A Time & Place for Every Laird Angeline Fortin (read full novel txt) 📖

“My Uncle Robert owns a nice place out onBainbridge Island … it’s an island in Puget Sound,” she started toclarify, then shook her head. “Never mind. Point being, it shouldbe a good place to hide out. I’ve got an open invitation to visitanytime, and this seems like a good one.”

“A family member might be the first personcontacted by those searching for us,” Hugh said, employing her ownlogic against her.

“Yes, but Uncle Robert isn’t really my‘uncle,’” Claire said using her fingers to make air quotes aroundthe word. “He and Aunt Sue are my godparents. Lifelong friends.Maybe too close, but I happen to know that the house isn’t titledunder Uncle Robert’s name but rather some big umbrella corporationof his. I heard him talking about it to Dad years ago. Anyway, it’ssecluded and fairly disconnected from anyone I can be linked to. Iwould think it would take them a while to find us there, so itmight be our best shot.”

“They will nae doubt question mypresence.”

“I’m hoping they won’t be there,” she said.“They are retired and travel a lot.”

“I shall concede tae yer greater knowledgeof the possibilities.”

“Why, thank you!” Claire cast an amusedglance at him over her shoulder as she went into the bathroom toretrieve some toiletries. “It’ll be getting there without beingnoticed that’s going to be tricky.”

“Getting there?” Hugh asked, his voicecarrying easily between the rooms. “Is this Seattle not local?”

“No, it’s a couple hundred miles fromhere.”

A pause. “How are we tae travel there?”

“We’ll drive there. It’s only about four anda half hours away,” Claire told him as she toyed with hertoothbrush thoughtfully before dropping it back in the holder.Missing toothbrushes and toothpaste would be an easy giveaway thatshe had packed up and gone. It would be easy enough to buy anotheralong the way. And one for Hugh as well.

Lifting her head, Claire realized that Hughhad fallen silent, and for a moment she worried that he had snuckaway while her back was turned, determined to make his own wayafter all. Rushing to the doorway, she breathed a sigh of relief tofind him where she had left him. However, there was an expressionon his face she couldn’t quite make out under the beard. “What isit?”

“That car,” the word rolled roughly in hisdeep brogue, “’tis a wicked fast thing.”

The implication registered and Claire smiledsympathetically. “Don’t like it much, do you?”

“I’ve never experienced anything moving soquickly,” he justified.

She had been in quite a hurry before, Clairereasoned. Of course, she had been panicked and scared … not thatshe wasn’t now. “I’d like to tell you that I could take it slower,but if we ever want to get there, we’ll probably have to go evenfaster.”

Hugh’s throat worked visibly beneath hisheavy beard.

“I’m sure you’ll get used to it,” sheoffered kindly.

A strangled sound escaped him and Claire bitback another grin.

Chapter 8

Agreeing that a hasty departure might benoticed straight away – or perhaps Hugh was delaying the inevitable– they decided to wait until the next day to depart. Claire thoughtthat surely if her house was being watched, the lack of activitywithin would lull Jameson’s suspicions. Tomorrow she could leave,presumably under the auspices of making the most of her unexpected“ vacation.”

But was she even being watched, shewondered? Special Agent Jameson had seemed suspicious, but thatmight only have been his normal condition. Claire chewed on her lipas she paced restlessly and peeked out through the blinds,searching the streets for unmarked cargo vans.

Looking out rather than watching her back.Was it strange that she was more wary of Jameson than she was ofher unexpected guest?

“And this?”

“That’s the thermostat,” she said, glancingover her shoulder. The afternoon had progressed smoothly withmutual patience becoming their new unspoken standard after anotherbrief but hot debate over the insanity of assaulting Dr. Fieldingin his home and forcing the scientist to explain the ‘how’s and‘why’s of Hugh’s presence in the twenty-first century. Claire couldunderstand the Scotsman’s need for answers – she was curiousherself – but was certain attacking the responsible party wouldonly shorten rather than prolong Hugh’s freedom. “It adjusts thetemperature in here and automatically turns on either the heat orthe air … the cooling system… to keep a constant temperature.”

Hugh nodded with some appreciation andcontinued his examination of the room. Having gotten over hisaversion to asking questions, he had been filling the time withquestions about nearly every object in her home while she dividedher time between pacing and working the bloodstains out of his kiltand shirt. The thought of losing his clothing had visibly upset theScot, and since she had time on her hands, Claire was determined togive her guest something to smile about.

But he hadn’t as yet.

The questioning had begun reluctantly, as ifHugh was loathe to ask anything more of her, but he had gainedmomentum as the hours passed, though he had quickly discontinuedquestions regarding how things worked when the engineer in her hadgiven him a highly technical explanation of the ignition switch onthe gas fireplace. He had walked around each room, picking up orpointing to any unfamiliar object while she explained its purpose,from the water heater to the thermostat. Light bulbs intrigued him,and the automatic gas fireplace fascinated him so much that hespent almost five minutes flipping the switch to start and stop theflames.

Hugh bounced on her couch and bed,complimenting the comfort of both.

“What happened after you fell through thehole that brought you here?” she suddenly thought to ask as Hughbegan to explore the kitchen.

“The man I was chasing died soon after wearrived, and I was taken into custody wi’ nae explanation. Theyconfiscated my jacket, belt, and sporran … and obviously myweapons,” he told her and held up a whisk.

“It’s to whip things like eggs,” she toldhim. “Didn’t you ask Dr. Fielding what had happened?”

“Naturally,” Hugh said, then scowled.“However, in retrospect, amid the confusion and disorientation, Imight have represented myself as rather threatening.”

Claire could clearly picture a bloody andheavily armed Hugh grabbing the much smaller Fielding by thethroat, trying to shake the truth from him. “So they told younothing?”

“Nothing whatsoever,” he confirmed. “Icouldnae communicate