by R E Gauthier
The woman with graying hair and glasses nodded and pointed to the closed door ro Nikki’s right.
Nikki thanked her and went in the direction of the door. Once inside, Nikki closed the door and leaned against it. Nibbling on her lower lip, she attempted to keep the sobs, fighting their way up, down. Closing her eyes, the tears spilled from her lashes and down her cheeks. Nikki allowed the fear to surface and spill out along with the tears, and sobs she shed. All of the stress she felt running and hiding emptied from her body. Drained, Nikki allowed her body to go limp as she slid down the door to the floor. Needing just to take one moment to collect herself, she sat there, crying.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
An Undisclosed Building near the dock, Edinburgh, Early morning, May 8, 2012
After a snack of some two bags of potato chips and three bottles of water, Nikki finally felt her hunger and thirst sated. The woman worked quietly at the computer, looking up a few times. Nikki met her gentle eyes on occasion and smiled. The woman returned Nikki’s smile briefly before resuming her work. Nikki remained quiet while she ate and drank, but with nothing to occupy her mouth and mind, Nikki felt the need to talk.
“Do you know why I’m back down here at the docks? It’s the opposite of where I need to be for the airport. Wouldn’t it have been better to hole up closer to the airport?”
The unnamed woman looked up and furrowed her brows. Shaking her head, she said, “Ah dinnae mak' th' arrangements tae git ye 'ere; a'm ainlie tasked at getting ye tae whaur ye'r headed.” She huffed and looked away to resume her work.
Swearing under her breath, Nikki looked around for something to busy her mind with. It was evident that the gray-haired lady wasn’t going to do much talking or divulge much information. Finding nothing but a travel magazine with picturesque scenery of the Scottish Highlands, Nikki decided to close her eyes and rest instead.
***
On a Plane heading to an undisclosed location, May 8, 2012
Waking up as the plane began to make its descent, Nikki Looked at the other passengers of the small six-seater aircraft. After leaving the docks, Nikki was driven to a small airstrip near the sea. The plane took off, with her and the other passengers, and traveled north before turning west. Nikki had fallen asleep sometime after that and wasn’t aware of where the plane flew. Looking out the small window, Nikki saw green, and massive rocky outcroppings as the aircraft passed through hills. Not seeing any signs of a town or a city, Nikki wasn’t sure where the plane had flown to. As the aircraft jolted from the landing gear being lowered, a broad strip of asphalt came into view, and a few large, long metal building. As the plane came to a stop, Nikki saw a small air traffic control tower to her right.
The intercom came on and instructed all passengers departing for Inverness to exit the plane. Not sure what she should be doing, Nikki stood and made her way to the opened door, to her left.
When Nikki arrived at the door, a tall, dark-haired woman shook her head and pointed for Nikki to sit down. “You’re not getting off here. We’re refueling and continuing on to your destination.”
“Could you tell me where that might be?” Nikki didn’t like being kept in the dark.
“Sorry, I’m not privy to that. I was told to keep you on the plane. Would you like me to get you some refreshments?”
Nikki’s stomach rumbled in response. Smiling, Nikki said, “I’d love a sandwich and something hot. Maybe I could have a cup of coffee or tea?”
The woman nodded and again asked Nikki to sit back down.
Nikki did as she was told and watched as the woman exited the plane. The door closed and locked behind her. The finality of the sound told Nikki she wouldn’t be allowed off of the plane. Left alone on the plane, Nikki glanced around and took in the interior of the small plane. The seats were leather, and they were spacious. Someone had spared no expense to assure the passengers were comfortable. Nikki busied her mind by looking about and didn’t give her predicament another thought until she saw the truck taking the other passengers away from the plane. Heading to Inverness is what the pilot said. Isn’t Inverness in Northern Scotland? Why had Nikki been brought farther north, even father from the best, and fastest means away from the UK? She didn’t have time to think more about it when the woman returned to the plane.
“Here is your meal; relax and enjoy it. We’ll be taking off after the crew finishes the refueling.”
