by Maggie Way
“Excuse me?”
Alice grinned, shook her head, and waved at the men. I see you watching me.
Alice spun on her heels and headed back inside the tower. She glanced around the room. They’d passed three staff members before they’d even hit the stairs. If no one was seen exiting, there had to be another way out, like there was in her room. “Is there a secret passage in this room, or any of the ones nearby?”
“Aye.” His brows dipped, and he walked out of the room and down the tight stairwell. He headed to a room right next to the stairs and tossed the double doors open.
That bedroom was lacking furniture, but being used as a storage area that was filled with trinkets of all kinds. Heirlooms, if she had to guess. “No one’s been in here since our dad passed five years ago.”
“I can tell by the dust.” Alice walked around the room, ignoring when Rowan moved toward one of the walls. She squatted in front of a table that had a picture on it and noticed two circular dust pattern outlines. She pointed to them. “There was something here, and now it’s gone. You can tell by the thickness of dust. Do you remember what it was?”
“I’m not sure. I think it was my mom’s favorite silver candleholders, the ones she used to display with that family picture. I can ask my brothers and check.”
“Colonel Mustard in the library with a candlestick,” she muttered as she pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of the spot where the missing objects had been sitting.
“I know of no such man, and the library is on the first floor.”
She chuckled and didn’t bother to explain. She followed him to the wall, where he indicated the secret passage. He’d reached for a hook, like the one in her room, when she grabbed his arm to stop him. She pointed to the dust scuff on the floor from someone else opening the door. “Someone else was in here and used that passage.”
Alice squatted and took a picture with her phone.
“Her murder was a year ago. It’s possible someone has been in here since, although the staff and family stay away from this wing, neither of which would have used the passageway.”
“The killer knows about the secret passageways in the castle.”
He went to reach for the hook again, and she stopped him.
“Don’t touch that. You could contaminate evidence. I think you need to call the constable or whoever does your forensics stuff, and get that thing dusted for fingerprints. If your killer did use this way to get out, it might still have his fingerprints on this hook, or the one used to close the opening on the other side. You should probably call them before anything gets tampered with. I’ll wait here.”
“You willnae leave?” he asked while heading to the door.
“Nope. No one is touching it until the cops get here,” Alice said, walking across the room and picking up a sword that was leaning against the wall. The weight of it had her grasping it with two hands and the point still landed on the floor. She frowned, put it back, and instead, picked up an umbrella and held it out in front of her.
He nodded, uncertainty in his eyes as he pulled the door closed behind him, leaving her in the dusty room. She spun the umbrella in her hand as she circled the room, looking for anything else that may be amiss. Nothing else seemed out of place. Not that she could tell. She picked up a photo album and blew the dust from the cover. It had the McDougal crest embossed on the cover.
“Baby pictures.” She chuckled as she opened the cover to find the book filled with pictures of Riley from when he was a young man. There were several pictures of him with different women. Never the same woman in any of the photos. When the seamstress said that Riley had gotten around, she must have meant it. Her heart clenched just thinking that, for a brief second, he’d found his true love, only to have her ripped away from him.
Alice pulled out her camera and took a picture of Riley in his kilt and sent it to Gwen and Violet in a group text, her fingers flying across the phone.
He’s one of the groomsmen. When are you bitches going to get here? I’m having to hide from the Barracuda.
Gwen was the first to answer.
Gwen:Our flight leaves tomorrow afternoon, so we’ll see you the next morning. Don’t worry, I’m bringing my daddy’s special homemade liquor. Maybe we can spike the Barracuda’s drink and get her to leave everyone alone.
Violet: She isn’t that bad.
Gwen: Yes, she is.
Alice:Yes, she is. Cassie’s fiancé has brothers. They’re cute, and they even own kilts. I’m sure if you ask nice, they’ll model for you guys. Especially Rowan. He’s a flirt.
Violet:I’m surprised you haven’t nabbed him into being your date since dickface might be coming to the wedding.
Dickface couldn’t afford the price of a ticket now that Alice was out of his life. The chance of his showing up to the wedding was slim to none, but still, what if he did. Alice’s fingers hovered above the keys, and she chewed her lip before responding.
Alice: I call dibs on the best man. He can cook.
Violet:We all know how important that is to you.
The door to the room opened, and Rowan walked back inside. Alice sent a final text that she had to run and shoved her phone into her pocket. “Is he on his way?”
“Aye, and I’ve alerted Mrs. Smythe that we’re up here and told her to be quiet about it. We donae need the whole castle in an uproar.”
Alice set the umbrella down and walked over to the window to look outside. She glanced down at the barn and only the stalker-ish brother, Kent, remained leaning against the barn. His gaze went back and forth over the castle until he met Alice’s gaze in the window.
“I heard that Riley used to date the constable’s daughter. That could be awkward.”
“He dated everyone’s daughter,” Rowan said.
“And you dated all of the maids.” Alice grinned.
“Most of them.” Rowan chuckled. “I can’t help that they get one taste of me and they cannae get enough.” He crossed the room to look out the window. “You know, you’re the only one who gave me a red light before I even turned on the ignition.”
