by R E Gauthier
Nikki waited to hear if Deb or Torres had an answer.
“Deb says she thinks there were six, maybe seven. What does that mean?”
“Can I give you my input now?” Nikki wanted to be sure she wasn’t going back on her word not to let her feelings get in the way.
Torres sighed. “Yes, you can tell me what you’re thinking.”
“Well, first from your description, Willow left on her own. The problem I have is what made her leave because if she were leaving for good, she would have taken her computers with her. She told me they’ve been with her since college. So, I have to believe she means to come back.”
“She may have, here’s where you’re not going to like what I have to say. Please listen to me and don’t interrupt until you’ve listened to everything.”
Nikki rolled her eyes but said, “I’m listening, and I won’t interrupt.”
“Good, so, let’s say Willow left the bunker and plans on coming back, then why isn’t she answering her phone, texts, or emails?”
Nikki started to say, “She—”
Torres cleared her throat loudly. “No, don’t answer that, I’m just setting the scene for my theory.”
Nikki apologized.
Torres continued to explain she believed that Willow wanted to make it appear as if she went missing to worry Nikki and that she was setting some kind of trap for Nikki to fall into.
Nikki struggled against her inclination to stop Torres but refrained from saying anything until she was sure the other woman finished her summation.
“Willow came back into your life at just the same time as you were struggling to find Mack. She had all the answers you were looking for and could explain everything she did and said. You go to the UK on information Willow found, not you. With you out of the picture and away from the bunker, she could set her trap. She then makes you come back and grabs you.”
“Are you finished?” Nikki wanted to make sure she was allowed to speak her mind. Shock and disbelief weren’t even the tip of the iceberg where Nikki’s emotions were headed. What had Willow done to deserve such a severe reaction from Torres?
“Yes, but before you say anything. Remember, you said you wouldn’t let your feelings get in the way of taking in what I had to say.”
“I did say that, can you honestly say that you also didn’t let your preconceived feeling for Willow get in the way of making an impartial theory of what and why things happened?”
“Deb and I both agree that this is looking more and more like a trap. If it’s not Willow, who is setting it for you, then who?”
Nikki scoffed. Deb and Torres had no reason to like Willow. “Did you ever think that maybe someone is using my feelings for Willow and her involvement in helping me to trap me? That maybe someone is making it look like Willow is missing to get me home and stop helping Mack. It doesn’t necessarily mean that Willow is that person.”
“Then who hit Deb and I on the head? Who dragged us to my car and drove us out here? Who wrote a note to stay away? If it isn’t Willow, why didn’t they take us somewhere to question us or worse…kill us?”
“What the fuck! Willow didn’t hit you on the head, and she’s not setting some kind of trap for me. I don’t know where she is, but I’m not jumping on your paranoia bandwagon. Have you been talking to Miranda?”
“Red, listen to yourself. You’re blinded by your feelings for the woman…wait, what does Miranda have to do with what has been happening?”
Nikki growled. “Never mind, it’s not important. I wish I never called you and asked for your help. I need to contact Mack and tell her I’m heading back. I can help her more from the bunker, and at the same time, look for Willow.”
“You can’t do that; it’s what they want. Don’t you see it? If you won’t believe Willow is part of this plan, at least can you admit that someone wants you to leave the UK?”
“That might be the case, but I’m not about to stay here when Willow could be in danger. I will never forgive myself if I put her in danger when I asked her to help me.”
“Did she offer to help, or did you ask?” Torres asked.
“She offered before I could ask. I thought it was a bad idea, but she said that no one could get to her through family because he didn’t have any alive.”
Torres made a derogatory comment and then said, “did you verify her story. I still think it’s odd that she came out of the woodwork after all these years. Didn’t you say she stalked you online for some time? That could be that she did so as part of her job.”
“Oh my God, now you’re saying she’s working for some intelligent agency, next thing you’re going to say is she’s CIA.”
“Red, it’s not out of the question. Think about it. Spooks have assets everywhere, and just because you knew her in high school, doesn’t mean she’s not been working with some intelligence group. They plant her here to get to you, and when you’re getting close, they have her set a trap to have you come home.”
