Trove (The Katie Walsh Mysteries)

by KJ Montgomery

  Katie, I promised you a good faith example of what I could offer you in return for your acceptance of our agreement. While I regret the angst this might cause, I feel you have a right to know the story of Josh Mason. As I mentioned earlier, there is a connection to your past. I look forward to receiving your translation.

  She hesitated before she continued reading as goose bumps covered her arms and her heart and respiration increased. She knew what she was about to read was in all probability going to change her life, and not for the better. She clenched and unclenched her left hand. Why can’t people just leave me the hell alone, she thought. She detested all this intrigue. Hadn’t she always told people to be direct?

  She steadied herself by breathing deeply and slowly. Repeatedly she did this until the rhythm became automatic. She sat up straight in her chair and braced herself. She double clicked and scrolled down to the first line.

  While he was an archaeologist, Josh Mason is not the full name of the owner of the dossier you are trying to research. His full name was Andrew J. Mason.

  The alarms went off in her head. She knew that name. The archaeologist responsible for her parents’ death was Andrew Mason. Was it the same man? She read on.

  He and Dr. MacGowan were very close friends for a number of years but they drifted apart after Josh’s involvement in your parents’ deaths.

  Her hand flew to her mouth. She was going to be sick. It was the same man. The man who had been murdered and the one she was helping Alec seek justice for was the monster that carelessly set the catastrophe in motion, the one where her parents had suffered a horrific death, the memories of which still haunted her ten years later. She slammed her laptop closed and fled to the bathroom just as she retched, emptying the remnants of her supper into the cold bowl. She flushed the mess away, collapsed on the floor and sobbed quietly. What a fool she’d been.

  When the tears subsided and turned into soft hiccups, Katie came to the realization that she couldn’t stay here, couldn’t face him. She had to leave. He’d lied to her, deceived her. He knew who she was, who her parents were, and worse, he knew Josh’s true identity, knew that he was Andrew Mason.

  She shook her head as she rose. What a bloody idiot. He played her like a fine violin, and she’d let him, encouraged him even. Well, no more. She walked quietly, furtively back into the room and dressed quickly.

  She grabbed her duffel bag and set it by the door. She bent over her laptop and typed a response to her new friend.

  I don’t know when I’ll be in touch as I won’t be near any internet access and I had an accident with my phone. I’ll do what I can and deliver your request as soon as I’m able.

  She sent it then logged off and powered off her laptop. She packed it in its case and headed for the door. As she left, she glanced back at Alec. In the dim outside light that filtered in around the curtains, she could see his face. He was smiling. She brushed back the tear that spilled down her cheek.

  She stopped at the front desk, unsure where to go or what to do next. She pulled a tissue out of her jacket pocket and dabbed her eyes, wiping the tears away before they could cascade down her face or blind her. She glanced at the wall on the clock lit by the several nightlights glowing around the reception area. It was just after four a.m. and there wasn’t anyone around. Most likely nothing would be open at this hour. She needed coffee. She needed a clear head and space, lots of space.

  She picked up her bags and headed out the door. She walked along the waterfront and took a turn heading down the boat ramp. Odds were the fishermen would be there soon and then she could… she could what? Offer them money to take her somewhere, but where? She leaned against the massive stone wall that supported the street above. She had no clue as to what to do next. She was sure she could get a bus back to the mainland sometime later today, but then what? She came here for two reasons. One was to help identify Josh’s murderer. She shook her head. Not my problem. Now there was only one reason, to see if she could find any trace of Norland.

  She slid down the cold stone and plopped on her duffel bag. She leaned her head forward, braced her arms over her knees, and rested her head on them. Then she sobbed softly, her anguish the only sound besides the water lapping at the foot of the boat ramp, both gently breaking through the lightening sky and the otherwise absolute silence surrounding her. She was alone again, so very alone.

  She heard footsteps. There was someone walking down the ramp towards her. Please don’t let it be Alec, she prayed. She froze in place, hoping whoever it was would walk right on by.

