Chapter Six

"Don't upset yourself," Luke said quietly to the woman, "but let me make sure I understand what you're telling me. You were awake—and you came out back?" he asked.

"No, I woke up and I don't know what it was, but I thought I heard something from out in the back. I looked out the window from our bedroom. And then I just thought, how odd! Ewan must have been back there and it seemed strange, but then I was awake, so maybe he was awake... I mean, sometimes people have trouble sleeping and when they do, I know I'll come down sometimes and pick up a book, put the telly back on...anything to try to get tired enough to go back to sleep."

"But you're not sure it was Ewan?" Luke asked her.

She shook her head. "I thought it was him. The height and size seemed right. But then, of course, I was looking down from the window. Our bedroom is on the second floor."

"Does anyone else live here?" Carly asked her. "I'm sorry, I mean because someone else might have seen something, too?"

"No, um, our children aren't far, but they have their own apartments. Brianna teaches at the university and Westin is a doctor. He works at the hospital," Cassandra said proudly.

Luke knew Carly was looking at him.

Their son is a doctor. There are many doctors in Edinburgh, of course. The medical school remains one of the top institutions for learning.

But a body had been found here...

"Sounds as if you did a fine job raising them," Luke said, glancing at Carly. But she was watching Cassandra, too, giving nothing away in the manner she looked at her.

"Thank you."

"And neither of your children came home that night for any reason?" Carly asked. "We're just hoping someone else might have seen something."

But Cassandra shook her head. "I'm so sorry. It's all so distressing. Those poor people! They came to our beautiful city and..."

"Of course, you're distressed," Carly said gently. "And please don't worry—"

"Ye'll never tell Ewan that Cassandra worried he might have been in the vennel, eh?" Ian Douglas asked them.

"Not a word," MacDuff promised. He gave them both an assuring smile. "We have our ways of investigating that give nothing away at all."

"Thank you. I just..." Cassandra paused, looking at her husband. "I can't seem to help myself. I'm nervous when he comes now and—"

She broke off again. There was a tap at the door.

Curious, since you need a code to get through the gate.

Luke frowned and asked quickly, "Ewan doesn't need you to let him in? Or is that—"

"We have each other's codes," Ian Douglas told him. "And that must be Ewan coming for tea as he so often does! He always knocks at this point or opens the door and calls for us before entering. I'll uh...go get him?"

"Of course. And don't worry. We'll just say we hadn't been able to talk to you on the day we spoke with him—that's the truth," Luke said.

Ian Douglas stood and left the dining room to hurry to the front.

"It's all right!" Carly assured Cassandra.

Ian returned to the dining room with Ewan, and Luke quickly stood to greet him along with Carly and MacDuff.

"Good to see you again, I think!" Ewan told them. "Ian says he and Cassandra were out the other day, and so they asked you over this morning."

"They did, but...I'm afraid we still have nothing," Luke said, shaking his head. "But thanks to the two of you and your wives, we're eating well!"

"It's the least we can do," Cassandra said.

"Well, I believe we've eaten your lovely pastries and enjoyed the tea tremendously," Carly said. "But...well, we'd best move on and see what we can accomplish elsewhere."

"You've gotten nowhere?" Ewan asked them. "My wife is still in such a tizzy—so frightened that such a killer was here just outside our doors."

"Oh, we will find out what's going on," MacDuff assured him. "This is my city, and a treasure to the world. We'll not let it go on."

"No, we won't," Carly said sweetly. "Mr. and Mrs. Douglas, thank you so very much for your hospitality. And please, Mr. Connoly," she told Ewan, "tell your wife not to worry. Police Scotland is vigilant and watching over this area, especially your beautiful homes. Oh! May we turn on the news for a minute, please? Brendan Campbell is giving a press conference right now!"

Luke lowered his head. Carly was right on. They could observe Ian Douglas and his wife watch the news conference, along with Ewan Connoly.

"Oh, I don't know! Should we see more—" Cassandra began.

"It happened," Ian Douglas said flatly. "It's important we know what continues to happen step by step."

"I believe he's mainly giving people a warning of what to watch out for," Luke said.

"Aye, that's his plan," MacDuff agreed.

"Shall we?" Ian Douglas led the way out toward the entry and the large parlor or ballroom where his entertainment system was to be found.