“Your theory has a few holes, what about the fact she’s been helping me? She found where Mack’s cousin, aunt, and uncle may be holed up here in Scotland. Mack said they moved after her cousin got spooked. I wouldn’t have known where to go if it were not for Willow.”
“Have you ever stopped to think, she may have been sending you on a wild-goose chase? She wanted to get you out of the way, and then you stumbled on some real information that could help you find Mack and stop this man they call the Ghost. That’s when Willow conveniently disappears, and when you get a warning about getting too close.”
Nikki didn’t want to admit that Torres did have a point there, but Willow did help her. She helped get the information on where the men loaded Mack onto the container and how the container arrived in Scotland. Willow traced the phone number. “I’m not listening to you, I’m coming home, and if you’re going to hinder my search for Willow, don’t bother contacting me again, I don’t need or want your kind of assistance.”
Torres mumbled a soft goodbye and ended the call.
Jesus Christ, what the fuck is going on back home? The people she thought she could count on, abandoned her for some kind of witch-hunt against Willow. They’re just jealous of what Willow and I have.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Teuchter’s Landing, Edinburgh, May 7, 2102
Nikki prepared to leave the hotel by seven the next morning to be at the airport by nine o’clock. Her flight to Pittsburgh would leave Edinburgh at ten-twenty-five and have two layovers, one in London and the other in Philly. It was the soonest flight she could book without flying first class. She thought briefly about calling the number, Nanna gave her to help her get out of the country fast but thought that would be abusing an emergency voucher. Nikki didn’t want to use up, what could be a one-time-only emergency exit from the country if she were in immediate danger. Nikki planned to return to the UK once she had discovered what happened to Willow. I’ll save that one for when I may need it.
With a few hours left in Scotland, Nikki decided to go out for supper and enjoy one last authentic Scottish meal. She settled on a place the hotel concierge recommended she try. The place was called Teuchter’s Landing, nestled in the dock district, and the recommended method of ordering was to ask for the Visitor’s Platter. It served a small sample of many of the pub’s favorite offerings. Ordinarily not on the menu, it was available for anyone who asked for it. Nikki thought it might be great to get out and relax, and a way to get her mind off of worrying about Willow.
Nikki left the hotel in a taxi, driven by a Middle Eastern man who played jazz on the radio. The man appeared to be in his mid to late thirties, and wore his jet-black hair longer, and sported a short beard. The man said his name was Shamir and he smiled a lot, showing off his brilliant white teeth. Her FBI training ran deep, but Nikki stopped herself from guessing his weight and height. Smiling, she leaned back and watched the streetlights pass by as they drove through the city. From the hotel Concierge, Connie’s description, Teuchter’s Landing, w
as opened late, so Nikki could stay for a few drinks to help her unwind and sleep that night.
Arriving at the spot Shamir said was A Room in Leith, Nikki squinted to see in the inky darkness a sign of a restaurant amongst the trees and buildings lining the street. They had passed under some sort of archway and entered a small courtyard area. “I don’t see the restaurant, are you sure you have the right address?” Nikki saw him enter something into a GPS on the car’s dash. “You may have entered it wrong in your GPS; this can’t be the place.”
Shamir laughed and pointed down the road. “It is tucked away just around that corner. This is as close as I can get.”
The cobblestone street was lined with several cars, and Nikki saw a stream of people heading toward the direction Shamir had pointed. “So, I just walk down this street turn left, and this Teuchter’s Landing is right there?”
Shamir smiled, his toothy grin. “Yes, it’s a popular place, so parking is at a premium. When you’re ready to go back to your hotel, I will be happy to come and drive you back to your hotel. Just call this number.” Shamir handed Nikki a business card. “The only thing worse than parking down here is taxi availability. You may wait for hours if you call or wait at a nearby stand. I don’t recommend a woman such as yourself walking around down here. People could try to take advantage of you being an outsider. This area is frequented by pick-pockets, cons, and prostitutes.”
Nikki nodded. “Thanks for the advice, but I may stay until the place closes at one. Tonight is my last night in town, and I want to make the most of it.”
