Page 47 of Return of the Scot
“I’m no’ in the habit of answering questions,” the captain replied with more than a touch of attitude.
Lorne pulled two coins from the hidden pocket in his doublet. “Does this help loosen your tongue?”
The man’s eyes widened, and he nodded. “I just remembered that I’ve got a lot to say. Come on up.”
They made their way up the gangplank, mindful to stay out of the crews’ way. When they reached the resentful captain, he eyed them up and down with obvious disdain.
“Name’s Miles. I’m the captain of the Dueling Brothers.”
Lorne passed him one of the coins. “The other one’s for ye when we get the answers we seek.”
Miles frowned but nodded anyway, biting the coin to be sure it was real. “What can I help ye with?”
“We’re looking for information on a passenger, Gille Gordon. Traveled aboard the ship to Ireland about two weeks ago.”
“Oh, the young lord, aye. He was here. His wife was a pretty wee thing.”
“What was her name?”
“Can no’ recall.” But the expression on his face said otherwise, as did his pointful look at the coin still waiting in Lorne’s hand.
“Ye must no’ want the other coin then.” Lorne made a move to tuck it into a pocket, which suddenly got the man speaking.
“Sherry? Shelly? Something like that?”
“Shanna?” Malcolm drawled out.
“Aye, that was it.”
Lorne’s gut tightened. “Did they have anyone else with them?”
“Aye, a wee porter.”
“How wee?” Lorne narrowed his eyes.
“About yay high.” The Captain held his hand mid-chest. “Looked a bit scared he did.”
“Why was he no’ listed on the passenger list?”
Miles shrugged. “No’ a passenger.”
“Did he set sail with them?” Malcolm asked.
“Aye.”
Lorne frowned. “Then he was a passenger.”
“We do no’ count the help.” Ballocks, but the captain was stubborn.
Lorne gritted his teeth in frustration. It was looking a lot like Shanna and Gille had taken the child with them. “What was the lad’s name?”
“That I do no’ know. They never addressed him, and he did no’ speak. Once they had their cabin, the lad did no’ come out of it.”
“But he did debark with them in Ireland?” Malcolm clarified.
“Aye.”
Thank goodness for Malcolm because Lorne was ready to wrap his fingers around the man’s neck. It was like pulling teeth to get him to give them any information.
