My Father's House

Chapter 28

"Is everything alright?" Higgins sounded worried. Likely, he worried I had already come to Kael to report his actions. I hoped he wouldn't confirm that I had. But with Kael's knack for short speeches, it was unlikely he would come up with a lengthy excuse for his demeanor now.

"It's Madeline. She's being difficult." I heard both men walk further into the room. "Somewhere in this general vicinity, I know. Just which harbor?" They were probably looking at the map I had noticed hanging on the far wall.

"Yes, I see. We do need to know. Would you like me to talk to her? I can be quite persuasive." Higgins' voice made my stomach roll. I was glad they were talking of something other than me, however.

"No. We couldn't press her much harder. No use to us dead," Kael said. I heard Higgins laugh.

"The girl?" Higgins started. Not a smooth transition, I thought. He must be worried. "I haven't been able to find her. I hope she's alright. I caught one of the men making a pass at her. Had to scare him off. I'm afraid she might be a bit shaken up."

"She's fine," Kael replied. Then asked threateningly, "who was it? I'll remind him who he answers to if he touches her."

Higgins laughed again, a little more strained this time. "I agree. Scoundrels, though aren't we all? Unfortunately, we need every man we've got. So you've seen her?" Higgins was pushing Kael, I knew. In my heart, I wished Kael would take him down, especially while I was behind the door and would miss the gore.

Kael answered evasively, "I've seen her."

Higgins could not be satisfied. "Well, where's she off to? I'd be more than happy to show her to her room. I'll take personal responsibility for her safe guard tonight. Garrett won't be much use, I'm afraid. Poor fellow's a light weight." He punctuated his observation with another hideous laugh.

"That won't be necessary. She's already asleep."

"What?" Higgins stuttered, "Oh-oh! Really? Well, good then. You might as well get something out of this beastly ordeal!" My pulse raced, realizing what they were insinuating. "Did she say anything about the fellow earlier?"

Kael must have shaken his head.

"Ah, poor thing was distracted, eh? Well, I'll leave you to it. Sorry about all the misguided questions. You know, you don't usually... well you know. But I suppose this is a special case." Even behind the door, I could tell the man was flustered. I could hear him faltering, trying to find his footing with the new discovery he had made.

"You go before you wake her, if you haven't already." The footsteps came closer to the outer door. I heard it open again.

"Right. I see now why the door was locked." Higgins made a poor attempt at a whisper, "No worries; the old man will never hear of this from me." The door closed toward the end of his speech, drowning him out. I backed away from the door, expecting Kael to come in.

Instead, he knocked, "Harper?" The door opened slowly. He ducked to get in the doorway.

I stared at him for a moment. Much to his credit, his face did hold an element of guilt. This did not assuage my anger however. "What was that?" I demanded. "That story you just made up is not alright." I was pacing by the bed, my temples pulsing in my furry. He shouldn't have staged such an unsavory lie without my consent.

"Harper, I didn't have a plan. And this one just came together out there. He fell for it. It's good enough. Now you can stay here, no questions." He turned on a lamp in the corner, before turning to sit on the bed. "Now, we can figure out..."