A Promise Kept

by R E Gauthier

  Miranda stirred in her sleep.

  Kelsey spoke inside her soul. I’m here, Mo Chridhe; I am alive and want you to know I love you so very much.

  Miranda smiled and sighed.

  Leaning over the sleeping woman, Kelsey bent to kiss the lips turned up in a smile. “I will find my way back to you. I will come home soon. I love you.”

  Miranda whispered, “I love you too. Come home soon; I miss you so much.”

  Kelsey climbed into the bed and held Miranda in her arms. The honesty was almost too much for her to bear. Tears burned her eyes, and they slid down her cheeks. Soon sleep took her, and in her dreams, she and Miranda made love and murmured their undying love for one another.

  ***

  Nanna’s House, Canonsburg, April 15, 2012

  Waking, Miranda smiled as she recalled her dreams. Kelsey came to her for the first time since this horrible nightmare had started. Her lover’s hands, lips, and skin had been against her again. Crossing the metaphysical barriers, Kelsey loved her as if she were indeed physically in the bed. Miranda could almost smell Kelsey’s scent on her and the sheets. How was that possible? Knowing that Kelsey was alive and promised to come home, made Miranda’s day, month, and year.

  She sprung from the bed with a renewed sense of ambition and planned her day. She and Jess could go to the spa; she wanted to get a full massage, mud packs, mineral bath, and then a makeover at the salon. Thinking about welcoming Kelsey home for their wedding made Miranda want to assure her fiancée came home to an invigorated and happy woman. Let’s get started with some energizing yoga and hot shower.

  An hour and a half later, Miranda sat at the breakfast nook with Jess across from her. “So, what do you think about my plans? Are you up for a day filled with lying around and having someone pamper you?”

  Jess yawned and rubbed her face. “I’m all for letting someone pamper me any day, but did you have to wake me up at seven? I don’t even think the spa opens until nine.”

  Miranda chuckled and leaned back. Smiling, she said, “I waited for almost an hour to get you up. I’ve been up since five.”

  Taking a long sip of hot coffee, Jess said, “what has you looking so bright-eyed and totally annoying this morning?”

  The smile grew as Miranda recalled Kelsey’s arms around her last night. “Kelsey came to me last night.” She didn’t say anything else, but from the knowing look on Jess’s face, she knew her best friend understood what she let go unsaid.

  Scowling, Jess said, “you are the only person I know who can have more action with her lover when they’re thousands of miles apart.”

  Miranda giggled. “I know how fortunate I am, but I would much rather have Kelsey here with me physically.”

  Jess joined in on Miranda’s giggles. “I still don’t see how you can feel her with you. I mean, how is it you two can have sex?”

  Miranda closed her eyes and smiled. “Imagine it’s like a perfect dream where you can actually feel what is happening to you. I cannot describe it any other way.”

  “So, you can feel her touch you, but can you touch her?”

  “I can feel her all around me, but no, I cannot touch her in the sense that my hands or mouth are on her body. I think about touching her, feeling her, and I do. Does that make sense?”

  “You do know that this is way too early for anything to make sense. I’m usually not up for at least another few hours.” Jess stretched and yawned.

  Miranda explained again how she couldn’t sleep and needed to tell Jess about Kelsey coming to her in her dreams.

  “Did she say where she is or who has her?” Jess asked around a bite of toast. “This is also too early for solid food.”

  Miranda rose from her seat; her nerves and muscles were too jumpy to remain seated. She went to make more tea. “She didn’t say anything about where or who, nothing like that. I don’t care about any of that; Nikki said she’d find her. I’m only concerned that she’s well and coming home. I missed out on celebrating her birthday, but when she gets back, we’ll never miss another important day again.”

  “If all is well then why hasn’t she picked up a phone and called you, or got on a plane to come home? She does know that almost everyone believes she is dead; why isn’t she worried about clarifying this mistake?”

  Miranda frowned; she didn’t want to think about the reasons why Kelsey remained away from home or hadn’t set the people, who believed she died on March thirtieth, straight. The only thing that Miranda wanted to know was Kelsey was alive; the rest would work itself out. Kelsey would make sure of that; she always did. “Nothing else matters to me.”