Nikki ate her meal while thinking about reasons why she would still be in Scotland. A half an hour after the plane landed, and Nikki ate her meal, it was taxiing down the runway to parts unknown. She looked out the small window as the green-covered hills and Highlands rose around them. She figured that the only plane the people helping her could charter was one that made additional stops. When the aircraft began to travel westward, Nikki relaxed somewhat; at least they were moving in the right direction. Maybe I’m going to take a plane home, from Ireland.
***
MacKenzie Estate, Gairloch, May 8, 2012
Kelsey watched as Aisling came toward her, bouncing on her toes. Chuckling, she tried to look serious, but her cousin’s exaggerated moves made her attempt difficult.
Aisling made a few quick jabs to Kelsey’s midriff. “I wouldn’t laugh if I were you. Don’t you remember the beating I gave you last time?”
Kelsey shook her head. “I let you beat me. I was still recovering from my ordeal on the ship.”
Aisling swung her head back and laughed. “Make all the excuses you want. I beat you because I’m a better boxer than you. After I whoop your ass again, you’ll have no reason to fall back on. You’ve almost got back your healthy glow, and by the way, you’ve been putting away your food, you’ve also regained all of your normal strength.”
Kelsey stiffened her stance and prepared for the blow Aisling aimed at her head. Bobbing to the side, the strike deflected off of Kelsey’s ear. “We shall see about that.”
Kelsey and Aisling sparred for several minutes when Kelsey heard a noise she hadn’t heard since their arrival. In the distance, not too far from where they stood, a small aircraft was descending. “Is that a plane? Do you have an airfield near here?”
Aisling frowned. “We have a field that can be used for planes to land, but we’re not expecting anyone.”
Kelsey’s stomach lurched. Adrenaline pumped into her veins. Aisling’s words provoked Kelsey’s natural fight instinct. “Who would come here? Do I need to prepare for a fight, or are we fleeing again?”
Aisling’s frown deepened, and her brows furrowed. “As I said, we’re not expecting anyone. I don’t know who would be coming here. I need to go and see.”
Kelsey pulled off her gloves. “I’m coming with you; don’t even bother to argue with me.”
Aisling shook her head. “I cannot allow you to put yourself in danger. Wait here, while I see who this maybe. It could be someone who has found themselves in trouble and needed to land.”
Kelsey easily stayed in front of her cousin’s shorter strides and called over her shoulder, “if you’re going, I’m going. Give me a gun, and at least you’ll have back-up if it’s not a wayward traveler with airplane problems.”
On the way out of the farmhouse side door, Aisling stopped at a locked cabinet. Unlocking and opening the door, she took out handguns. Handing one to Kelsey, she grabbed two clips of ammo. She loaded her gun and then gave the other to Kelsey. “Since I can’t talk you out of it. Let me do the talking. One word from you and whoever it is will know you’re an American. I can’t have you draw any more attention to yourself.”
Kelsey giggled. “Hey, it’s not my fault Edina saw a family resemblance.”
“All kidding aside. I need you to reassure me you’re not going to go all FBI agent on me. I don’t know what we’ll see up there, and I can’t have you get trigger-happy.”
Kelsey stuck her tongue out at her cousin before saying, “I’ll have you know that I have never been, nor will ever go trigger-happy. You can count on me to have your back,
but I’ll let you take the lead.”
Aisling wrinkled her nose. “Not sure how safe I feel with your tongue wagging out at me.”
***
A small Airfield near the MacKenzie Estate, May 8, 2012
Kelsey and Aisling drove out to the airfield in a Land Rover. Aisling made a quick phone call before leaving the house, telling the person on the other end they were heading to the field. Kelsey heard her cousin give the order to keep the doors locked and don’t let anyone onto the property. If she and Kelsey didn’t return, the person had orders to shoot on sight, anyone attempting to enter the house.
The two women drove in silence for the approximate five minutes it took to reach the field. Kelsey saw a small, what appeared to be, privately owned airplane sitting in the middle of a strip of asphalt. A man dressed in black and sporting sunglasses stood beside the plane.
