Chapter Nineteen #4
Then, she backed up, disappearing into the fireplace stone, like she’d never been there at all.
“Yeah, she looks just like you,” Finn stated. “That has to be wild.”
Oh, it was something.
Taking his wife’s hand in his, now, he was curious.
“Are we going to Ireland?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Yes, because Callum went home, and from here on out, we’re not hiding the truth. Maybe this all started back up with me not only because I look like her, but because I would tell the truth. I would solve her murder. After all, it’s what I do for a living.”
“You think she knew?” Gabby asked.
Elizabeth considered it.
“I mean, my dead mother is here. Who’s to say they aren’t having cocktails and sharing tales?” she asked.
That was a good point.
When her phone rang, she pulled it from her pocket. On the screen was Tony’s face.
Someone had impeccable timing.
“Hey, nut,” she said. “What’s up?” Elizabeth asked, after answering the video call.
He looked excited.
And tired.
Someone pulled a late one, since it was the middle of the night there.
“I just finished what you asked, and you’ll never guess what I found!”
Oh, she knew.
“I’m related to Ceit. Callum Granndach was my twelfth removed grandfather. He had his kids here, and a portion of them moved to the US at some point and started their lives there. My father’s skull matches Ceit’s and Oison’s scans. She’s my relative.”
He stared at her.
“You know what you are? A spoiler of fun! I had a whole presentation ready for you with grandiose flamboyancy befitting me! I made a PowerPoint presentation!”
She laughed.
Of course, he did.
“Tony, I just wanted proof. I already knew. When I saw her in the painting, I was well aware that wasn’t a coincidence. Now, we have evidence, and I can take care of this.”
He was curious.
“You solved it for real?”
She nodded.
“Yep. Callum went back to Ireland. He must have had his family bury him there, as they kept the castle as long as they could. He is a Connaught and a Granndach, and in a way, so am I. He’s with his family, and Gabby just found me the proof. I’m taking a trip to Ireland.”
He sighed.
“You guys have all the fun,” he said. “I want to solve shit for a living.”
Clearly, he didn’t get it.
“You do, my friend. You’re one of the reasons I can do what I do. I have the best team in the world. Now, I’m going to give a dead woman her peace, and then get drunk and dance on a bar top.”
“Again,” Ethan stated.
Tony’s eyes got huge.
“My sister from another mister, do you too like bar-top ass shaking?” he asked, grinning.
She snorted.
“You’re insane, but valid,” she added. “I love you, my brother from another mother. I’ll see you at the wedding, and we’ll go dance on a bar top together.”
He gasped.
“You promise? Because my wife said I can have fun if you let me.”
She snorted.
Nuts had to nut.
Apparently.
“I promise. See you then.”
She ended the call, and Ethan shook his head.
“He’s going to be a disaster when he does that, and you’re going to be to blame. You just green lighted the jackassery.”
Oh, she was aware.
“When in Scotland, have some fun,” she stated. “I’m also going to do some incredibly scandalous things with some men. Want me to not do those things?”
He stopped her.
“You should practice them on me first. I insist. I’ll be your guinea pig.”
Michael cringed.
“Jesus, can we not? That’s my mommy.”
Elizabeth laughed.
“Your momma is a hoe,” she stated. “In fact, you a hoe, she a hoe, you all are hoes.”
Truer words had never been said.
“So, Ireland?” Ethan asked again.
Holding out her hand, he took it. When he did, she gave it a squeeze, joining them together.
“Ireland it is. We have a curse to break,” she admitted. “The truth always comes out, and it can change a lot of things. Choices have consequences. I’m good with all my choices,” she admitted.
As soon as she said it, Ethan kissed their joined knuckles.
It was clear this castle was more than a mystery.
It was healing.
“She planted that field of heather. I’m going to leave something behind here when I go home,” Elizabeth stated.
“What?” Graham asked.
Honestly, she wasn’t sure.
YET.
“Give me some time to figure that out. I’ll know when I know.”
Someone was feeling better.
Well, two someones.
Ceit’s crying had stopped, and Elizabeth’s pain had dissipated.
In the process of running away from life, she found herself again.
Now, she knew who she was.
She was a Connaught.
And a Granndach.
And a LaRue.
Oh, and A BLACKHAWK.
The Raven had returned to the nest, and finally, for the first time in her life, she found her roots. They weren’t in DC, Damascus, or in Salem.
They were here.
In the process of solving this, she solved a lot of issues in her own life. Finding Ceit’s truth made her see her own.
Life wasn’t easy.
But it was certainly worth every single bump in the road.
“Let’s take a trip,” Blackhawk said. “Let’s go meet your family and give Ceit some peace. It’s a long time coming.”
And it was.
Honestly, this was the best idea.
And she knew they all needed it.
Closure.
Healing.
And love.
Ravensmire had given her all three, and she was grateful.
Damn.
Grateful.