Page 109 of Death on a Scottish Train

“No. He’s not answering his radio, nor is Carl.”

Well, that wasn’t good. A knot of worry formed in my stomach. “Where did they go, Henry, and do not use protocol right now. They could be in danger.”

“Do you think?”

“Just tell me where they are.”

“At the murder victim’s home. The neighbor, Mrs. Culbert, thought she saw a light inside the house. They went to check it out.”

“You call in reinforcements. I’m heading over there,” I said. And I ran out with the umbrella before he could say no.

The house was just down the street and over a block, and it was completely dark from the outside.

My hope was that Ewan and Carl had checked things out and gone back to the party. Maybe, he couldn’t hear his phone or radio with all the noise.

When I approached the porch, Mrs. Culbert came out dressed in her house coat, an umbrella, and rain boots.

“Doctor, what are you doing here?”

“We haven’t heard back from the ACC. Did you see them leave?”

“No, I assumed they were still in there. I could hear a bit of rumbling around through my walls. Paper thin they are.”

Especially, if one kept an ear close to them.

“I’m going in to check on them. If you don’t see or hear from me in ten minutes, call the cavalry.”

I didn’t give her time to answer. The door was unlocked. I shook out the umbrella and wrapped it closed. I held it like a weapon as I walked into the victim’s home.

I hadn’t gone far when I found Ewan out on the floor, his hands tied behind his back.

“Ewan,” I whispered and shook him a bit. He was out cold, but he had a strong pulse.

“Carl,” I called out. My voice warbling with nerves. That knot in my stomach tripled and bile burned the back of my throat.

“They can’t help you,” Kaitlyn said. “They are all tied up, Doctor.”

She stood there holding the taser. It looked like a real gun.

“Why would you do all this? You’ll never get away with it.”

“I just have to dispose of one more body, and I’m home free. I take the insurance money and find a nice island that doesn’t have an extradition treaty. All I need, Doc, is for you to sign that death certificate.” She raised her arm with the taser.

I held up the umbrella, like it was going to help me somehow.

“I can’t do that if I’m dead.”

She laughed cruelly. “Oh, I won’t kill you until the paper is signed. I’ve already shot up the ACC and his man with a cocktail of barbiturates. They won’t be waking up any time soon, and they didn’t see me. So, no reason to kill them. You on the other hand …”

Oh. No. I’d put myself in the middle of trouble once again. When would I learn?

Never, most likely. Especially, when others might be in danger.

“What happens if I refuse to sign?”

“I already have a copy of your signature, and I’ve become a fairly good forger,” she said.

“You’ll never get away with it.” Then it hit me. “You’re the one who broke into my office.”