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Quinn watched as Jack stepped back behind the bar. He remembered her yet her accident was supposed to have taken place before she ever made it to Whispering Winds. What was stranger still that despite remembering Jack, she didn't recognize the town. She knew she was going to need to think about that but not tonight. She already had two glasses of wine so she was feeling warm and happy and was currently sitting across from a man who she was undeniably attracted to. Logic could wait for tomorrow. A few minutes later Jack returned with their drinks.
"The band is getting setup now. Hope to see you both kicking it up on the dance floor." He winked at Quinn then turned to check on a few tables and headed back to the bar.
"I haven't danced in an age."
"But you can dance?" Quinn asked.
"Yes, but I may need another one or two of these before I can actually get out there."
They continued to get to know each other. Quinn told of her love of digging, how she had known as a small child what she wanted to be when she grew up. Gabriel spoke of his fondness for horses, an interest they learned they both shared. Quinn told stories about her brothers and their youthful escapades and Gabriel reciprocated by telling her about some hair-raising adventures from his childhood.
There was a comfortable lull in their conversation and then the music started and Quinn couldn't have been more surprised to hear an excellent version of Carly Rae Jepsen'sCall Me Maybe.
"I hate to admit it but I love this song. Are you ready to dance?" she asked standing up.
"I'll watch you," he smiled naughtily.
She didn't argue as she slipped from the booth and joined the others on the dance floor. It had been so long since she'd been dancing - the thumping of the bass line, the bodies pressed together on the dance floor, the beat moving your feet - that she couldn't help throwing her head back and laughing.
An elderly gentleman offered her a dance and she didn't hesitate to let him lead her around the dance floor. He moved her around effortlessly -- his steps seamless. At one point she was being twirled out but when she came back to her partner she knew immediately it wasn't the same man. She looked up happily to find Gabriel's face.
"Watching wasn't enough," Gabriel whispered.
Quinn wrapped her arms around his neck and offered him a saucy smile, "Took you long enough."
His laughter, in response, filled the room.
A few days after her evening with Gabriel, Quinn started researching private investigators. She was certain that her experience with Archer had been real and since Derek was still sneaking around Whispering Winds, she knew in her gut that he was still up to no good. She wanted to know how Derek had been spending his time, and not just for the past several months, because she suspected there was a pattern to his behavior. And that pattern might lend insight into what he was up to now.
On her way into Stow to meet with the investigator, her mind detoured to Jack O'Shea. How was it possible that he remembered her? It sounded crazy but she had somehow gone back in time and changed the future, Whispering Winds and the village were both proof of that so how then did Jack remember her if the future was altered? She didn't have a clue but she suspected there was someone who did: Maude. Who was she really? Quinn intended to find out.
The investigator, Charles Kent, had been in the business for twenty-five years and came with some very impressive references; most notably was the case from a few months back of a missing girl. The police had all but given up but Charles dug deeper and eventually found a lead that led the cops right to the kidnappers. The young girl was now safe and sound back with her family.
A bell chimed pleasantly when she opened the door and as she walked into the waiting area, the scent of leather and burning wood filled her nose. The space was rather elegant with its hard wood floors covered by a thick Aubusson rug in muted earth tones. Queen Anne-style chairs, upholstered in a cinnamon-red silk, were situated in front of a walnut trimmed fireplace that housed a roaring fire. Plantation shutters covered the large windows and artwork, copies of the greats, were artistically arranged on the muted grayish-green walls.
There was a woman in her fifties seated at a desk. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a chignon and her pink tweed suit was Chanel. She looked up from her writing and her blue eyes were warm and friendly.
"Hello. You must be Quinn Shaughnessy," she said pleasantly.
"Yes," Quinn replied.
"I'm Simone Kent. My husband will be right with you. Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?"
"No, thank you."
"Please, have a seat," Simone offered.
Quinn took a seat but she wasn't there very long before the door behind Mrs. Kent opened and out walked Charles Kent. It took Quinn a bit longer to stand than was polite because the man standing before her reminded her very much of Douglas Grant, the detective from her time in the past. Quinn knew she was staring but she couldn't help it.
"Quinn Shaughnessy. Sorry, you remind me of someone I know."
His smile was sincere as he offered, "Well, they say we all have our doubles. Charles Kent at your service. What brings you to me today?"
He led Quinn into his office as she explained her concerns about Derek, leaving out any mention of traveling through time.
Then Quinn pulled out a map of Whispering Winds and the surrounding area that she had picked up at the local souvenir shop in town. In red were four Xs, one to the north of the castle, one to the south, one to the east and the west.
"I've been watching Derek for the past few months as he's been digging all around Whispering Winds. I know he's received permission from the family to dig but he still needed to file for the proper permits and licenses which made his digs a matter of public record. These red marks represent where he has started to dig but what's interesting is that every single dig site is exactly four kilometers from the castle."
