A Promise Kept

by R E Gauthier

  “Leave? No, we cannot leave. That award manager will be coming soon; we won a trip to the Mediterranean coast and need to be home when she comes to give us the certificate in person.”

  What was her mother talking about now? What award manager? “What woman are you talking about? What contest did you win?” Aisling was careful not to let her mother have internet or phone privileges because her mental status was too dangerous for her mother to be contacted or to contact the wrong people. The house staff knew not to allow her mother to answer the door or phone. The landline phones were all in the house staff quarters and out of bounds to her mother. “Mother, who did you talk to? Who told you that you won a trip?”

  “I cannot recall the woman’s name. She was too polite for an American but said that she’d come to award us the prize certificate in person. She asked me to give her our exact address.”

  “Tell me you didn’t give her our address.” Aisling tried to think who could have got this number. No one had it, not even the people who worked for the family. Also, the staff didn’t know the number. The landline was only for emergencies and not to be used for anyone. Only people they trusted had the number. Marina had the number; what was she up to? Why would she…no, mom said it was an American? “Mom, you said this woman was an American; how do you know this?”

  “What, woman?” Cat shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I thought we were talking about going on holiday. We’re going up north before it gets hot for the summer months. Help me find that blue coat; it will be cold in the evenings.”

  Aisling saw the light go out in her mother’s eyes before her mother voiced her confusion. It wouldn’t matter what she wanted to know; her mother wouldn’t be able to answer anything coherently. Deciding it was easier to help her mother find the coat than to explain her need to leave once again, Aisling went into the closet and searched for her mother’s favorite jacket. She would have to worry about this American woman who supposedly called her mother another time. There was also the possibility there wasn’t any prize or woman, and her mother’s fanciful imagination made it all up. I don’t have time to deal with another dilemma; they were leaving, which solved the problem of a stranger visiting them if she did indeed exist.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Driving through Scotland, April 21, 2012

  Sitting in the car beside Aisling and behind Aunt Cat, Kelsey watched the signs as they passed them. Each one was written in both Gaelic and English. Kelsey’s assumption that she was in Scotland had been a valid one. No one told her where they were headed, but Kelsey surmised from her Aunt’s comments about needed her coat for the chilly northern winds, that they were headed north of where they had been. Traveling north could mean they were headed to the Scottish Highlands, the land of Kelsey’s ancestors. Kelsey knew her accuracy in translating written Gaelic to be lacking, but several signs appeared to be leading them to a place called Ceann Loch Iú. Part of Kelsey’s memories were triggered by that name. Had Nanna once told them the MacKenzie Family once lived near Ceann, or was it Caora? One or the other near a loch or lake, of that,Kelsey was certain.

  Aisling remained silent and sullen the entire trip. Kelsey wasn’t about to strike up a conversation after how they left their last discussion. Kelsey thought allowing her cousin to stew for hours may brighten her mood. From the glances she received, this hadn’t been the case.

  “Your amulet isn’t working very well because your thoughts are louder than the car engine. We’re heading to Kinlochchewe to stay the night, and then we’ll continue onto the farm in Gairloch. It’s one of the last properties owned by the MacKenzies” Aisling smiled and then closed her eyes.

  That smile told Kelsey her cousin had mellowed somewhat since leaving the house, and that buoyed Kelsey’s mood. So, I was right; we’re heading to Nanna’s homeland.

  Aisling opened one eye and said, “aye, we ur. Noo, please kin ye stoap thinking sae loudly or block thaim; either wey a'd lik' some peace 'n' wheesht. (Yes, we are. Now, please, can you stop thinking so loudly or block them; either way, I’d like some peace and quiet.)”

  Kelsey chuckled and nodded; it had been the first time Aisling had spoken Scottish slang. It was also the first sign that Kelsey’s amulet could be losing its protection against Aisling’s gift. Kelsey decided to try playing a game she used to enjoy with Aisling when they were children. Smiling, she thought loudly, Aye, 'n' ye cuid aye stoap listening in; ye aye wur mooch (Yes, and you could always stop listening in; you were always nosey).

