Sins of the Heart (5 page)

Chapter 15

Mumbling, he heard mumbling. Grant placed his hand on his forehead and kept his eyes closed. His head hurt like the devil and his thoughts wouldn’t come into focus. Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly.

“Son of a bitch.” Cautiously, he opened his eyes and glanced around.

Abigail sat beside the bed, tied to a chair. All of the events of the day came crashing back to him again and he had to close his eyes to ward off the immense pain thundering in his head.

The low rumble of the air-conditioning unit kicked on but his focus was on the occupants of the room. Grant took one more look at Abigail. Her eyes were locked on him.

Are you all right?
He mouthed the words to her, and she gave him a nod. Thank goodness. He then turned his attention on the men. He recognized them from the clan. Graham and John stood near the window. John spoke on the phone to someone. Grant shifted his head slightly to better listen, trying to make sense of what was going on.

“No, we have her tied up. She isn’t a problem.” John glanced at Abigail and then turned his attention to him.

Grant pinned John with a gaze he hoped warned him he’d better not try anything with Abigail.

“He’s awake.” John nodded as if he was agreeing with what was being said on the other end of the phone. A few moments passed as the man listened. “All right, we’ll see you in a minute.”

John turned to Graham. “He’s coming.”

Grant’s pulse picked up. Finally, he would see his cousin and get to the bottom of this.

The door opened, and Grant sat up a little straighter. His hands were tied, one to each arm of the chair. Abigail sat on the other side of the table, closer to the door, tied to her chair also. They let her up once to use the restroom, but other than that, they’d sat in these chairs for over an hour. He was losing feeling in his wrists.

When Malcolm entered, he kept his eyes focused on him, but through the side of his vision he saw Abigail look at his cousin and then back at him.

“You have got to be kidding me.” Abigail began to laugh, a bit hysterically.

“I brought food. I imagine you must be hungry.” Malcolm approached and placed a few blue and white bags from the 50’s diner on the table. .

Despite the gravity of the situation, Grant heard his stomach growl. He’d missed the earlier meal when they knocked him out a second time.

Malcolm turned to John. “Untie them.”

He started with Abigail and she stared at him while he did it. Rubbing her wrists when he let her free, she turned to Malcolm. “So, are you his evil twin?”

Malcolm never smiled. “No. We are cousins. Our resemblance comes from our fathers who are twins.”

Abigail tilted her head. “It was
you
who came into my store first, wasn’t it?”

He nodded.

“I thought something seemed weird. You played it very well, I have to say. After a while, I figured you were just nervous.”

While Malcolm focused his attention on Abigail, Grant listened to the by-play.

“My apologies, ma’am. This has nothing to do with you.”

“But has everything to do with
me
, and I want to know what the hell is going on, Malcolm.” Grant glared at his cousin.

Abigail picked up the burger that had been placed in front of her and took a bite. Malcolm took the two necessary steps to make it to the bed and sat down. When John was done untying Grant’s hands, he stepped outside, where Grant watched him light up a cigarette.

Graham remained in the room.

“You and I were as thick as thieves growing up. We talked about everything, did everything together. Why do you now hold secrets from me?”

Malcolm sat forward, placing his head in his hands and his elbows on his knees.

“Grant, this is so far out of reach, I don’t even begin to know how to tell you.”

Grant grabbed his cousin’s wrist. “Why did you steal the shield?”

Malcolm stared at Grant. “I was desperate.” He rolled his head trying to easy his tired muscles. “I got into betting. It started with one football game. I won. Easy money. So, I bet again and again.

“Remember when the Glasgow team made headlines because Boyd took a dive and purposely lost the game?”

He nodded.

Malcolm stood. “That game changed everything for me. I lost. Big.”

Grant sank back in his chair.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped.”

“I was ashamed. Seriously, the only thing that separates you and me from becoming chief is that your father was born first.” He paced the small distance of the floor between the bed and the dresser. “I was raised the same as you and look at how differently things have turned out. You are the clan chief, and I, a common criminal.”

