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Chapter 20

Charlie sat in the car while Sin said goodbye to Jock. He had risen before her and she found him already dressed in his suit and ready to go. She had hurried, choosing one of the nicer dresses Gabriel had helped pick out for her, and readied herself for what was to come.

Jock popped his head in through Sin's open door. "You take care, lassie," he said. "I hope to see you soon."

She hadn't given much thought to what would happen to her after the exchange of the print and it caught her off guard. "If I don't, Jock, I want to thank you for everything you've done for me."

"It was nae trouble, lassie." He stepped away as William jumped in the back seat and Sin got in behind the wheel. "You take care of her, son."

"Aye, I will." He shut the door, driving off.

Once on the highway, he called Gabriel.

"Sin," Gabriel answered.

"Aye. We're on the way to the Tower." Sin looked in his rearview mirror, switching lanes.

"Any signs of Sokolov's men?" the priest asked.

"I'm sure they're around. I'll take the back way in. It will take longer, but I'll be able to tell if we're being followed."

"Very well." Gabriel hesitated before speaking again. "We heard from Phinneas. He's coming in today."

Charlie noticed Sin's grip on the wheel hardened, his knuckles turning white. "Aye, what did the bastard have to say?"

"He was injured the night of the assignment. One of the Russians got to him. They beat him up pretty badly," Gabriel explained.

"Why didn't he go to the Tower or contact anyone?" Sin asked, his voice tight with restraint.

"He was afraid Sokolov would have his men following him."

"Someone tipped off Sokolov. He knew we were coming." Sin pulled off the main highway onto a back road.

"He swears it wasn't him," Gabriel said, matter of factly. "He's a sworn brother of The Watch. He took an oath, Sin. He has no reason to lie."

Sin rubbed his forehead, slowing down as the road curved through the mountain pass. "Aye. I suppose I'll have to take him at his word."

"I just wanted to prepare you," Gabriel said politely. "Call me when you get close and I'll let Alex know. He'll want to talk to you."

"Aye." Sin hung up, glancing at Charlie.

"Do you think Sokolov's men are following us?" She looked behind them, concerned, but all she saw was the zigzagging of the road as they climbed higher through the pass and an endless sea of scotch pines.

"At the moment, no," he said. "But I'm sure they have been since Michael led them to us. He wouldn't have known he was being followed."

"What if his body washes up on shore?" she asked quietly, as if speaking the words was a sacrilege.

"It won't. At least not on a Scottish shore. There is a strong tidal current, one of the most powerful and dangerous in the world, off the coast between the mainland and the Orkney Islands, known as the Pentland Firth. It will carry him far away."

"Lost at sea forever," she said, wiping her tears. "Never to see his family again."

Sin took her hand in his. "Moment by moment, darling."

"At this moment, I think I just want to cry." She let her tears fall, not holding back any longer. "I might not have loved him, but he was a big part of my life. Now I must grieve him along with the loss of my family."

The ride was quiet for the next few hours as the car sped through the boulder strewn valleys and along steep granite cliffs. Charlie looked out the window trying to reconcile her past while preparing herself for the future and the coming days. The phone ringing pulled her from her thoughts.

Sin pushed the button on the steering wheel, answering it.

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