Page 71 of Hold a Candle

Jamie considered the question for a moment, then sighed heavily. “I honestly don’t know, lass. I just know I’ve seen things I never thought possible. Is my mind playing tricks on me? Or are some of us just more vulnerable to the power of suggestion?”

“Even if there truly is some supernatural power at work, I’m guessing the department will write it off as a lightning strike. No one wants to be the idiot that puts the Ghillie Dhu as the cause of death in a report that goes up the chain, even if they believe in it.”

Jamie chuckled. “I can see that. But what about Florence? Do ye suppose she actually saw something? She seemed completely sure in the beginning. The woman was terrified.”

“Aye, but there are many such stories in the world, not just Scotland. Every country has its urban legends.”

Pauley turned to her side and propped her head up with one hand. “What happened with yer brother?” she asked softly, reaching out to run a finger down the side of his stubbly jawline. “Are ye ever going to tell me?”

Jamie turned to his side to face her. “Ye aren’t going to believe me.”

“Try me,” she replied with a smile.

Chapter 17

Florence’s flat lipsturned up slightly as she studied Constable Withers outside the door to her hospital room. As usual, she was being taken lightly because she was a woman. He’d already left his post to go for coffee twice since she’d been here, considering her not worth guarding closely.

Withers was a pompous fool; she’d seen his like come and go. However, he was her guard for this evening because everyone else was busy waiting for Kelpie to show up at the harbor and receive his drug shipment. She wasn’t under arrest and wasn’t even being charged with anything at this point. And Withers was itching to get out there with the rest of them and get his ounce of recognition.

Stupid men, so predictable.

Oh, they would get their drug bust all right, but they wouldn’t get Kelpie. All her carefully laid plans had worked out, they always did. Men really were clueless. They couldn’t see what was right under their noses because they didn’t think women had the guts or the brains to run a drug operation.

That fool Brodie had kept coming to her for information, and in return, he’d discussed the Inverness drug ring with her, told her all about the drug task force he’d been working with for the last year, and kept her updated. Another stupid male needing someone to boast and brag to. He thought he was using her, when all along, she’d been using him.

When the task force moved on the hatchery, they would find nothing but ashes. Everything was already gone. Hope Barks had been scrupulously cleaned as well, and the manager, Eva Thackery, was as clean as a whistle. Eva was a professional, just like herself, and they worked well together. Tommie and Arthur were supposed to have been the sacrifice to the task force, but Tommie had been stupid, which had made Arthur a loose end. Eva had made sure they were both replaced.

Luca and Belton had just been two dumb kids Brodie had been manipulating. It was pure crazy luck that Luca had gotten the best of Tommie, but neither of them really knew anything or who the major players were. They weren’t a threat, but it had to look that way. It kept law enforcement distracted.

The only real loose end she had left was Brodie. He should have been taken care of this afternoon, but stupid Juice had failed to finish the job while he had the chance. She couldn’t stand Juice; he was worse than Brodie. As her partner, she’d been forced to listen to his exploits with mind-numbing boredom, and she wished Eva had never hired him. Juice’s death hadn’t gone exactly as she’d planned, but then there was no one to refute his guilt. She’d wanted the satisfaction of offing him herself, but lightning had struck instead. At least he was dead and no one could prove she was there as anything but a victim. The word of a Detective Inspector against a hitman would take precedence any day.

No, Brodie was clever, and he knew too much. Given enough time, he might start putting two and two together, but then again, he was still an arrogant male who couldn’t see the forest for the trees. He was obsessed with Pauley MacBride and her rejection of him, which also colored his vision. Like most men, he considered women inferior in law enforcement, and that had played well with her plans. Pauley was an excellent detective, but she and Mica had been shut out of the case. All in all, that only left Brodie.

The nurse had given her a sleeping tablet, but she’d cleverly kept from swallowing it. All she had to do was wait for Wither’s to fall asleep or go for another coffee. It took him approximately 13 minutes to walk around the corner and to the break room where the coffee machine stood. She’d timed him twice.

When the male nurse walked into the room, she glanced up impatiently. This one was wearing a mask across his face and a surgical cap over his hair. All she could really see was his dark eyes staring at her.

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