Grant stood and walked over to Malcolm. Grabbing him by the arm, he turned him so they looked at each other.

“You aren’t a common criminal. We all fall once in a while.”

Malcolm glanced down at the ground, turmoil rolling across his face.

John stepped away from the wall and went over to Malcolm. Placing his hand on his arm he spoke. “Tell him, Malcolm. We can’t keep doing this any longer.” John looked between Grant and Malcolm. “Time is running out. We need his help.”

Grant stared at John for a moment, trying to decipher this mystery. He glanced back over his shoulder at Abigail. She shrugged and sat forward on her seat. He focused his attention back to Malcolm.

Malcolm shoved his hands in his pockets. “Because I owe the debt, I couldn’t pay it right away.”

“How much do you owe?”

Malcolm cleared his throat. “One million.”

“Son of a bitch.” Grant shook his head. How could anyone hope to pay off such a debt? He crossed to the table and took a big swallow of his cola, thoughts running through his mind like a freight train. His cousin was in a shitload of trouble.

“How much have you collected?” he asked, dreading the reply. For Malcolm to have gone so far as to steal the shield and kidnap them, there’s no way his cousin had the money needed to pay off his impossible debt.

A long silence followed as the three men spoke quietly.

Then Graham made a phone call. He asked a couple questions then faced them.

“Christina said we have only half the money,” Graham announced grimly.

“How many people are with you?” Grant asked as he placed the cup of cola on the table.

Malcolm sat back down on the bed. “Just the four of us. I was afraid to tell anyone else.”

“Malcolm, tell him the rest, Graham said, crossing his arms over his chest

Grant looked between Graham and Malcolm. “The rest?” Grant dragged the chair a few feet and sat down in front of Malcolm. No way his cousin would get out of here without answering all his questions. Malcolm opened and closed his hands several times. “Right before all of this happened, I took Keltie to the doctor. She had a felt a lump in her breast.” He met Grant’s gaze and a single tear slid down his cheek. “She has cancer.”

Grant heard Abigail, still sitting behind him, inhale sharply. No one liked to hear the dreaded ‘C’ word.

“They wanted to do surgery right away,” Malcolm continued, “and remove it before it spread to her lymph nodes. Her outcome didn’t look very good. They found the cancer in both breasts.”

Grant grasped Malcolm’s knee. “I’m very sorry. I wish you had come to me. I could have helped you. Then you would be home with her instead of here.”

Malcolm shot to his feet and stalked over to the wall. Placing his hands on the rough surface, he leaned forward, then back, like he was doing a push up. Then he stepped back abruptly and punched the wall.

“They fucking have her.”

Grant felt a knot tighten in his throat. The anguish in his cousin’s voice was palpable.

“They are holding Keltie until I get the money. If I don’t, then they will kill her. That’s why I set up this scheme and time is running out.”

Abigail’s quiet voice spoke from behind him. “What is the timeline the kidnappers gave you?”

Malcolm turned sharply and glared at her. “No. That’s not what I meant. Six months ago, the doctors said Keltie wouldn’t live out the year without treatment. Even then, there would be no guarantees. I can’t afford to waste any more time.”

Chapter 16

Abigail sat back in her chair and stared out the window. Anger had coursed through her veins at the predicament she’d found herself in. Kidnapped, tied to a chair, terrified for her well-being. But as she listened to Malcolm tell his story, she found her heart breaking for him, despite the circumstances.

She ran the events through her mind.
Malcolm’s wife gets sick, and he needs money for the treatment so he gambles, thinking it will be quick and easy
.
Then he gets himself into trouble and steals a priceless heirloom to raise money to get his dying wife back after she has been kidnapped
. And so on and so on. And here
she
sat, helpless in a motel room.

Abigail glanced around the room. Ugly tan walls were decorated with even uglier knock-off paintings. The curtains were striped with brown, yellow, white, and orange and they matched the bedspreads. Malcolm and Grant were over in the corner near the bathroom talking quietly. Two heads almost identical, nearly touching as they spoke of things that had happened.

