5. Sullivan

5

SULLIVAN

“ W e’re here,” I heard a voice say.

I opened my eyes and bolted upright, trying to figure out where I was. “Right,” I said, looking into the darkness. “And where is here, exactly?” When he smirked, I remembered one of the last things he’d said before I drifted to sleep was that he was taking me somewhere I’d be protected, which also meant he didn’t intend to tell me where it was then or now.

“The items I mentioned previously are already inside with the exception of what was in your car. I anticipate those will be by morning.” He got out, came around, and opened my door. “My cottage is just over here.” He held my arm as he led me on the uneven terrain. While I couldn’t see much, I knew we were near water. I glanced up at a foreboding-looking castle that sat above us on a promontory. I’d ask which one it was, since Scotland had so many, except I doubted David would tell me.

“Is this where you live?” I asked.

“I’m not here often.”

“Once again, he avoids answering the question,” I said under my breath.

He raised a brow, but I caught a glimpse of a smirk. Even that seemed familiar to me. Why?

When we reached the front door, he fumbled with his keys, then had trouble opening it. He went in first, which seemed to be about making sure wherever we were entering was safe rather than because of a lack of manners.

“The bedroom is the last door down the hallway. As I said, you’ll find something more comfortable to wear to, err, bed.”

I nearly laughed out loud at the way his cheeks flushed, but stopped myself. The times when he revealed himself to be more than someone tasked with killing the man who would’ve done the same to me were so few and far between. I’d not draw attention to them, knowing it would make him more guarded.

I looked around the small but cozy living room, kitchen, and dining area. There were two two-seater sofas that sat at right angles to each other and faced a fireplace that someone had lit before our arrival. Behind me was a small kitchen with a farmhouse sink and a four-burner cooktop with an oven beneath it, flanked by cupboards. At the farthest end, there were built-in bench seats with a table in the middle, similar to a booth in a restaurant. Unsurprisingly, it was immaculate everywhere I looked.

Something dawned on me. “Did you say ‘the’ bedroom? As in, there’s only one?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you sleeping?”

“Out here,” he answered, motioning to the loveseats, neither of which were long enough for him to lie down.

“I can sleep there,” I offered.

“No.”

I shook my head. The man was as stubborn as he was taciturn. “Very well,” I muttered, walking in the direction he’d indicated. Before entering the room, I glanced over my shoulder. He was looking for something and appeared perplexed. “Is anything wrong?” I asked.

“No,” he repeated.

“Do you need a blanket and pillow?”

“I’ll make do.”

I shrugged and opened the door. Like the outer rooms, the bedroom was small but lovely. On the chest of drawers, I found a toothbrush, toothpaste, and other personal care items, along with a pair of pajamas that looked to be close to my size. Then I opened a door I correctly assumed was a closet. While the rod where clothes would hang was empty, I noticed a blanket and two pillows on the shelf above it. I reached up and pulled them down, then carried them to the living room.

“I found these,” I said.

“Right. Thanks.”

“Good night, then,” I added when he still appeared distracted.

“Yes. Good night.”

I returned to the bedroom, retrieved the toothbrush, toothpaste, and pajamas, and went to the loo. Back in the bedroom, I snuggled under the heavy quilt and blankets.

It took me quite a while to fall asleep, unlike in the SUV when I did almost as soon as we got on the road.

I had no idea what time it was when I was jarred awake.

“Sullivan, you’re dreaming,” I heard David say just as the man who’d held a gun to my head pulled the trigger. I opened my eyes and looked up into his. He was sitting on the edge of the bed. “You’re okay,” he said in a soft and soothing voice I hadn’t heard him use before.

“Nightmare,” I mumbled.

“Will you be able to go back to sleep?”

“I think so,” I said, even though I doubted I would. Every time I shut my eyes, I saw the gunman holding me as if I were hovering above, looking down at us.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

His question threw me, more because he’d asked.

“No, but thanks.”

David stood and walked toward the hallway. “I’m right out there if you change your mind.”

I couldn’t shake the feeling that I knew this man prior to him saving my life tonight. It made no sense, but I’d learned long ago to trust my instincts. It was what made me a better journalist. Maybe what I was experiencing was some kind of hero-savior complex. He’d saved my life, and that was why I felt so safe with him.

