Chapter 17 #2
“I think I shut it before I left last night, but I must have forgotten to lock it. Sorry. I’ll be more careful in the future.”
They both looked at me with disappointment.
I wanted to say people make mistakes, but I knew better. I should have locked the window.
“Garden,” Tommy said. He’d been so quiet I’d forgotten he was standing there. He handed his headphones and game to his sister and then bolted out the back door.
I smiled. He didn’t like any sort of drama or confrontation. I didn’t blame him. I was about to bow out with my own exit.
“I’m starving and need a full Scottish. Do you want me to bring something back from the pub for either of you?”
He shook his head. “I’m going. I’ll give you a ride down the hill. Henry is five minutes out.” He turned back to Abigail. “Again, he’ll be working from your office today, if that’s OK.”
Her cheeks turned a dark pink. “I’ll make a place for him,” she said and then cleared her throat.
“When they open the autopsy suite, he and I can go through the evidence we collected and bundle it up for you to have at the station,” she continued.
“I was already going to do that today. We should also have all the DNA tests back in the next twenty-four hours.
“Ewan, you might be able to rush the ones I sent to Edinburgh along.”
He nodded.
I loved this bossy side of Abigail. It didn’t come out too often, but she had blossomed over the last year and was much more confident. It was a lovely thing to behold—even if she was bossing me around as well.
The ride down the hill with Ewan was a short one.
“Thanks,” I said, as I went to open the door.
“Wait,” he said, and then jumped out of the SUV. When he came around to my side, he opened the door. “There is something I need to ask you.”
“About the case?” I couldn’t imagine there was anything we hadn’t already discussed.
“No. Uh.” He never stammered over his words.
“What is it? Is something wrong? Are you feeling OK?”
“I’m fine. It is nothing like that.”
Then he just stood there with the most uncomfortable look on his face.
“We sometimes disagree, but you know you can tell me anything,” I said softly.
Something seemed to be troubling him in a big way, and he was nervous. I’d never seen him like this.
He took a deep breath. “Right. I need a date for a gala my mother is throwing on Friday night. I wondered if you might come with me.”
Is he asking me out on a date? I’m sure my eyes were wide as saucers.
“Uh.” I couldn’t quite form a sentence as my mind traveled in so many directions at once it was impossible to answer intelligently.
Why me? That was the real question I wanted to ask. He was good-looking and wealthy and sometimes went out with beautiful Sottish celebrities.
“It’s for a children’s charity,” he said quickly. “If I bring a date, then I don’t have to worry about my mother trying to fix me up with the daughter of one of her friends.”
I chuckled. “I see. That’s so flattering.”
He sighed again. “I’m making a mess of this. To be honest, there isn’t anyone I’d rather go with.” He cleared his throat. “That’s what I meant to say. You’re intelligent and beautiful. I’ll be the luckiest man there.”
He was being sweet. It was odd, but I smiled. “Is it black-tie?”
“It’s my mother so very formal, yes.”
“I see.” Then I frowned.
“What is it?” he asked.
I glanced down at my phone. “I can’t remember if I volunteered for something with the festival on Friday night.”
I pulled up my calendar on my phone. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to find I was already busy or not. I liked Ewan, more than I would ever admit, but he made me nervous.
Friday was enjoy-the-carnival night, which I’d already been to with the rest of the gang.
“I guess, I’m free.”
“Good. I’ll pick you up at six, and it will be a late night. You might want to pack an overnight bag. We’ll stay at my mother’s.”
“OK.”
“Thanks, Em. You’re a good one.” He shut the door and then went to the other side and hopped in the SUV.
He drove away.
I stood there like an idiot staring after him wondering if I’d just imagined the whole scenario.
A few minutes later, I headed into the pub and sat down at the bar.
“Earth to Em,” Mara whispered.
I shook my head. “Sorry, were you talking to me?”
“Asked for your order. Is everything OK? I heard what happened at your place last night. You should have called. I would have stayed with you.”
“Oh. It worked out. Ewan stayed and everything is being taken care of.”
“Well, I’m glad you weren’t there. I hate to think of what might have happened if you were.”
“Well, I hadn’t thought about that until now.” I chuckled.
She made a funny face. “Sorry. Is that why you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Do I?”
“Aye.”
“No. It’s just that …”
I became a bit more self-aware, enough to realize most of the pub had stopped what they were doing to listen.
I glanced behind me and then smiled. “I’ll tell you the specifics later. But I need you to go shopping with me. I need a dress for a special occasion.”
She clapped her hands together. “Do you have a date?” she whispered.
I nodded.
“With whom?”
The pub was still unnaturally quiet. “I’ll tell you when we go shopping. For now, I need a full Scottish. I have a long day ahead.”
“Fine, I’ll get your breakfast, but I need you to text me who your date is. I may die of anticipation if you don’t.”
I laughed but did as she asked.
I heard her phone ding in the kitchen.
When she came out her eyes were wide. “It’s about time,” she whispered.
“What do you mean?”
“You two have been circling around each other for months now. It’s good you have a proper date.”
“I don’t know what you’re saying, I think I’m helping him keep his mother at bay. That said, I still want to look nice, it is for his mother’s gala.”
“Oh, I’ll be there as well. It’s why we scheduled the time for families to enjoy the carnival on Friday night. So we could get away. I think Jasper is doing part of the catering, he’ll be there as well. Oh, and Angie and her husband were invited. The whole gang will be attending.”
I laughed hard.
“What is it?” She whispered again.
“He has to know that you all will be there. He probably didn’t want me to feel left out.”
She scrunched up her face. “I’m going to say something I shouldn’t.”
“What’s that?”
“He isn’t someone who has trouble finding a beautiful woman to be at his side, if you know what I mean. That he asked you, I’d say is significant. He wants to spend time with you.”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way,” I said. “I mean, I know about the celebrity dates.” The town loved their laird, and he was quite often the talk of the older set, all of whom thought it was time for him to settle down.
“As I said, it’s about time.”
“Speaking of time, when is your shift over? I have patients until three. Then I thought I’d hit up Lulu’s to see if she has anything new.”
“Oh, she does, vintage and contemporary. I was talking to her earlier this morning when she came in. She told me I needed to stop by and shop for a dress for the talent show and maybe the dance Sunday night.”
“Oh, I forgot about the dance on Sunday. I’ll need something for that as well.”
“This is going to be fun.” She clapped her hands together.
An hour later, I had finished my meal and was about to head to the office when I noticed Jacks’s partner embracing a woman who seemed familiar to me. I’d seen her before. She was platinum blonde and wore four-inch heels with her short skirt.
I’d gone through the files on Jeremy Burns, and I thought I’d read he was married. I was quite sure this wasn’t his wife. Though, they didn’t seem to be worried about hiding their relationship as they kissed.
Being the creeper that I am, I took a quick snapshot with my cell. They were kissing, and didn’t notice me, for which, I was grateful.
Who is the mystery woman?