  Aisling’s eye remained closed, but she stuck out her tongue.

  Aisling’s thought came crashing into Kelsey’s mind; Keek wha's cawin me mooch. (Look whose calling me nosey)

  Kelsey giggled and closed her eyes.

  ***

  MacKenzie Estate, Gairloch, April 21, 2012

  The caravan of five cars arrived at a sizeable sprawling farm outside of Gairloch in the afternoon. Kelsey glanced at the car’s dash and saw the time, two o’clock; we’ve been driving for five hours after leaving the hotel. Since Aisling didn’t trust her with a phone, maybe Kelsey could convince her cousin to at least allow her to have a watch. Kelsey thought she could take a nap once they got settled and check-in with Miranda, who she missed terribly. She was also eager to reach out to Nikki and find out if her best friend had made any head-way finding the Ghost; she wanted to add Marina Carlotti to Nikki’s list of people to look for. If Aisling was worried about this woman finding or hurting them, Kelsey wanted to know all she could on this woman.

  After five hours crammed in the car, Kelsey exited the car and stretched her aching muscles. The fresh air felt invigorating entering Kelsey’s lungs after they had been breathing the stale, recycled air of the car for so long. The hills around them were beginning to turn lush with greenery after a long Winter. From what she learned from her grandmother, Kelsey knew that the Scottish Highlands was the first and last place in the UK with snow and ice from Winter’s grasp. From Nanna’s stories, she knew that April was the month that Spring arrived in the Highlands. “Wow. It is beautiful here.” Kelsey closed her eyes and drew in another lungful of the crisp air.

  “I love it here, and we’ll be safe because no one knows about this place,” Aisling whispered close to Kelsey’s ear. “Your friend cannot find us even if she tries.”

  Kelsey attempted to remain unphased by her cousin’s last comment but knew she failed with Aisling’s next words.

  “If you thought you could keep me totally in the dark, you’re sadly mistaken. It’s no matter now that we left the house, but if you try something like that again, Nikki will be the one who gets hurt. I still haven’t figured out how you got a maid to let you use the phone and to think you used mother to get what you wanted.”

  “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Kelsey was so surprised that her cousin was able to learn she contacted Nikki, she forgot to be careful what she said next. “I never used a phone to reach her, and I don’t know what you mean by I used Aunt Cat.”

  “At least I know you did reach out to that woman, but how you did, doesn’t matter. Someone called my mother and put it in her head she was getting a prize; you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you? I told you the fewer people who know you’re with us, the better. If the wrong people find out, you’ll be in grave danger.”

  For fuck sake, I’m tired of this cryptic shit. Kelsey decided that she might as well plead her case since her cousin knew about her contacting Nikki. “Tell me who is after us; Nikki can help. She’s very good at what she does.”

  Aisling hissed and said, “what she does is meddle where she doesn’t belong and almost gets people killed in the process.”

  “You mentioned this before; who did she almost get killed?” Kelsey’s voice rose higher as the household staff milled about unpacking the car. She had almost forgotten they were not alone. When Aisling didn’t answer, Kelsey spoke louder. “Whose life did Nikki endanger?”

  “Yours,”
Aunt Cat said flatly.

  “Mother!” Aisling shouted.

  “There is no need to yell; I’m right next to you, dear.” Aunt Cat smiled.

  Kelsey hadn’t heard or saw her aunt approach. The woman must have been listening in on the conversation and spoke up when she thought she could add to it. Kelsey watched the exchange between her aunt and cousin. Kelsey looked Aisling, carefully in the eye. Kelsey could tell Aisling was worried about something.

  Aisling looked away and then back. “Kels, don’t listen to anything she says; she doesn’t know what she is talking about. Mother, you’re tired from our long trip and should go have a nap.”

  A sudden coldness hit Kelsey in the very core. Aunt Cat was speaking the truth. She saw her aunt’s bright, intelligent eyes and saw the truth in her mind. Even Aisling’s face and thoughts told Kelsey it was true. Sudden dizziness washed over Kelsey, and she realized that her cousin knew something about the attempt on her life almost a month ago at the Heathrow Airport. “You…You knew about the attempt on my life, and you didn’t say anything to me about it; why?”

