Lib Novel Page 27
MacDuff was frowning as he glanced up from the latest Fiona journal they’d found that afternoon. “Railway tracks? Not like any tracks I’ve seen. It looks more like dots and dashes.”
“Because they’re a bit primitive,” Rodland replied. “Probably constructed back in Fiona’s day. And for some reason I don’t believe Fiona wanted anyone to know what she was drawing in those books.” His shoulders lifted in a half shrug. “But I’ve seen even more primitive rail track construction when I was in the mountains between Kashmir and India. When I was a prisoner of the Taliban, the commander made a deal with the Kashmir government for them to use Taliban prisoners to do the labor on that stretch of rail from the jungles of the southern villages to the mountains.” He made a face. “Using the cheapest materials, and half the time we had to clear the poisonous vipers out from between the spikes. Not a fun project. I was glad to see Seth Caleb when MI6 sent him with a team to raid the encampment and get us out of there.” He turned to Jane. “Caleb didn’t tell you about that?”
She shook her head. “Caleb seldom talks about anything he does for MI6 or any other organization. I suppose he believes it’s safer for me.” She changed the subject. “But why would you think that Fiona wouldn’t want anyone to know about those railroad tracks?”
“Just a guess. All the other details in what she’s drawn in her diaries and journals appear to be clean and legible. It just seems unlikely that she’d do those tracks clumsily.”
“And you could be wrong,” MacDuff said.
Rodland grinned. “But that would make you right and I don’t think I could bear the disappointment. Look at them closely and I’m sure you’ll see what I saw.”
“I suppose they could be tracks,” Jane said reluctantly. “I’ll go through her other books and compare them.” She shook her head. “For Pete’s sake, I’m an artist. It’s humiliating that I couldn’t identify those dashes as railroad tracks.”
“That she didn’t want you or anyone else to identify,” Rodland said. “Don’t feel bad. I’ve got a hunch Fiona was probably very clever. Maybe your friend MacDuff is right about the two of you having a close bond of some sort.”
“Rodland,” Jane said warningly.
“Just a thought.” He smothered a smile as he immediately got to his feet. “But I’ll leave you to have dinner and discuss it while I check out the courtyard and upper bedroom area.”
“Why don’t we invite him to dinner, Jane?” MacDuff mused. “Maybe he’s not as objectionable as I first thought.”
“No thanks,” Rodland said. “Not unless it’s to be your taste tester. You had the right idea to begin with. You mustn’t raise my hopes now that you’ve convinced me to know my place in the laird’s scheme of things.” He winked at Jane. “Enjoy.” He strolled out of the dining room.
“I could call him back,” MacDuff said. “He seems to have a good work ethic. Fergus said the two of you appeared to be working very hard today. And then he came up with the rail ties. Perhaps you should pay more attention to his opinion.”
“Since it agrees with your own?”
“Now that you mention it.” MacDuff’s smile was mischievous. “Though he did temper it with a dig or two about my lack of discernment, too. But I can forgive him that since he obviously didn’t want to make you look bad in contrast. Should I call him back?”
She thought about it before she shook her head. Not a good idea. She didn’t want MacDuff to become too impressed by Rodland. She’d already found how sharp he could be. She’d prefer he fade into the background as far as MacDuff was concerned until she got what she wanted at Kilgoray. “He does work hard, but I’ve no desire to have to deal with the two of you at the dinner table. You’re difficult enough. Besides, Caleb didn’t send him here to entertain you.”
“No.” He lifted his wineglass to his lips. “I just thought you might want to hear Rodland reminisce about his heroic rescue at Caleb’s hands. Since you said he never talks about his missions, I thought you might be feeling cheated.”
“No, you didn’t. You merely had a hunch you might have found a way to cause a little trouble.”
“Ah, caught again.” MacDuff laughed. “So you intend to continue to use Rodland as slave labor?”
“Certainly not. I don’t believe in slave labor. But he did agree to work with me to find out what I could about Fiona. I’ll have him help me go back through all of Fiona’s journals and try to figure out why she was enamored with railroad tracks. There’s one more storage unit at the stable that might tell us something. Perhaps another couple of days of research and we’ll have answers.”
“Or perhaps not.” MacDuff looked suddenly thoughtful as he stared at her expression. “I’ve never seen you quite this on edge and driven. You’re usually very cool. Look, I realize you have reason, but is there something I can do?”
So much for trying to act normal around MacDuff. He knew her too well. “No, I’m tired of worrying about Caleb. I’m being a bother to you and all your employees here at the Run. I feel guilty and I want it to stop.” She held up her hand as he opened his lips to speak. “But it’s nothing I can’t handle. I’ll just keep busy working on Fiona. It will at least give me something to do. Now can we sit down and have dinner?”
“I’m not allowed to offer comfort or discussion?”
She shook her head. “You’re doing too much already. Just ignore me until everything miraculously straightens itself out or I get Caleb back. Okay?”
He sighed. “I imagine that means I can’t indulge myself with attacking Caleb for the duration of your time with me?”
She nodded. “Absolutely not. Just ignore me.”
“If you insist, but you’re all that’s made these weeks interesting.” He was holding her chair for her. “As a reward I believe it’s only fair that you consider selling me theMist Child…”
***
Railroad tracks…
Jane stopped just as she started to climb the staircase to her room after dinner. She’d believed she’d dismissed the thought of Rodland’s guesswork about Fiona and the code that was no code. She should have known that it would stay with her. She hated what an idiot she’d been not to know what seemed obvious to Rodland. It was the second mistake she’d made about Fiona.