Lost in Shadow (A Shadow Walkers Ghost Novel) (14 page)

Get over yourself, the poor guy had the shit kicked out of him, has terrible injuries, and you’re thinking about sex with him, seriously, get a grip you lustful hussy.

Being held by Colin made her feel safe and secure. After checking his forehead to make sure the fever had gone down, she told herself to think about cold showers, wrapped her arms around him, and drifted off to sleep again…

Startled awake by Colin thrashing around in the bed, she put a hand on his shoulder to wake him. He snapped his arm back, hitting her in the eye. Screaming, she sat up as a very naked Colin jumped up in bed.

“Come on Hamish, you fucking arsehole. Get up while I knock your fucking teeth into your skull,” he roared. Shaking, he looked around, trying to focus.

“What the bloody hell is going on? Emily? Oh my god, what happened? Fuck, did I do that to you?” Colin came to her side, looking at her eye. “Damnit, it’s already swollen. You’re going to have a hell of a black eye.”

The pain was excruciating. She’d hate to be the guy on the receiving end of his anger. Moving made her head spin so she sat still, watching Colin reach for the basin of cold water. He grabbed the rag, dipped it into the water and pressed it to her eye to reduce the swelling.

“I’m sorry. I was dreaming. When you touched me I reacted.”

“It’s OK, it was an accident. What was the dream about?”

Colin gave her a sheepish look before putting the cloth on the table. He obviously wasn’t going to talk about it. “Who is Hamish?” Emily asked.

Pale and weak from jumping up, Colin fell back on the bed, “Where did you hear that name?”

“You called out in your sleep. Something about fighting with someone named Hamish, your brother, right?” Emily said. At that moment, Colin was spared from answering as the door banged open and Robert strode in.

Taking one look at Emily’s eye and Colin’s disheveled appearance, Robert said, “Well, it seems you’ve reached an accord and from the looks of it, spent a rather pleasant evening. Well done Colin. Injured and all yet still able to bed the lady. Hope you didn’t rupture your stitches,” he leered at them.

Monday, November 2nd

A ringing phone startled him awake. Groggy, hung-over, and bad tempered, he snarled into the thing, “Monroe here, what?”

Sitting up in bed, the dim, gray light filtering in through the curtains, every sense was on alert.

Confirmed.

After all this time, thinking he was losing it. This was the clue to break the case he’d been working on during off hours for ten years. Consumed him, drove him to find the truth once and for all. He owed her that much. He might have been a shitty boyfriend who was always disappointing her, but at least he wouldn’t fail her when it came to taking down the bastard who’d murdered her.

The lab informed Monroe the DNA sample was tainted. They could identify human DNA, gold, and some other material which couldn’t be identified, organic but nothing more. Odd—the dust actually contained real gold. Maybe this stuff was some kind of new expensive body cream with actual gold in it. The Japanese were experimenting with adding gold to all kinds of lotions and creams to make people look better. The tech couldn’t be sure, simply a guess based on an advertisement he’d seen in his girlfriend’s beauty magazine.

Monroe knew he had something solid now to help him find the bastard who killed Alice. At first he wondered how a guy with gold dust all over himself escaped notice, but then realized, anything went nowadays, people probably didn’t even register it.

The lab was able to confirm the dental records on the two college kids. The medical examiner reported this was some type of rare disease bringing on rapid aging or a type of bacteria causing people to appear much older than they were. This news would not be in the report—he was to keep quiet, the ME was doing him a favor telling him since it was the same way they found out the wizened, old body was actually Alice.

Called to the scene of that long-ago day; he’d never believed it was Alice. Didn’t matter the body was dressed in her clothes, with her identification, wearing earrings with her initials on them. How could she have aged sixty years in one evening?

Smelling the stench of garbage, he knew a cover-up was in play. News like this would send the city into a panic in today’s youth-and beauty-obsessed culture. Wasn’t only the Yanks obsessed with looking younger, they’d brought that craziness to Europe as well. It had spread like the Black Plague. Seeing grandmothers in tight jeans, artificially bright hair, high, tight, fake tits, and smooth plastic faces—like mannequins walking around—creepy.