“You stay in the car; I’m going to go over and talk to this guy. At the first signs of trouble, get out of here. I can’t have you getting yourself killed.”
Kelsey shook her head. “That’s not what I agreed to; I’ll stay in the car until we see who they are and what they want. If there is trouble, I’m backing you up as we planned.”
Aisling rolled her eyes. “We don’t have time to argue. Just don’t go being some kind of hero.”
Kelsey stayed in the car as Aisling exited, putting her gun in the waistband of her jeans. She watched as her cousin advanced on the man standing outside the door of the plane. Aisling seemed to be saying something and gesturing with her hands, and the man was gesturing back. Kelsey witnessed the exchange and didn’t see any issue that would warrant concern. Relaxing somewhat, Kelsey glanced away briefly, only to look back, as the door of the plane opened, and another man walked down the stairs. Aisling spoke to this man and then shook her head. From her vantage point, Kelsey could see her cousin wasn’t happy.
Kelsey decided to head out and see what had upset Aisling.
Aisling’s raised voice rose up to reach Kelsey’s ears. “This isn’t a good time. She should have made certain it was safe to come here. You’ll have to take whoever it is back the way you came.”
The man, directly in front of Aisling, shook his head. “We can’t do that. We had our orders, and we carried them out. What you do with her is up to you.” The man shouted, “bring her out.”
A tall woman stood in the doorway of the plane, and it was evident that someone walked directly behind her. Kelsey couldn’t see the person because whoever it was, was shorter and thinner than the woman in front.
When the taller woman grew closer, a woman with her hand shielding her face stepped out from behind.
Kelsey squinted to see the woman clearer. A lock of dark auburn hair flew loose from a messy ponytail. Kelsey felt a sharp pang of recognition. Her head swam with thoughts, Kelsey knew could only belong to one person. Nikki.
Chapter Forty
A Small Airfield near MacKenzie Estate, Gairloch, May 8, 2102
Kelsey forgot everything she told Aisling about staying back and out of the way; when she saw Nikki’s face, Kelsey lost all reasoning. “Nikki!” She shouted.
“Mack? Is that you?” Nikki shouted back.
Hardly able to believe her ears or eyes, Kelsey’s strides turned into a run. Before she reached Nikki, a man stood with a gun drawn in front of her.
“Stand down, Edward,” Aisling shouted. “She’s with me.”
Kelsey looked the man up and down and decided she could have taken him; she whispered, “yeah, stand down before I put you down, Edward.”
Nikki was the one who covered the rest of the distance between them. “Mack, how? What is this place? Do you know where we are?”
Kelsey smiled and took Nikki by the shoulders. “Yeah, you’re here with me. God, you’re a sight for sore eyes.”
Nikki chuckled. “I’ve often wondered what it means to have sore eyes.”
Kelsey hugged Nikki and whispered, “I think it means you’ve been worried or tense about something.”
Nikki giggled. “Then you’re a sight for my sore eyes, big time. But how did I get here?”
Aisling spoke next to Kelsey. “That’s what I’d like to know. How the hell did you get here?”
Nikki pulled away and stood her ground in front of Aisling. “Since you seem to be calling the shots, and have the manners of a gator, I’m going to assume you must be Mack’s cousin Aisling.”
Aisling’s face turned beet red, and her nostrils flared. “And from your poor timing, and backwoods mouth, I’m going to assume you’re Nicole Hyland. From what I heard about you, I assumed you’d be taller or bigger.”
Nikki stood eye level with Aisling. With her hands on her hips, she leaned forward. “I’ve had several hellish hours witnessing a woman get shot dead next to me and then running for my life because the shot was most likely meant for me. I’ve spent the better part of a day and a half in a car and a plane. If you don’t want me to pop you one, you’ll get the hell out of my face. Backwoods my ass; your mouth is full of so much shit, you may well have fallen off a manure truck.”
