THE LAST LAIRD

Chapter 9 - A Reason To Kill

"Twas the witch," William said in answer to my question as to how he thought he had got here, time traveled to the future? "And I think she was also from now. At the time her appearance seemed odd, her short purple hair, her clothing, but she would have fit in here I think."

"Purple hair, like Maggie? Or like Mrs Ferguson from the pub?"

He looked surprised. Mrs Ferguson was Brett's grandmother and she made her way to the pub every evening for her tot of Famous Grouse and a 'chinwag' with the other locals. She stayed exactly one hour then returned to watch her shows before bed. She had short hair that she had regularly permed and dyed lavender, and one of her favourite stories was when the 'new lass' (who had been at the salon for thirty years) dyed her hair pink by mistake. "I looked like a wad of candy floss!"

"Aye, like the auld woman, I didna think of it. She had a timeless aura about her, as if she was not auld, but not young as well, d'ye ken?"

"And she said you had to complete a quest before you could go back?"

"Aye, she did, alas...."

"Alas what?"

"Well, we've been reading the history of the castle and my clan. We know Jamie died, God rest his soul, my Uncle, Michael, wed the woman Jamie was set to marry, we know my disappearance was witnessed in the Hall on the night, but there is no mention of my return."

I had realised that myself. His disappearance in front of the crowd in the hall had sparked the supernatural tales surrounding the fire.

"What about the ghost stories? Maybe you do return, eventually?" I pushed away the pain that thought caused. Whatever was between us had barely begun, it would be stupid to get so upset by the thought of him going back.

"But no sign of me after that," he said. "I know a lot of people, someone would have seen me, mentioned me, I am certain of it."

"Do you have to go back?" I blurted out. I felt my face fill with warmth. "You seem to like it here, and there is nothing back there for you with Jamie gone, and the castle burned down."

He reached out and stroked my cheek with a tender expression. "Aye, I think I could do that, there are good reasons to stay," I knew he meant me and I turned my face into his hand, closing my eyes and pressing my lips against his palm.

"But?"

"But I don't know if I have any choice. The auld woman said I would return when my quest was complete."

"The quest being..."

"To discover who murdered Jamie."

I took a deep breath. "OK, so let's look at it as if it were a crime that we were solving, which it is really."

"Like the television plays you like?" He had watched a few with me.

"Aye, like that." I pulled my notebook and pen toward me and found a fresh page. "Lets list the potential suspects."

"Those we believe may have killed him?"

"Yes, those who had the opportunity, the ability and the motive."

"A reason to kill him?"

"Aye."

We had enjoyed dinner at the pub earlier that evening. Gwen had outdone herself, the meal was worthy of a Michelin Star restaurant.

"What is this?" I had asked, looking at the plate as the incredible aroma had teased me and made my stomach rumble.

"It was Duncan's choice," she said. "Venison."