Trove (The Katie Walsh Mysteries)

by KJ Montgomery

  “I don’t understand.”

  He bent down and grazed her still swollen lips with a fleeting kiss. “Not here.” He dropped his hand and grabbed hers, pulling her to her feet. He gently pushed her toward the door, lightly swatting her butt as she passed in front of him. “Come on. Let’s have some dinner.”

  Katie picked at her food and finally, after an hour, offered the plate to George as he passed by for the umpteenth time. She looked exhausted. After yesterday’s fiasco, or was it the day before’s, and then her insomnia, he doubted if she’d barely slept eight hours over the last several days. She rose and headed for the sleeping quarters.

  “Everything okay?” Alec asked.

  “Yeah, I’m just tired. If you don’t mind, I think I need to see if I can catch some sleep.”

  “Let me know if you need anything,” he said as she stepped into the room. “Sweet dreams,” he called out as she shut the door.

  ****

  Someone was pushing him, prodding him. What the hell, he thought as he came to, unaware he’d dozed off. “George? What’s the problem?” His stomach tightened as he registered the strained expression on George’s face.

  “Dr. MacGowan, I think there’s a problem with Dr. Walsh.”

  Alec sprang to his feet, towering over George. “Is she all right?” he asked as he glanced at the closed door.

  George shook his head and shrugged. “I don’t think so. I’m not sure but I think she may be having a nightmare. She’s been making these odd sounds.”

  “Odd? Like what? Can you describe them?”

  “Well, they’re like moans, pain filled—”

  A long mournful sound came from the other room. The hair on the back of Alec’s neck rose. He headed for the door. His hand froze on the handle as he heard Katie’s muffled screams from the other side. “Nooo… someone… anyone, make it stop… make it stop.” Deep gasps, as if she couldn’t catch her breath, followed.

  He bolted through the door and froze, his body stiff as he took in the sight of Katie curled up in a tight ball, but that wasn’t what immobilized him. It was her hands. Both of her hands were cupped tightly over her nose and mouth, sealing out the air. “What the hell… is she trying to suffocate herself?”

  Her deep gasps continued, convincing him that she was on the verge of passing out. He straddled her, tried to pull her hands from her face. She was holding on with a vise-like grip. “Katie, KATIE, WAKE UP. WAKE UP NOW. YOU’RE HAVING A NIGHTMARE. IT’S NOT REAL. WAKE UP.” He yanked her hands back to let the air into her lungs. She inhaled deeply, sucking the oxygen in. His heart raced as he pushed her onto her back with her hands flat, one on each side of her head. “Katie, baby, wake up, please wake—”

  Her eyes flew open, her pupils wide in terror. “Who… what,” she started, confused.

  “Katie. It’s me. Alec.” She squirmed under him as she tried to pull her hands free. “Baby, I need you to focus. Look at me, Katie. Look. At. Me. Deep breaths, Katie, deep breaths.” He watched her face. She didn’t seem to recognize him. She twisted under him, trying to roll away from him. He tightened his knees and nudged her hips as he lowered his weight onto her thighs, hoping the pressure would quiet her.

  “Breathe with me, Katie. Watch my chest.” He placed her hands on his chest and held tight. “Baby, look at my chest. Breathe in. Breathe out. In. Out. That’s good,” he said as she followed his lead.

  Her breathing soon mimicked his. He felt her relax. Her hands stopped pulling against his. “You okay?” he asked, relieved when she nodded. He released her hands.

  She started to sit up but stopped when she felt his weight pinning her down. “I’m okay. I need to sit up,” she said as she thrust against his knees.

  “Oh… right,” he said as he lifted himself off and settled beside her as she sat up.

  “Jesus, Katie, what the hell was that?”

  She shrugged and sighed. “My nightmare.”

  “That was more than a nightmare. I’d say it was more like a night terror.”

  She leaned forward and rested her head in her hands. He laid his hand on her back and gently moved it in a circular motion. “Talk to me, Katie.”

