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“I was blind dialling the cops.” Clyde says. “And I figured if there was anyone back there, that they would have made their move once we busted in.”

Mel just looks at the floor, knowing that he’s failed me. “Sorry, Ethan. Looks like we’re a little too trained in investigation, and a little rusty in takedowns. In all honesty, we should have just called the cops.”

“Ah, you know Dougall would never have accepted that.” Clyde adds. “But you’re right, Ethan. We should have cleared the house.”

“Idiots.” Nathan adds, which receives a kick in the ribs from Mel.

Freya looks up at me. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

I smile at her. Her face is showing a bit more color. “I don’t know how I got here, love, but I'm glad all the same.”

Chapter 16

Ethan

It took hours for the body to be taken away, for the investigation to be complete, and then Mel, Clyde and I, cleaned up the blood and mess from the ordeal, while Freya took a shower, being given a clean bill of health from the paramedics. I’ll insist on her getting an MRI when we get back to the states, but for now, she seems a little shaken up, but otherwise okay. I knock on the bathroom door. “Freya? You okay in there?”

“Yes. I'll be out in a minute.” She answers, sounding fine.

I've called the jet back, so that we can go home, to North Carolina, away from Scotland for a while, and Freya is perfectly fine with that. After she emerges from the washroom, she looks refreshed, albeit exhausted. “I think I'll sell this place after all.” She says aloud, as if talking to herself.

“After this, I don’t blame you, lass.” Clyde states honestly. “Once blood is on the floor, the smell never comes out.”

“Aye. I was thinking about selling this place for a while. When I first arrived, I was glad I'd kept it, but now I don’t think I can ever bring myself to come back.”

I feel bad that this has sullied her feelings for her former home, but maybe with time, she’ll feel better. “Why don’t you hold off for a while, hm? Don’t make decisions so fresh after all that’s happened today.”

She looks at me and nods. “You’re right. I should let this rest for a while. Besides, Mary would never forgive me if I didn’t come back to Scotland.”

“I didn’t say you couldn’t come back to Scotland, lass.” Mel adds. “I just meant here.”

I get a message on my phone that the jet is ready. “Time to go. Do you need a hand, Freya?”

“No. I only brought a duffel bag.”

All the way back to North Carolina, Freya sleeps, nestled in my chest. She’s completely exhausted and I'm anticipating what my da will say upon my return. The investigation for the other men responsible for taking Peg are still at large. Only Nathan is in custody, and, of course, Wesley is dead. We’ll see how pleased da is about all that when I see him. We’re almost ready to land when Freya wakes up. “How’s your head?” I ask her.

“It’s okay, actually. I slept well.”

“You did.” I say, wiping imaginary drool off my shirt.

She scoffs a laugh, and I look at her. “I’m going to take you to the doctor once we land, and then I've got to go see my da and face the music. I’m sure he’s well aware of everything that went down on account of Mel and Clyde’s debriefing.”

“Do you think he’ll be angry with you?”

“It’s hard to tell with da, as you know. We’ll see.”

Despite Freya’s protests, she let me take her to the doctor, and after she got a clean bill of health, I took her home, so she could get some more rest. “You call me when you wake up, okay? I’ll bring you over some dinner.”

“God, Trudy doesn’t know any of this, Ethan. She's going to freak.”

“You want me to be there when you tell her?”

She shakes her head. “No. I'll let her know I'm home and have her come over. Tell her in person.”

“That sounds like a good idea.” I pull her to me, taking in her scent, breathing deeply. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Aye. That makes two of us. I'd be hard pressed with a concussion or worse, being a software developer and a banker.” She jokes.

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