Page 5

B efore either woman could answer Crystal, Jamie returned. It was hard not to appreciate the look of the man as he stood hovering over them. It was then Crystal noticed he was back to his serious and somber expression.

"Elena, Melanie, come with me. The first of the villagers to be interviewed has arrived."

Elena turned to Crystal and said, "Stay right here. Don't draw attention to yourself. I promise we'll try to get through this as quickly as possible, then we will explain things more. We'll be right over there."

Before Crystal could respond they walked away.

Sitting in silence, Crystal observed the scene.

If this was some sort of role playing game, they were all extremely focused on staying in character.

Melanie's words replayed in her head. This town, these people are all real…

What was she trying to say? Of course they were real.

Did she mean that they weren't acting? That this town, these people lived like this on purpose? Why?

She glanced over at Elena and Melanie as they questioned one of the villagers.

She watched, feeling slightly intrigued, seeing as she wrote crime dramas for a living.

It was pretty interesting to see an interrogation in action.

Of course, if this town was real, and there had been a murder, that was nothing to be happy about.

Still the process was fascinating. Maybe she could write a new series and base it on a town like this, when she got back home.

If she got back home, crossed her thoughts, but she quickly dismissed that. Of course she would get back home.

Crystal watched as Jamie sat down at the table next to her with a villager and the two women. She did her best to eavesdrop as they spoke in hushed tones and the tavern began to grow louder with more villagers arriving for a breakfast meal.

"We're looking into the murder of the farrier's wife," Jamie said.

"Aye, I figured as much," the elderly man said, his tone filled with sadness. "It's the goblins, ain't it? It'd need be, the way she was done in, so brutal. No man would do that."

Goblins? It must be the name of a motorcycle gang. Crystal thought as she slid over to the edge of the bench to hear a little better.

"Could be," Jamie acknowledged, but his tone gave nothing of his true feelings on the murder away.

"We're here questioning everyone in hopes that we can find whoever did it before they can attack someone again.

But right now, we don't know what we're looking for.

That's why we're asking everyone in the village what they saw that night.

Even if you think it's nothing, it could be something to us. "

Crystal was impressed by Jamie's interrogation skills.

He was kind and explained why they were questioning people, he didn't point fingers or make accusations.

That was the mark of a good investigator.

She had written and researched investigators enough to know that the bad ones got in their own way and hindered an investigation.

"You have no witnesses, then?" the man asked.

"Unfortunately, the farrier didn't see the crime take place, but he discovered the body right after it happened."

"Lord have mercy," the man gasped. "What a thing to discover of one's own wife."

"Aye, tis. He's very distraught and refuses to speak. I cannot imagine the horror of finding a loved one in such a state," Jamie said.

Crystal's eyes widened. How horrible a storyline for this to be a murder mystery reenactment.

But with the husband being first to show up at the crime scene, it made him look very guilty.

Her mind immediately turned to thinking about this set up.

Maybe partaking in this murder mystery game would be fun and a good distraction for her while she waited for her new helpers to get her a phone and a change of clothes.

She had to admit, though just to herself, that a little part of her was allowing her ego to think that she could solve this little mystery game they had going before they did. It would put her wits on the subject to the test. Maybe she actually would write about her experience.

A loud grunting caught her attention across the room. Cameron and Billy were served heaping plates of eggs, meat, loaves of bread, and cheese. No doubt the Innkeeper meant to sober them up with such a helping. She was glad that the food would occupy them for a while and she could move around a bit.

She stood up just as Gavin came back to the table. "Where you going, lass?"

"Nowhere, just stretching my legs," she said.

"Aye, that's fine. But you don't want to be going nowhere far from Jamie Grant. You met him? He's with the Watch," Gavin said.

"I did meet him. What's his story?" she asked. Even though she didn't know if Gavin would give her Jamie's real life information or his character as a man of the Watch. She also hid the fact she was asking because she was interested in him.

"What do I know of Jamie Grant?" Gavin asked, and when Crystal nodded, he continued, "He's an upstanding member of the Grant family, cousin to the Laird.

He's a ranked member of the Watch, which are the guards from Urquhart Castle.

They keep the peace on Grant lands, which includes this village.

" Gavin paused and looked about the room a bit, then leaned in closer to whisper, "Some say Jamie possesses a talent for telling when people are lying. "

Crystals lips quirked into a wry smile. "Really?" She turned to Jamie and saw that his eyes were roaming over the villager who sat before him in an analytical way. It reminded her of someone playing poker and sizing up their rivals' bluff.