  Shaking her head, Jess said, “I don’t know what happened to you when you met that FBI agent, but where is the Miranda Gauthier, I know and love?”

  “I’m right here. I fell, truly in love for the first time in my life, and I trust Kelsey with my whole heart; she’s always proven to me that she can move mountains if that is what is needed to be with me. I trust her to know what she’s doing. She said she’ll be home and I know she will be. She has never broken a promise to me yet.” Frowning because there was the one promise, Kelsey wasn’t able to keep. Kelsey may not have been home for her birthday as she vowed, she would be, but it hadn’t been entirely her fault. Miranda wasn’t about to hold that one transgression against her lover.

  ***

  Aisling’s Office, Near Edinburgh, Scotland, April 15, 2012

  Aisling said something, but Kelsey couldn’t make out the words. “Sorry, I didn’t hear what you said.”

  Frowning and shaking her head, Aisling said, “you haven’t heard one word I have said all day. Did you get any sleep last night?”

  Kelsey smiled. “I slept like a baby. If truth be told, I slept better than I have in days. I’m just a bit distracted, that’s all.”

  Aisling nodded. “You used your amulet to reach out to Miranda, didn’t you?”

  Kelsey’s smile grew, and she closed her eyes. Remembering the kisses and caresses she shared with her fiancée, Kelsey nodded for fear her voice would fail if she tried to speak.

  “From that silly grin, I think you did more than reach out to her.”

  Kelsey’s eyes popped open, and she looked at her cousin. “You wouldn’t have been snooping, would you?”

  Aisling snickered. “I guess I have my answer. No, I didn’t snoop on you. I wouldn’t do that. I haven’t intruded on your privacy since you arrived here. Besides, with your amulet, your gift is stronger than mine. You can sense me if I were to invade in on your dreams or visions. I can’t sense your emotions as much. Do you have a protection incantation on it?”

  Kelsey forgot about the protection she placed on her amulet. It had been to protect Kelsey from Nanna learning about her investigation into Aisling’s death. Thinking about the monumental lie, Nanna took part in, made her anger rise, and attempt to take over Kelsey’s happiness. Pushing the anger down, Kelsey set her lips firmly. “I placed a protection incantation on the amulet to keep Nanna from knowing things I didn’t want her to learn. It seems as though it works for anyone who has the same gift.”

  “They usually do. I had no idea you had done that; I guess I need to trust you won’t do anything to put you or us in danger.” Aisling walked across the room and took a glass out of the cupboard. “Will you join me for a shot or two of whiskey?”

  Kelsey frowned. She hadn’t sipped alcohol since she recovered from her drunken stupor last fall. “Isn’t it too early to be drinking?”

  “I have a drink every day; it’s what keeps me going. Without it, I’m afraid that I may not get through it.” Aisling poured three shots of the amber liquid into her glass. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not a drunk. I only need some liquid courage to deal with the shit my life has become.”

  Kelsey told Aisling about her drunken assertions she made last fall. She wanted to make her cousin know that she couldn’t find herself at the bottom of a glass. “You will lose something before you gain anything. I know because
I almost lost everything because I turned to drink to get through the day.”

  Aisling nodded. “I can see why you did what you did. Your life was pretty messed up, and that bitch tried to keep you from Miranda, but anyone would have done what you did. Telling me this isn’t going to make me stop drinking. I can handle my liquor; you and Mar…I don’t need you telling me what I should or shouldn’t do. I’ve been living my life pretty good without any help.”

  Kelsey heard what sounded like a name starting with Mar, a few times. Aisling always stopped from completing her thought as if she didn’t want Kelsey to know about this person. Unfortunately for Aisling, but fortunate for Kelsey, the women’s bond and Kelsey’s amulet gave Kelsey the gift to hear Aisling’s entire thoughts. It is evident to Kelsey that she and the person, Marina, that Aisling avoided mentioning were lumped together as a common irritant for Aisling. Had this person also told Aisling not to drink so much? “I cannot tell you what to do; I only wish you could see that alcohol isn’t your friend, but your enemy.”