  “Jesus, Kels…I didn’t want you to know.” Aisling’s eyes were filled with unshed tears.

  “You didn’t want me to know what? What are you not telling me?” Kelsey demanded. She was beyond tired of her cousin, keeping things from her. “I want you to tell me everything. Do you hear me? I want to know EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE KEEPING FROM ME!!”

  ***

  Scottish Pub, Edinburgh, April 21, 2012

  Nikki strode through the door of the pub and squinted to allow her eyes to adjust to the dim light. Smoke and the smell of alcohol filled the air as many of the patrons were smoking and drinking as they shouted over one another to be heard. A ruckus rose up near the bar where a few men argued in a thick Scottish slang. Foreign to her ears, the only words she understood were football and idiot. Unless she was mistaken, Nikki guessed the men were talking about the game of soccer playing on the television screen at the back of the bar. Smiling, she continued her search for a man with a red cap on.

  From one of Torres’s contacts, Nikki was meeting a man with a red cap on in this pub at three o’clock. The man had some information for her about a local crime family that may help in her search for a man known only as the Ghost. Scanning the room, she saw a man in the far corner with his head down. He wore a distinctive red cap. Deciding this was the man she was looking for, Nikki walked carefully around a group of men talking loudly about something. Do Scottish people ever speak quietly?

  Before Nikki reached the table, the man rose and took off his cap and nodded. “Ye mist be Sophia Lafrombroise. Ah wis telt tae soucht a lassie wi' locks as rid as mah bunnet.”

  Opening her mouth and then closing it, Nikki shook her head. She didn’t know what the man said, but she did recognize her alias’ name “I’m sorry I don’t understand all of what you said, but I am Sophia Lafrombroise.”

  The man nodded. “Then, this is fur ye.” The man handed her an envelope.

  Nikki understood the words enough to know the envelope he offered her was for her. Taking it, she started to thank him when a brawl broke out behind her. She turned to see two men throwing fists at one another and men around them egging them on.

  A large burly man entered the fray and grabbed one of the men by the back of his shirt. “Edgar 'n' Micheal, ah hae enough o' ye twa in 'ere. Git oot!”

  The crowd dispersed as the two men stumbled and shoved one another as they were escorted from the pub.

  With the melee over with, Nikki turned back to the table and the man with the red cap, but the man was gone. What the hell? Where did he go? No one could have passed by without Nikki seeing them, and the man was sitting at the corner table, but now there was just an empty chair, and a beer mug.

  Shaking her head, Nikki sat down and opened the envelope. Inside was a piece of paper with a note not to read what was inside until she was alone. Looking around, Nikki decided she would have to return to her hotel room before reading the contents, and shoved the envelope into her jacket pocket. A man walked by with a bowl of some kind of stew. Her stomach grumbled its complaint about not having lunch. I might as well get some of that delicious smelling stew before I leave.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  MacKenzie’s Estate, Gairloch, April 23, 2012

  Her room overlooked the barnyard and a large pasture. From her window, Kelsey saw Aisling walking from the house toward the large barn. Aisling had put her off long enough. After the confrontation, when they arrived, two days ago, Aunt Cat had collapsed, and Aisling ordered the staff to help her get her mother into the house. Kelsey was left standing by herself with a few lingering staff. One maid offered to help Kelsey find her assigned room, and that is where she stood in front of a large window. The room must have been renovated as it had its own full bath and a sitting area. Old farmhouses were lucky to have one full bath, let alone having several rooms with one attached. Kelsey guessed that the house had been renovated to give room for many guests. Maybe it had been used as a guesthouse or bed and breakfast at one time.

  Watching Aisling leave the barn with something in her arms, Kelsey decided to go down and confront her cousin about what she was keeping from her. Kelsey’s patience worn thin, she gave Aisling enough time to settle in, and Aunt Cat wasn’t around to blame or distract Kelsey. Aisling would be made to Kelsey’s questions this time.

  Exiting the house, Kelsey walked straight towards the barn and was stopped by a burly man, several inches taller than she.

