I won’t let Sin down. “Failure isn’t an option. So where do we begin?”
“Always with tea, love. We have a lot tae cover.”
Chapter Ten
Sinclair Breckenridge
Photographs. Sticky notes. Timelines. Thumbnails with strings connecting one clue to another. It looks like nothing more than graffiti covering the wall of my home office.
The squares of paper stuck to the wall vary in a dozen colors. I’m sure each represents some kind of significance to Bleu’s investigation but I find no rhyme or reason to the madness. Organized chaos. That’s what it looks like to me.
I stop in the doorway and take a moment to watch my wife. She’s listening to a violin cover of “My Immortal” while standing before her new mysterious masterpiece. She’s rocking from one foot to the other while chewing a pencil. I almost think I can hear the gears grinding in her head.
“Well, that’s new. And interesting.”
She spins around, takes the pencil from her mouth, and tucks it behind her ear. “Hey, you. Come over here. You gotta take a look at this.”
I go to her, placing a quick kiss against her mouth.
“Someone tastes like whisky.”
“You sound surprised. I guess that means you didn’t get my text.”
“No. Sorry.” She scans the room. “Guess I didn’t bring my phone into the office.”
“I went by Duncan’s to take care of some Fellowship business. I ran into Jamie and Leith. We had a couple drinks so we could catch up.”
“Good. I know you must miss hanging out with your friends.”
I think she feels guilty for cutting into our triad’s time together. “It’s all right. I sort of like my new friend.”
“You said you were tending Fellowship business. Everything okay?”
“Aye. A few of the brothers have expressed interest in opening a gentlemen’s club.”
“A gentlemen’s club.” Her words ooze with contempt. “And I suppose they’ll want Fellowship women to work in it?”
“Of course. It would work the same as any other Fellowship business.”
“I’m all for Fellowship women working to earn a living. If they choose to do that topless, that’s their prerogative but can’t we provide them other career choices besides being strippers and barmaids?”
“We do, Bonny. There are a lot of options. You’re not aware of them yet because you haven’t been around long. You’ll see there’s lots of opportunities for any woman who wants to work.”
She appears less defensive. “I’m glad to hear that.”
Good. She seems content.
I move my attention to the newly decorated office wall. “Taking up some new form of abstract art as a hobby?”
“No. I met with Debra today for the first time. We had lunch and then she came over to take a look at my evidence. She helped me set this up. It’s brilliant.”
Debra? “Remind me who she is.”
“My dad’s former undercover partner. She quit the Bureau and went freelance. She was also my eyes and ears while I was studying you from afar.”
“Ah. She’s the woman who ran surveillance on us.”
“No. She’s the woman who ran surveillance on you for years and was completely undetected.”
“Aye. Very true.” I can give credit where it’s due.
“It was a great meeting. Not just because she helped me with this. She told me all kinds of stories from when she and Dad were partners. I enjoyed hearing about their antics.”
Bleu says little but she’s still mourning the death of her father. And the loss of her sister. She occasionally tells me she needs alone time in the tub but I know what that really means. She needs a good cry.
She looks at the clock on the wall. “Wow. I didn’t realize it had gotten so late. I’m sorry. I got caught up in this. I haven’t put anything on for dinner.”
I don’t mind. We’ve been in Edinburgh a week and my sweet Bonny Bleu hasn’t stopped. When she isn’t researching the men on the list my father gave her, she’s spending time with the women of The Fellowship. She’s even offered to teach photography to anyone who’s interested.
She’s striving so hard to win them over. A suggestion from my mum, I’m sure.
“No problem. You need a break—let’s go out for dinner.”
“Can I tell you about a breakthrough I found first?”
She’s so excited. There’s no way I can burst her bubble. “Go ahead.”
She points to the photo on top with three strings connected to it.
“Todd Cockburn is a suspect?” He’s a pit boss at the casino. The only way his hands are ever dirtied is by money.
“He was in the US during the murder and—wait for it—he worked at the same Fellowship casino as my mother in Biloxi, Mississippi. The timing is off. I haven’t worked that part out yet but they would’ve been coworkers before I was born.”
I hate being her killjoy. “Your mother didn’t work for The Fellowship. Don’t you remember Dad saying he tried to convince her to come to work for him?”
“You’re wrong. I pulled her employment records. She worked at a Fellowship casino when your grandfather was leader. Thane didn’t meet her until after she left and was working for a non-Fellowship casino.”
That changes things. “Very interesting discovery.”
“I have Debra to thank for that tidbit. I’d like you to meet her. She could be a huge asset against The Order.”
My wife is remarkable. “You may not have been born into The Fellowship but you are destined to be one of us. No question about it.”
“I’m supposed to have a girls’ night out with Lorna, Westlyn, and a few of their friends Tuesday night. I want to suggest going to the casino.”
I know my wife. She doesn’t have to tell me what going to the casino means. She wants to question Todd Cockburn.
She arches her right brow. “Your thoughts?”
“You’re a card counter. We don’t allow your kind in the casino. It’s bad for business. I’m sure you understand.”
She grins. “I won’t be there for the cards.”
I’m not a huge fan of her interrogating Todd. “Have Debra question him.”
“What would be the fun in that?”
She truly enjoys the chase. I suppose I can concede and allow her a little entertainment since I know questioning Cockburn will prove fruitless. “You and the lasses enjoy your blackjack game. And don’t break the casino, please.”