Gut tightening, a nasty feeling went through him; this had to be a bigger problem. IDs not matching bodies, the rising number of missing people, it was all connected.

Hell, can you say serial killer? How would a disaster of those epic proportions play in the press? It was off season now, but soon it would be spring and the tourist hordes would appear, providing easy pickin’s for the killer. Time was limited, a brief window. He needed to find the sick bastard.

There would be no court, no law, no bloody reports. He would give this murderer some good old-fashioned Scottish justice, a vow made all those years ago…one he intended to keep.

“Horse piss, you two walk any slower, it will be night and the tide will be gone,” Robert groused. Making their way to the Leith docks, Emily noted how busy it was. She loved a harbor town, the cobblestone streets, old buildings, ships coming and going, people wandering around, all the quirky pubs and restaurants, and the smell of the ocean—well there was a fishy smell too but hey, that was part of the whole experience.

At least they’d had time to pick up a few basic necessities and a prepaid cellphone.

“I’ll pay you back Colin. Thanks for this. Once we’re on board, I’ll call Kat to check-in.”

Colin arched a brow at her “Ye don’t need any bloody money; I’ll take care of your needs.”

“My men went to pick up your luggage but spotted a couple of minions hanging around the lobby so they left without being seen. Wouldn’t do to alert them to the fact you’ll be gone a few days.” Robert continued, assuring her there were clothes on the ship she could change into. Once they came into port, she could pick up some clothing. A few days at Ravensmore, then this would be all over and her life would go back to normal.

Looking over at Colin, she wasn’t sure what she wanted.

Rounding a corner, a gray and black tabby cat with a notch in its ear stopped washing its whiskers and stared at them. “I know people can’t see you unless you want them to but can animals see you?”

“Funny thing, most animals know when something ‘other’ is nearby. Cats especially can see otherworldly creatures and Walkers. But just so you know, we are visible to humans right now. Can’t have you walking alone to the ship now, can we?” Robert grabbed a fish off a vendor’s stand, throwing it to the cat, who snatched it, darting into the alley to consume the treat.

Walking down the dock to a slip at the far end, a beautiful, historic ship loomed ahead of them.

“Um, guys, isn’t that a historic landmark or something? Are we really sailing on it? Is it even safe? Uh, are those real guns?” She wasn’t sure about some rickety ship taking them up the coast to Colin’s castle.

“Now lass, I like you, but don’t be insultin’ my lady, she’s a fit, working twenty-six gunner, and no, she’s not an antique, she was painstakingly rebuilt from memories of my finest ship, the
Fortune
.” Robert mock scowled at her.

“I’m sorry Robert, she’s beautiful and I’m sure she’s safe and sound.”

Boarding the
Fortune II,
Emily and Colin were greeted by the assorted motley crew. There was much back slapping and crude remarks exchanged between Robert and his men before he introduced them to everyone.

“Alright now you scallywags, these two are under my protection so leave them be, ye hear? Quit lollygagging, finish loading the goods and let’s be off,” he bellowed at them. “Allow me to show you to your room. Quarters are tight, so you’ll have to share. But that shouldn’t be a problem after how well acquainted the two of you have become, should it now?” He leered, showing them to the cabin next to his.

The room was well appointed. A small, but luxurious bed, along with small trunk, dresser and mirror finished the room. There was a tiny bathroom in the hallway. The balance of modern day with the patina from Robert’s time, made a beautiful mix of new meeting old. She could imagine Robert, decked out in his finery, surrounded by mounds of stolen gold, jewels, spirits, silk, and of course, a pretty girl or two for ransom draped over his lap or sitting at his feet.

“Might as well get comfortable, will take almost two days to reach Ravensmore if the winds stay with us. Get some sleep, tea’s served at four o’clock,” Robert told them. Seeing Emily’s confused look, he guffawed. “We’re not uncivilized, milady. Same as in England, we serve tea every afternoon. You crazy Yanks don’t drink much tea, do you?”