  She shook her head and replied hoarsely, “Can’t.” She hesitated then added, “Not yet.”

  He pulled her onto his lap. She curled up against his chest and rested her head in the crook of his neck. She leaned her head up and whispered in his ear, “Thank you.”

  He pulled her tighter and smoothed a hand over her hair. He kissed the top of her head. “Don’t do that to me again, KitKat.”

  She smiled weakly. “I’ll try not to. I just keep telling myself that each time I have one of these… it’ll be the last. I’ve had this nightmare for ten years now.” She inhaled slowly. “Laura keeps telling me that unless I face this monster head-on, I’ll never be free.” She rubbed her temple. “I know from a logical standpoint she’s right, but I… I just don’t want to go there.”

  They stayed wrapped together with him comforting her, stroking her hair, murmuring in her ear, until George informed them they needed to prepare for landing.

  ****

  They were processed through Customs without incident and the jet was cleared for Willowton. An hour later they were being chauffeured up the long drive. Katie had spoken little more than a few dozen words and that was for the government official.

  Alec whistled as he got his first glimpse of Lord Chester’s estate Willowton. “It’s magnificent,” he said as he took in the massive building, its many chimneys rising into the sky like sentinels. “There are even guard towers. How old is this place?”

  “Umm, I’m not sure. Most of the structure dates from the 1500’s, but it may be older.”

  “There must be at least forty rooms.”

  “Closer to fifty, I think,” she answered, becoming more engaged.

  He whistled again. “Hope I can get a tour, at least of the main section.”

  She glanced over and smiled. “I think something can be arranged.”

  The car rolled to a stop and the main door opened. A casually dressed man stepped out. He appeared to be in his late thirties, perhaps early forties, with an abundance of grey sprinkled through his brown hair.

  “Is that Lord Chester?” Alec asked.

  She shook her head. “No, that’s Thomas.” She pursed her lips. “I think his official title is ‘Internal Affairs Manager.’ He handles everything related to running the inside of the building. There’s another guy that handles everything outside, though I’ve never met him.”

  “Hello Dr. Walsh, Dr. MacGowan. Welcome to Willowton.”

  “Hi, Thomas.” Katie smiled. “Great to be back. You know how much I love it here.”

  Thomas returned her smile. “Indeed I do and, as always, Lord Chester is happy to have you here.” He turned to Alec and extended his hand. “I’m Thomas. If you need anything during your stay, please let me know.”

  Alec shook his hand. “Thanks. I’d like a tour, if that could be arranged.”

  Katie laughed and shook her head. “Just like a kid in a candy store.”

  Thomas grinned. “If you’ll follow me,” he said as he started back into the house.

  Alec stopped abruptly as he stepped into the foyer. Katie smiled at him as she watched his gaze travel up the magnificent stone staircase that split into left and right sides about thirty steps up. “Incredible,” he uttered. Thomas faced them. “Dr. Walsh, I’ve assigned you to the Yellow Room and, Dr. MacGowan, you’re directly across the hall in the Blue Room.”

  Katie grinned. “Thanks. While the Blue Room is my favorite, I think the yellow would be a tad too feminine for Alec. I’m sure he’ll love the Blue Room once he gets a look at it.”

  Thomas nodded. “Your luggage will be in your rooms in a few minutes.” He looked at his watch. It was a bit after nine in the morning. “Would you care for some breakfast?”

  Katie nodded. “I am hungry and I could definitely use some coffee.”

 
; “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll arrange it for about a half hour from now?”

  “Yes, please,” Katie answered. “In the meantime, I’ll show Alec where the bedrooms are.” She reached over and tugged on Alec’s arm. “Come on. Follow me,” she said as she headed up the stairs. “We’re on the left side.”

  She stopped in front of a paneled, heavy oak door. “This is your room. I’m across the hall,” she said as she pointed over her shoulder.

