I cover her hand with mine, squeezing gently."You being here is enough.But I need ye to stay close.After what just happened, I dinnae trust MacWraith not to send his men back."
The mobile rings in my ear.My mother answers on the third ring.
"Kirk, dearie.Is everything all right?"
"No, Mam.We've got trouble."I explain about Dougal's visit, the watch, and the threats.As I speak, I can feel Gretchen's eyes on me, her worry evident.
"That bloody erse," my mother hisses, her usual calm evaporating."Your father and I will be there as soon as we can.Have ye called Tam?"
"Aye, he's on his way with Neil.Mam, I think Kenny might be---"
"Dinnae say it," she cuts me off."We'll find him, Kirk.The Balfours stick together, always have.Kenny might not be our flesh and blood, but he's a good laddie."
"I know he is.Kenny's like family to us."I pause, watching Gretchen's face, and change my mind about something."On second thought, Mam, wait for us to come to you.Be on the lookout for anything unusual.Da will know what to do.Take care, see you soon."
I hang up, wondering how to proceed now.
But then it hits me."Gretchen, I'm going to contact Archie MacIver."
"The ethical hacker guy you told me about?"
"Aye.Maybe he can help."I grab my phone, scrolling through my contacts until I find Archie's number.I force myself to focus despite the dire situation.Archie might be our best chance at getting information quickly.He's a computer genius who walks the fine line between legal and illegal hacking, though he prefers the term "information specialist."
"Kirk, mate!It's been ages.What's thecraic?"His cheerful voice grates on my nerves, though only because I'm worried---about too many things.
"Archie, I need your help.It's urgent."I keep my voice low, glancing at Gretchen who's now pulling on a pair of my sweatpants to go with my shirt.Even in this dire situation, I cannae help but notice how bonnie she looks in my clothes.
"That sounds serious," Archie says, all traces of lightheartedness vanishing in an instant.The laddie is just nineteen years old but already a computer genius."What can I do?"
"Need ye to look into Dougal MacWraith in depth.Anything ye can find.Business dealings, properties, connections, especially anything related to Kenny MacDonald.He's missing, and MacWraith has his grandfather's pocket watch."
"The watch with the Celtic knot?Kenny would never part with that willingly."
"Exactly.Something's very wrong.I need information fast, and I'm willing to pay whatever it takes."
"Keep yer money, Kirk.Kenny helped me out of a tight spot last year.Consider this my way of returning the favor."I hear typing in the background."Give me a few hours.I'll dig deep---offshore accounts, property holdings, surveillance footage if I can get it."
"Thanks, mate.I owe you.Just find Kenny," I tell him before hanging up.As I set the mobile down, my mind is already racing ahead to what we should do next.Gretchen is watching me with a determined set to her jaw that tells me she's not about to be sidelined in this fight.
"We need to go," I tell her, moving toward the bedroom to grab proper clothes."Tam and Neil will be here soon, and then we're heading to my parents' place.It's safer there---more people, more eyes watching out for trouble."
Gretchen follows me, her bare feet silent on the wood floor."Kirk, what exactly are we up against here?Who is this Dougal MacWraith really?I think it's time you told me more about him."
I hesitate, shirt in hand, considering how much to tell her.But after what just happened, she deserves the full truth, no matter how ugly.
"Dougal MacWraith is the head of one of the oldest, most dangerous crime families in Scotland," I explain, strictly to remind her, while I pull on a fresh shirt."His clan has been operating in the Highlands for generations, dealing in everything from illegal whisky during prohibition to modern-day weapons trafficking and extortion, sex trafficking too."
I snatch up a pair of jeans and step into them quickly.I need to focus.
For Kenny.For Gretchen.
"Okay, I get it, Kirk.They're super bad hombres."She gets fresh clothes out of the closet we've been sharing while I hunt about for mine."But how are we going to take down the Scottish mafia?Even with your whole family ready to fight, things could get dirty and nasty pretty fast."
"We won't take them down all at once," I reply, pulling on a pair of thick socks."We find Kenny first, make sure he's safe, then we work on dismantling MacWraith's operation piece by piece.My family has connections too---legal ones.The Loch Fairbairn Police might need to get involved too, eventually."
Gretchen slumps her shoulders, and I recognize the worry etched on her face.I must look the same way.She slips into a pair of my joggers and one of her own shirts.
"I'm sorry ye got dragged into this mess,gràidh."I reach out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear."This isnae what ye signed up for when ye came to Scotland."