  “Well, I’m telling you that after all these years, you don’t have the right to tell me how to live my life,” Aisling said, before taking a long swallow, emptying her glass.

  Kelsey shook her head. No, I don’t, but that is going to change. I won’t let you ruin your life.

  ***

  Aunt Cat’s Garden, Near Edinburgh, Scotland, April 16, 2012

  “Marina is a woman that Aisling is better off without. She wasn’t good for my daughter.” Aunt Cat fiddled with the buttons on her blouse.

  “Aisling must have loved her. Isn’t it more important for your daughter to be happy than to worry if the woman she is with is right for her?” Kelsey knew she could learn what she wanted from Aunt Cat. She almost felt guilty for using her aunt’s lack of self-control or internal filter for her personal gain. Aisling told her about Aunt Cat’s medication making her talk too much, and some of what she said could be misunderstood as reality when it wasn’t. Kelsey decided to take the chance because her cousin was clearly hiding more than she was divulging. “You don’t like Aisling when she drinks as she does, do you?”

  Aunt Cat frowned and shook her head. “I tried to help her, but after that night, Aisling hasn’t been the same little girl I knew. She changed, and I couldn’t do anything. I had my own things to deal with. Aisling learned to use alcohol and drugs to escape her pain.”

  Please, not drugs too. Kelsey couldn’t imagine the little girl she grew up and played with for hours was the same woman who turned to drugs and alcohol to deal with life’s ugly truths. “What did you do; you did try to help her, didn’t you?”

  Aunt Cat dropped her head. “Her father and I did what we could, but she wasn’t easy to reach back then. Then Marina Carlotti came into our lives. She came to the UK with her father on summer vacations, and then while she went to college. Her influence on Aisling had been good at first, but then it turned destructive. I could see that Marina didn’t feel the same about Aisling as my daughter did for her. I saw Marina with some man at a few parties that Aisling didn’t attend. I knew she lived a double life of sorts. I wasn’t against my daughter being with a woman, but I couldn’t abide that she wanted to be with a woman who lived a lie. Marina wasn't truthful. When I confronted Marina, she threatened to take Aisling away from us, and we’d never see her again. That’s when I knew the woman wasn’t good for my daughter or anyone else. She’s a mean-spirited woman.”

  Kelsey listened with open fascination. Her cousin had lived a whole life she knew nothing about. The girl she shared everything with, grew up into a stranger with memories, that Kelsey wasn’t a part of. “But while Aisling was with Marina, she didn’t use drugs or drink; wasn’t that fair trade-off?”

  “Yes, she wasn't destructive in that way, but Marina was everything to Aisling. She just traded one vice for another. Marina could help her escape her life, but what that woman offered wasn’t real. She kept my daughter on a tight leash, calling her all the time. Watching everything she did and not allowing Aisling to meet other people or have other friends. That woman wasn’t even around most of the time, but Aisling stayed in fear that if she didn’t do what Marina asked, Marina would punish her.”

  “Punish her? What does that mean? Did she hit Aisling?” Kelsey saw red when she thought about someone hurting her cousin.

  “I never saw her strike Aisling, but she was controlling in emotional ways, and I think my daughter was afraid her punishment would be Marina leaving her. Marina would be gone for weeks or months, and still, Aisling would be waiting when she got back.”

  Kelsey couldn’t believe that the strong, sure girl she once knew had become a frail, needy woman who allowed someone to mistreat her. “Where is Marina now? Has she been around much lately?”

  Aunt Cat shook her head. “She went away after she and Aisling had a big fight one day, I haven’t seen her since. Good riddance, I say. That woman was never good for my daughter. I’m so glad we found you, Kelsey. Can we go home soon?”

  Kelsey felt the unshed tears well up in her eyes. Her aunt’s coherent moment was gone. Thinking it was best to reassure Aunt Cat, rather than correct her, Kelsey said, “I’m glad Aisling found me too. We can go home soon. You should have a nap. We can talk some more after you rest. Would you like Mavis to take you to your room?” Kelsey motioned for the maid to approach the table where they sat.

  “Yes, that would be fine, dear. I do think I need a rest. We can talk later.”

