Hooked on Ewe (25 page)

Soon after, thankfully, I was relieved of my post at the helm.

A week later, Sean’s going-away party was held at the Kilt & Thistle. The pub was full of all the local residents who wanted to wish him good luck at police college. Vicki stood at his side as he greeted and preened. She glowed with good health and spirits. My friend was going to miss Sean, but she’d be busy with her Merry Mitten project, and that would help the time pass until he returned.

All of us were relieved when Isla Lindsey’s murder investigation had been wrapped up before Sean’s departure, as he’d threatened to postpone his training if the case was still ongoing when he was due to leave.

Once the inspector had located and recovered close to one hundred twenty thousand pounds locked up in an access panel under
Slip Away
’s pilot berth, Oliver Wallace sang like a canary. The only place Oliver would slip away to at this point was lockup. Not only did he face murder charges for the death of Isla, but attempted murder as well
for what he’d tried to do to me. I was looking forward to testifying on my behalf.

Oliver’s past came out. He’d been the black sheep of his family, squandering his own money in unwise, ill-timed investments before marrying into wealth. When the marriage was over, Oliver had had a comfortable bank account once more but again managed to lose his proverbial shirt (which would have included his beloved cruiser) to the bank. Then the opportunity to manipulate Isla presented itself, and he took full advantage of her. Some of the funds stolen from the hospice had been used to stave off creditors, but everyone had been grateful for the return of most of it. Unfortunately, it was at the expense of Isla Lindsey’s life.

Lily Young had her own legal problems. She’d been charged with endangerment and obstruction for her part. “And tae think I was protecting him from suspicion and never once thought he had a hand in the poor woman’s death!” Lily had told us under further questioning. “All I got out o’ it was a bad sunburn.”

So she was in big trouble, all because of a man, and one who wasn’t worth a second glance, let alone losing her freedom over. Some of us have to learn everything the hard way.

The pub continued to fill up with well-wishers. Charlotte Penn arrived, as did Senga Hill, whose good name had been restored along with a position at the hospice managing the accounts. Harry Taggart came soon after, and I had no qualms about asking him for help.

“I’ll be happy tae teach ye tae knit,” he told me when I explained my predicament. “An’ I’m considerin’ coming
out in public with my own knitting projects. Vicki tells me the women will be all over me. I hadnae considered
that
before!”

Bryan Lindsey and his sister Andrea made an appearance. They didn’t stay long, but took time to thank each of us for our role in catching Isla’s killer. Word had gotten out about Isla’s part in embezzling from the hospice. Bryan and Andrea were embarrassed and ashamed of her actions. The locals did their best to put them at ease, but it would take time. It even came out that the brother and sister had secretly suspected each other, and both were relieved when the real culprit was in custody.

Even Kirstine and John Derry came to see Sean off. Vicki hadn’t expected them. Neither had I. It was an encouraging show of support.

“And what would we do without Bill Morris sitting in his regular spot?” Vicki said to me. “It wouldn’t feel right in the pub without him.”

I glanced over. Bill was three sheets to the wind, as usual.

Vicki frowned then announced, “Almost everyone who counts is here. But I thought the inspector would come round. He must have been held up.” Her face lit up. “Ah, there’s our Leith.”

Following her line of sight, I saw Leith approaching. He shook Sean’s hand, wished him well, greeted Vicki, then turned to me.

“The pier will be salvageable,” Leith told me, grinning. “We worked on it today. Thank ye kindly fer avoiding my boat.”

“You’re welcome.” I returned his grin.

“Ye’re about as good with a boat as ye are with a car.”

“For your information, I haven’t totaled any cars,” I said, thinking,
Not yet, anyway
.

Leith still had a big smile, enjoying himself. Self-assured as always. “Ye sure do have a temper. Wallace found that out quick enough.”

“Only when my life is threatened.”

“And ye’re resourceful.”

“Thank you.”

“I was thinkin’ tomorrow would be a fine day fer another boat ride. I know ye just had a scare on the water, but ye need tae get back out there.”

“Like falling off a horse? You have to get right back on?” What was it about this Scotsman that always put a smile on my face?

“Aye,” he replied. “Get right back on.”

“I’d like that,” I told him
.

“Ye can be my first mate,” he went on.

We both laughed at that. I was definitely
not
crew material. Kelly would be more helpful than I could possibly be.

Shortly before the festivities began, I’d tucked away in the back of the pub with my laptop and responded to several e-mails that had arrived in my in-box. Ami and I had been in constant contact recently as I related the finer details of the murder investigation, and the final scene between Oliver and myself on the high seas.

That had been the cause for plenty of concern from my friend back in Chicago. But I had survived unscathed, and after enough reassurance, Ami had settled down.

“I’m as technology challenged as ever,” I’d written at the end of my narration. “The radio S.O.S. never went
through, so it was a good thing I didn’t rely on outside help arriving in time.”

“Scottish intrigue!” she wrote back. “What a story!! Speaking of stories, do you think you will be able to finish a rough draft of
Hooked on You
by the end of December? Once you get back to Chicago, I’d be happy to go over it with you. Is that doable, what with all the extracurricular activities you’ve taken on?”

Yes, I could easily whip up a first draft by the end of the year. I had almost three months to work on it. I intended to stay focused, work hard, and still find time to have a little fun.

Because my real life in the Highlands would be over before I knew it.

And I wasn’t looking forward to that.

As I stood beside Vicki, I glanced around the room, appreciating the new friends I’d acquired in my time in the Scottish Highlands. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. And I had Ami Pederson to thank for these past months. I owed her a boatload of gratitude.

Almost at the very end when things were wrapping up, after Leith and most of the others had gone, the inspector finally made an appearance.

“Work got me tangled up,” he told me, after first wishing his special constable the best of luck. “But I’m glad tae find ye still here. I still have visions o’ what might have happened tae ye if ye hadn’t kept yer wits about ye.”

“Slamming into the dock was pretty witless,” I told him.

“Ye handled yerself fine, in my opinion.”

“Thanks.” That was high praise coming from the inspector. “The only thing I’m still struggling with in this
whole unpleasant business is Isla’s reason for stealing. It was so senseless.”

“She must o’ started small, then got bolder, thinkin’ she couldn’t be caught, all the while justifyin’ her actions by tellin’ herself that her service was worth the extra. I’ve seen it before in my line o’ work.”

I nodded, realizing how much I had to learn about people and their motives.

“On a pleasanter note,” he said next, “I thought ye might like tae see some o’ the Highland sights while the weather still permits it. The leaves turning on the trees will make fer a pretty drive. How would ye like tae take a trip over to Loch Ness? We might spot Nessie before she goes deep intae her winter place.”

“So, it’s a she?”

“Aye. A male wouldn’t be nearly as wily an’ mysterious.”

His intelligent eyes sparkled.

“I’d like that,” I told him.

What in the world was I getting myself into in the Scottish Highlands?

I wasn’t sure, but I liked
it.

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