“I’ll be working until three in the morning. There are a few places that opened late in this area; I make plenty of money staying down here at nights.”
Nikki thanked and paid Shamir before exiting the car.
Shamir shouted out as he pulled away, “enjoy yourself tonight.”
Nikki waved and shouted back a thank you before she headed down the stone walkway on Dock Place. The air was filled with the smells of the sea and fog rolled in from the tops of the buildings. People were talking and laughing as they made their way up and down the street. A few dim street lights dotted the darkness that Nikki first hadn’t seen but now saw as she drew closer. The fog thickened, making her need to strain to see the end of her path and her destination, Teuchter’s Landing.
Once inside, Nikki smelled the most wonderful scents of food cooking. Connie said she should ask for Amanda once she arrived to make sure Nikki got a table right away. The place was lit dimly at the entrance, but it opened up into a much larger venue than what it appeared from the outside. The site seemed to extend well past the small, one-story, front building.
A young man approached Nikki and asked if she was lost.
Shaking her head, Nikki said, “I was told to ask for Amanda when I arrived.”
The young man smiled a broad, toothy grin, and said, “Ah will git Amanda; she's aroond 'ere, someplace. Ye kin fin' a steid at th' bar.”
Nikki thanked the man and went in the direction of the bar, where there wasn’t a spot to stand. The wall was covered in shelves with every manner of alcoholic beverage, Nikki would ever want to try. The large wooden bar was barely visible through the multitude of people. Before Nikki had attempted to make her way through the crowded area in front of the bar, a hand lightly touched her elbow.
“Ye mist be Sophie, Connie tellt me you'd be comin'. Ah hae a seat saved fur ye ower 'ere.”
Nikki turned toward the voice to see a woman of short stature with black hair and dimpled cheeks smiling. Nikki offered her hand in greeting. “Then you must be Amanda. Connie told me all about this place and promised me a good time.”
Amanda smiled and nodded as she directed Nikki to follow her.
They wove their way through the crowded pub, stopping at the far end at a small table.
“Ere ye gang; ah will be richt back wi' a menu. Dae ye ken whit you'd lik' tae drink?” Amanda asked.
“A menu isn’t necessary; I know what I’d like to have to eat, but can you recommend a drink?”
Amanda’s grin grew. “Aye, yer aff tae lik' th' lassie, tis a perfect stairt tae yer nicht. If ye ken whit yi'll waant tae eat, ah will be back tae tak' yer order wi' yer drink.”
Nikki smiled back at Amanda. She had grown used to the Scottish accents and believed Amanda said she’d be bringing her a drink called a Lass, and she’d take Nikki’s food order when she brought back the drink.
While Nikki waited for Amanda’s return, she sat back and observed the people at nearby tables. At the table next to her own, two women were talking with their heads bowed. Their conversation appeared to be quite serious. Further down the way, two men were having a spirited discussion about something; Nikki couldn’t understand their fast-paced, thick Scottish brogue. The scents of the bar were of all sorts of food, a faint smell of cigars, and colognes. It appeared, both women and men frequented the bar, and some looked to be on the prowl for a good time.
From the corner of her eye, Nikki saw Amanda approach. “'Ere ye gang, yin lassie fur a bonny wifie. Noo, whit kin ah git ye tae eat?”
Bonny wifie? Nikki had heard that phrase a few times and still wasn’t entirely sure what it meant. She guessed that bonny was beautiful, and wifie was either a lady or woman because it sounded like ‘wife.’ Was Amanda flirting with her? Deciding it wasn’t a bad idea to flirt with a woman serving her, Nikki teased back with her smile and eyes. “Thank you, Amanda; it looks yummy. Connie said to tell you; I want the Visitor’s Platter.”
Amanda’s eyes widened, and she nodded. “Ye mist hae brought a muckle appetite; bit wha am ah tae argie? gilravage yer drink, 'n' let me ken if yi''ll need anythin' else. Ah will be at th' bar.”
