by K C West
“I do. Thanks. I know things are still a mess, but I feel a bit better.”
“Sounds to me like the guilt you were carrying just burst loose. You and I, and your father, too, are victims of circumstance. We have nothing at all to feel guilty about.”
I leaned my cheek against Kim’s neck and inhaled the familiar, spicy scent of her skin. “I know that something went horribly wrong. It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way.”
“Yeah, and we can’t leave town yet. But we can go home as soon as the police finish with us.”
I stood up and took a few steps to the window. “I’ve been thinking about that. I don’t know what would be best right now. Dad thinks there’ll be a big funeral back in Gloucestershire when they’ve finished doing the autopsies. He plans to fly over for it.”
Kim joined me beside the window. Sunshine slanted into our room, and a light breeze ruffled the curtains. “Is that wise? I mean, with the threat still hanging over him, over all of us?”
“I don’t know. He seems to think it’s okay.” I searched her eyes for some hint of her true feelings. “What do you want to do?”
She stared past me, down at the garden with its colorful flowers. “I think we need to talk about this, but I’d like to do it outside.” She took my hand, curling my fingers in hers. “Want to go for a walk in the garden with Pup and me?”
“You know I’d go to the ends of the Earth with both of you. Just let me fix my face and grab a jacket.”
*
The air was filled with the scent of tea roses and the drone of honeybees making erratic sorties in search of pollen. Pup walked beside us, his ears twitching and muscles rippling, prepared to pounce on anything out of the ordinary. The biggest threat we encountered was a small gray mouse, scurrying through the rosemary in the herb garden.
“Let’s look at this whole situation in a calm, logical fashion,” Kim said, as we settled onto a wide stone bench, our hips touching. She held up one finger. “Your father got a letter from his old friend asking for your help.” She held up a second finger.
“And,” I said, “he alluded to some sort of mystery about a Celtic chieftain. Without saying as much, he led us to believe that the mummified remains in his possession had been stolen.”
“Right,” she continued without raising any more fingers. “So we came over here, and for a little while I thought there was somebody following us.”
“But we couldn’t prove that.”
“No. It was just a feeling that went away once we visited the Morrison estate.”
“Where we met someone posing as John Morrison. What’s more, he knew who we were and quite a bit about us, enough to convince us he was genuine.”
“True.” Kim scratched her head. “He showed us an empty glass coffin and continued the charade about the lost or stolen chieftain.”
“Correct.”
“Why?”
“That’s the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question. And when we called him, there was no answer. We went back to see what was going on and found several strange men - one of them with a very nasty gun - and two dead bodies.”
“Indeed. So, what does it all mean?”
We pondered that question.
“What worries me,” I said, “is that maybe we somehow caused this to happen.”
Kim covered my hand with hers. “How could we have?”
“I mean, what if Morrison really had a valuable dead Celt, and when he contacted us, somebody found out about it? What if they came and tried to steal it from him? Maybe he put up a fight, and they killed him and his wife.”
“Where do we fit in?”
I thought some more. “We came along right after the bad guys had killed the Morrisons, but before they could get away with the Celt.”
“Interesting theory, but where was the Celt? Once out of that air-sealed case, he would have disintegrated.” Kim stood up, still gripping my hand. “Come on, let’s walk some more while I digest that possibility.”
The breeze stiffened. We were forced to walk with our heads down and our hands thrust into our pockets. Kim remained silent until we returned to the welcoming warmth of our room and hung up our jackets.
“Do you think,” she asked, “that we could have forced the issue? That somehow they knew we were coming, so they had to kill the Morrisons when they might just have stolen the remains instead?”
“I hope that isn’t the case, but I’m afraid it could be. It makes me sick just thinking about it.”
“I think there’s more to it than that, but we may never know what happened until the killers are caught.”
“If they’re caught.”
There was a knock on our door, and Pup stood, tail wagging.
“Someone he knows,” I said.
It was Arwel, and she had two men with her. Pup’s wag turned into a growl.
“Pup, back here, boy.” Kim gave him a firm command. “Sit.” He obeyed, but he didn’t take his eyes off the two men.
“These gentlemen wish to see you,” Arwel said. “They’ve booked a room on this floor. I trust that is all right.”
Oh, shit. Our bodyguards. I’d forgotten all about them. “Yes, thank you, Arwel. That will be fine.” I smiled at the young men. “Please come in.”
Arwel left after announcing that tea would be served in the drawing room in fifteen minutes.
Kim closed the door. “There’s not much room, but you’re welcome to have a chair here or over at the desk.” She came and sat beside me on the bed, all the time keeping a firm grip on Pup’s collar. Feeling more than a little paranoid, we assured ourselves that their credentials were in order by reading the letter Dad sent with them and examining their identification.
Both of them were tall, blond-haired, and muscular, suitable for a game of rugby or the rescue of damsels in distress. Since neither event seemed imminent, they sat down, keeping a wary eye on Pup.
“Everything seems to be genuine.” I returned their documents with a smile. “I’m PJ, and this is my partner, Kim, but I guess you figured that out.” My laugh sounded a bit forced, but they joined in.
