Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
Gretchen
Operation Tartan Glory has begun. Those are words I never imagined I would think, much less say out loud.
But this is a genuine military-style effort to save Kenny and destroy Dougal's dominion over the seedy side of the Highlands that few know about and none would want to encounter.
And here I am, the virtual assistant who has joined this little army of Scots.
My parents understand why I need to do this, but naturally, they're concerned. Kirk reassured them that I won't die---in his Scottish way. But my dad stunned me with his response.
"I'm going with you and your buddies," Bert Carver declared. "I was in the military, remember?"
And I'm still trying to process that. My dad hasn't been active duty for years, but the determined look in his eyes tells me he's not joking.
"Dad, this isn't like your missions in the Middle East."
"Sure it is, kiddo. Bad men doing bad things that need to be stopped."
Kirk gives my father an appraising look. "What was your specialty, sir?"
"Communications and tactical support," Dad says. "And I can still shoot straight."
The two men share a look that communicates something I'm not privy to---some warrior code that doesn't require words.
Kirk slaps my father's arm. "We could use a man with your experience."
I feel like I've stumbled into some kind of parallel universe where my dad and my Scottish boyfriend are bonding over tactical operations.
I want to protest, to say that my father's involvement will only add to my worry, but I've seen that look on his face before.
It's the same one I get when I've made up my mind.
"This isn't a bloody tour group," Kirk mutters. "But having someone with communications experience might save our erses when we're in the dead zones around Cairntorran."
"Dead zones?" I ask.
"Aye," Kirk says. "MacWraith has set up signal jammers all around his property. Makes it harder for anyone to coordinate an approach or call for help."
My dad smiles, and I recognize the expression---it's the same one he wore when he'd solve particularly difficult puzzles with me as a child. "Jammers can be defeated if you know what you're looking for."
The gleam in my father's eyes sends me right back to childhood, watching him tinker with ham radios in the garage. I never imagined those hobby skills would become relevant to a Highland rescue mission.
But I have to speak up. "I don't like this. Something might go wrong."
"Gretchen," my dad says in his best placating tone, settling his hands on my shoulders, "I've spent my whole life protecting you, sweetheart. You think I'm going to stop now when the stakes are this high?"
Kirk clears his throat. "We leave at dawn. The approach to Cairntorran requires daylight navigation, at least initially. Your father will be an asset, not a liability. Trust me on that."
I nod reluctantly. The idea of my dad joining this rescue mission is doing strange things to my brain. On one hand, I'm terrified for him; on the other, I feel an odd sense of relief knowing he'll be there.
"What about Mom?" I ask. "She's already worried sick about me going."
Dad gives me a quick hug. "Your mother and I discussed it. She doesn't like it, but she understands." He gives me that crooked smile that's gotten him out of trouble with Mom for thirty years. "Besides, someone needs to keep an eye on you."
I roll my eyes. "I'm not twelve anymore, Dad."
"No, you're a grown woman walking into a hazardous situation." His voice grows serious. "And I'm a father who can help. End of discussion."
Kirk watches our exchange with an unreadable expression, then glances at his watch. "We need to finalize the equipment list. Bert, if you could help with that, it would be appreciated. You'll know what we might need that the rest of us wouldn't think of."
My dad nods eagerly, as if he's been invited to a backyard barbecue instead of a rescue mission. The two men walk away together, already deep in discussion about communication frequencies and signal boosters.
I sink into the nearest chair with my head still spinning. This morning, I was a virtual assistant who worried about a missing friend. Now I'm part of a Highland rescue squad that includes my father. Life can come at you fast, for sure.
"Something wrong, lass?" Kirk asks, glancing over his shoulder at me.
I give him a tight smile. "Nothing's wrong, not really. I'm just processing everything."
"Dinnae fash. Your father will be safe. I'll make sure of it."
And I know he means that. Kirk Balfour might be slightly crazy, with all those stunts he does, but he would never let anyone hurt me or my parents.
"Thank you for the pep talk. You always know how to make me feel better." And I mean that more than he knows. "But I'm also worried about you, Kirk. This isn't a thrill-seeking stunt for a commercial. Dougal MacWraith is the real villain, not a cartoon character."
Kirk's expression darkens, and I see something flash in his eyes that I haven't witnessed before. Not anger exactly, but a cold determination that transforms his usually playful demeanor.
"I'm well aware, lass. I've been tracking MacWraith's operations longer than you know." He moves closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "This isn't my first encounter with menacing characters."
