I happen to know a lot about Iain Wray. Too much and I’d rather I didn’t.
“Some. He’s affiliated to Alba.” I name the party who’s main priority is to ensure that Scotland retains its independence. But I know it’s more than that. Wray doesn’t want Scotland to stay independent; he wants them to become part of a Greater Scandinavia.
Majken told me.
“He’s planning to kidnap Blair.”
No bone in my body can move. I haven’t seen Blair in years; purposely keeping away because – just because. Even when there have been reports in papers and online I’ve avoided them, not wanting to think about her.
Now I have to.
“How do you know this?”
Lennox passes me a letter. It’s handwritten and unsigned. There’s no way I can connect Iain Wray with what’s written, but clearly Lennox has.
“My parents don’t know. Neither does Blair. I try to keep her out of political shit. She deserves a life without it.” A shadow crosses his face. “She deserves a shit ton more. I need this man gone.”
“Let me look into it.”
“There’s more.” He passes me a pen drive. “Whatever it costs.”
“There’s no charge. I work for your country.”
“Our country.”
I don’t correct him. “I’ll be in touch.”
“You don’t need any more information?”
I stand up. “Maybe. But I’m pretty fucking good at my job.”
I’m walking away when he says my name. I turn round to see him watching me, his expression worried, confused.
“Blair misses you.”
“I doubt she remembers me.”
“She goes to the maze most days. I know that’s where you’d meet each other.”
I face him, pausing. “I did.”
“Promise me you’ll keep her safe.”
“Always.”
Always.
It’s a pretty long time to keep a promise.
Isaac sits opposite me across a table, Blair to my right, dressed in a sloppy jumper and jeans with hair that she says she hasn’t washed for four days.
I can tell from the expression on his face that he has something he wants to tell us. I also know by now that he loves gossip, something Blair teases him about and I sit there and shake my head.
“They’ve gone and done it.” It’s an announcement, one given to a room empty of anyone but the three of us, the first time we’ve seen each other since the early morning in the stable.
“I assume you’re referring to something that Elise and Goldsmith have done?” Blair sits forward. The hotel room suite is quiet and private, out of the way so we can just be for a night before we stay over in Edinburgh while Blair addresses the representatives.
“They’re apparently engaged. Keeping it low key at the moment, but I’m hearing tales of a whirlwind romance and how he’s helped her get over the loss of Lennox. From one soul mate to another.” Isaac almost mumbles the words.
