Scots on the Rocks

We’re bored. We Yanks enjoy excitement. That’s why we have such a high crime rate.”

Jimmy looked more exasperated than angry. “That’s ridiculous,” he said. “See here,” he went on, making an effort to lower his voice and sound reasonable, “I’m not threatening you, but giving a warning for your own good. You have no idea how your meddling can affect the wrong sort of people. I’ll be frank—the stakes are very high.”

Renie spoke before Judith could say anything. “I’d like to know what these stakes are, since they seem to be worth killing Harry Gibbs.”

“No, no,” Jimmy responded, looking aggrieved, “I didn’t say that. This is no place to talk. We should go somewhere less public.”

If no longer frightened, Judith remained wary. “Such as?”

“There’s a fine restaurant in a small hotel a short drive from here,” Jimmy said. “I have a car parked nearby. Shall we?”

Judith and Renie looked at each other. “Well…” Judith began, “I’m not sure. How do we know you don’t intend to harm us?”

Jimmy’s exasperation returned. “Why would I? For God’s sake, I’m already in enough trouble for eluding the police when I tried to leave for Paris. You and one or two others are the only ones who know my whereabouts. I wouldn’t be talking to you if I didn’t feel you’re at risk.”

Judith was unconvinced. “A good reason to dump us over a cliff.”

Jimmy made a face. “Then why don’t one of you drive? Preferably the one who can see. It’s a rental, a simple Honda.”

“How about this?” Judith suggested. “I drive us down to the beach where we can talk. The tide’s going out and there can’t be many people strolling along the shore, so we’ll have privacy.”

“Fair enough,” Jimmy agreed. “The Honda’s parked near Morton’s garage, only a short walk from here.”

He led the way, stopping to make sure the street was empty. It wasn’t. Archie Morton and the blonde were coming out of the pub, arm in arm. Jimmy held out a hand to keep the cousins back in the shadows. Archie and his conquest went in the other direction.

“This way,” Jimmy murmured, heading down to the coast road.

They reached the High Street’s dead end where the mist was blowing more heavily in from the sea. Judith’s face felt damp by the time they crossed over to the side of the street where the car repair was located. Jimmy pointed out a dumpster not far from Archie’s office. “The Honda’s behind that,” he said quietly.

As they headed in the direction he’d indicated, Judith heard the sound of a car driving on the coast road. She looked behind her to make sure they were out of the way of any oncoming traffic. Due to the poor visibility, the car was creeping along.

They were some ten yards off of the verge when a voice called out: “James Blackwell, stop where you are! This is the police!”

Jimmy swore under his breath and paused for only an instant. Then, before Judith could see who had spoken, Jimmy ran off into the swirling mist.

18

Jimmy Blackwell had disappeared in the vicinity of the dumpster, a few feet away.

Malcolm Ogilvie and his superior, DCI Alpin MacRae, emerged from the gray cloud of fog. “Where’d he go?” Ogilvie asked.

Judith pointed to the dumpster that was almost concealed by mist. “Over there.”

“Go to our car!” MacRae shouted as the policemen gave chase.

The cousins hurried to the unmarked vehicle. “Who gave Jimmy up?” Renie asked after they’d gotten in the car.

“Archie?” Judith suggested, trying to settle into the backseat and ease her tired hip. “Maybe somebody else recognized Jimmy’s disguise.”

Renie had left the door open on her side, but her efforts to see anything were futile. “I thought I heard a car, but I can’t tell where the sound’s coming from. Say,” she said, brightening. “The cops left the keys in the ignition. Why don’t we steal this one?”

“Coz!” Judith looked horrified. “That is a crime!”

Renie’s expression was ingenuous. “Not if you make up a really good fib about why we did it.”

“I’d never do such a thing,” Judith asserted indignantly. “For heaven’s sake, I’m married to a retired policeman! What would Joe say?”

“Why does Joe have to find out?”

“Stop it,” Judith snapped. “Besides, even I couldn’t come up with a story that would keep us out of big trouble. We could be charged with aiding and abetting a fleeing criminal.” She grew silent. “Then again, maybe we should try to find the cops. We could…um…drive,” she added in an uncertain voice. “I mean, I could drive.”

“Okay.” Renie got out of the car and went to the front seat.

Trying to quiet her conscience, Judith also made the switch to the front seat. “I’m serious,” she said. “Jimmy had a car. MacRae and Ogilvie are on foot. We’ll find them and turn the car over.”

Renie stared at the windshield. “Of course we will.”