So, where did this leave her? She didn’t want to be in this room anymore, yet she didn’t want to be away from Grant. So many thoughts and feelings had developed in the last two days. Excitement about seeing him, anger for having been lied to about this whole ordeal, and sadness at the inevitable ending. Grant was a good man. He wasn’t angry at Malcolm for deceiving him. Instead, he was going to help him.
As any kind, generous, brave man should be.

Stretching out her arms and legs in front of her, she arched her back and sighed. She was tired, stiff, and wanted nothing more than a long soak in the bathtub. Glancing outside, she saw that the sky was turning the prettiest colors of pink and orange as the sun set. She bit back a groan. She’d been in this room for an entire day.

Grant approached her then he held out his hand and she took it, standing.

“Malcolm and I have some things to work on. Would you like to go home?” Grant’s blue eyes searched hers.

She nodded. “More than anything.”

John stepped forward. “I’d be happy to drive her for you.”

She peered over at John and smiled. “Thank you.”

Grant placed his hands on each side of her face. She leaned into one of them.

“I’m truly sorry for everything that has happened,” he said.

“Me, too.” She paused and looked down at his lips before meeting his gaze again. “Will we see each other again?”

Grant smiled and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I would like that very much.”

She glanced over at Malcolm. “You all be safe and I pray that you get to Keltie soon.”

“I thank you for that, ma’am.” He stepped forward. “Please forgive me.”

She reached out to touch his face. “It’s all right. I promise.”

With a curt nod, Malcolm left, taking John with him. She glanced back at Grant. Alone and safe at last. They stood arm-in arm and when she turned back to him after everyone left, he placed his other hand into her hair at the back of her head and brought her in for a kiss.

She placed her hands on his waist. His kiss was gentle but held promise. As if he wanted to reassure her that he would be back. She needed this, his unspoken assurance and kissed him back with a promise of her own.

Stepping back, he held out his hand. “Give me your cell phone.”

“There isn’t a lot of battery left.” She reached into her back pocket and handed her cell to him. “Why do you want it?”

“To give you my phone number. I want you to let me know when you arrive home safely.”

“I will.” She took the phone back and headed for the door. Stopping, she looked back one last time. “Please be careful.”

“I will.”

“Promise.”

He smiled. “Aye, I promise.”

She closed the door behind her and searched for John. She found him with Malcolm in the parking lot near a car. As she headed toward them, her thoughts stayed behind with Grant. Silently, she said a prayer for their safety.

“I’m ready when you are.”

Malcolm patted John on the back, then turned and said good-bye to her. As she and John pulled out of the driveway, the car turned left and headed home. Sleep was not going to come easy. Twenty-four hours had passed since this whole thing had begun. She was on edge, and as she rubbed the back of her neck, her mind kept playing out all of the scenarios that Grant and Malcolm could get into.

Lost in her thoughts, ten minutes passed by before she realized they were not headed in the direction of her house.

“You missed a turn back there but if you catch the second right up here, you can still get to my house without having to back track.” She searched the landscape for the familiar restaurant. No sound came from the driver and he never turned as she told him to.

“Where are we going?” She gripped the door handle as she searched his face for any sign of what he was thinking. She became nervous. Something didn’t add up.

“Please, where are you taking me?”

Before she could say anything else, he directed the car off to the side of the road. He leaned toward her and with one hand opened the glove compartment, pulling out a bottle and a rag. Heart pounding, she scooted as far back into her seat as she could and screamed. She knew what he was going to do.

She reached for the door handle and tried to get out, but the door was locked. Her fingers fought to open the lock but in her hysteria of trying to get out and not be attacked, she was just fumbling around.

John placed the rag over the head of the bottle and tipped twice. Then he placed the damp cloth over her mouth and nose, wrestling with her to keep it on. Chloroform was odorless and colorless, and could be deadly. As her eyes grew heavy, all she remembered was a voice far off in the distance saying, “Nothing personal, lass.”