Kelsey stood with her mouth open, watching the two women verbally spar with one another. Fighting to keep a straight face, she reached out to hold Nikki back. Her best friend may have a wicked left hook, but she was no match for Kelsey’s cousin, Aisling. Since learning Aisling was alive, Kelsey had thought several times about these two women meeting for the first time. Nothing could prepare her for the reality unfolding in front of her. Anger flashed in Aisling’s eyes, and Nikki looked like she wanted to kill Aisling. Thinking it would be best to get them separated until they calmed down, Kelsey drew Nikki close. “Come sit in the back with me. We have so much to talk about.”
Aisling’s expression softened only slightly as she said, “good idea, and since it looks like we’ll be having a few extra people staying with us until fuel can be delivered. I’m going to radio Matt to bring another car. You can take Nikki, and the plane’s crew with you, and I’ll wait for Matt to come to get me.” Aisling handed the keys to the Land Rover to Kelsey.
Taking the offered keys, Kelsey said, “Nikki can stay in my room until you can arrange another room to be ready for her.”
Aisling made a face and then smiled weakly. “We have plenty of room, but if you want to catch up, don’t let me stand in your way.”
When Kelsey turned to get in the car, she heard Aisling whisper to herself, “now, what the fuck is going on?”
Kelsey didn’t care why or how it happened; she was just so happy to have Nikki with her, she didn’t even think about the consequences.
***
Aisling watched as Kelsey drove away with the carload of new guests. Were these people guests? Guests are invited; they’re most definitely not invited. Rubbing her forehead, she recalled what Edward said when she asked him why they were there. He told her that he was told that a woman sought sanctuary, and the order came in to bring her here. Aisling’s mother told her that the MacKenzie family was notorious for giving help to wayward travelers lost and in need of assistance. The only way Nikki ended up here was that Nanna had told someone to bring her here. As she waited for Matt to arrive with the second vehicle, Aisling replayed the moments her cousin saw her best friend.
Something ugly and petty grew inside of Aisling as she thought about Nikki’s smug face. The red-head dared to stand her ground in front of Aisling and threaten her. I’ll put her in her place soon enough. Then as soon as I can, I’ll have her on a plane out of here. The last thing Aisling needed right now was another FBI agent trying to take over her plans and jeopardizing everything she worked hard to attain.
***
MacKenzie Estate, Gairloch, Late in the day, May. 8, 2012
Kelsey couldn’t believe she was watching Nikki scarf down her third helping of potatoes and greens. She knew the woman had a huge appetite and never gained an ounce, but she couldn’t believe Nikki was actually sitting across from her. They hadn’t had much time to talk about how Nik
ki came to be there, or anything else for that matter, because Nikki said she was starving.
Between bites, Nikki smiled and shrugged. “Must be all of that worrying about you, and seeing you alive, that gave me such an appetite.”
Kelsey smiled. “You never needed an excuse before.”
Nikki winked and grabbed another heaping spoonful of mashed potatoes. “What does the cook put in these? I can’t stop eating them.”
“She uses real butter and clotted cream,” Kelsey replied. She’d asked the exact thing of Aisling their first meal at the farmhouse. “I think I’ve gained ten pounds since we arrived here.”
Nikki snickered. “You must have been all skin and bones before that. Nanna and Miranda would be mortified to see you so thin.”
Kelsey shrugged, I know I lost weight before the accident, and then traveling here; it took me days to get my appetite back.”
“About that, what happened? Do you remember anything about the accident or how you came to be in that container on the ship?”
Kelsey shook her head. “The last thing I remember is the trucks running my SUV off of the road. I blacked out or was drugged. I came to inside the container a few times, but whatever they gave me put me right out again. The next thing I knew, I was being taken out of the container into a car. That’s when I saw Aisling.”
Nikki’s eyes widened, and she shook her head. “I can’t imagine your shock. To think she was dead, and then see her in the car next to you.”
“Shock is putting it mildly. You never did tell me how you learned they were alive. You didn’t seem surprised when I told you in your dream.”