None of them sat. He found his remote control and keyed in to the news. Brendan Campbell was already on, stating that numerous law enforcement agencies were working day and night to bring an end to the nightmare. He went on to warn people not to be out alone, to be vigilant, to report anything they see as slightly suspicious.

Campbell was good; he didn't create panic, but he gave a clear warning.

The talk ended as they watched.

Ian Douglas hit the off button on his remote and turned to them.

"Numerous agencies! Someone must end this."

"Not to worry, sir. There are officers and agents working around the clock, as Campbell said," Carly told him.

"Right, of course," Ewan said. "And thank you. There's always someone..."

"Watching, yes," MacDuff said.

"Good to know," Ewan told them.

They managed to leave, and when they reached the car, MacDuff leaned back in the driver's seat, shaking his head.

"So, she may or may not have seen Ewan Connoly in the vennel," he said.

"We have people researching both families," Luke reminded him.

"And Ewan now knows his home is being watched. If he or anyone there is guilty of anything, he's prepared. And now we know Ian and Cassandra's son is a doctor," Carly murmured. "I think I'm going to pay a visit to the hospital."

"And ask to meet him? Won't that be obvious?" MacDuff muttered. He frowned. "Daniel is meeting with Flora now. Maybe—"

"And maybe Flora may or may not know anything. Maybe she just likes Daniel—that's not a shock," Carly murmured. "But what I was thinking..."

"You're going to go to the hospital and ask to speak with an expert in transplants, just to find out more about what really happens when organs are taken and transplanted. Also, I believe transplant patients must remain on certain medications. Perhaps find out more from the pharmacy," Luke said.

"All right—" MacDuff said.

"No, not all three of us. Just me," Carly told him. "We can't act as if someone there is being staked out," she explained.

"Aye, there's a point," MacDuff said. "But—"

"I'm fine alone. You'll drop me off right in front of the hospital and pick me up there. The two of you can meet with Daniel and Jordan and find out if they learned anything," Carly said.

MacDuff looked at her worriedly.

"I'm armed," she reminded him quietly.

MacDuff looked at Luke then, and Luke smiled and told him, "I wouldn't want any of us walking around alone at night now. Thankfully, Jordan got in okay last night, but none of us go off alone anymore. But we'll drop her right in front of the hospital and pick her up right in front of the hospital. Whoever is doing this—and yes, there are at least two people involved and probably more—wouldn't risk doing anything to anyone at the hospital."

"Right," MacDuff murmured.

Carly looked at Luke and whispered, "You know I'll be careful."

"Yes." Luke reminded them all, "The victims have been taken at night, to the best of what we've discovered. During prime time at pubs."

"And tonight, we go back to Filigree," MacDuff muttered.

"And we have people trying to find out more about Marjory Alden," Luke told him.

"So, right, hospital, here I come," MacDuff said. But he smiled to himself. "We do have more than one hospital."

"Whichever does transplants," Carly said.

"Aye, of course!"

MacDuff drove and they soon dropped Carly off.

They watched her go in, present her ID at the stand near the door and turn to wave to them.

"I'll call Jordan, see what's going on with Daniel and Flora," Luke told MacDuff.

Before he could make the call, he received one.

It was Jackson from the States.

"We have discovered something interesting," Jackson told him. "I've already let Campbell know. We reached Marjory Alden's ex-husband. The children are not with him. To the best of his knowledge, they were with their mother."

"Oh, God, you don't think—" Luke began. No, no mother would let her children have their organs taken from their bodies.

But...

"Someone is holding them," Luke said. "Someone took her children—and that's what they have over her. She is working for the killers—"

"So, we don't even need to play a game tonight," MacDuff said. "We go in and arrest her."

"We can't do that," Luke said. "We must find a way to find out what happened, and when and where those kids might be, or the next victims—well, I'm very afraid the next victims just might be little ones."

"Oh, Lord!" MacDuff exclaimed, shaking his head. He looked over at Luke quickly. "To punish her—and as a warning to anyone else they have something over! How in God's name do we deal with this situation?"

"Extremely carefully," Luke said. He leaned his head back for a moment. Catch-22. They would have to find the killers to find the children. But to find the children...

Somehow, they were going to have to find the killers.