“I’ve got brains.”
“And I’m sure you coming off of a failed relationship disnae have anything to do with you being gun-shy about pulling the trigger.”
“Ha,” Alice blurted out. “Hardly.”
“Well, if you want to make him jealous, I’m sure between Duncan and me, we can fill up your dance card at the reception.”
“I’ll be fine,” Alice said as she walked around the room. “But I’ll tell you what you can do for me.”
“Name it.”
“Tell me how I can lose my shadow.”
Rowan’s lips twisted. “Anything but that, lass. I promised Duncan I would accompany you while he’s busy.”
“Busy doing what?” she asked, now curious to know why it was that Duncan wasn’t around.
“He has an issue that he’s trying to deal with.”
“At the pub?”
“Aye, and it’s unavoidable. It’s always a cluster when she shows up.”
“Oh…a she.” Alice suppressed her frown.
“That’s all you’ll get out of me,” he said. “I’m no’ supposed to leave your side, and I’m to use any force necessary, including locking you in your room until he can get here.”
“I’d sneak out the passageway,” she said and raised her brow.
“That’s no’ an option,” Duncan said, walking into the room with the constable. He took Alice by the hand and guided her from the room. “We’ll leave you two to deal with this. She’ll be with me at the pub until things have settled here.”
“You can’t just order to me to leave,” Alice said, digging in her heels to stop him from walking into the hall. “I have things to do here. I have a body to find and my best friend to save.”
“Cassie is coming with us,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
Alice’s brows dipped. “She is?”
“Aye. Cassie,
a few others and you are going to the pub to put some of the table decorations together for the wedding. Daniel and I figured it would be best to get you ladies out of the constable’s way.”
“Are you sure we won’t get in your way? Rowan said you had a visitor.”
“I do.” He grinned. “You’re going to love her. She’s just as stubborn as you.”
Chapter Nine
Alice and Cassie walked into the pub. The sign on the door read Closed for private party. It was different than the last time Alice had been there. The lights were brighter, there were no drunk men sitting at the bar, and there were several tables covered in tulle and candy.
“I like what you’ve done with the place,” Alice teased. “The only thing you’re missing are some flowered curtains.”
“She’s fun.” The only woman not wearing a maid’s uniform rose from the table and walked over to Alice and Cassie. “Who are you?”
“This is Alice; she’s my maid of honor,” Cassie said, wrapping her arm around Alice’s. “Alice, this is Celeste.”
Alice should have guessed the woman was Duncan’s sister. She was tall, beautiful and definitely model material.
“Duncan’s sister,” Alice said.
“Aw.” Celeste glanced toward the bar where Duncan was filling a pitcher and glasses. “You must be special. He’s told you about me.”
Duncan dropped one of the glasses on the floor, and it shattered around his feet. The sudden crash had all eyes turning to him.
“It slipped,” he said, stepping over the glass and rounding the bar. He took Celeste by the hand and started pulling her to the back room. “I need to talk to you.”
“But I was just getting to know your girlfriend. Have you told Mom about her or her about Mom?” Celeste rubbed her hands together. “This is exciting. For once the spotlight will be off me.”
The smile on her face was pure excitement, as though she’d just won the lottery, as Duncan escorted her into his office and shut the door.
Alice grabbed a seat and some tulle and started wrapping the table favors. “What was that about his mom?”
“Oh, she’s…” Cassie started to say and then hesitated.
The other maids glanced at her, their wrapping stopped.
“She’s what?”
“Protective when it comes to her kids.”
Duncan shut the office door and glared at his sister. “Do no’ say another word about Mom.”
A look of confusion clouded Celeste’s face, and then her eyes grew wide. “She disnae know.” Her mouth parted. “How could she not know who you are?”
“She’s from the States.”
“Oh, Duncan, you’ve got to tell her. Can you imagine if she gets blindsided with the information and is attacked by the media, just because she’s spending time with you?”
“Alice Graham does no’ need to know who we are.”
“Wait.” Celeste lifted her hand. “Alice Graham, the psychic.”
“You’ve heard of her?”
Celeste started in with a full-belly laugh, not stopping until she had tears in her eyes. “You should pay more attention to the news, brother. Of course, I have. Most of Scotland has, including Mom.” Celeste’s eyes widened. “Oh, no…you cannae tell Mom that Alice is your girlfriend. She’ll run Alice off for sure.”
“She’s no’ my girlfriend, but I like her, so zip it about our family. There is no need for her to know or Mom. Understood?”
Celeste patted her brother’s arm. “I cannae believe she disnae know.”
“I can. She’s too busy chasing ghosts and trying to solve a murder to worry about details about me. She knows what she needs to. I like her; we have chemistry, and that’s it. That’s enough for now.”
Celeste wiggled her brows, making Duncan cross his arms over his chest. “Now tell me why you’re here.”
“Cannae I just come visit my brother?”
“No.”
She shrugged. “Fine.”