Nikki giggled. Not quite sure what a ‘muckle appetite,’ or ‘gilravage your drink’ might be, but they sounded sincere, just the same. One look at her drink, and Nikki recognized it resembled a pink lady. If her memory, as a bartender in college, was correct, the cocktail’s usual ingredients were gin, an egg white, grenadine syrup, half-and-half cream, and crushed ice. One taste told Nikki this cocktail didn’t use gin. There were strong hints of honey, rosemary, and fennel. There wasn’t that grenadine syrup taste, but a tarter flavor prevailed. Nikki guessed that a cranberry syrup might have been used instead. The drink was refreshing, sweet, sour, and smooth; she liked it very much.
A familiar face appeared in the crowd. Nikki looked up to see the pretty, blonde Scottish cop, Emily Gray approaching her table with a wide grin on her face.
Smiling broadly, Emily said, “Th’day mist be mah lucky day. Ah come 'ere ilka other day, 'n' tis th' foremaist time ye'v bin 'ere. Ye mist ken someone bonny important tae snag th' best seat in th' hoose.”
Nikki giggled. The blonde’s smile was infectious. Not entirely sure all of what Emily said, Nikki nodded because she did understand ‘best seat in hoose.’ “I’m going to leave the hotel concierge a huge tip when I leave tomorrow.”
Emily frowned. “A'm disappointed tae hear ye'll be goin awa us, bit a'm even happier tae ken we'll hae th' nicht.”
Nikki felt her face and body heat. The alcohol must be working on opening up her blood vessels. Smiling secretly, Nikki knew that some of the warmth within her had somewhat to do with the beautiful woman in front of her. “If you’re here alone, you can join me. Plenty of room at the best seat in the house to share.”
Emily giggled. Glancing around, she said, “As lang as ye wilnae be pat oot; ah wid lik' company 'n' it does keek lik' a'd be waiting ferr sometime fur a seat o' mah ain.”
“I’m not totally sure of all you said, but if you’re asking if I mind that you join me, I don’t.”
Emily nodded and sat in the chair across from Nikki.
“Can I order you a drink? Nikki asked.
Emily shook her head. “Ah gave mike mah order whin ah cam in; ah will gang grab it noo. Hae ye ordered something tae eat?”
Nikki nodded and smiled. “Amanda is getting me the Visitor’s Platter.”
Emily
narrowed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. “Tis mah caw tae be confused; A've ne'er heard o' th' visitor's platter afore.”
Nikki shrugged. “Connie said to ask for it. It’s not something they put on their menu, but if you know to ask for it, they’ll make it for you. I’m told it’s a little bit of everything they serve on one plate.”
Emily chuckled. “Weel, ye kin keek lik' a bawherr wifie; ye sure hae a muckle appetite.”
Nikki couldn’t help but laugh as well, the blonde’s humor, like her smile, was infectious. Cocking her head to one side, she recognized the words ‘wifie’ and ‘muckle’ again. This time Nikki asked Emily what they meant.
Emily explained that both words were slang, ‘wifie’ was woman, and ‘muckle’ was big; she had said that Nikki might look like a small woman, but she had a big appetite.
Nikki agreed with Emily’s observation but told Emily she could share the platter if Emily wanted. Emily nodded and said she’d be back after getting her drink.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Teuchter’s Landing, Edinburgh, Late that night, May 7, 2012
Nikki spent a lovely evening with Emily. Nikki may not have understood all the words, Emily spoke, but she got enough of the meaning through the blonde’s body language and expressions. Emily told some delightful tales of working on the streets of Edinburgh. Nikki genuinely enjoyed herself with the Scottish cop. She refrained from thinking about her concerns about how and why Emily met her the other day. Nikki didn’t mention the note on the back of the card, because she wanted to get to know the blonde Scottish cop better before she inquired why the blonde warned her, and who she was working with.
As their night wound down, and the effects of a few drinks and pleasant time together softened Nikki’s concerns, she asked about the card.
Emily frowned. “We were having a pleasant evening; why did you have to go and ruin it with the unpleasantness of work?”
Nikki’s mouth fell open. “Your accent isn’t real; what else isn’t real? Was it a coincidence you grabbed that man the other day? Was this night all planned as well? Who are you working with?”