  “It’s too early to be so sad,” a male with an American accent said.

  It wasn’t Alec. She raised her head.

  “Why so sad, Little One?”

  She bristled at his use of her father’s endearment. Clearly he was pointing out her lack of stature, which made the term more offensive to her. She straightened her back against the wall. “Don’t call me that,” she snapped.

  “Whoa,” he said putting his hands out in front of him, palms facing her. “I meant no offense.”

  “Fine.” She sniffled. “Just don’t call me that.”

  “Understood. What should I call you?”

  “How about a cab?” she replied.

  His laugh was genuine and bounced off the stone. “Okay, you’re a cab. Nice to meet you, cab.”

  Katie knew that Portree was a quaint port city. Full of friendly people and dependent on a lively tourism industry. Katie relaxed a bit and smiled. “You always so literal?”

  He shrugged. “I was hoping to make you laugh.”

  Something about him made Katie relax. Did he remind her of Alec? Or Robert? She wasn’t sure what it was, but instinctively she wanted to trust him. She relied on her sense of people, and the alarms weren’t going off. “Well, it worked.” She smiled. “Thanks. I didn’t catch your name.”

  “Call me Drew,” he said as he squatted beside her and offered his hand.

  Katie studied his face. The sun, just at the horizon’s edge, lit his eyes. They were deep brown with flecks of gold, and his lower face was covered in a very closely trimmed beard and moustache. His full head of hair was wavy and medium brown with traces of sun-streaked blond. She slipped her hand into his and shook it. “I’m Katie.” She grinned. “But feel free to call me ‘cab’ if you want.”

  “Well, Katie, what are you doing sitting on a boat ramp, crying in the pre-dawn? Have a fight with your boyfriend?”

  She sighed. “Yeah, something like that. Why are you here?”

  “I’m an early riser and I confess, a bit of an insomniac. I walk through the town and enjoy the quiet. It helps me think,” Drew said.

  “I can understand that.” She started to rise. “You’re American or Canadian?”

  “American.”

  “So how’d you end up here? It is a bit off the normal tourist spots.”

  He helped her stand. He checked his watch. “Would you like a cup of coffee? I know a little breakfast place that opens in a few minutes.”

  “Really? Why so early?”

  “Gets the local fishermen trade before they head out for the day. Interested?”

  Portree was a quiet place. She felt safe walking the dark streets here, but should she go off with this stranger? Alec’s warning filtered into her thoughts. It was only coffee and maybe breakfast. They’d be in a public place surrounded by people. She’d be okay. Nothing would happen. She stood and collected her bags. “I’d love a cup of coffee,” she replied as she started up the boat ramp.

  He reached over and took her duffel bag before she could protest. Drew grinned. “So I’m a bit of a chauvinist.”

  She laughed softly. “I’m not complaining.”

  They walked to the top of the ramp. “Which way?” she asked.

  He pointed to the right, away from the hotel. She followed as he led the way.

  They walked about a block from the hotel. While there were lights on in singular rooms in some houses as people began their day, it was
still very quiet. She looked around. They seemed to be headed toward a mostly residential area. Her alarm bells started to ring. What the hell was she doing? Alec was right… she didn’t take this whole thing seriously, but since her “friend” let on that he was responsible for the gorilla in the North End, her danger radar reset to zero. Only now, it was soaring into the stratosphere. She stopped walking. “Drew?”

  He was ahead of her, standing by a car. “Yes?”

  “How far is this place?” she asked as she looked behind her. They were out of the downtown area. She turned back, queasiness settling in her stomach. Her legs tensed, ready to flee. Something was not quite right, she could feel it. “You know what? I’ve changed my mind. Give me my bag please.”

  Drew shook his head. He opened the car door and tossed it in. “Get in, Katie.”

  She shook her head and backed away. “No. Just leave my bag on the curb, or so help me, I’ll scream.”

