by Emma Slate
“So, you two are working together,” I said, gripping the empty water bottle in my hands.
“We have the same end goal, if that’s what you’re getting at,” Arlington stated.
It took me a moment to put it together. “You want Flynn.”
Winters nodded. “Yes.”
A ball of dread settled in my stomach. “And I’m here because—”
“You have a choice to make,” Arlington interjected. “Your husband or your child.”
“And if I don’t help you take down Flynn, you’ll ship Hawk off to America. Right?” I looked at Winters for confirmation. He nodded.
I wondered who was the mastermind behind this elaborate plot. It didn’t make sense to me. Winters didn’t work for the FBI anymore unless he thought bringing in Flynn would be his ticket back to an agent job. I knew Arlington didn’t like Flynn, but I didn’t realize it was full-blown hatred.
“You think she’s putting the pieces together?” Arlington asked Winters.
“Yes. Barrett’s always been smart.”
I glowered, hating that they talked about me like I wasn’t there. “Okay, let’s go over this then. Let’s say I’m on board and I hand Flynn over to you. How do I know you’ll hold up your end of the bargain?”
“Do you really think we’re the kind of men—” Winters began.
“Don’t finish that sentence,” I warned. “One of you, or both of you hired The White Company to kidnap my child right from his crib.”
They exchanged a look.
“Ah, didn’t think I knew about that, did you?” I asked with a little smirk.
“They have Elliot,” Arlington said to his partner in crime. “And he talked.”
“Fuck. He’s been out of London for weeks. I assumed he was running scared. Did you know they had him?” Winters demanded of Arlington.
Arlington shrugged. “I had my suspicions.”
“You let one of your own fall, huh?” I asked, hoping to prod some more information out of them.
“There’s a greater cause,” Arlington said.
“So it won’t bother you to know that your soldier is dead.”
“He knew what he was signing up for,” Winters said.
“Did he? Because Elliot told me he was working for the Americans. For the FBI. I’m thinking the FBI hasn’t even heard of Lord Elliot. But he has heard of you, hasn’t he?” I asked Winters.
Winters didn’t reply and I knew I had my answer. Arlington and Winters had used Elliot as a pawn, given him just enough information so that if he failed, he’d hang himself. They were no better than the rest of us, shedding blood all in the name of their greater good. Fucking cowards. Kidnapping a child, threatening me to ensure that I got my own hands a little dirtier.
I turned thoughtful; this wasn’t just about getting Flynn. They’d hired mercenaries to take out Malcolm and Duncan. Did they want the SINS in a tailspin? What was the connection? I felt like I was on the verge of figuring it out, but it was just out of my reach.
“She didn’t give up Campbell when they were dating,” Winters said to Arlington. “Can we really expect her to do it now that she married the guy?”
“A mother’s love is different from a wifely love. And it trumps everything,” Arlington stated. He looked at me. “Doesn’t it?”
There was no point in denying it. “Yes.”
“We have a problem, though,” Winters said. “The last time I trusted her, she worked as a double agent. How do we know that she won’t do it again this time? We don’t trust her. She doesn’t trust us. This isn’t going to work.”
“It’ll work,” Arlington said and then looked at me. “We’ll know if you try to screw us.”
How? I wondered. And then it hit me. They had a SINS member working with them. More of the puzzle pieces started to fit together. If Winters brought in Flynn to the FBI, the SINS would be without a leader. Unless Winters and the unknown SINS member struck a bargain. New leadership, new alliance.
This was a fucking coup!
A year ago, when Winters had approached me to help him take down Malcolm and Flynn, he’d mentioned illegal guns. Winters had wanted to stop the illegal guns. That had always been his end game.
But Arlington… what did he gain by Flynn’s fall? Did Arlington hate Flynn that much for threatening the man’s children to get him to cooperate? Or was it something more? What did Arlington stand to lose?
At the moment, none of that mattered. All that mattered was getting my son back. I could compartmentalize many things—I had murdered two men, after all.
I’d find a way to get Hawk back and protect Flynn. Once again, men were underestimating me, and I’d use their hubris to bring them both down.
Winters drove me back to my car. It took about an hour and I was blindfolded with my wrists bound. He had taken steps to ensure the location where we’d met Arlington was kept secret.
When he parked next to my car, Winters cut me free and I removed my blindfold. It had gotten dark, but thankfully the rain had stopped.
“Here.” Winters tossed me a burner phone.
“How do you expect us to be able to communicate by this phone?” I demanded. “I’m watched, I’m monitored.”
“You’re protected,” he corrected. “It’s different. Besides, I’m sure you’ll find a way. You were able to take a car and drive yourself here. Better get home. You’ve been gone all day and I’m sure you have people concerned about you.”
With a glare, I reached for the door handle and climbed out of his car. He waited for a few minutes while I warmed up the engine and then he tore off, muddy road spraying behind him. I pulled out my personal cell phone and saw the many texts and voicemails. Most were from Ash. One was from Flynn. I shot off a text to Ash telling her I was on my way home and then I put the car into reverse.
