Chapter Sixteen #3
“I can’t believe all of this,” Callen said. “It’s like a Christmas miracle way too early.”
Oh, well, Ethan wasn’t done.
“The reason I called you is Elizabeth now said we can buy her shit, jewelry included, and she’s not protesting.”
There was DEAD SILENCE.
“Okay, are we being punked?” Callen asked. “That has to be it. There is no freaking way our wife said that.”
Oh, she had.
“I said it. I meant it. That’s the last thing I need to apologize about.
I’m sorry I rode ass. It occurred to me that my love language, as I forced a million dollars on Gabby, is gift giving.
If that’s your love language too, me not ‘allowing’ you to have that is damaging us.
I don’t want to do that. I want us to be happy and solid. So, give away. I’m here for it.”
Well, shit.
Something had happened when she took this break to find herself. Oh, and they liked who they found. This was the best outcome considering they’d feared the worst.
“So, I’m all about it. No more bitching and moaning. I promise going forward, I won’t be a horrible shrew over some gifts.”
Well, that was…nice.
“Thank you, Angel,” Callen said. “It is my love language. Now, I can unhide all the things I’ve been sticking in your closet as I hope you don’t notice.”
She laughed.
“I’ve noticed, Callen. I’m tired, not blind.”
Apparently.
Now, Gene was curious.
“How goes the mystery there, other than finding out that you look like Ceit? I’ve been lowkey getting information from Ian and Tony. Because you’re living the game Clue there, and I’m jealous.”
She laid down the law.
“If I find a body in the ballroom, Gene, I’m hunting you down for putting that out in the universe.”
He snorted.
“Rightfully so. Still jealous, SCARLETT,” he said, using her name that Ethan called her when they were getting kinky.
Yeah, Gene knew about that.
Since he wanted to know, she started at the beginning of when she got there.
“Ceit isn’t at rest. Me showing up set it off.
I started sleepwalking, and in that dream, I was talking to Ceit.
Then, we found out she’s missing her heart—which turns out to be a necklace.
We dug up a body to find that. Oison stole it from her before he shoved her out the window. Can you imagine a father doing that?”
None of them could.
“Now, we have the necklace, and on the back, there’s a name. We can’t read it, so we’re taking it to the jeweler. We believe that Ceit came here already knocked up, and we’re trying to see if the guy who did it was someone by the name of Cathal C.”
What was crazy was she’d only been there a little while.
“We found out the letters between Ceit and Duncan were fake, and they were covering for the Ciarán and Duncan. How much of them? We don’t know. So, Ian is going to be upset.”
Oh, they bet.
All he did was talk about the letters.
She continued.
“Ciarán was his one true love. We also believe that when he was coming back from war, it was to kick Ceit out and take her baby. Duncan wanted that heir, and he was going to take him. As it turns out, Catherine, Ceit’s sister likely betrayed them, sharing information with Oison in order to escape the man. The rest, we’re working on now.”
Wow.
That was something.
“You definitely have a mystery there,” Gene said. “Still jealous.”
Oh, well, all things happened for a reason.
“We need to put them to rest, and figuring out this last part will do it. In the castle, there’s weeping and door slamming.”
As if to prove they were being watched, the library door opened, slowly, and then slammed shut.
HARD.
“What was that?” Callen asked.
They told him.
“Oh, you gotta end this before they can open this place to tourists and renting it out,” Callen said. “Haunted is only good this time of the year. Weddings—not so much.”
He had a point.
A good one at that.
“We’re working on it,” she admitted. “We just wanted to check in and say we love you.”
Well, that was mutual.
“Can you kiss the kids for me when they get back from Fiji and tell them I needed a rest? They can call me if they need me,” she said. “I’ll turn my phone back on now that Ivan is aware.”
They all laughed.
Again, she was warned.
“IVAN IS PISSED!” Gene warned. “If he calls, don’t answer,” he suggested. “He’s going to ride ass over this one for a long time.”
Oh, she bet.
“I won’t. Thanks for the heads-up, my love,” she said, calling Gene that now, too.
Because he was.
He had been her ride or die chasing Devon, and now, she’d pay him back. Everyone was equal in their family.
Everyone.
“Anything for you, my wife,” Gene said, sharing that moment with her because it mattered.
“If you need us, Elizabeth,” Chris said, “you can call us to help. Don’t take us not being by your side as us not wanting to be by your side.”
Oh, she was aware.
“I will. Right now, I’m trying to find me.”
Ironically, it had been for a different reason when she’d come here, and now, it was because she had to figure out who she was in connection to Ceit.
