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“As long as we have your contact details, that should be fine.”
As he began to record the scene, we left the room and headed downstairs. Holgan was still there, which surprised me a little given his contract had technically expired once he’d delivered us back in town.
He must have seen my reaction, because he grinned and said, “With the fee I charged you, the least I can do is deliver you safely back to the hotel.”
“It wasn’t necessary but appreciated all the same,” I said.
He nodded and leaned against the wall, whistling softly while our statements were taken. By the time we were released, night had well and truly fallen. Holgan led us out of the shop, only to stop abruptly on the sidewalk and start swearing.
After a second, I realized why. His car was gone.
He swore, spun around, and clomped back into the shop.
Lugh waited until he’d gone and then said, with an odd mix of hope and resignation in his voice, “I don’t suppose...?”
I grinned. “I did indeed.”
Relief flickered through his expression. “Well done, you.”
“I do occasionally catch your unspoken orders.”
“Yes, but you usually ignore them.”
I laughed and leaned against the streetlight, doing my best to ignore the chill coming off the loch and half wishing I had someone warm and willing waiting for me back at the hotel room.
Although to be honest, a long hot shower would be just as good right now.
I glanced around as Holgan finally reappeared. “What’s happening?”
“Jimmy’s put out an APB. It shouldn’t take too long to track it down. Not many roads in and out of this place.” He sniffed. “You got anything valuable in that pack, other than the sword?”
“No,” Lugh said. “Does Jimmy need us to file a report?”
“Nah, I’ve already given him a full description of the sword, but if he needs anything else, he’ll be in contact.”
Lugh hesitated and then nodded. “Thanks for your assistance up on the mountain today, Holgan.”
The dwarf grinned. “As I said before, you were paying me a damnably good fee. Least I could do.”
“True,” Lugh said with a short laugh.
“Remember to look me up if you ever need another trip up the mountain,” Holgan said, and without waiting for an answer, shoved his hands in his pockets and walked away.
Lugh caught my elbow and guided me in the opposite direction. I waited until we were well out of earshot and said, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“That the theft of Holgan’s car is no coincidence?” He slanted me a sideways glance. “And that maybe, before Holgan called the cops, he called someone else?”
I nodded. Holgan had never really seen much more than the sword’s hilt, and even then, not very closely, so he couldn’t possibly have givenanyonea full description. “You think he’s working with the same people who attacked us? Or someone else?”
Lugh hesitated. “It’s unlikely there’s a second group after the sword, given how few actually know we have it. I suspect he might simply have been their backup plan if things went south up on the mountain.”
“It’s not going to take them long to realize they’ve been duped, though.”
“No, but I doubt they’ll risk another direct attack right away. Aside from the fact you’ve already ordered the subcontractors not to take another job against us, word will get around that Gratham is dead. It’ll make others more wary.”
“I hope you’re right.”
He opened the hotel’s door with a smile. “But suspect I’m not?”