  He opened the door and stepped through. It was as if they’d stepped back in time. There were predominately blue tapestries on the interior walls. Opposite the door and taking up most of the real estate in the room was an enormous king-sized bed. There were four oak columns, one at each corner of the bed, with railings connecting them at the top. “My God,” he said as he walked to the bed and lifted the fabric, “are these actual bed curtains?”

  Katie laughed. “The only reason I prefer the Yellow Room over this is the bright color. I have to confess that sometimes, when no one is here, I sneak across the hall and sleep in here with the curtains drawn. It’s just so… so medieval and somehow makes me feel like my knight will steal into my room and peek through the…” She stopped when she caught him grinning at her.

  “Don’t stop on my account, milady.” He bowed slightly. “I’m always interested in women’s fantasies.”

  She was surprised when she didn’t blush. Normally her face would be on fire. She was warm all right, but the heat wasn’t in her face. “If you’ll excuse me, I want to wash up before breakfast.” She turned to leave.

  “Wait,” he said as he grabbed her arm. “Where’s the bathroom?”

  She grinned and pointed at the far wall next to the bed. “If you look closely you’ll see a handle on the wall.”

  He walked over and found it right where she’d indicated. “It blends in so perfectly, I never would’ve seen it.”

  She headed to her room. “I’ll meet you downstairs.”

  ****

  She felt lighter here at Willowton, free from constraint and prying eyes. She zipped down the stairs and joined Alec who was perusing the art and statues strategically placed in the foyer. She tucked her arm into his. “This way.” She tugged gently. “I need my coffee.”

  She led him into the dining room and helped herself to a scone, some fresh fruit and, hallelujah, coffee. She slid into the chair opposite Alec. “I need to ask you about the runes, and then you’re going to keep your promise and tell me what’s so hush-hush that it had to wait until we got here.”

  He nodded. “Ask away.”

  “Well, for starters, where are they? Or should I ask, where were they found?”

  “Southern England, I think. Why?”

  Katie shook her head. “No. They definitely don’t come from there. I’d place them farther north, most likely Scotland, the Highlands perhaps.”

  Alec tilted his head and frowned. “What’s the difference?”

  “Remember the other day, when I was explaining runes. I told you to think of variations in runes as something like accents.”

  “Yeah, I remember, but what’s your point?”

  “The same runes could have different meanings. In addition, the runes you gave me are incomplete.”

  “What?” Alec asked.

  “The reason the other translations don’t make sense is twofold. One reason is because the translators assumed the dossier was correct and that the runes were from southern England and the other reason is that there are missing runes.”

  Alec shook his head. “How can that be? They’re etched in stone and the stones seem to be intact. I looked over those pictures and I don’t recall any missing or broken edges.”

  Katie sipped her coffee. “Look, I’m no expert but I know for a fact that it’s fairly easy to manipulate photos with ‘off the shelf’ software.”

  “Photoshop? You think the runes are photoshopped?” He cracked his knuckles. “Josh would never do something like that.”

  Her head snapped back. “Josh? Your friend in the fishing photo?” She narrowed her eyes. “What’s he got to do with this?”

  Alec’s shoulders slumped, his head along with it.

  That niggling feeling came rushing back at warp speed. She knew it. She knew there was something more going on than just a damn translation.

  Katie walked around the table and stood next to him. She reached down and lifted his chin with her hand. She looked into his sad puppy dog eyes as he swallowed hard. “Just what have you gotten me involved in, Alec?”

  R

  Chapter Eight

  Alec pushed the heavy chair back with his powerful thighs. He rose and wrapped his hand around hers. “Is there somewhere we can talk?”

  “We can go to the library. No one will bother us there.”

  Katie tugged on his hand and led him down a long corridor decorated with huge portraits, rich tapestries, and several suits of armor strategically posed on the outside walls as if guarding the interior rooms. They passed a half dozen huge doors and, after walking the entire length of the corridor, stopped at a double paneled, twenty-foot-high doorway. She opened the right half of the huge entryway and slipped her hand back into his. She pulled him into the room and closed the door.

