rented a Range Rover and drove south in the pouring rain, his journey interrupted on two occasions by sheep crossing the road.
Kate, meanwhile, flew economy class to Newark, New Jersey, and then on to Glasgow. For a woman who’d spent years in the military riding in the cargo bays of transport planes, economyclass commercial air travel still felt comfortable to her. She even liked the food. On arrival at Glasgow Airport, she rented a compact Vauxhall Corsa and headed northwest, to a village so tiny that it consisted of just one building, a lopsided centuries-old tavern.
Kate and Nick arrived at the tavern within a few minutes of each other and got together at a table by the stone fireplace in the dining room. They stripped off their jackets, settled down in front of the roaring fire, and ordered a late but heavy lunch of minced mutton Scotch pies, mashed potatoes, and Belhaven ale.
“I schlepped all the way over here on faith, Nick. It’s time to tell me who we’re seeing and where we’re going. I’m not going any farther in the dark.”
“We need to have an understanding first. You can’t use anything you might learn today against the person we’re going to meet. You’re granting him blanket immunity.”
“I can’t do that, but I can promise that anything I learn will be confidential and that I won’t share it with anybody. You have my word on that. But if you ever break the deal you have with us, and try to run, I’ll use everything I know to hunt you down and arrest you and all your known associates.”
“You’re so sexy when you get tough,” Nick said. “Your little nose wrinkles up and your eyes get smoky.”
Kate thought it was a good thing she didn’t have her Glock, because she might be tempted to shoot him. Nothing serious. Slice into his little toe, maybe. Of course she could always stab him with her fork.
“Who are we seeing?” she asked.
“Duff MacTaggert.”
“Never heard of him.”
“Of course you haven’t, he’s that good. Duff is the Obi-Wan Kenobi of thieves and was one of my mentors. He’s retired now and runs a pub in Kilmarny, a very small, remote village about three hours from here. But don’t be fooled by his charm or his age. If Duff suspects you’re a cop, he will kill us.”
“He can try.”
“Duff is going to smell your self-confidence. And if anything goes down and you go into fight mode, he’ll know you’re a pro. So rather than try to hide it, I’ve built it into your cover.”
“Which is what?”
“You’re my bodyguard and lover.”
She shook her head. “Just your bodyguard.”
“He’ll never believe I’m not sleeping with you.”
“You aren’t.”
“Even I find that unbelievable,” Nick said.
“What makes you think Duff will give us the bronze rooster?”
“He won’t, but I’m hoping he’ll give us the name of the person who eventually received it.”
“And then we’ll steal it from
him
.”
“That’s the plan,” Nick said.
Kate left her car parked on the street and tossed her bag into Nick’s Range Rover. She slid into the passenger seat, and they headed for Kilmarny.
There was a somber beauty to the misty peaks and the lush green rolling hills. They passed crumbling rock walls, ancient farmhouses, flocks of sheep, and dark, icy lochs.
“Where we’re headed is smack between Heaven and Hell,” Nick said.
“Aren’t you being a bit overdramatic?”
“I’m being literal. Kilmarny is on a cape between Loch Nevis and Loch Hourn. That’s Gaelic for Lake Heaven and Lake Hell. You can only reach Kilmarny by boat across Loch Nevis or on foot over sixteen miles of harsh, mountainous terrain.”
“Seems like a lousy place to retire.”
“Not if you’re a world-class thief who is still wanted for crimes in several countries.”
“And if you have a flair for drama.”
“That, too.”
“Is that something else that Duff MacTaggert taught you?”
“On the contrary. Drama is no fun. Theatricality and spectacle