  “Sorry, Mam. I’ve been told to keep you inside the house.”

  Clenching her jaw and pressing her lips, Kelsey stared up at the man. Not many people could say they towered over her, but this man did. Hands-on her hips, she glared and dared the man to continue standing his ground.

  The man didn’t flinch.

  Kelsey smiled and lowered her stance to afford her the leverage she needed to move the man by force if needed. She may not have regained all her strength back since her accident and abduction, but she knew she could still throw this man down if he didn’t back down.

  The man smiled and said, “I’ve been told you’re a blackbelt in Muay Thai or some kind of karate fighting. I don’t want to have to, but if you insist, I will use my taser.” He moved his jacket to the side to show-off the large black weapon.

  Widening her eyes, Kelsey looked to the right of the hulking man, to see her cousin with a giant smirk on her face.

  “It is okay, Matt; Kelsey wouldn’t back down even if you had a gun. Remember, I told you she’s an FBI agent.”

  The man named Matt smiled and nodded. “Do you need me to stick around in case she’ll give you any trouble?”

  Aisling shook her head. “I can handle my cousin; besides, I need you to watch my mother’s room. No one goes in or out except for me, do you understand?”

  Matt nodded and left through the side door that Kelsey had exited from.

  Hands still on her hips, Kelsey cocked her head. “Would you have let him taser me?” It seems an extreme means of stopping me from looking for you.”

  “I cannot be too careful. I know what you’re capable of, and the staff has been instructed not to let you use the phones or to leave the house unattended. You are allowed outside if I’m with you. I also have instructed them all as you just heard me tell Matt; to allow no one inside mom’s room.”

  Kelsey couldn’t believe her cousin’s demeanor had changed so rapidly from the car ride or when they first arrived. Aisling had begun to act like she did when they were children. Joking and playing with Kelsey was something her cousin did easily. But now, instead of a smiling face, Aisling had a stern, worried look. “You don’t have to do all this. I won’t try to leave, and I want to help you if you would let me. We can find this Ghost and stop Marina from doing, whatever you are worried about her doing.”

  “I have made sure that we don’t have to worry about either, and I know you too well. If you had the chance you’d leave and remember,
I knew you when you didn’t even know yourself. You cannot sit still when you think you could be doing something.”

  “Enough of this cryptic shit. I had it up to here, with your cloak and dagger, double-speak.” Kelsey held her hand to the top of her head. “We knew each other better than anyone once, but I don’t know you now, and you don’t know me.”

  Aisling frowned. “I may not know you as Nicole Hyland knows you, but I know your heart, and you cannot idly sit by if you think you can do something. It goes against every fiber in your being.”

  There was the same sarcastic way Aisling repeated Nikki’s name. Aunt Cat had alluded to the fact Nikki had almost got Kelsey killed. She wasn’t about to let Aisling walk away without telling her everything she knew about that day. “I know you don’t like Nikki; why don’t you tell me what you don’t like about her? Tell me everything you know about the day I was shot. Do you know who did it?”

  Shaking her head, Aisling turned away.

  Kelsey reached out and grabbed her cousin’s arm and spun her around. “No, you don’t. You are going to tell me everything. You can call back your mountain man, Matt, or whoever else you need to try and stop me, but I won’t let you this time. I will know everything, and I mean everything.”

  Aisling hung her head. “I didn’t know. If I had, I would have stopped her myself. As soon as I learned the truth, I stepped in to save you. You have to believe me.”

  Kelsey’s stomach fluttered, and her heart began to race for the second time that day. The feeling of impending doom assaulted her whole being. Standing her ground, she fought the need to run. She needed to know more than she needed to flee. Just say it; tell me who tried to kill me.

  Aisling bowed her head and took a deep breath.

  From her cousin’s body language, Kelsey knew Aisling heard her thoughts, but struggled to speak the words.

  “Just tell me!” Kelsey couldn’t contain her frustrations any longer. Grabbing Aisling by the shoulders, she urged the words out. “Please, I know you want to tell me, and once you do, you’ll feel so much better.”