bodies,” Nikki hurriedly got out as she moved away from the tall, imposing detective. She hoped that Lindsay wouldn’t see through her lie and how nervous she was. Nikki didn’t know how else she could get closer to the bodies.

  Detective Hansen stifled a laugh and then recovered her composure. “Missing bodies? How did you know?” Lindsay whispered.

  Smiling weakly, Nikki thought about what Lindsay had just said. The part about the missing bodies had just come to Nikki, she had no idea why, but it seemed to have struck a chord in Lindsay. Lucky guess, Nikki. “As I said, I’m here on an official FBI case; I cannot divulge more information than that.” It was Nikki's turn to look smug.

  Chapter Eight

  Undisclosed Location, April 9, 2012

  The discomfort in Kelsey’s limbs increased, and the cold made her shiver. Feeling the weight on her body, she knew something covered her, but it provided no warmth or comfort. Hours had passed since Kelsey woke to find herself in inky blackness. Feeling the binds on her wrists and ankles, she tried to move, but her arms and legs were too stiff. Trying to discover where she was and how she got there was the foremost thought on her mind. I need to get up. I need to run. Kelsey remembered driving her SUV, she heard the screeching tires, saw the trucks in her rearview mirror. They ran her off the road, and then her world went black. Somewhere deep in her subconscious, Kelsey knew someone moved her, heard mumbled voices, but she couldn’t recall anything more.

  Nausea rolled through Kelsey again as she felt the movement around her. The smell of sea air and the sound of water sloshing around her triggered a memory. I’m on a boat or ship. She wasn’t aware of anything about how or why she was on the ship. Kelsey did sense the danger she was in and tensed her body to struggle against her binds again. Trying to move her hands, Kelsey attempted to touch her face. Something itched the bridge of her nose, and she willed it to stop. Pushing past the pain in her arms, she raised her hands to her face and felt cloth over her eyes; she was blindfolded. Digging at the tightly tied fabric, she pulled it down off of her eyes. Even with her eyes uncovered, Kelsey couldn’t see anything. Inky black still covered her in its thickness, and she tried to turn her head. The wave of nausea made her close her eyes and lower her head.

  Kelsey felt and heard the halt of the forward motion as steel ground against steel, and the water’s movement caused her world to rock from side to side. Please, God, make this stop, she pleaded to anyone who would listen. Her stomach threatened to empty itself, and she tasted the bile rising to burn her throat. Opening her mouth, Kelsey started to retch and tried to speak; nothing came up or out. Her head spun, and she closed her eyes as she choked on the bile and tried to raise her head. An abrupt rocking movement sent a sharp pain tearing through her chest. She heard voices. First, they were muffled, but then she heard them clearer and closer. She was moving again, but this time, the movement was a steady forward motion, and Kelsey recognized a motorized sound and felt the bumps as the steel she lay on came up to hit her repeatedly as the thing she was in moved over an uneven surface.

  A man was talking, no two, and now a woman spoke. Kelsey couldn’t make out what they said, but the woman’s voice sounded angry. Metal grated against metal and the echoes of the banging hurt her ears, she again tried to sit up so that the noise wasn’t against her ears. Pain shot through her limbs, and she stopped struggling and bore the u
ncomfortable banging and clanging of metal against her eardrum. Squeezing her eyes shut, Kelsey felt the sting of the tears, but nothing fell from her eyes. Her mouth was dry, and her tongue ached from being held against the roof of her mouth, she began to cough.

  A light broke through her closed lids, and she opened them to see the light spread through the darkness surrounding her. Kelsey appeared to be in some sort of steel container. She struggled against the pain and bindings to sit up, and her head complained about the rapid change of position. She groaned as her world spun again. The light spread and revealed three shadows in front of her. Someone gasped.

  “Jesus Christ. What have you done? I told you to take care of her. Why is she sitting on the bare floor?” A deep female voice demanded.

  “We hud tae mak’ sure thay didnae see her. We did oor best,” a man’s voice said.

  The distinctive Scottish slang made Kelsey perk up. Am I in Scotland?

  “We gave her a blanket. We gave her th’ injection ye asked. Wance she wis in ‘ere we coudnae dae anythin’ mair.” Another man said in the same Scottish accent.

  “You idiots! I asked you to take care of her. You didn’t take care of her. Help her up. Get those ties off of her, and get her a blanket. NOW!” The woman’s voice rose with each demand.

  The men mumbled, and Kelsey could hear them moving toward her. Kelsey strained to see the faces of the people right in front of her, but the bright light burned eyes. Kelsey tried to say something, but her words caught in her throat. Where am I? Who are you? What do you want? She tried to recall what brought her to that road. The text she received said to come to that location to learn what she sought. Who were these people, why had they taken her by force and by boat? A wave of nausea forced its way through her, and her world spun, she retched, and a cough wracked her body. Doubling over, Kelsey gasped for any air she could manage to get past the tightening of her throat. Her world threatened to go black.