“Why yes we do, although we prefer our tea, iced and sweet, with a hint of lemon. I’m from the South, we’re not uncivilized either,” she sniffed, pointing her nose in the air.

Colin roared with laughter. “No worries, lass. Robert’s being an arsehole. Leave her alone; she’s had a rough time of it.”

Robert winked at her and left them, bellowing orders as the ship set sail.

“I’m going to give Kat a call, let her know I’m OK.” Stepping out into the narrow passageway, she dialed Kat’s number. Letting her best friend know she was OK, Emily filled her in on part of the story. Something made her feel protective of Colin, not to mention Kat would think she’d lost her marbles if she told her everything. So instead she spun a story, telling Kat partial truths. Even so, she could hear the disbelief in Kat’s voice.

“…I’m a little worried about you. Are you sure you shouldn’t see a doctor? Make sure everything is OK?”

“Honestly, I’m fine. Going to spend a bit more time with Colin. He’s going to show me Ravensmore Castle. I’ll call you at the end of the week when I get to the airport.”

“Be careful.”

“Thanks sweetie.” Emily hung up. It was a lie of omission, but she wasn’t ready to share the whole story. Had to figure out for herself what was happening before she could even think of telling Kat.

Heading into the room, she called out, “Colin, I’m back. Kat’s good. She knows I’m fine. Colin?”

“Here lass, no need to shout.” Swaying on his feet, Colin looked pale. She reached up and checked his forehead. He was burning up again. “Get undressed and into bed this instant. You have a fever; we have to get it down. Your arm looks infected too.” Emily fussed.

Raising an eyebrow at her, Colin’s lip curved up at the corner, “If you want me naked, all ye have to do is ask. I’m more than happy to oblige. We are sharing a bed. It gets cold on the sea and we’ll need to be verra close together to keep warm.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.

Sputtering, Emily spat out, “You are so arrogant. I don’t want my handiwork ruined after I managed to sew something. Fine, get sick and die, I don’t care, but don’t expect me to stitch you up again. Once was enough.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she glared up at Colin.

Chuckling he told her, “Dinna fash yerself lass, I’ll let you tend me.”

Snorting, she helped him remove his kilt, leaving him in a long shirt, her gaze traveling over him. With a sharp intake of breath, she turned to grab a blanket.

“Wait a minute, why are you taking your shirt off?”

“Well lass, how will you tend my arm if you can’t get to all of it? I always sleep naked; will it bother you seeing my unclothed body? Make you want to ravish me?”

“Umm, let me just turn around to give you some privacy so you can get into bed and cover yourself,” Emily stammered.

Chuckling, he removed his shirt, tossing it to the floor before flopping on the bed. “All right, you can turn around, I’m decent, well, at least covered up enough to protect your delicate sensibilities.”

Emily busied herself picking up his clothes, straightening the room.

“I’m going to take a quick shower, k? I don’t want to see these icky clothes ever again.” She tucked him in bed, with water and whisky, before grabbing a pair of canvas pants and white linen shirt one of Robert’s men provided for her. Heading out the door, she paused, turning to look at Colin.

“How does Robert make his living now? How do you?” she asked, curiosity filling her voice.

“Believe it or not, we’re paid in gold by Thorne for being Shadow Walkers, though smuggling is still a very profitable way to make a living. Robert is quite good at it so that’s what he does, a modern-day pirate, without the sword and gunfights unless Day Walkers are involved. As for me, I own Ravensmore distillery, the spirits business is also very profitable. We may be invisible most of the time, but we like our modern-day toys. Not to mention, Robert wanted his ship. And I, Ravensmore. Takes a great deal of money to keep up these old estates. Would scare the staff to hear a disembodied voice asking them to bring the horses around or laughing at the match on the telly. So we make ourselves visible when needed.” He winked at her.