Allegra Fairweather_ Paranormal Investigator - Janni Nell [72]
“No.” She clutched my arm. “You don’t understand. Sir Alastair will do terrible things.”
“Has he threatened you?” Stupid question. “Whatever he’s threatened, I promise I can protect you.”
“You can’t,” she said. “If my skin is found—if I leave Sir Alastair—he’s going to poison the loch. He’ll kill my people.”
It was understandable that Justina would focus on the fate of her people, but she was looking at the small picture. If Sir Alastair poisoned the loch, all the marine life would die. It would rob the local fishermen of their livelihood. It would be an economic as well as an environmental disaster.
I wanted to believe Sir Alastair would never carry through such a threat, but from what I’d seen, I knew he was capable of anything. What was even worse, he was smart enough to get away with it.
Justina said, “Douglas told me he planned to ask his people to look for my skin. Please thank them. I’m grateful.”
Drawing myself up to my full height—I suspect I even reached six one—I looked down at Justina.
“Sir Alastair won’t get away with this. I’m going up to Maitland House to talk to him.”
“He’s not at home,” she said. “He’s downstairs in his car.”
“He drove you here?”
She nodded. “He wanted to make sure I spoke to you. Now I’ve done what he asked I must go.”
“Not before I give him a piece of my mind.”
“Please, Allegra. There’s nothing you can do.”
“We’ll see about that.”
She tried to hold me back as I raced downstairs. “Allegra, don’t act in anger.”
I shook off her hands. Nothing would stop me giving Sir Alastair a piece of my mind. But, as I stormed through Mac’s, her words echoed in my mind and I realized she was right. This must be handled with a cool head. I fought to calm myself as I stepped out into the freezing night.
The Rolls Royce was double-parked outside Mac’s. I strode up to the driver’s side and signaled for him to wind down the window. Immediately the glass descended.
“Good evening, Allegra,” he said. Then he neatly drew first blood. “How’re your mother and The Senator?”
“Very well thank you,” I said, determined to be calm. “Now…”
“Cold night isn’t it?” he said conversationally. “Even for us locals.”
I lost patience. “Cut the small talk. I understand you’ve threatened Justina.”
“Not at all. I’ve simply explained my theory of action and consequences to her.”
Struggling to control my temper, I took a deep breath. I couldn’t afford to let his slimy smooth tone rattle me. Trying a different tack, I asked, “Do you love Lady Justina?”
“Of course I love her. That’s why I married her.”
That’s what I hoped he’d say. I pressed home my advantage. “Do you love her enough to let her go?”
He laughed. “What is that? Psychology 101? No wait. It’s one of those sayings they put on t-shirts. If you love something let it go…” Clearly he had no heart.
“You piece of shit,” I said.
He looked down his long nose at me, which isn’t easy when you’re sitting down, “You Americans are so blunt. Perhaps if you’re here long enough I’ll be able to teach you some manners.”
He could kiss my ass. “If you poison the loch, you’ll regret it.” I was beginning to sound like a movie script—the kind that didn’t make it to the Oscars.
“What will you do?” asked Sir Alastair, matching my B-movie dialogue. “Kill me?”
“Worse,” I said, thinking of my friend Wanda. “I’ll have a curse put on you.” Okay, Wanda didn’t really do curses. She was the kind of witch who mixed Love Spells. Her success rate wasn’t great, but if the spells didn’t work on the man of your dreams they could always be used as perfume. Fortunately Sir Alastair didn’t know that.
He laughed. Okay maybe he did know. Maybe Wanda’s reputation had crossed the Atlantic.
“I’m not kidding,” I said. “You leave the loch alone.” I leaned heavily on his precious car.
His laughter died. Grabbing my sweater, he pulled me down until our faces were inches apart. “I’m not kidding either. Stop searching for Justina’s skin. She’s mine now. She’s not going back to the loch.”
He turned to his “wife.