"Okay, so we have our target," I say."His counterfeit operation.But how do we make him believe it's compromised without tipping our hand?"
Kirk drums his fingers on his thigh."What about creating a fake police raid?Archie could generate some chatter on the emergency frequencies."
"That might work," Rab agrees, "but Dougal has sources within law enforcement.He'd verify it too quickly."
I'm still uneasy with Rab, the way he's so cagey about the sources of his intel.I tap my fingers on my knee while gears begin to turn in my mind."What about exploiting Dougal's ego instead?Most criminals with empires that size have massive egos."
"Aye, the lass has hit the nail on the head," Rab says."Dougal's pride is his greatest weakness.He cannae stand being challenged or outsmarted."
"We could we do some kind of fake a police raid," I suggest, "or instead create the illusion that a rival crime boss is making a move on his territory.Specifically targeting his counterfeit operation?"
"That's a possibility," Kirk says."Dougal's paranoid about rivals.Always has been."
"Who is his biggest competitor?"I ask, shifting my attention between Rab and Kirk.My curiosity finally gets the better of me, and I must speak up."Rab, who the hell are you, really?"
He chuckles and glances my way."Ye figured it out, I suspect."
"Are you...a spy?"
The door to the sitting room swings open, and a man saunters in, clicking the door shut after him.He leans against the wall, staring directly at me."Rab and I both worked for MI6 at the same time in different capacities.So aye, lass, we were spies."
I blink several times quickly, still having trouble reconciling everything I've heard in this room."Are you guys not spies anymore?"
The man shrugs with a nonchalance that unsettles me."Not technically, not anymore."
"Who the heck are you?"
"Logan MacTaggart.And ahmno the only former covert agent in the Highlands."
I slump in my chair, deflated by all these revelations.But knowing we have men like Rab and Logan on our side gives me hope that we can defeat Dougal MacWraith.
Chapter Forty
Kirk
No one speaks for a few minutes.We've learned a great deal of information and have heard many potential strategies, yet he we still dinnae have a well-defined game plan for rescuing Kenny and ending Dougal MacWraith's despotic empire.How many lives has the bastard destroyed?Only recently did I get an inkling of how terrible and vast the MacWraith dynasty has been.And it's time to end that reign permanently.
I stand up, meeting the gaze of each person in this room one by one."Bringing me and Gretchen to Dùndubhan seemed like the right thing at the time.But I've realized the true threat lies not here in this castle but out there in Dougal's territory.Kidnapping, prostitution, gambling, intimidation, counterfeiting bank notes, and illicit goods of all sorts.That has been Dougal MacWraith's empire."
When I glance at Gretchen, the lass gives me a sweet smile and a thumbs-up sign.No matter what MacWraith might do, I will always have Gretchen on my side---and she will always have me.
"Well, Kirk," Gretchen says."Tell us your plan."
"How did ye know I had one?"
"By the look in your eye, sweetie.I know you, Kirk Balfour, like I've never known anyone.I trust you all the way.And I suspect your plan revolves around taking down Dougal's sordid entire empire."
"You're spot on as usual,gràidh."
Logan pushes away from the wall, approaching me and Gretchen."That's precisely the strategy I had in mind too.Your lass is very clever, Balfour."
"Aye, she certainly is."I raise Gretchen's hand to my lips and kiss it."You are the most extraordinary woman I have ever known."
Rab stands up, rolling his eyes at me."If yer done complimenting the lass, maybe we should, oh, maybe flesh out our master plan?"
I scan my gaze over everyone, then Gretchen and I rise."Let's head back to the village.We'll find more of our mates there and once we've assembled our team, it'll be time to rescue Kenny and destroy Dougal."
As we file out of the sitting room, I begin to form ideas of my own that will dovetail with whatever my mates decide to do.The MacWraith dynasty won't exist for much longer.I'll make certain of that.