After he left, I tossed and turned, wishing I had a book to read. Tomorrow, I’d see if there were any in the cottage.

When I woke again, I got out of bed and opened the window curtains. It was close to dawn, and a morning mist shrouded the castle I remembered noticing last night. From here, it appeared a weathered, deep-silver-gray medieval fortress set on a rocky promontory above what I guessed was a loch. Its multiple towers pierced the low morning clouds.

I wondered if it, like so many of those in Scotland, was open for public tours. And if not, whether David would be permitted to give me a private viewing.

After using the loo, I went out to the main rooms. “Hello?” I said when I didn’t see David.

When there was no response, I peeked out a window to see if I could spot him. When I turned around, I noticed bags sitting on the floor. Taking a peek, I saw they were filled with women’s clothes, most of which appeared to be my size.

I carried them into the bedroom, and when I found knickers and bras near the bottom, my cheeks flushed. A silly reaction, given no one could see me. I pulled one of each out, along with a pair of trousers and a jumper, then carried them to the loo and took a shower.

When I returned to the main room and still didn’t hear or see David, I put on a pair of socks and Wellies I found in another bag and grabbed a jacket that, like everything else, fit me as if it had been custom tailored.

I stepped outside and saw two people, a man and a woman, walking down the hillside toward a body of water. My suspicion that it was a loch was confirmed by the spit of land I could see in the distance on the opposite side.

From here, I couldn’t tell if the man was David, so instead of following, I walked in the opposite direction, toward a bridge we must have driven over last night before he woke me. Once on the other side, I walked up a hill toward the castle.

“Good morning,” said a man who came out of a side door when I approached. “You must be Sullivan.”

“I am,” I responded, stepping closer.

“I’m Angus Drummond.” He bowed slightly at the waist. “May I help you with something?”

“I was looking for David, but when I couldn’t find him, I decided to take a walk. Am I permitted to be up here?”

He smiled. “As long as you don’t roam too far.” He looked toward the water. “Here he is now.”

“Good morning,” David said, approaching us. A woman walked a few paces behind him.

“Sullivan, I’d like you to meet Mrs. Drummond.”

The older woman bowed at the waist like the man who’d told me not to roam too far had. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, miss, and please call me Mairi.”

“Mrs. Drummond, err, Mairi takes care of the castle and other dwellings on the estate,” said David. “Should you need anything, she will work her usual magic to ensure you get it.”

The woman blushed and swatted David’s arm with a familiarity I found endearing.

“On the off chance you’re responsible for the clothing I found this morning, many thanks.”

She smiled. “I am not, but as, err, David said, if you’re in need of anything else, please let myself or Angus know.”

Something occurred to me. “Wait. Mrs. Drummond and Angus Drummond?”

“Angus is my son,” she responded, looking at him with obvious and endearing pride.

“The contents of your vehicle have been delivered.” Angus motioned to an SUV parked behind us.

I caught a look pass between him and David right before the latter said he’d retrieve it and bring it to the cottage.

“By the way, the instructions were to bring everything ,” Angus said with a wink after David walked away.

I chuckled. “Most of what was found was likely rubbish.”

“I can help you sort through it if you’d like,” Mrs. Drummond offered. “As well as get you acquainted with the cottage.”

While I didn’t necessarily want her sifting through what was delivered, I wouldn’t insult her by not taking her up on her offer. “That would be lovely. Thank you.”

“Shall we?” She motioned to the pathway that led to the bridge that would take us to the cottage.

Neither of us spoke on the way, me because I was too busy taking in my surroundings. While well hidden, I still caught sight of surveillance cameras concealed in the stonework of the low walls surrounding the castle.

“The view is fabulous,” I said, turning in a circle and picking up on the way the landscaping had been designed so there were clear lines of sight from all approaches, whether from where we came in last night or from the loch. No doubt the same was true for the forested land to the north and south of where we walked.

Regardless of how many centuries ago the castle had been built, it would have been designed as a fortress to protect against marauders. That explained its positioning on the promontory. However, the more modern technology I’d noticed was curious.

I hadn’t been able to see it last night, but now, I noticed the lock on the cottage’s door and the way Mrs. Drummond rested her hand on a pad where one might expect to see a doorbell. I heard a click, then she put the key in the lock and went inside ahead of me when it opened.