  He was on her in an instant. His height meant his stride put him on top of her before she could flee. One hand covered her mouth while he pulled a cloth out of his jacket pocket with the other.

  “No!” She started to scream into his hand, twisting her head side to side, trying to break the seal over her mouth. For one instant her mouth was free. “FIRE! FIRE” she yelled, knowing she was more likely to rouse someone with the threat of fire. She kicked at his shin and

  started to run, but he caught up with her easily. He whipped his arm around her waist and hauled her body backwards, slamming it against his. His hand clamped down, smothering her with the cloth. She tried to scream but only ended up breathing in the nasty smell. My God, it’s chloroform.

  R

  Chapter Sixteen

  Alec swept his arm swept back and forth across the sheets trying to find Katie, draw her close to his body, wanting to smell her sweet scent as he nuzzled her neck. Only the sheets were cold, very cold. His eyes flew open. She wasn’t in his bed and she wasn’t in the other one. It was still fully made. His heart raced as he flung the covers back and raced into the bathroom, hoping to find her, but somehow knowing she wouldn’t be there.

  He tore back into the main room. He eyes swept over to the table. Her laptop was gone. His eyes dropped to the floor. Her duffel bag was gone. She was gone.

  He dragged his jeans on over his naked body. He pulled his sweater on and slipped into his shoes. He grabbed his cell phone and raced down the stairs.

  Alec burst into the lobby, frightening the young woman at the front desk. “Has a woman, about this high,” he asked, as placed his hand against his chest, indicating Katie’s height, “with a laptop bag and a duffel bag come through here?”

  She shook her head. “Nae. I’ve been on duty for almost an hour and you’re the first guest I’ve seen.”

  He glimpsed the clock behind her. It was just past seven. “Dammit, she’s been gone at least an hour if not more.” He braced his arms on the reception counter. “Is there any transportation off the island?”

  She nodded. “Aye. There’s a bus that heads back to the mainland but it doesn’t leave till midday.”

  “That’s all?”

  She nodded again.

  Alec relaxed a bit. She was still here on Skye. “What about a car rental? Do you have that here?”

  She shook her head. “Nae, though we do have private drivers for hire. But they wouldn’t be available until nine.”

  “Where the hell could she be?”

  “Sir?”

  “The woman I was here with, she’s gone. I’m trying to figure out where she might be.”

  She shrugged. “She can’t have gone too far since she must be on foot. I’m sure she’s all right. It’s a safe place for women to walk alone.”

  His mind raced. How would he find her? Someone might have seen her. She’s was probably having breakfast nearby. “Are there any breakfast places near?”

  “Yes, about a half dozen. I have a list right here for the guests,” she said as she slid a paper towards him.

  Alec scanned the page, noting the places marked on a small map. They were all within a few blocks. He grabbed the page, stuffed it into his pocket and raced out the door.

  After a frantic search, his heart sank as he entered the last shop on the list. He scanned the small dining room looking for her, but she wasn’t there. He left quickly after the waitress confirmed that she hadn’t seen Katie when he asked between ragged breaths.

  His heart was as heavy as his feet as he plodded back to the hotel. Maybe she’d be there waiting for him in the lobby or in their room. As he rounded the corner to the main street, he glimpsed a seagull swooping and gliding. He sucked in his breath as it passed near a lamp post. Attached to the pole was a camera, a damn bloody closed-circuit camera. He knew they had them in the bigger cities to monitor people, identify trouble before it got out of hand.

  For the first time since she’d disappeared, he had hope. He knew he’d find her. He had to find her. A plan was forming as he headed back into the hotel. A small grin formed on his mouth.

  Alec raced up the stairs and into the reception area. The woman behind the desk was smiling at him. “Did she come back?” he asked.

  She shook her head. Her smile disappeared. “I thought that was why you were grinning.”

  “No, but I think I might know how to find her. Those cameras, the closed circuit ones on the poles along the street, are those controlled by the police?” Alec asked.