And Scotland.
“I’m calling Tony next to do some forensic things. I love you guys, and I’m sorry I was difficult. Callen, go shopping crazy, and I’ll see you three at the wedding at the end of October. Gene, hold down the division. You’re in charge, Huggy-Bear. Enjoy it while I’m away.”
He laughed.
“Can I use your office?” he joked. “I only have a desk in the bullpen.”
She didn’t hesitate.
Why?
That was coming to an end, too.
“Yes. Run it like you stole it. When I’m back, we’re giving you a promotion. I see a directorship in your future.”
He freaked out.
“Don’t you dare! Why would you threaten me like that?” he asked, horrified.
Spoken just like her.
Yeah, they were two peas in that particular pod.
The Ethan pod.
“Love you, nuts,” she said. “I’ve a haunted castle to figure out.”
They all said their goodbyes and then hung up.
When they were gone, she felt a million times better. Everything between the men she loved was handled, and now, she could be at peace.
Gabby looked at her watch.
“We should get into town. I’ll call Catherine to make sure she stays there until we get to her.”
That meant getting showered and changed.
“I’m going to leave this here to run,” she admitted. “I’ll call Tony on my way to the shower.”
When Ethan helped her up, she hugged him.
“Thank you for being here with me.”
Oh, there was no place he wanted to be than by her side. That was for damn sure.
Well, maybe by all of his spouses’ sides.
As she walked out, Michael was honest.
“That’s not the way I saw all of this ending. When she came here, she was a mess. Somehow, she’s turned it around. Mom needed you, Dad.”
He smiled.
Why?
Because he needed her too, and he always would. There was no doubt there.
“Hopefully, we can come back and see this castle again,” Ethan admitted. “It truly is magical.”
Graham held Michael’s hand and stared into his husband’s eyes.
Yes, yes, it was.
“You’re always welcome here, especially since we’re partners in this now, too. Welcome aboard. Now, let’s talk about what we would like to do for Christmas.”
Ethan smiled.
He’d like that.
Seeing this magnificent castle come back to life was definitely one of the highlights in his life.
If a young Ethan could only see what his future was going to be like…
He never would have believed it.
Ever.
Meanwhile…
As she climbed the stairs of the tower, heading to the Master’s Suite, she was thinking about all of the things going on there, and how she didn’t buy into coincidences.
This place was tickling that gut instinct, and when that happened, Elizabeth had learned to run with it.
So, it was time to do just that.
Her biggest question now, as they weaved the past back together again, after something hid the truth, was why the hell did she look like Ceit?
That had to be a big piece of this. It all started back up when she showed up there, so that would be where she focused.
On her face.
In the room, she picked up her phone, and turned it back on. Before she showered, Elizabeth needed to get a little forensic assistance on the matter.
Since Tony had been here, he would be the best person to ask to help.
As she dialed, Elizabeth stared around the room, and she genuinely loved it here.
When they all came here, there was no way they wouldn’t make it a home away from home.
Even retiring here might be a good thing—if they ever got to retire.
That was yet to be seen.
When Tony answered, he sounded frantic.
“Are you okay?” he blurted into the phone. “Everyone is so worried about you!”
She laughed.
“I’m good, Anthony. I’m with Michael in Scotland. What could happen to me here?”
He chilled out.
“The ghosts could get you.”
She snorted.
“Well, you nailed that. This place is filthy with them, but I’m adjusting.”
Tony was surprised.
“You are? You? Seriously? Have you had a mental breakdown?”
That was amusing because she actually had one on the way there, but now, she was better.
Or so she hoped.
“I’m good. I bounce back fairly well. I’m calling because I need your help.”
He loved this woman like a sister, so he was more than willing to do anything she needed.
ANYTHING.
“I can be there in six hours.”
She stopped that then and there.
Two was company. Tony being there was a crowd. That was the last thing she needed.
“I’m actually good. Ethan is with me, but the favor I need is more suited for your specialty.”
He waited.
“Can you take skulls of different people, from varying generations, and find similar markers to show they are related?” she asked.
There was a pause.
Finally, Tony answered.
“Yes. Genetics maps our bones, too. All I need to do is look at the shared similar morphological features to find the likenesses shared between them. It won’t be one hundred percent accurate, but it will give me a general idea if two skulls are from a family. Why?”
She wanted to make sure.
“Even if they are hundreds of years apart? Like say the last twenty years in comparison to remains from say…the sixteen hundreds?”
He paused.
“Uh, yes. Even then. Again, why are you asking?”
Well, that was simple enough.