“Geoff Hunter,” said the blue-eyed guy nearest me.
“And I’m Trevor Poole.” The taller and more deeply tanned of the two men near Kim nodded. “Your father told us about the animal,” he cast a quick glance at Geoff, “but we weren’t expecting such a formidable presence.”
I ruffled Pup’s fur and he gave my hand a lick. “There’s no need to worry, gentlemen. He only bites bad guys. Right, sweetie?”
Pup made a snuffling sound, and the men shared a nervous laugh.
“I have a question,” Geoff said. “What if one of us had to make a sudden move to grab you or push you out of the way? How would he react?”
“Allow me to formally introduce you.” Just as she had cautioned me the first day I met Pup, Kim instructed the two men to remain motionless. Still holding Pup, she allowed him to sniff them and recognize their scent. It was as if he was checking for evil in the air or on their person. Like he could smell it if it was there. After a few seconds, he sat at Trevor’s feet, his tail wagging.
“And I thought airport screeners were bad,” Trevor said.
“That was intense,” Geoff agreed. “Is he a full-blooded wolf?”
“No, but he has most of their characteristics,” Kim said.
Trevor leaned forward and put a tentative hand on Pup’s ruff. “Wow! He’s really something.”
I grinned. “So, you think he’ll make a good member of the security team?”
“Let me put it this way,” Geoff said. “I’m glad he’s on our side.”
Everyone relaxed after that, and Pup curled up in his favorite corner by the fireplace.
I leaned closer to Kim, and she put her hand against my lower back. “I guess now would be a good time to fill you both in on the latest happenings around here.”
Trevor held up his hand. “Not necessary, Dr. Curtis. Your father briefed us just this morning.”
I looked at Kim, but she deferred to me. “We’ve given them our statements, but they told us not to leave town. I guess they may have more questions for us.”
Trevor noticed me eyeing his blazer. He unbuttoned it and spread both sides open. “We’re not carrying guns, Dr. Curtis. Your father said you were adamant about that.”
“Yes. I’m sorry, but that is a stipulation I insist on.”
Kim’s arm tightened around my waist.
“What?” I asked, turning to her.
“You never mentioned that little detail.”
“Is it a problem?”
She thought for a moment. “I sure hope not. The guy we saw on the stairs had a gun, but other than that… It’s your call.” She glanced toward Geoff and Trevor. “I assume these gentlemen are prepared to defend us in other ways.”
Trevor nodded. “We’re both proficient in several forms of martial arts, attaining black belt levels in - ”
I held up my hand. “We believe you. We also hope you never need to prove it.”
Geoff’s expression turned serious. “We just want to assure you that we can protect you, no matter what the situation.”
“How are you at shopping?” Kim said, smirking. “PJ probably has more black belts than you do in that activity.”
“Oh, aren’t you funny.” I poked her in the ribs and smiled at Geoff and Trevor. “She’s exaggerating.”
“Only a little,” Kim muttered.
Geoff looked at his watch. “I believe the manager said something about tea?”
We all stood up.
“Are you going with us?” I asked.
Geoff got a nod from Trevor. “Yes. Our orders are to go everywhere you two go, within reason. Do you have any problems with that, Dr. Curtis?”
I shrugged. “I guess not, but there is one thing.”
“Yes?”
“I’m PJ, okay?”
“And I’m Kim.”
“Whatever you say.” Geoff offered me his arm. “Do you take cream and sugar in your tea?”
I laughed and glanced over at Kim.
Her face held a bemused expression. “A person could get used to this.”
Just wait, Kimmy, It’s going to get old really fast.
*
Geoff and Trevor kept as low a profile as possible, considering they were charged with seeing that no harm came to us during the rest of our stay in Wales. They were serious, soft-spoken, and very attentive to our routine. As Dad had promised, they accepted our relationship, giving us as much private time together as they could. Having Pup as a live-in guard meant they didn’t need to be in our room at all, just close by.
Arwel and the staff at the inn gave them curious looks at first.
“She thinks she’s figured out that we’re a couple,” Kim told the guys one evening, as we sipped pints of Guinness at the local pub. “When you two came along, she couldn’t figure out how you fit in.”
We all laughed.
“I just told her that you guys were Dad’s business associates and that you had come ahead of him to provide security.”
Geoff nodded. “Not far from the truth.”
“Right you are,” said Trevor, draining his glass.
I smiled. “I find a half-truth is often better than an outright lie.”
Kim’s eyebrows arched. “And just how often do you indulge in this subterfuge?”
I patted her hand. “Oh, with you never, of course.”
“Yeah, right.”
I stood up. “Come on, you three. The dartboard is free. Let’s see if Trevor’s luck holds out for a second night.”
“Luck?” Trevor said. “I’ll have you know that it’s pure skill. There’s not a bit of luck involved.”
“Is that so?” I cast a quick glance at my partner. “Would you care to place a little wager - say, guys against the gals - and the losers buy another round?”
Geoff grinned at Trevor and flexed his biceps. “It’s a pity to take her money, but I guess she’s well enough off. She can afford to throw it away.”
Kim sighed. “Now you’ve done it. PJ can’t resist a jibe at her financial status.”