"Miss MacDonald!"

When Carly reached the fourth floor, she was met by an attractive nurse with her dark brown hair pulled back in braids—best for work in a hospital and certainly when sterile conditions were so very important.

"Yes, thank you, I'm Carly MacDonald and Dr. Forbes has said he can afford me a few minutes of his time," she said.

"Aye, and forgive me. I understand you're with the team investigating the murders here, but...you're an American." She grinned at Carly. "An American—with a Scottish name!"

"Scottish grandparents on my father's side," Carly told her.

"But you're working with law enforcement—here?"

"Part of an international team," Carly explained. "And you're—"

"Selina Caine, one of the nurses in this department, and very happy to help you. And my apologies. Are you Officer MacDonald—"

"Special Agent is my work title, but Carly is just fine. I'm hoping to gain some knowledge from Dr. Forbes, I'm not really on the clock."

"Of course! Let me bring you to his office."

"Thank you!"

As Carly followed Selina through the hallway toward the offices, she noticed two other doctors and several nurses.

A few noticed her and looked at her curiously. A few did not.

"Dr. Forbes is our lead in this department," Selina explained, "but our doctors have different specialties. We just passed Dr. Chou. If you ever have a kidney problem, he is the man you want to see."

"I imagine he's saved many lives."

"Oh, aye! And here we are."

They stopped in front of a door, and Selina tapped on it, heard a "Come in," and opened the door.

"Special Agent Carly MacDonald, sir."

"Thank you, Selina," Forbes said, rising from the swivel chair at his desk and addressing Carly. "Please, come in."

Dr. Leith Forbes was an impressive-looking man: tall, dark-haired and trim, a man who wore his white coat with great dignity. He appeared to be about forty-five, polite and ready to speak with her, because she knew she'd had no choice but to explain what she needed when she arrived at the hospital, wanting to speak with him.

He seemed perplexed as he offered her the second chair in the room and drew it up so they could look at one another.

"I'm sorry to take your time," she told him.

"If I can help, not at all. Still...since you're seeing me and you're law enforcement, I assume you believe the killers currently plaguing Scotland are disemboweling their victims for a reason?"

"Money," she said simply.

He shook his head. "There are incredible difficulties involved with transplants," he told her. "Of course, I've heard about the murders. No one in the city could possibly be oblivious to them. But I have believed—as most of the populace, I think—that the killing was done to appease a killer's horrendous mental sickness. Looking back at Jack the Ripper, the man tore women apart but did nothing with the organs unless, as one of his letters—real or bogus—explained: I ate the other part."

"We don't believe we're looking for a cannibal, Doctor."

"Burke and Hare as the papers say?" he asked.

"Well, Burke and Hare sold the entire bodies of their victims," Carly explained. "They made money. The way that these corpses are cut...it does appear they're trying to preserve the saleable organs: heart, kidneys, lungs, livers... There is a worldwide black market."

"Aye, there is, but all kinds of difficulties are incorporated in that. First, the organs must be removed precisely by someone who knows what they're doing. They must then be implanted in the recipient with that same expertise. And there's a time limit involved with every organ—"

"Yes, Doctor, I looked that up."

"That's why it is so important that those who are on donor lists remain where they can be reached, where they can quickly and easily get to their transplant hospital in good time," he said. "And, of course, you must have sterile equipment and the right conditions. An illegal transplant could easily be signing one's own death certificate."

"What if a person was desperate?" Carly asked.

He shrugged. "I suppose, but...many transplants have now been done successfully for years, however, if an organ isn't taken and stored properly—"

"What if it is? Then this is all possible."

"Almost anything is possible," he agreed. "Still, so risky, and yet—"

He broke off suddenly and she frowned. He saw her look and said, "All right, I was thinking if something went wrong with an organ stolen from a murder victim... Well, those who do such a thing would just discard it. But! It's not speed dating, you know! Everything must be right for a person in need of an organ. I have seen families desperately search through every member of their clan when a child is going to need bone marrow..."

"But I believe these people have their own lists," Carly said quietly. "They know who needs what and if someone is on the bottom of a legitimate list, they might well be hoping for any small chance."

"Aye..." he murmured thoughtfully. "Still, it's a long shot."

