Page 13 of Promises to Keep

CHAPTER 10 - KAITLYN

It was a big imposing museum structure, an entry with a crowd milling around the foyer. I scanned for the exits, which were right where we had expected. Hayley nodded.

This is going to work.

Lilting notes from a band met our ears, we followed the music out to the sculpture garden. My eyes swept the crowd, but saw no sign of Lady Mairead.

Hayley said, “You stand over there, I’ll stand over here.”

I pushed through the crowd to stand half-hidden, as discreetly as possible, near a potted palm tree. A waiter carrying a tray of drinks walked by and I thought, “Maybe one,” and pulled a cup off the tray.

I took a sip.What the heck, punch?A moment later, Hayley’s voice emitted from the tiny walkie-talkie strung on a cord, tucked into the top of my dress. “...a drink? Aren’t we on a mission?”

I ducked my head to talk into the radio. “I’m a spy, like James Bond, I wanted a drink, but guess what? It’s non-alcoholic — stupid Prohibition.”

My eyes swept the room as I sipped idly from my cup, then I met Hayley’s eyes. She jerked her head to the door.

Lady Mairead, dressed beautifully, entered on the arm of a very handsome younger man.

Hayley turned to hide her face.

I stepped into the shadows behind the palm, put my glass down on a nearby table, fished my phone from my bag and took secretive photos of the room, the entrances, the crowd, and especially of Lady Mairead — where she was standing.

My radio-necklace beeped.

I glanced up, Hayley was gesturing with her head and pointing with her finger.

There was Agnie MacLeod… I recognized her from the restaurant in Los Angeles. She was a bit younger than Lady Mairead, dark-haired, pretty, pretentious-looking, and wearing an outfit that did not fit in. She looked like she was walking a fashion runway in the 1970s, and because her clothes were all wrong, she was the center of attention.

She was ignoring Lady Mairead, while also heading straight toward her.Bitch.

Lady Mairead leveled her eyes on Agnie, and the color left her cheeks.

I took photos but then Agnie looked directly at me.Shit, did she see me?I stepped back into my hiding place, bumping against a man who had approached. “Madame, I couldn’t help but notice—”

“Shhh.” I stuffed my phone in my purse.

The walkie-talkie squawked. I clamped my arm across my chest, trying to keep it quiet.

He was a foot shorter than me, balding, a slicked comb-over. “Your dress made a sound, Madame…?”

“Shhh, please, just shhhhh...” There was a crowd between me and Lady Mairead…. I stood on tiptoes, craning to see — yes, Agnie had sidled up to Lady Mairead.

I could see the side of her face, Lady Mairead looked upset.

I glanced around for Hayley but she wasn’t at her station.

Great.

I brushed past the man. “My apologies, I have something to…” and skirted the sculpture garden, sticking to the shadows, trying to get a better view.

Lady Mairead had about four men encircling her, it looked as if she was writing something… I crept a little closer hoping to hear where they were taking her, getting very close, hiding behind yet another potted palm tree. I heard Agnie say, “Now ye have signed the letter…”

Lady Mairead said, “Ye promise that ye winna use yer detonations — do ye promise the art is safe?”

The twittering laugh of Agnie, mocking Lady Mairead. “The art being destroyed is theleastof your worries.”

“That is the most of them! Tae destroy these paintings is tae destroy the meaning of history in the world!”

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