  She went and sat on the sofa in front of the unlit fireplace. “Come on, Alec.” She held out her hand. “Tell me what’s really going on.”

  Alec slumped beside her. He rubbed his hands up and down his face and then dropped them to his thighs. “Katie, I didn’t know it was you when I devised this plan. I swear to God I didn’t know it was you.” She raised her eyebrows. “When I did find out… well, it’s only made everything much more complicated.” He exhaled. “And now that someone’s aware of what you’re working on, I’m afraid I may have put you in the crosshairs.”

  She moved slightly down the sofa, tucked her leg under her, and sat sideways facing him. She pulled his hand over and rested it on her thigh. “What the hell are you talking about?” She squeezed his hand. “You know I prefer people to be direct so just tell me.”

  He pulled his hand back and then ran both hands through his hair. The tortured look he wore made her fear that he would pull each strand out one by one. He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

  “About nine months ago, I received a voicemail from my friend. He was working on locating an archaeological site in the British Isles. He was supported by an investor who expected to be paid back once the site and any subsequent artifacts had been discovered. Up to that point he hadn’t been successful. Or that’s what he’d led everyone to believe. His personal notes indicate that he was very close to locating the site.”

  Katie’s eyebrows knitted together. “Do you know where it is, where he is?”

  Alec shook his head. “Remember that picture you picked up in my office the other day?”

  She grimaced. “How could I forget? I broke the frame.”

  “Well, the man holding the fish is, was, Josh Mason, my friend.”

  Her stomach clenched. “Was?”

  “He’s the archaeologist.” Alec inhaled and exhaled loudly. “He was murdered.”

  “Murdered?” she repeated, absently dropping her eyes to a spot on the carpet as her stomach fluttered. “Are you sure?”

  “His car went off a cliff and was submerged in the ocean a week before it was discovered. Once I listened to his voicemail, I tried returning his phone call over several days with no luck. I told Robert about it and he used a few contacts to access Josh’s cell phone records. We were able to locate the area where his last call, the one he made to me, was made.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I started making some calls to local law enforcement and with some prodding from Robert’s contacts, a search was conducted and they discovered the crash site. Once the car was recovered, they identified it as Josh’s based on the registration. To be blunt, there wasn’t a body to retrieve. The officials believe that between the marine life and violent water, the body, what there was of it, was swept out to sea.”
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  “Oh, my God,” she said, raising her hand to her mouth, her eyes to his. “I am so sorry, Alec. I had no idea. How horrible.” She could feel tears forming as she envisioned the horrific death.

  She saw the pain reflected in his eyes and the tight lines around his mouth. “Alec?”

  “Yeah?” he answered hoarsely.

  “What makes you say it was murder? I mean, horrific as it was, people do have accidents like that.”

  “I know,” he said, his hands clasped as if in prayer. “And I probably would have left it at that, except the local coroner’s inquest discovered that the brake line had been partially cut. It was just a matter of time before the stress of using the brake would expand the cut, blow out the line. Robert had some specialist take a look and they were able to determine the initial cut had been deliberate, caused by a jagged knife.”

  She leaned forward, her head down. “Jesus.”

  The sweep of the second hand on the mantel clock was the only audible sound, the click of each movement echoing off the walls like a cannon shot. “Who do you think killed him? His partner?”

  “That would be my guess. Josh never clearly says why in his notes, but I feel that he didn’t trust the doctor, didn’t even like him.”

  “I’m confused. So the motive for the murder would be… what?”

  “One hundred percent of the findings.”

  “But you said that Josh hid the true extent of his findings from everyone. Would this doctor know that Josh was closer than he had told him? It just doesn’t make sense to me.”

  Alec rose and began to pace in front of the fireplace. “Let’s assume that this doctor was indeed aware of the imminent discovery, maybe a worker helping Josh told him or something like that. It would be prime motive for getting rid of Josh. The bulk of the work of identifying the site was done. It would just need to be excavated.”