"Aye. He's a smart one, though stubborn sometimes. That's not an unusual trait for the men of the Watch. They don't back down. It's necessary in their trade," Gavin said.

The more she learned about Jamie Grant the more intriguing she found him.

"So is Jamie Grant his real name or is that part of his character? Is he wearing a wig?" she asked.

Gavin gave her a strange look. "It tis his real name, lass. And I'd expect, like all Scots men, he'd not be caught dead wearing a wig. I don't know his character only to know he's a true and honest fighter."

Crystal raised her brows realizing that Gavin wasn't going to break character at all. So she went along with it. "Does Jamie have a wife?"

"No, not that I've heard. Though it is probably time he find one. He's of nine and twenty years of age."

"Twenty-nine? Hm, he looks much younger," Crystal said.

The door to the tavern opened, as it had done multiple times over the last hour or so, only this time the one who'd opened it was not what she was expecting. A hush came over the entire tavern as they all stared at the woman in the doorway. Even Gavin turned to look at the woman who entered.

Crystal's gaze was drawn to the table next to hers as Jamie shifted in his seat and locked eyes with the woman in the doorway, then gave her a nod.

The woman was about thirty or so, with russet hair and a thin face.

She pulled the hood of her cloak closer to her cheek so that her startling, sad blue eyes were the only thing peeking out as she shuffled through the tavern toward the back corner.

Once she settled into a standing position the chatter of the tavern started up again.

Crystal leaned back across the table to speak to Gavin in a hushed tone because her curiosity was too great. "Who is that and why did everyone nearly freeze when she entered?"

"Aye, that's Courteney. She's the elder sister of the young woman who was murdered, Maeve Highsmith, God rest her soul.

Courteney is broken after all this. Twas only her and her sister living together in the village with no kinfolk.

That was until Maeve got married to Brian Highsmith and moved out, leaving poor Courteney alone and all.

She keeps to herself, though. A good quiet woman who does no one no harm and all. "

"I see," Crystal said. She turned toward Courteney but not for long, not wanting to make the woman uncomfortable.

Crystal placed her attention back on Jamie.

She noticed that Elena and Melanie were speaking with another villager who had entered and placed them at a table, as though creating a holding room.

Elena looked up and locked eyes with Crystal.

She murmured to Melanie and then made her way over to Crystal and Gavin.

"Elena, how much longer is—" Crystal started to ask.

"I know. I'm sorry. This is going to take a few hours, then we will get you settled. Jamie and his men want to question as many villagers as they can, or at least those that will speak. Have you eaten? I can get you?—"

"No, I did eat, thank you. Gavin fetched me a bowl of the most delicious soup I've ever had," she said.

"Oh right." She scrunched her nose up and twisted her lips into a grimace. "I forgot how awful and artificial the food is where we come from. This food here tastes like heaven," Elena said.

Crystal cocked her head to the side, confused by her statement but didn't push. "I don't understand, do you mean here in Scotland, or—" She wasn't sure where she was going with her question, but Elena just shook her head.

"I promise, you'll understand everything soon. For now, it really is best you just sit here by the fire. It's the safest place for you right now. Being a stranger in these lands, sitting next to Jamie and the Watch is safer than any place else at the moment."

"I'll sit with you, lass. So as you're not too bored out of your wits," Gavin said. "I had a long mornin' on the loch. Fishing before the sun comes up, that's the best time. I can do with a hearty meal myself."

"Aye, Gavin. Help yourself and I will cover your tab. You're doing the Laird and the Watch a service by watching over Crystal. And when she gets hungry again please order for her. We will be here for some time," Elena said.

"Well you don't have to tell me twice, lass. And please be thankin' the Laird for me. I only do my duty.." Gavin stood up and walked over to Wallace to place an order.

Elena gave Crystal a genuine look of sympathy. "I do know what you're feeling, Crystal. It's a lot to ask for you to sit tight when you want to burst out of your skin and go home, but trust me on this. Please?"

Crystal sighed. "Alright. I'll wait here."

"Good. Melanie and I will be over to explain everything, but it might be lunch time before we get through all these interviews. So just stay with Gavin. Don't worry, the Laird will see that he is compensated for looking after you and he will cover the costs of whatever food you eat."

"Okay, sure," Crystal said, shrugging.

Elena returned to Melanie leaving Crystal alone.

She took the opportunity to look at Jamie again.

He was very handsome and Crystal felt sure that all these female actors must all want him.

Maybe he was a playboy and had slept with all of them.

She supposed it was possible. He was an actor after all and looked the way he did.

She found it strange that her body responded to him with attraction because after what she went through with Mason, she should be swearing off all strange men.