  She nodded. “Not much goes on here, but the government insisted they be installed on the main thoroughfare.”

  “Where’s the police station?”

  She pointed to the left. “One block over and about a quarter mile.”

  “Thanks,” he said as he started down the stairs. He stopped at the landing and headed back to the desk. He grabbed a piece of blank paper off the desk and jotted his cell phone number down. He handed it to the clerk. “Call me if she comes back before I do.”

  ****

  “I’m sorry, Dr. MacGowan, but I kinnae let you see the tapes. Your lady friend has nae been gone long enough to be called missing. And I’m constrained by the law,” the officer told him in a noticeable brogue.

  Alec ran his hands through his hair. This was his only hope. “Look, I need to find out where she went. I have to make sure she’s all right. Surely you can understand my need. She’s my colleague and I know she wouldn’t take off without telling me.”

  The officer shook his head. “I’m sure she’s just exploring our wee town. She’ll be back soon.”

  “No, I don’t think she will. She had her personal stuff with her.”

  “So she left you. I’m sorry, Dr. MacGowan, but it seems she does nae want you to know where she went.”

  Alec’s shoulders slumped. He needed to see those tapes. He was sure the answer was on there. How the hell was he going to get to them? He turned and left the police station. As he headed back to the hotel, he searched the faces of people on the street, hoping to spy Katie’s freckled nose among them.

  He climbed the stairs back into the hotel. A group of women gathered around the reception desk, waiting to check out. The clerk shook her head in response to his silent question.

  He plodded up to his room. He opened the door, knowing she wasn’t there, but hoping she was. He stepped in and scanned the surroundings. Everything was as he left it. There was no sign of her. No sign she’d ever been there with him. He sat on the bed and laid his head on the pillow as he tried to think what to do next.

  He rolled over, over to the side where Katie should be. He lifted the sheet and buried his face in it when he caught her scent still layered on the linen. “Where the hell are you, Katie? Help me find you.”

  The shrill ringing of his cell phone jarred him back to his present problem, finding Katie. He grabbed the phone from his pocket and checked out the screen. The caller was Willie Jones. Willie Jones, of course. He should’ve thought of him earlier. He could help, would help. “Willie. Talk to me.”

&n
bsp; “Alec? I was hopin’ to talk to Katie. She said to call your phone. Can I speak to her?”

  Alec started pacing back and forth at the foot of the beds. “No, you can’t. She’s not here.”

  “Can ya have her call me when she gets back?”

  “No.” Alec hesitated. “I can’t. She’s… she’s missing, Willie.”

  “Missin’? What do ya mean she’s missin’?”

  “I woke up this morning and she was gone, and so was all her stuff,” Alec said.

  “She didn’t leave a note?”

  “Nothing. It’s like she was never here.” Alec exhaled and slumped onto the bed.

  “When was the last time ya saw her?” Willie asked.

  “It was probably just before midnight.”

  “Was she upset, mad?”

  “No, we were in bed…” Alec stopped.

  “Ya were in bed together?”

  “Uh, yeah.”

  Willie snorted. “Well, ain’t that somethin’. Must be somethin’ really special about ya, if she got into bed with ya.”

  “Willie, I need your help. I know you’re ex-Special Ops and I saw her emails to you about determining the source of the nasty email.”

  “Yeah?”

  “So I’ve been to the police trying to get them to let me see the closed-circuit camera data from this morning. After chasing down every other lead, I’m left with the video as my last hope.”

  “And?” Willie prompted.

  “They wouldn’t let me see it, said it was against the law. They think she left me, but I know Katie wouldn’t do that. Even if she was mad, she’d let one of us know she’s all right.”

  “You’re right. How can I help?” Willie asked.

  “Two things. First, I need you to get a copy of the video, and second, can you check to see if any of her credit cards have been used?”

  “I’m on it. Call ya back in a few,” Willie said before he ended the call.