Page 110 of Death at a Highland Wedding

“Turn left,” he says, startling me from my thoughts.

I glance back, but he only waves the rifle in the direction he wants me to go.

I have a very strong sense that Müller was involved in something sexual with Sinclair and Lenore. That isn’t necessarily a problem, though. Not if she consented.

Did she consent?

Holy shit.

Didshe consent?

My gut goes cold.

I need to get out of here. Yes, that should be obvious, but my cop brain has taken over, chasing clues dangled in front of me. That’s a better trap than a lost kitten, and I fell for it.

I’d been thinking when I need to escape.

Because I do need to escape… before Müller does whatever he plans to do.

THIRTY-SIX

“I did not say you could stop.” Müller jerks the rifle again. “Do you see that bag on the ground? That is where you are going. Now move.”

When I squint, I see the bag. Some kind of rucksack.

He’s going to put me in a rucksack?

I continue walking toward it.

Be docile. Be cowed. Don’t overdo it, but let him think he’s in control.

Once we reach the sack, I see it’s not big enough to hold me, and there are objects inside. I hold my breath. He’s going to open it and take something out, and that will be my chance—

“Open it,” he says.

I look at him.

The rifle barrel rises. “Open it.”

I calculate and decide this isn’t the time. I lift the bag. Inside is a length of hemp rope. Seeing it, something in me spasms, thrown back to how I ended up in this world, strangled by a rope like this. But this is several pieces, and in the next moment, I realize what he has in mind.

“Lie on your stomach,” he says. “Place your hands behind your back.”

“Wh-what are you going to do?” I say, injecting as much fear as I can into my voice.

“I do not know the custom in this country,” he says, “but in mine, when you are released from a position early, you are due a payment. Cranston cannot give it to me, so I am taking it. You.”

My reaction must show in my eyes, because he gives a harsh laugh. “Not for that. I saidpayment,girl. I know people who will pay well to take you. I only need to get you to them.” His teeth flash. “I am certain they will be very kind to you.”

“People in your country?”

Disdain oozes from him. “I do not need to go to my country to find such people. There are enough in yours.Morethan enough.”

“People you know through Ezra Sinclair. People who share his… tastes.”

“Lie down.”

“He didn’t bring you to Scotland because you’re such a wonderful gamekeeper. He brought you because you share his tastes.”