"But a valuable long shot. And if you have several organs from one body, perhaps you only need to see to it that one person receives what they need; the cost would be so high."

"And a viable life would be lost so that..." Forbes paused, shaking his head. "Being a donor is a great and kind thing. But when a death is natural. To kill one person for another..."

"Doctor, we believe those who receive the organs—or have what is needed to pay for a loved one to receive an organ—are able to fool themselves. Perhaps they're being told the truth, that others are dying for them, but creating reasons they should die. Perhaps people don't even ask questions. Say you have a teenager who has advanced kidney disease, and dialysis isn't working. Your child. I think many people who see themselves as decent human beings might decide not to ask any questions when there's a chance they might save a loved one."

Forbes nodded slowly.

"I am aware that in poor countries people are willing to sell one kidney. I know that there have been scams around the world. But I know those working in this hospital—"

"Oh, Doctor!" Carly protested quickly. "I'm not suggesting at all that anyone with the hospital here might be involved. But there are doctors around the world who do perform this kind of operation, isn't that true?"

He nodded slowly. "Aye, that there are. And in many countries...well, the rich are very rich and well-educated, and the poor are very poor. Aye, there are doctors, nurses...across the world. Still, as a specialty..."

He frowned.

"They've been very careful. But...from what I've seen and read in the news, the organs are...just completely gone. Is that correct?"

"Yes, that is correct. And there is little if any blood found at the site where the victims are discovered. All different sites in different areas. We believe they are receiving an extremely potent whiskey before they are led out... We even believe that they're burked," she added dryly, "suffocated with one killer pressing the chest while the other—"

"Covers the nose and mouth," Forbes finished. "Aye, we've heard that the method has been asphyxiation," he told her. "I just never..." He stopped suddenly, staring at her in horror. "Oh, dear God on high! You don't believe that I—"

"No, no, no!" Carly assured him. "I thought I did the right reading and I had a decent understanding of all that was involved, but I wanted to make sure with you, with an expert."

He nodded, exhaling. "Such a thing...so very, very horrid!"

"But possible," Carly said. She stood and he politely did the same.

"Aye, possible," he told her. "And you must take my card. It has my direct number. If there is anything else I can do in any way, please don't hesitate to call me. These killers...what they're doing is more than sacrilege. There are so many people in the world who need help but seek it in the right way. This is so terrible that I wish..."

"Sir?"

He grimaced. "I almost wish we still hanged people here—and took their organs after, of course. Now, organs must be donated, but back then, the hanged were a free product to be picked apart. Burke was hanged—and his body was given over to anatomy lecturers!"

"Well, I don't believe that will happen now. We're just seeking to stop what's happening and let the courts deal with the killers. Again, thank you. And here's my card. If you see or hear anything..."

"My staff are golden!" he said quietly.

"But a patient may say something to you, Doctor Forbes. You never know. Here is my card, and again, thank you, thank you."

"Of course. Take care yourself, Officer MacDonald."

She grinned. "Special Agent. But my friends call me Carly. And you have truly been a friend," she told him.

"And you," he assured her. "Do you need—"

"I know the way out," she assured him.

She smiled and stepped out of the office.

His staff was golden. He truly believed it. And she didn't believe a man in his position would be someone behind all this, participating in this. But that wasn't it, she knew. Her gut feeling propelled that belief, along with his manner.

But she observed his "golden" staff as she left the hospital. Other doctors and several nurses. An orderly nodded to her as she made her way out, a man in his late twenties or early thirties. Other nurses appeared to be about the same age. She saw two who might have been older, one with slightly graying hair and an appearance that put her at about the age of fifty.

She reached the elevator and headed downstairs. In the entry, she called Luke and told him she'd spoken with the doctor.

After she called and discovered they were ready to pick her up, it would just be a few minutes, she walked over to the desk again, thinking that doing so was something she should have done first. If Westin Douglas was working, she wanted to meet him.

"Is Dr. Douglas working today?" she asked. "Dr. Westin Douglas?"

The woman behind the desk looked at her computer.

"I'm afraid not. He has office hours two days a week and this isn't one of them," the woman told her. "You can call for an appointment with him, though. He'll be in tomorrow."

"Thank you very much," Carly told her, stepping away.

As she did so, two of the nurses that had been on the transplant floor came out of the elevator.

