Loch

Chapter 13

Bones couldn’t help but feel a little bit disappointed in Dunstaffnage Castle. He’d expected something more expansive, and perhaps a bit more unattended. The castle was, however, impressive in its own way. He could imagine its stout walls standing up to attacks, its bulk casting an imposing shadow on enemy ships that tried to slip past. None the less, the old fortress looked as though any secrets it might have hidden had long ago been discovered.

“Not too promising, is it?” he asked.

“Too early to say,” Maddock replied.

“It’s just that this place kind of reminds me of Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde, if you know what I mean.” That particular set of cliff dwellings had been taken apart and rebuilt by archaeologists, giving tourists an accurate depiction of what the site had once looked like, but destroying the feeling of authenticity that came with a mostly untouched ruin.

Maddock nodded. “I do. This is great for tourists, but it definitely has the feel of a place that’s been thoroughly scoured before being opened to the public. Then again, you and I haven’t explored it yet. Got your mojo working today?”

“Too early to tell. I’ll see how much I can muster.”

“Worst case, we wander around killing time until Jimmy comes up with something.”

They moved through the old fortress, keeping an eye out for anything that might be a clue to the lost Stone of Destiny. They had just completed a circuit of the inner ward when a sudden movement caught Bones’ eye. Someone had hastily moved around the corner of the gatehouse, much more quickly than someone merely strolling along. As he and Maddock continued on, he kept watch. Sure enough, a few seconds later, a face peered around the corner. He recognized her immediately.

“That’s weird,” he said.

Maddock quirked an eyebrow. “What is?”

“We’re being followed.”

As always, Maddock kept his cool. He didn’t turn to look, or even break stride, trusting in Bones to tell him what he needed to know. “Description?”

“Remember that hot chick from the museum?”

“Can’t say I do.”

“Of course not.” Bones flashed a rueful grin. “I know you’re engaged to my sister, but you are allowed to look.”

“Whatever. You’re sure it’s the same girl, and she’s following us? I know you’re charming, but to drive all the way across the country just to stalk you? That’s a bit much.”

“Laugh it up, bro. It’s her, and I’m one hundred percent certain she’s watching us. What’s more, she’s trying and failing to keep from being seen.”

Maddock ran a hand through his close-cropped hair, jaw set, eyes narrowed in concentration. “Let’s split up. She’ll follow one of us…”

“Me, of course,” Bones said, enjoying the affronted look on Maddock’s face.

“It’s possible she could have a thing for me.”

“Yeah, and it’s also possible that frozen crap from an airplane toilet could land on your head, but the odds are pretty freaking slim. I will, however, keep my hopes up.”

“About the toilet or the girl?”

Bones pointed up at the sky.

Maddock smirked. “Anyway, as I was saying, how about we split up? She follows one of us, the other follows her, try to get an idea of what she’s up to before we confront her.”

“Let me do the confronting. If she’s into me, I don’t want to blow my chances.”

Shaking his head, Maddock turned and wandered over to check out the well, while Bones made a show of casting a baleful look around at the castle. He gave a shake of his head and then headed out to inspect the exterior walls. He tried to act naturally, but the sensation of having a target painted on his back was like an itch he couldn’t scratch.

He moved along the wall in the direction of the steep embankment that ran down to the water. He came to a corner tower and, as he rounded, glanced back. Sure enough, the woman was following him. He reached the next tower and glanced back again. Still trailing along behind him. He decided to have a bit of fun. Once he was out of sight, he took off at a run, rounding the next corner at a breakneck pace.

It wasn’t long until he’d almost made a complete circuit of the old fortress, and he spotted something odd. A sturdily-built man with wavy brown hair was creeping along in a series of comical attempts at concealment. As Bones watched, the fellow dashed twenty paces to a stray boulder, flattened himself on the grass, then rose up to peer over it. A few seconds later he repeated the maneuver. He never actually looked back, so Bones was able to tag along behind him. The fellow reached the corner tower. When he peered around, Bones got a good look at his face.

“He was with the hot chick,” Bones whispered. “What’s he doing?”

He had his answer a moment later when he saw the fellow hit the dirt as, in the distance, a blond man glanced back his way.

“Holy freaking crap.” Bones had to roll his eyes. “I’m following this dude. He’s following Maddock, who’s following the hot chick. Which means she’s somewhere behind me.” He turned on his heel and strode back in the direction of the greenspace that separated the castle from the parking area. It was time to find out just what the hell was going on here. He was considering his approach when he heard a shrill scream.

“That can’t be her.”

He took off at a sprint and burst out onto the green lawn seconds later. At the edge of his peripheral vision, he spied Maddock running toward him. Maddock pointed in the direction of the parking lot. Bones turned and immediately saw what his friend had spotted.

The attractive young woman who’d been spying on him minutes before was being dragged away by a man in a suit.

Bones swore as he poured on the speed, his long legs eating up the distance between them. He had no idea what sort of danger he might be running toward. What was more, he was doing it on behalf of a complete stranger — one who had just been stalking him.

“This,” he muttered, “is un-be-freaking-lievable.”