On the drive back to the village, I keep going over what needs to happen.The MacWraith clan has been a cancer in the Highlands for too long.It's time to eradicate them.
Gretchen sits beside me, quiet but alert.Her fingers tap a rhythm on her knee, a clear sign she's deep in thought.
"What are ye thinking about,m'eudail?"I ask, keeping my eyes on the winding road.
"Oh, nothing much.Just reminiscing about how I went from being a virtual assistant to planning a takedown of a Scottish crime lord.Life can take bizarre turns."
"Aye, that it does."
Logan's vehicle follows close behind us, with Rab and Archie riding with him.We've decided to split up.Safety in numbers is all well and good, but not when you're all crammed into one vehicle.The two-car convoy gives us flexibility if we need to split off.
Gretchen settles deeper into her seat."What exactly are we going to do when we get to the village?Round up a posse like in those old American westerns?"
I cast her a quick glance and can't help but grin at the image."Something like that.My brothers will be there.Tam has contacts with some of the local lads who've had run-ins with Dougal's men before.They'll be eager to help."
Naturally, we dinnae go back to my flat.Dougal has undoubtedly installed more spy devices since our last encounter.I suggest to Gretchen that we should see if we can stay at the home of Domhnall and Fiona Sterling.Fiona was a MacTaggart until she married Domhnall.The couple happily offers us a place to stay.
Over dinner and whisky, Domhnall regales Gretchen with tales of his time in the military as an RAF pilot.His tales enthrall her as he shares the story of how he was shot down in Afghanistan.Domhnall suffered spinal trauma caused by ejecting from a Typhoon jet.Even with those injuries he managed to carry his copilot on his back and walked all the way back to his base.
Naturally, Gretchen cannae resist grilling him---sweetly, of course."Domhnall, do you have lots of friends who are former military?"
"Aye, several.That includes Logan MacTaggart, Gavin Douglas, Magnus MacTaggart, Munro MacTaggart, and Thane Buchanan."He takes a sip of whisky."Gavin is an American, but he's married to Jamie, one of the sweetest lasses you'll meet."
I wink."Aside from Gretchen, that is."
The next morning, I receive a text from Domhnall.It says:First strategy session begins in twenty-three minutes.Be there.Both of you.
We obey Domhnall Sterling's directive.
At the precise time Domhnall had given us, we knock on the front door of the home where Thane and Rebecca Buchanan live.It's on the outskirts of the Loch Fairbairn.The couple share their mini ranch with several "critters" as Gretchen calls them.
The door bursts open, and Thane himself greets us.
"Glad yer here, Kirk, Gretchen."The whisky maker himself greets us."The gang is all here, as my wife would say."
We follow Thane into the house, where it truly seems like every member of our team has gathered, ready to begin plotting the ruination of Dougal MacWraith's empire.And I introduce Gretchen to a special member of our team, Keltie Ralston, another mate who's former military.
Keltie greets Gretchen with a firm handshake."Good to meet you, Gretchen.So, you're the lass who's got our Kirk all tied up in knots."
"It's nice to meet you too," Gretchen replies.She notices the tactical vest and utility belt Keltie wears with casual confidence."Are we going to need gear like that?"
"Possibly."Keltie pats Gretchen's arm."Dinnae fash.That means don't worry."
I survey the room, amazed by the caliber of people who've answered my call.My brothers Tam and Neil stand by the fireplace, deep in conversation with Logan.Archie has set up a makeshift command center on the dining table, and his fingers are already flying across three different laptops.Rab is cleaning a wicked-looking knife while chatting with Munro MacTaggart.
"Quite the gathering," I whisper to Gretchen.
"You weren't kidding about rounding up a posse.Are they all former military?"
"Most, but not all," I explain quietly."But every last one of them has a personal stake in taking Dougal down."
Thane clears his throat, and the room falls silent.He stands at the head of the table, quietly commanding attention without even trying, a trait I've always admired about the man."Right, let's get down to business.We all know why we're here.Dougal MacWraith has been a blight on our Highlands for too long.He's taken Kenny, and that's the last straw."
Murmurs of agreement ripple through the room.Gretchen slips her hand into mine, her fingers squeezing gently, but she remains silent for now.
"Kirk," Thane begins, turning to face me directly, "you have got the most personal stake in this.What's your thinking?"
All eyes in the room turn to me, and I straighten my shoulders.This is it, the moment we've been building toward since Kenny was taken.I step forward, still holding Gretchen's hand."You will all play a part in this massive operation.Let's get down to the details..."