They both smiled at her and one asked politely, "Are you looking for help? If so, there is no one better or kinder or, most importantly, good at getting things done than Dr. Forbes!" she told her.

"He was very helpful," Carly said simply. "And thank you."

The woman speaking seemed to be in her late thirties; she was petite with blond hair. Her friend or coworker was taller, dark-haired and maybe a few years younger.

"Aye, he's the best," she told Carly, but she seemed a little impatient as she said more quietly to the blonde nurse, "I've got to get out of here! Nurse Ratched was—"

She broke off, looking at Carly, realizing she'd been heard.

"Nurse Ratched, as in the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?" she asked.

The poor woman looked horrified. "Um...movie, umm..."

"It's okay!" Carly assured her. "I don't know anyone here, and I'm sure there are a few people who are total monsters when one is working hard enough as it is." She dropped her voice to a whisper. "I won't say a word, I promise!"

"That's an old movie! You saw it?" she asked Carly.

Carly laughed. "I did. Hey, you can stream just about anything these days. Which nurse? I'll make sure I never see her!"

"Oh, I've got to get going! My husband is waiting! Goodbye, um, nice to chat! We're really great here, I was just whining a bit!"

With that, she hurried out the front door. Her blonde companion laughed, looking at Carly. "She was referring to our head nurse, Dorothy Norman. And she can be very, very hard on us! But good—she's excellent at nursing, and she expects no less from those of us who work under her. Makes for a good department. Well, we are the best!" She paused and offered her hand. "I'm Milly Blair, and if you're looking for yourself or a friend, we may whine a little, but seriously, you couldn't find a harder working and caring department anywhere."

"Carly. Carly MacDonald," Carly told her. She wasn't sure that it mattered if she gave her title or not. Dr. Forbes and others in the hospital already knew just why she'd been there. "Thank you. I was actually asking Dr. Forbes for help on understanding what exactly is needed in transplant situations, but I do appreciate knowing just how good the department is!"

"Right, well, we didn't mean to unload on you. Nice to meet you!"

"You, too!"

Milly Blair smiled, gave Carly a wave and headed on out, too.

Just as she did, Carly saw Luke and MacDuff had returned for her.

But they weren't alone.

Daniel and Jordan were also in the car.

Along with Flora MacDonald.

Carly was glad MacDuff drove a big Escalade, and Daniel and Flora MacDonald were in the far back, leaving her a seat next to Jordan in the middle seat.

Luke was next to MacDuff.

"Hi!" she said, getting into the vehicle.

This was something Luke might have mentioned to me when I called!

"We're taking Flora back with us," Jordan told her.

"Oh?" Carly said, twisting to look to the far back seat. "Are you okay, Flora?"

"I'm okay now!" Flora breathed. "Except..."

"Except she's frightened. She was accosted by a man when she was walking across the coffee shop after we met," Daniel said.

"Accosted?" Carly said.

"He had her by the arm," Jordan told Carly. "I saw it. When he saw Daniel and me, he took off. I pursued, but he hopped on a bike and I was on foot and..."

"Forgive me, I'm still confused!" Carly said. "He walked up to you and grabbed your arm, Flora?" she asked.

"No, not at first. He walked right up to me, and told me I was beautiful. He said he would love to just buy me some breakfast. I told him I had a meeting and I needed to hurry. He told me he would be way better than any meeting. I saw Daniel had stopped and was watching...and so I told him I just saw someone who was going with me. Then he grabbed my arm and told me he would be far more entertaining than any schoolboy and no meeting would be as important as what he could do for me. He—he scared me. Then he said, just coffee. I was afraid he would put something in the coffee, not that I would have had coffee with him, but..."

"But?" Carly persisted.

Luke turned around to look at Carly, telling her, "Flora thinks he might be the same man she saw in the vennel the night before the body was found there."

"But—I thought you weren't there!" Carly said.

"I wasn't. I was on my way home. The man passed me in a hoodie as he was heading toward a car. I didn't pay any attention to him then, and he seemed to want to just get past me...but now I know! He had something to do with it and..."

"And?" Carly asked, looking from Flora to Luke and back again.

Luke was trying to let Flora speak, she realized.

At last, she did, her voice tremulous.

"And I think I've seen him before at the Connoly house!"