  Kelsey told the maid to take her aunt up to her room, and she sat back watching the woman, she loved almost as much as her mother, feebly walk away. Aunt Cat was a shell of the woman, Kelsey once knew. Anger bubbled up, and this time she didn’t push it back. Instead, she embraced it to give her the resolve she would need to see through her in the coming days. I will do everything I can to get the justice you deserve. The man who hurt you and Aisling will pay, and I won’t stop until he does.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Mid-flight over the Atlantic Ocean, April 16, 2012

  Nikki’s head bobbed down once more, she leaned back and pushed the button to turn off the light above her head. I might as well get some sleep. She tried for a few minutes to put off sleeping on the flight, but now her body willed her to do so. With another five hours, until she landed in Edinburgh, she might as well get a few hours of rest. As sleep took over her limbs, she felt the trembling and then the jerking of her tense muscles. In a few seconds, sleep settled in.

  Walking to the edge, Nikki looked down the ravine. Fear gripped her until she saw Mack standing next to her. “I’m sure glad you were not in your SUV.”

  Mack smiled. “Me too. Nikki, I need to tell you something; please, listen to me. I’m alive and well somewhere in Scotland. My aunt, uncle, and cousin are all alive, as well. I cannot go into it all, but you need to stop looking for me.”

  Nikki shook her head. “I cannot do that. I’m on my way now. I land in Edinburgh in a few hours.” At least Mack knew her family hadn’t died that night, and Mack was with them. Were they the ones who orchestrated Mack’s death, and why?

  Kelsey shook her head. “I’ll answer more of your questions another time, but right now, I need you to help me find a man they call the Ghost, can you do that for me? Don’t look for me, I’ll find you. Whatever you do, don’t tell anyone you’re helping me. I need you to use your resources, even Speedy if need be, but don’t trust anyone. You cannot tell another soul, not even Torres or Deb. Do you understand?”

  Nikki nodded. How did Mack know about Speedy?

  “Nikki? I have known about Speedy since I first met you. I followed you one day. Remember, I had the best surveillance and avoidance scores at the Academy?”

  Nikki hadn’t said her thoughts; how did Mack know what she thought?

  “I’m here in your dream. I’m able to do that, don’t you remember? You were thinking about me, and I reached you through your mind. I need you to promise to stop looking for me, for now. People are in danger until we can f
ind a man called the Ghost. Do you understand?”

  Nikki nodded and smiled. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you too. I have to go now, but I’ll be in contact again. Keep me in your thoughts, and I’ll come when I can.” Kelsey hugged her, and then she was gone.

  Nikki woke with a start when the announcement came over the speakers that they would be landing in ten minutes.

  ***

  Edinburgh Airport, Scotland, April 17, 2012

  Nikki went through the International Customs and Regulations at the airport security. Her new identification worked like a charm. The two thousand dollars were well-spent on the new passport, driver’s license, and Social security number. In Scotland, Nicole Hyland was Sophia Lafrombroise, born in California. Walking toward baggage pick-up, she turned her phone on to call Willow. Mack told her not to trust anyone, but Nikki would need Willow’s help if she were going to find this person, Mack had called the Ghost.

  Hitting the call icon, Nikki waited for the call to connect as she watched several bags come down the conveyor belt of baggage pick-up. People were impatiently standing around her when Nikki heard a few swear under their breaths, and still more swore openly.

  “Hey, how did your flight go?” Willow sounded very awake for one o’clock in the morning in Pittsburgh.

  Nikki smiled and said, “it wasn’t bad, we had some turbulence shortly after take-off, but then it settled down; I even slept for five hours. I’m all rested and ready to take on the day.”

  “Wow, you didn’t think you would sleep at all. How do you feel?” Willow asked.

  “Great. Your suggestion to drink plenty of water helped a lot with my usual equilibrium issues.” Nikki used to feel off and sluggish on and after long flights, but Willow said she should drink plenty of water before and during the flight. Willow told her it had something to do with your fluid levels and blood pressure. Nikki didn’t know, but it worked. “Listen, plans have changed, and I won’t be going to the estate right away. I am going to need you to help me with something, and you’ll have to use the most stealth search modes possible.”