I drove on autopilot, my mind consumed. I couldn’t trust anyone. If I went to Duncan, he’d no doubt want to use his “most trusted” men to help. What if one of them was trying to usurp the leadership position? Flynn was in London and this was not a conversation to have with him over the phone.
I had to find Hawk first and foremost.
Another hour later I was passing through Dornoch and saw the Highland Wool store. The lights were on, so I knew the shop was still open. I pulled into a parking spot and hopped out of the car. Stomping up to the front door, I had every intention of barging inside. The doorknob wouldn’t turn. I peered inside but no one was on the floor. I pounded and knocked, waiting, hoping someone came out of the storeroom.
Just as I was about to give up, Glenna ambled her way from the back to the front counter. I knocked again. She lifted her gaze, looking startled and concerned. She rushed to the door and let me in.
“I was just finishing up some inventory in the back and I didn’t hear you,” she explained. “Come in, come in.”
I stepped across the threshold of the store, feeling the numbness in my fingers dissipate. I’d been cold for hours, ever since I’d met with Winters. The irony wasn’t lost on me.
“Sorry to bother you when you’re closing up,” I said. “But is Katherine here?”
Glenna frowned. “No, dear, she doesn’t work today.”
“Oh,” I said, scrambling for a lie that would appease Glenna. “It’s just that—the other day—she gave me a sweater for Hawk and I never thanked her for her thoughtfulness.”
Glenna smiled. “Och, she’s a sweet lass.”
“Do you have her number? I’d love to call her and thank her personally.”
I left the Highland Wool Store armed with Katherine’s phone number and a lot of rage.
Chapter 27
My phone rang just as I drove the car into the garage at Duncan’s estate. It was Flynn. “Hi,” I said, injecting a note of false cheer into my voice.
“Hen,” he greeted. “You sound different. Are you okay?”
“Fine,” I lied. “How are you?”
“I called earlier and you didn’t answer.”
/>
“Sorry. I was at our house.”
“Doing what?”
“I’ve been changing the nursery for when Hawk gets back.”
“Ah, love.” He sighed. “We’re coming home in a few days. Sasha and I.”
“Why? Did you find out—”
“Dead ends so far. We’ve got one more lead to follow but I’m not hopeful.”
Shocking. Not. Especially if Elliot had gleaned his information by way of Lord Arlington. No doubt having Flynn out of Scotland for a little while had all been part of the plan to get me alone.
But I was glad Flynn would be away for a few more days. It would give me time to figure out stuff on my end.
“Well, I hope this last trail leads somewhere.”
“Me too. Love you.”
“Love you,” I said and we hung up.
I walked into the castle and Ash immediately pounced on me. “Where the hell have you been?”
“Out,” I said. “I went for a scenic drive.”
“I don’t believe you. You’ve been gone for hours and you didn’t answer your phone.”
“Can we do this tomorrow? I’m kind of exhausted.” I shrugged out of my coat and hung it on the rack.
I trudged towards the stairs and Ash dogged my heels. I was in no mood to go round for round and I was so worn down and beaten, I wanted to give in and tell her everything, which I knew I couldn’t.
“Flynn and Sasha are coming home in a few days,” she said.
“Yeah, I know. I just spoke to Flynn.” I went into the guest room and tiredly collapsed onto the bed.
“Flynn called Duncan three times this afternoon when he couldn’t get ahold of you.”
Rolling over onto my back, I looked at her. She had her arms crossed over her chest and she stared at me. There was a new strength to Ash that I’d never seen before. It was quiet reserve. This entire time, I’d been so wrapped up in my own emotions, my own losses, I thought Ash wasn’t strong enough to keep it together. But I was the weak one.
“Close the door,” I said softly.
Frowning, but listening to me, she shut it. She turned back to me.
“I’ll tell you where I was today, but I need you to swear to me you won’t tell anyone. Not Duncan. Not Flynn when he returns.”
“You’re keeping secrets from Flynn?” she asked in shock.
I nodded. “There are some things he can’t know. Not right now.”
“All right.”
“Swear to me Ash. Swear to me on eleven years of friendship. Swear to me on being my family, now and forever.”
“I swear,” she said, her voice soft but strong. She knew I wasn’t fucking around.
I took a deep breath. “Remember Fred Winters?”
After recounting my day and everything I knew and my theories, I fell silent. To Ash’s credit, she didn’t seem as shocked as she would’ve been a year ago. That was the truth of this life. You evolved and changed until shocking things no longer had the power to shock.
“Glenna gave me Katherine’s phone number but I don’t think she’ll pick up if I call. She knows something. I just don’t want her going underground before I talk to her.”
“Well, Glenna’s bound to mention it to Katherine the next time Katherine works, right? Katherine’s the reason you found that note. We don’t have a lot of time to find her.”
“I know, but I don’t trust anyone to—”
“Where’s your laptop?” She looked around and saw it sitting on the bedside table. She made a dive for it and grabbed it before flipping it open, typing the password automatically. Yeah, Ash and I were like that.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Looking her up on Facebook, obviously.”
“Obviously.”
“Katherine McConnell. Let’s see where you’re at. Ah, there you are.”
“Really? That was fast.”
“I’m a Facebook whiz.”
“Let me see.”