I picked up two darts and handed one to Trevor. “You and I will throw. Highest score starts.”
“Suits me fine.” He took his dart and twirled it in his fingers. “I think I’ll have something especially expensive to drink after we win. How about it, Geoff?”
“Whatever you say, mate. Just remember that her father is paying our salary.”
It was a close game, but Kim landed a shot in the ring around center on her last try to win it for the gals. We told the fellows that we’d wait for another night to collect our drinks.
*
Several days passed, and we settled into a working relationship that allowed us to move about, act like tourists, and retain some of our freedom. Geoff and Trevor accompanied us to town, the police station, on walks with Pup, and to the National Library of Wales where we met with several research librarians.
When Kim and I traveled together, sometimes one of them would protect both of us, and the other would take some time off. Their most serious vices seemed to be reading the Sporting News, playing darts at the pub, and watching the cricket matches on the television or listening to them on the radio.
By the end of the week, though, Kim and I grew weary of the extra attention. I felt hemmed in, and Kim had not been feeling well, so that might have added to her crankiness. At first she suffered from just a sore throat and headache, but then she developed a cough. I dosed her with medicine we had brought with us, but the cough persisted. It was keeping both of us awake at night.
I made her spend a day in bed while I nursed her with Cook’s special herbal soup.
“You know, you’re a lousy patient,” I told her, spooning up some broth and attempting to force it into her mouth. “Come on, love, please try to get this down.”
Kim made a face and stuck out her tongue.
“Oh, that’s mature.” I put down the spoon and pushed the tray to the side of our bed.
“Sorry. It hurts to swallow.” Her voice was raspy. I tested her forehead with the back of my hand.
“I know, and I’m sorry, too.” I patted her cheek. “Just rest, don’t talk anymore.” I searched through our first aid kit for more potent medicine. “Damn it. Nothing’s working. You were awake half of last night with that cough.”
I gave her a few sips of water and fluffed her pillow. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to ask Arwel to direct me to the local drugstore.” I kissed her feverish brow and headed down to the lobby.
*
“You can’t go out without an escort,” Kim said, when I returned with the directions. “Remember the rules?”
“Shh, no talking. Save your throat.”
“The hell with my throat. This is your safety we’re talking about.”
I grabbed my wallet and buttoned a heavy wool shirt over my T-shirt as I spoke. “Arwel said the drugstore - I mean chemist - is just down two streets, left at the church, through an alley, and next to the greengrocer’s. I ought to be able to find that, once I figure out what a greengrocer is. We can buy cough syrup with codeine here without a prescription.”
“PJ, stop.”
“I’ll be back before you have time to miss me.”
“Please call Geoff or Trevor.”
“It’s just a quick trip to town. I don’t want to bother them. They shadow us every day as it is. The poor things must be worn out from all this babysitting. Nothing’s happened, and it’s been a week since Dad’s e-mail.”
“Maybe nothing has happened because we’ve taken precautions.”
I sighed. “I could have been there and back by now. Don’t worry so much.”
“Then take Pup with you,” she rasped.
“Pup is with Trevor. They went on a long walk in the meadow behind the inn. You j
ust lie back and close your eyes. You need stronger stuff to help you sleep, which will help me sleep. You see how it helps both of us?”
“But - ”
“Love you.” I blew her a kiss and slipped out the door. “I’ll be back soon.”
*
The air was cool and damp, a stark contrast to our warm, cozy room. Lights from the village gave a faint glow to the surroundings. It looked like a Thomas Kinkade painting, with the fog meandering its way up from the river and making everything look fuzzy. I turned up the collar of the wool shirt and picked my way over the uneven stone path that led down a very winding, narrow street toward town.
The chemist’s shop wasn’t too hard to find. In addition to the cough syrup, the pharmacist suggested a bag or two of lemon and honey drops for Kim’s throat. I stopped in the Sweet Shop for them and threw in a couple of Halo bars, just to keep up my strength. Pure milk chocolate and only ninety-five calories. I’d become addicted to them.
The fog crept through the narrow streets as it made its way along the side of our peaceful valley. I mentally reviewed the route I had taken, hoping I could retrace it to the inn without losing sight of landmarks. Why was it that everything always looked different on the way back? It didn’t help that so many of the quaint row houses resembled each other.
A few villagers passed me, walking briskly through the mist, no doubt headed for home and hearth. I thought of Kim waiting for me in our comfortable room and smiled. Seven months now, and my heart still somersaulted when I looked at her. How did I get so lucky? Kim was the best thing that ever happened to me. I only hoped I deserved her.
The streets were almost deserted now. A few cars crawled along, adjusting to the fog. I nodded to a couple of young men on bicycles and stopped to let them turn the corner in front of me. They crossed the street and glided down a hill where they paused to consult a map.
I heard a vehicle slowing down behind me, so I waited at the curb, expecting it to turn the corner, too. A car door opened and there was a shuffling sound. Before I could turn around, somebody grabbed my arm, dislodging the bag of cough medicine. Little yellow lozenges scattered in all directions, and the bottle of cough syrup crashed to the pavement.
“Hey!” I cried. “What are you doing?”