That level of security made some sense, knowing David was with SIS, but seemed like overkill, so to speak. When I’d asked if he lived here, he responded that he wasn’t here often. I took it to be a vague affirmation. But why did he? And why would whoever owned the castle go to the trouble and expense to have such elaborate security measures installed?

Unless the owner was someone who also worked at SIS but at a higher level. Maybe his boss. Or his boss’ boss. Then it would be more logically explained.

Once I had my laptop powered up, the first thing I’d do would be to search castles in the west of Scotland, then see if I could figure out who owned it.

Actually, it wouldn’t be the first thing. I needed to attempt to get in touch with someone and let them know I was okay. Who, though? Clive? When I recalled the conversation I’d overheard, I thought better of it. Given the offices were closed for the holiday, no one would be expecting to see me anyway.

As far as anyone else realizing I was “missing,” it wasn’t as though I checked in with my parents daily or even weekly.

My mum would call occasionally, but given I’d spoken with her only a couple of days ago, it was unlikely I’d hear from her again before Christmas. Even then, I’d told her I wouldn’t be able to spend the holidays with them this year due to my workload. I doubted she’d bought it, but that our relationship was strained wasn’t a secret to either of us.

The next thing I’d need to do would be to see if anything had hit the wires about what had happened at Edinburgh Castle last night.

“Apart from what was in your car, is there anything else you need?” Mrs. Drummond asked.

“A cup of tea would be nice.”

“I’ll get it,” she said when we both walked toward the small kitchen. I watched her fill the electric kettle with water.

It was in my nature to ask questions both about the estate and the man who’d brought me here. However, grilling her would put her in an awkward position, given her employment.

I gazed out the window at the castle above, thinking about the body language I’d picked up on between David and Angus. Oddly, it was almost as if the man who’d saved my life was the other man’s superior.

I glanced at Mrs. Drummond, who was studying me.

“Yes?” I asked.

“Nothing. Oh, there’s David now.”

“I’ll get the door,” I offered since she was pouring hot water into the cups.

“Thanks,” he muttered. “Where would you like me to put this?”

The box was huge. “Uh, bedroom so it isn’t in your way?”

I followed him down the hall, and he set it on the floor before turning and leaving. I shut the door behind him, anxious to find my laptop and mobile.

I caught his and Mrs. Drummond’s muffled voices but couldn’t make out anything they were saying. A few seconds later, I heard the front door close. When I peeked out of the bedroom window, I saw David walking away from the cottage and down the same trail I’d seen him on earlier.

“Bloody hell,” I muttered when I saw the amount of rubbish that had been in my car and was now in the box. Had I really had all this garbage in there? It was a wonder it didn’t smell. Or perhaps it had and I’d gone noseblind.

My computer was completely dead, of course, and I didn’t see a charging cable in the box. Not that I kept one in my car that I recalled. The thing I didn’t find that I was certain had been in it, was my mobile.

After sifting through and making sure all that was left was trash, I took the box back out to the main room.

“Is there a place where I can discard this?” I asked.

“I can take it for you,” she offered.

“Much appreciated, but if you’ll just point me in the direction of where to go, I’ll handle it.”

“If you set it outside, either David or Angus will take care of it.”

“Yes, outside would be best,” I said, chuckling.

When I opened the door and lowered the box to the ground, I saw David approaching. He was on his mobile, and while I couldn’t hear what he was saying, he appeared angry.

“I’d ask if everything is okay, but one, I know it isn’t, and two, you wouldn’t answer me anyway.”

“Apologies,” he muttered.

My eyes widened.

“Oh, don’t look so bloody surprised. I am capable of being sorry.”

“Sorry. It’s just that…”

“Go ahead. Out with it.”

I shook my head. “I’d rather end the conversation with you saying something nice to me.”

“Don’t get used to it.” He pointed to the box at my feet. “Rubbish?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“ Good Lord , what all was in your car?”

“ Stop. Don’t say another word. I’m going back inside and will pretend the last thing I heard was you apologizing.”

Once there, I realized I hadn’t mentioned my missing mobile. When I stepped out the door to do so, I looked in either direction he could’ve gone, but didn’t see him.