Ash clicked a few times and then turned the screen, showing me Katherine’s face. She was actually quite pretty when she smiled; I’d only seen her when she was terrified and pale.
“Privacy settings, people,” Ash said with a roll of her eyes. “I can see everything. Jeez. And. Here. We. Go. Guess where she’s going to be tonight?”
“Where?” I asked.
“Castle Whisky.” She looked at me and grinned. “I think we should pay her a visit, don’t you?”
Castle Whisky was a local haunt and the perfect place for a pint after a long, hard day. Ash and I had told Duncan we wanted to go out for a girls’ night. He urged us to go, with his blessing, but he insisted we take a driver.
The pub had every local scotch in bottles across the many wood shelves along with a decent selection of beer. Ash and I ordered two beers, knowing we weren’t going to drink them. We found a table that faced the door so we could watch for Katherine. The pub wasn’t too full yet, but I knew that could change any moment.
“You really think she’s going to be here?” I asked.
“Her friend posted on her wall about looking forward to seeing her tonight, so yeah, I’m pretty confident.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” I said.
She gave me a small smile. “Thanks for trusting me with this. We’ll get him back. We’ll get Hawk back—and then we’ll find a way to screw it to those guys. Fuckers.”
Ash with a potty mouth always made me laugh. Even though she looked like Manhattan Barbie, she had true grit.
A quarter of an hour later, Katherine walked in, her brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, wearing jeans, and cute boots. She looked low maintenance and little nervous because she was alone. I turned my head so when Katherine glanced around for her friends she wouldn’t recognize me.
Katherine got comfortable at a table for four and pulled out her phone. A moment later, Ash and I were out of our booth, beers in hand. Katherine didn’t even look up until Ash slid into the seat next to her and I took the chair across from her. I wanted to see her face.
“Hello, Katherine,” I said pleasantly.
“Wha—what are you doing here?” she asked, her voice breathless, her face pale even in the dim bar lighting.
“Just wanted to thank you for the extra sweater you put into my bag,” I said.
She looked at me warily before her gaze slid to Ash. Ash smiled and it was gorgeously sinister. Ash was embracing the dark side.
“You got the message?” Katherine wondered.
I wanted to smack the frightened doe-eyed look off her face. I wanted her to have some fire, have a fucking spine.
“How did you meet Fred Winters?” I asked.
She frowned. “Who?”
I leaned back in my chair and studied her. All her reactions were sincere and honest. “How old are you?” I asked suddenly.
“Uhm. Twenty-two.”
“Were we like this at twenty-two?” Ash asked me.
I shook my head. “No.”
“Thank God.”
I shoved my beer towards Katherine. “Have some.”
Without hesitation, Katherine took my beer and drank half of it before setting it aside.
“So, Fred Winters,” I prompted.
“I don’t know anyone by that name,” Katherine said.
“Then who gave you the message to give to me?”
Her eyes dropped to the table. “He called himself Felix Summers.”
“What a douche,” Ash muttered.
“He came into the store a few times. He asked me out. We—he—”
“Yeah, I have an idea of what happened between you two,” I said, cutting her off. “Is your family part of the SINS?”
She looked around and bit her lip. “Can we talk about stuff somewhere less public?”
“Car,” I stated.
We all stood and made our way to the front door. Unfortunately, Katherine’s friends entered as we were leaving and we had to stop and make small chat before Katherine could make her own excuse
that she wasn’t feeling well and had to bail.
“Keys,” Ash said, snapping her fingers at Katherine when we got to a small compact car.
Katherine dug around in her purse and tossed the keys over.
“You drive a Mini? In Scotland?” I asked Katherine.
Katherine shrugged. I got into the back next to Katherine just to ensure she didn’t put up a fight, not that I thought she would.
“Where are we going?” Ash asked as she pulled out of the parking space.
“The first private alleyway,” I said.
“Right, chief.”
Despite the intensity of the situation, I wanted to smile. If I needed a getaway car, I wanted Ash behind the wheel. The ride was short and silent while we found a narrow side road. Ash parked, angling the Mini so that at least other small cars could pass.
Katherine fiddled with her hands that rested in her lap. She was an extremely nervous creature, but I wasn’t about to assuage her nerves.
“Start talking,” Ash said, turning her body so that she faced us.
“He told me he was here on holiday—I took him to whisky distilleries and showed him the Highlands. I was never suspicious of him because he never asked pointed questions.” Katherine’s gaze dropped to her lap in shame.
Katherine was a naïve, young woman. She worked in her family business and I assumed that meant she was protected and tethered. I wondered if she’d ever been far from her home. Fred Winters had exploited her innocence. He was a trained FBI agent; he knew how to find someone’s weakness and use it against him. Or her, in this case.
“How did he know you’d be able to give me a note?” I asked. “I’d never been in your family’s store before.”
“It was coincidence. If you had never come into the store, I was supposed to send you the note anonymously.”
I looked at Ash and then at Katherine. “You wanted me to know it was you who put the note in there, didn’t you?”
Katherine nodded.
“But why?” Ash asked in confusion.
“Because she knows where Hawk is.” I stared at Katherine. “Don’t you?”
Chapter 28