That revelation shouldn't surprise me, but it does. I've been thinking of Kirk as this adrenaline junkie with a Scottish accent and too much charm for his own good. But there's more to him than the persona he presents to the world.
Kirk drops me off at my predetermined location, where I will work alongside Thane Buchanan to monitor communications among our entire squad of badass men and women.
As we arrive, I get a good look at our makeshift command center---a converted barn on Thane's property that's been outfitted with enough technology to make my dad whistle appreciatively.
The space is filled with monitors, communication equipment, and several people I don't recognize moving with military precision.
"Welcome to mission control," Thane proclaims with a grim smile, his usual serene manner now subdued. "Not quite what you expected from a whisky distiller, aye?"
"Nothing about this day is what I expected," I admit, taking in the operation.
A large topographical map shows the area surrounding Cairntorran Manor.
Archie, the wee devil, used all his technical skills to hack into the GPS systems. That's how we found Dougal's hideout.
The map he created now dominates one wall, with various markers indicating what I assume are patrol routes and security checkpoints.
It's surreal seeing the Highland landscape I've come to love transformed into a tactical battleground.
Dad immediately gravitates toward the communications setup, wearing a look I've seen from before. It's the same one he gets when he's allowed to play with expensive camera equipment at trade shows.
"This is military grade," he explains, examining a device I couldn't begin to name. "Where did you get this?"
Kirk and Thane exchange a look.
Thane smiles. "Let's just say that the Buchanan family has connections beyond whisky."
I'm beginning to suspect that everyone in the Highlands has a secret identity. Next thing you know, Mrs. MacTavish who runs the bakery in town will turn out to be a former MI6 agent.
"Gretchen," Kirk snaps, drawing my attention away from my dad's technical reunion. Kirk's voice is softer when he tells me, "You'll be stationed here with Thane. Your job is to monitor communications and alert us to any changes in security patterns."
I salute. "Yes, sir, Mr. Balfour, sir."
Kirk slaps my ass. "Cheeky lass."
But now it's time to get to work. Having my dad here is both reassuring and disconcerting. I still can't wrap my head around Kirk's calm acceptance of the danger we're facing.
"Still worried?" he asks me.
"Uh, well...yeah. But I'll get over it."
"Aye, you'll do fine," Kirk assures me as he squeezes my shoulder lightly. "You're smarter than you give yourself credit for."
With that, he turns to leave, and panic suddenly surges through me.
"Wait!" I call after him. "Where are you going now?"
Kirk pauses at the door, his expression unreadable. "Final preparations. We move at first light."
"Be careful, sweetie, please." What do you say to someone who's about to infiltrate a criminal stronghold? 'Don't die' seems too blunt, but also the most honest.
"Always am, lass." He gives me his favorite half-smile that always makes me feel like I can do anything.
Then he's gone, vanishing into the twilight with his long, confident strides. I watch the door for a moment after it shuts, as if I might somehow keep him safe through sheer willpower.
"Don't worry about Kirk," Dad says, coming up beside me. "That man knows what he's doing."
Jesus, I hope he's right about that.
Dad gives me a quick hug and a knowing look, the kind that used to drive me crazy as a teenager. "Military men recognize their own kind. Kirk's been in combat before."
Why didn't I know that? "He never mentioned serving."
"Some guys don't talk about it." With that vague statement, Dad returns his attention to the equipment.
And I spend the next hour learning the communications setup from Thane and my father, who seem to have formed an instant bond over frequencies and encryption protocols.
The technical jargon flies thirty thousand feet over my head, so I focus on memorizing the control panel layout instead.
I understand what each blinking light means.
But now I'm struggling to keep my brain occupied.
At least the fear has abated, and I feel like I'm ready for whatever actions become necessary.
"We've got visual confirmation on MacWraith's patrol patterns," Thane says, pointing to one of the monitors that shows thermal images of figures moving around the perimeter of what must be Cairntorran.
"They're clockwork precise," Dad observes, studying the patterns. "Every fifteen minutes, same route. That's either military training or excessive control issues."
"Most likely both," Thane replies grimly. "Dougal was dishonorably discharged from special forces years back. But he brought his training home and twisted it into depraved skills."
I lean closer to the screen, squinting to see through both the glowering sky and the trees around Dougal's hideout. But I can't see anything.
"Time to go silent," Thane tells me. "Magnus will give us the go signal very soon."
And so our covert mission has begun.