26. Sullivan

26

SULLIVAN

M airi looked between Fallon and me when Gus brought her into the library.

“Thank you for joining us, Mrs. Drummond,” I said, hoping that, by addressing her more formally, she’d know Fallon wasn’t aware of the family connection between her and David.

“I’m Mairi to you,” she said, winking.

“I appreciate it, Mairi,” I said, winking back.

“If you don’t need me, I’ll head off to where the boys are meeting,” said Gus as he walked toward the door.

“Close it behind you, if you would, please,” said Fallon, turning from him to his mum. “So, Mairi, is it?”

“Aye,” she responded, folding her arms and pursing her lips.

This conversation was not off to a good start. “Fallon, why don’t you begin by explaining what you stumbled on while you were at Glenshadow,” I suggested, hoping that by inserting myself between the two women, tensions would ease.

“Right. So, I’ve always been fascinated with old books and libraries, of course. This one in particular is quite lovely.” Something felt off with Fallon’s approach. It was almost as if she was trying too hard to win the woman over. Or perhaps what I was picking up on felt too much like condescension. Either way, I didn’t like it.

“If I may interrupt?”

Mairi turned to face me. “Of course, luv.”

“What Fallon found were maps in what appeared to be a record book dating back to when Glenshadow was still a monastery. I believe we have scans of some of them.”

“Aye?” Mairi sat up straighter and rested her arms on the table. “I’d like to see them.”

Fallon turned her computer around.

“According to this and others she found in the same book, there used to be a tunnel system that connected Ashcroft, Glenshadow, and Blackmoor.”

“I wouldn’t know anything about that.”

“What about in Edinburgh?” Fallon asked.

“Nae. Nothing about those either.”

“Would you happen to know anyone who does?” I asked.

Mairi looked up at the ceiling for a few seconds, then back at me. “No one comes to mind, lass.”

“Okay. Well, thank you, anyway.”

“Hang on. What about those here, at Ashcroft? Surely, you know about those,” Fallon pressed.

I clenched my fists when Mairi bristled and turned to me. “Sorry, I’m not much help, luv.”

Fallon pushed away from the table and stood by the window.

“We certainly appreciate your help, though.”

She reached over and patted my hand. “Of course, my lady.” When my eyes scrunched, she shook her head and winked after glancing over to make sure Fallon was still facing the other direction.

I stood and walked her out. “We’ll speak later,” she whispered. When she closed the door behind her and I turned around, Fallon was facing me.

“What was that all about?”

My head cocked. “What do you mean?”

“What did she say to you just then?”

“That we’d speak later. I’m sure she was just being polite.”

“She’s lying.”

I had to admit I thought the same thing. However, what I couldn’t understand was why.

“What do you know about Ambrose Ashcroft?” Fallon asked.

The abrupt change of subject jarred me. “Err, not much at all. Why?”

“My understanding from Con is that he and Mairi are quite close.”

I thought it over for a minute. “I suppose that would explain why he’s here so often. I’ve not met him.”

“I did earlier. There’s something about the two of them that doesn’t sit right with me.”

“What are you suggesting?” I asked.

“Clearly, she’s hiding something. I picked up on it yesterday.”

Fallon was right, but it wasn’t at all what she was thinking. However, without Mairi’s permission to do so, I wouldn’t feel right about divulging her secret.

“I can’t believe this,” I heard her mumble.

I looked up and realized she was studying me.

“Now, you’re holding something back. This won’t do, Sullivan. Either we work together, or we don’t. I told you I was willing to consider you for the exec-editor-of-investigations job, but if you aren’t willing to share what you know, I truly don’t see how I’ll be able to move you into that position.”

I bristled and wanted to remind her that she was the one who’d brought up the promotion. I certainly hadn’t asked for it. “What I know has nothing to do with the tunnels or with the Weber investigation. It’s a personal matter I’m not at liberty to share.”

Fallon sighed, pulled out her chair, and sat down. She was silent for several minutes, then leaned forward and rested her arms on the table. “Forgive me. Tensions are running high for all of us. It wasn’t my intention to take it out on you.”

“Thank you.”

“I cannot spend one more night at Blackmoor. That man— argh —my nerves are simply frayed.” She reached across the table for my hand, but I didn’t extend it. “Forgive me?”

“Of course.”

“Back to the drawing board, as they say.”

She stood and walked toward one of the bookshelves that lined the walls. “So, if there were tunnels, you’d think a room such as this would be the ideal way to access them. Behind a bookcase, perhaps?”

We both laughed since, with the exception of the fireplace and the windows, all four walls were covered with them.

“I need a bathroom break. Shall I check in with the boys, or do you want to?”

“Go ahead. I’d like to see what else there might be online about the Jacobites in Edinburgh.”

“Sounds good.”

Before I reopened my laptop, I stood to stretch. There was a wee view of Thistle Gate from out the window, but to see much more, I’d have to stand on a chair.

I thought about my first couple of days here and how I’d noticed CCTV cameras camouflaged within the low stone walls lining both sides of the pathways. Maybe the tunnels followed the same directions.

I also couldn’t help but wonder what in the world was up with Mairi. Like Fallon, I’d sensed she was lying, but why would she? Granted, even I didn’t care for Fallon’s approach. It didn’t seem like enough of a reason for her not to be honest, though.

Just as I took a seat and opened my computer, an instant message popped up on the screen. It was from Clive.

You’re in grave danger. Make contact immediately before it’s too late.

“Bloody hell,” I muttered, turning when I heard a noise behind me. “Fallon, you are not going to believe this?—”

I glanced over my shoulder, but instead of the woman I expected to see, a man dressed all in black and wearing a mask put his hand over my mouth and nose. He lifted me from the chair with his arm around my waist, and carried me through a passageway behind a bookshelf that was no longer flush against the wall. He eased past the panel that closed behind us, and we descended into darkness. My screams were muffled by his glove, and while I kicked with all my might to get free, with him cutting off my source of oxygen, my energy was waning quickly.