She had a bad habit of using him as an escape when she was running from things life threw her way. Some people might call it avoidance; he called it hiding. “Who are you hiding from this time?”
“There may or may not be some pictures of me drunk and dancing on tabletops.”
“So, then it’s a double whammy this time. You’re hiding from Mom and the press.”
“Kinda,” she said, stepping around him and heading for the door. “You keep my secret, and I’ll keep yours.”
Duncan and Celeste left the office and headed back into the bar. Alice was behind the bar and had cleaned up the glass and finished making the drinks. He took them from her hand and passed them out. The rest of the women were quietly and systematically filling the gauzy pieces of material before tying them with plaid ribbons. Celeste slid into a chair next to where Alice had been sitting.
Celeste picked up some ribbon and began cutting them the length the other ladies were using. “So, Alice.” Celeste glanced over her shoulder and grinned. “My brother donnae know much about you, but I do.”
“Don’t believe everything you read in the papers or see on TV,” Alice said, sliding back into her chair.
“I was following the story about the kidnapping of the billionaire’s son. Did they ever find him?”
“They didn’t, but I did.”
“You made the headlines all over the world. That case made you famous,” Celeste continued.
“She’s the most sought after psychic in the world,” Cassie said.
Duncan was drying mugs and setting them on the counter. He had his gaze down and was trying not to pay attention to their conversation, but even that was hard.
“She’s dabbling into unnatural things,” Mrs. Smythe grumbled beneath her breath.
“Oh, I donae know. I think it’s fascinating that she can see things that we cannae,” one of the maids said with a dreamy sigh.
Alice fidgeted in her seat, having to untie the ribbon she’d been working on to re-tie it.
“You’re in your prime. I bet people are paying top dollar for your help in cold cases and for readings,” Celeste asked.
“I don’t charge,” Alice said as a blush crept over her cheeks. She glanced up to meet Celeste’s gaze.
“Why no’?” Duncan asked from across the room, unable to hold his tongue any longer.
“The people I help, no matter the reason they seek me out, are all the same. They’re looking for peace, hope, and comfort. I could never, in good conscience, try and put a price tag on that. It’s a personal choice.”
“She’s caught a lot of flak for it,” Cassie piped in, tossing her latest bundle of candies into the pile. “Some of her competition have complained that, if she didn’t charge at least something, everyone would think all psychics should give away their readings and such for free.”
“Everyone is different,” Alice said, rising from her chair. “They can charge whatever they like. Just like I can choose to do it for free.”
“But it’s not the popular choice,” Cassie added.
“No.” Alice glanced at her friend and smiled. “It’s not. I can’t separate from becoming emotionally attached to the people I’m helping. I can’t draw that line. So, I don’t.”
Alice cleared her throat and gestured toward the back door. “I’m going to step out for some air.”
Cassie nodded, and the table turned quiet as Alice walked out the back door.
“I dinnae mean to make her sad,” Celeste said, resting her hand over Cassie’s.
“You didn’t. That case with the missing boy, it took a toll on her. When she found him, he was close to death. She saved his life, but there have been others that she didn’t find in time. I think each case takes a little of her soul.”
“I dinnae know.”
“It’s all hogwash. You ladies are smart, intellectual women. How can you believe such foolish nonsense?” Mrs. Smythe grumbled.
Duncan tossed the rag onto the counter and walked out the back door to where Alice
had disappeared.
She had her back to the door and her palms on her waist with her head tilted up toward the sky.
“I’m sorry about Celeste. Sometimes she disnae know when to stop with her questions.”
“It’s fine,” Alice said, wrapping her hands around her waist to hug her body. “It’s not the first time someone has asked those questions.”
Alice’s voice was shaky, holding no hint of annoyance, but something else. Sadness. He stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. “If it wasnae my sister’s question, then what’s wrong?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” she said, shaking her head even as she leaned back against his chest. Did she even realize how comfortable she was in his hold? He realized it.
“Try me,” he whispered in her ear.
“Talking about the boy that I found in the woods had me remembering that gut feeling I had gotten when I found him unconscious. It was the same feeling I got before my father was arrested, and the same gut feeling I’m getting now thinking about Cassie, Elizabeth, and Regina. The worst isn’t over. I can feel it. I know it.”
“You want to go into the woods to look for Regina?” he asked.
She turned in his arms. Her blue gaze was clouded with a mixture of concern and apprehension. “I’m running out of time. I have my last dress fitting tomorrow, and the other bridesmaids will be here the morning after.”
“And the wedding is only a couple days after that.”
“I’ve got four days to figure this out if I’m going to find the answers before I leave.”
Duncan cupped her cheek. “You arenae doing this alone, lass. I promised to help you.”
“Then help me, and stop trying to keep me safe. I’m not fragile. I’m not going to break.”
Duncan’s lips twitched as he tried to hide his smile. “What other wedding preparations do you have?”
“Bachelorette party the night our friends arrive.”
“Have you even planned that?”
She shook her head and let out a sigh. “No. I’m such a bad maid of honor. The worst in history.”
