He returned to the bedroom, slowly scanning the furniture, the floor, and the open suitcase. Nothing seemed out of place.
And then he saw it. “Shit!” His heart pounded for a whole new set of reasons.
Beneath the luggage rack was a brooch identical—except for the stone in the center—to eight others locked away in Uncle Braham’s impenetrable safe.
He stooped to pick up the brooch and was surprised that it was still warm. Was it still active? Possibly. He dropped it faster than an argument with his dad, popped to his feet, and stepped away.
If the brooch was here, where was Ensley?
He stared at the brooch on the floor. It must be like the topaz. That stone got so hot no one could hold on to it and threw it away, eliminating any possibility of using it for a return trip. Now, he had to proceed as though the fog sucked Ensley up and spun her through time.
He should call his dad. But that was too dangerous right now. What about calling Uncle David? JC shook that idea right out of his head. That would be the same as calling his dad. Same with Tavis and Remy. No sense involving any of them. He could take care of this quietly.
There was a pattern to brooch disappearances. A woman went missing, members of the MacKlenna Clan rescued her, and she fell in love with one of the rescuers. Well, not always. Twice, the damsel in distress fell in love with someone in the past. Maybe that was Ensley’s future, to find someone wherever she went.
He’d read the seven post-action reports. The first one was Aunt Kit. She traveled back to the Oregon Trail in 1852 with the ruby brooch. The sapphire carried Aunt Charlotte back to the Civil War. A few years later, the emerald whisked Aunt Kenzie back to 1944. Then the diamond carried Aunt Amy back to 1909 New York City. The amber took Aunt Amber back to 1878. The pearl carried Aunt Sophia back to 1789. And most recently, the topaz whisked Aunt Penny back to 1814 New Orleans.
So where had this brooch taken Ensley?
He knew the hardships his aunts experienced and wouldn’t want any woman to go through something like that again. But if the past was prologue, Ensley would have a hard time wherever she landed.
“JC, is Ensley up there?” George yelled.
“No! She took a shower and changed clothes, but she’s gone now.”
“Where the hell is she?” George yelled as he ran up the steps.
“I don’t know.” JC kicked the brooch under the bed just as George bounded into the room.
“The lights were off in the exercise room.” George glanced around. “What was she wearing?”
“Hell, if I know.” JC picked up a pair of slacks and a blouse. “She changed, but there’s no way to know what she’s wearing.” He felt like an ass lying to his friend, but he had to get his family’s permission before telling George what he believed happened to Ensley. And that wasn’t going to happen.
George stood in front of the window and looked out over the front yard, shaking his head. “Wherever she went, she would have taken her phone. Something’s wrong. She’s missing, and the house stinks.” He glanced at her suitcase. “She was meeting friends at a country bar after dinner. They were all wearing boots, jeans, and cowboy hats. I don’t see her boots or hat, do you?”
“Maybe she changed her mind.”
George sat on the edge of the bed and tapped his fingers on his knees. This situation reminded JC of Uncle Connor when he tried to keep Amber’s disappearance a secret from her sister, Olivia, and it almost destroyed Connor’s budding romance with Olivia. If JC wasn’t careful, keeping this secret could ruin his friendship with George.
“I don’t think Ensley changed her mind. She mentioned it in one of her texts while on the train from New York.”
“Call your dad,” JC said. “Maybe he spoke to her.” What had Connor done to search for Amber when he knew they wouldn’t find her? He contacted the sheriff and went through the motions of searching for Amber. That’s what he and George should do next.
“Good idea.” George placed the call and put his dad on speaker. “Hey, Dad. I’m at the house with JC Fraser, and Ensley’s not here. Have you talked to her?”
“Not since last week,” Mr. Williams said. “She called to see if she could stay at the house. Why?”
“She knew I was coming to pick her up for dinner, but we’re here, and she’s not around. Her suitcase, computer bag, purse, and phone are here, but no Ensley.”
“That’s unlike her,” Mr. Williams said. “She told me she was going to meet some college friends. You could call one of them to see if they’ve heard from her.”
“I don’t have any names and numbers, and she keeps her phone password protected.”
“Then check with Mrs. Taylor next door,” Mr. Williams said. “I told Ensley that Mrs. Taylor had been in the hospital. Maybe she went over there to see how the dear lady was feeling.”
George let out a deep breath. “That’s got to be it. I’ll go over there. Thanks, Dad.”
“Call me back and let me know. Your mother and I worry about her all the time.”
“Mrs. Taylor or Ensley?”
Mr. Williams laughed. “Both of them, son. Enjoy your visit.”
George disconnected the call. “Mrs. Taylor was probably so glad to see Ensley that she’s talking her head off. I’ll go next door. You stay here in case she comes back.”
Maybe Ensley was visiting with Mrs. Taylor, but JC doubted it. The smell of peat and the presence of a Celtic brooch pretty much ruled that out.
So what were his next steps? Get the brooch. He couldn’t leave the room without it. He snatched it up and shoved it deep into his pocket. Now,
