KILTED DESIRE 3 - New Blood (6 page)

   It was about a quarter to midnight when Tiffany went
into the bedroom to wake Scott. He was sleeping soundly, but being gently kissed several times by a beautiful brunette was enough to make him stir. After a few minutes he was awake enough to get out of bed. His mind cleared as they walked hand in hand down the stairs and he suddenly remembered the message from Chris’s Mom. They returned to the living room and sat on the couch. There were only a few minutes to go until the New Year. The TV show they were watching was showing clips of the celebrations in New York and the rest of the US where the New Year had already arrived. The clock ticked closer and closer to midnight. Scott held Tiffany close to him as the final few seconds ticked away. That was it; the New Year had arrived in the Pacific Time Zone. Scott held her tightly and kissed her passionately, his lips pressed firmly against hers and his hands caressing her body. He knew he didn’t have the energy to do much, but a good New Year’s kiss he could manage.

   “I love you Scott, it’s going to be a great year. I just know it.”

   “I love yer too Tiff. When we get upstairs, I’m going tae show yer just how much,” he said smiling.

   “Hmmm that sounds good, but you’ve been falling asleep pretty quickly lately and I know you’re very weak. So if you’re not up to it then don’t worry. I’m happy to wait until you’re better.”

   “Aye I know I’ve nae been very much fun lately, but it will get better. I promise.”

   “You can’t help being sick Scott, and I know things will get back to how they were. Now, you need to get your phone call made so we can go to bed.”

  “Aye, I do.”

Scott opened his laptop and retrieved the message
, then dialed the number on his cellphone. There was a slight delay but then it started to ring.

   “Hello,” said a woman’s voice in a thick Glaswegian accent.

   “Mrs. Walker?”

   “Aye, who’s this?”

   “This is Scott Maclaren. I’m Chris’s friend, yer sent me an email yesterday.”

   “Och thanks fer calling Scott. Has he been in touch with yer recently?”

   “Nae problem, nae I have nae heard fae him fer a couple of months now. What’s wrong?”

   “The dafti
e has disappeared. He went oot three nights ago and has nae been seen since. I’ve tried everyone I know aroond here. Sharon has been asking aroond too. We’ve called the police and they’re searching fer his car but nae luck as yet.”

   “Wow, nae I have nae heard anything at all. I’m nae sure what tae suggest. I knew he
was living with yer fer a while after he split up with Sharon. Do yer have any idea where he was going when he left?”

   “Nae idea, he did nae say much tae us aboot where he went. He’s stayed oot fer a night afore but he’s nae ever been gone fer this long. Yer the only friend he ever talked aboot and I found a piece of paper in his room with yer phone number and email address on it. I tried the phone number first but it did nae work.”

   “Aye I’ve just moved to a new place so I got a new phone number. So what have the police said? What are they actually doing?”

   “There’s nae much they can do Scott, we had nae idea where he was going so we dinnae know where tae start look
ing. His phone is turned off, we’ve tried it several times. There’s been nae activity on any of his bank cards or credit cards. They’ve checked all that.”

   “I’m sure he’ll turn up, I wish I could help yer more but I’ll leave yer with my phone number. If yer hear anything please let me know and if I can think of anything then I’ll call yer.”

   “Okay, thanks fer calling Scott.”

Scott gave her his new cell number and said farewell. He was concerned about his friend. It was not like Chris to do something like this, he was always very responsible.

   “I couldn’t really understand you Scott, when you talk with someone from Scotland your accent gets stronger. But I’m guessing that it’s not good news,” Tiffany said as she stroked his arm.

   “Aye, Chris has gone mis
sing. He has nae been seen fer three days now. The police are looking but they have nae got any leads. I’m nae sure what tae think.”

   “Oh no, that’s not good. I hope he turns up soon.”

   “Damn, I should be there helping to try and find him,” Scott said angrily.

   “There’s not much you can do at the moment Scott, just try and calm down. The police will find him.”

   “If he does nae turn up soon, I’m going tae have tae go over there and help.”

   “Scott you don’t have the energy to make a flight like that at the moment. Plus you have to finish your treatments.”

   He knew she was right, but he felt like he had to do something. There was no good time for something like this to happen but as far as Scott was concerned, this couldn’t have come at a worse time. Tiffany eventually managed to persuade him to go back to bed. He was exhausted so despite the new worries it didn’t take him long to drift off to sleep.

   When Scott awoke on New Year’s Day he thought he’d had a bad dream. As he stretched out trying to liven up his body, the realization that last night’s events were not a dream hit him. He climbed out of bed and went downstairs to check his computer, maybe there’d been some news. Tiffany was already up and had fixed Scott some toast and juice. Toast was about all he’d been able to manage for breakfast for the last few weeks.

   “Morning Scott, how are you feeling?”

   “Morning gorgeous, I’m okay. I just want tae see if there’s any news aboot Chris,” he replied grabbing his laptop.

   “I know it’s hard but they have your phone number Scott. Someone will call you when they know something.

   “Aye I know, I just feel like I should be doing something.”

   “Trust me, I know exactly how you feel. When Kyle was missing it was awful, then when you were not in touch for a few hours when you were in Russia I was being physically sick. It was horrible.”

   “I know baby, it’s frustrating. I’m going tae try and stay positive.”

   “You don’t think it could be linked to the Russians do you? Or maybe Tom?”

   “Nae, I thought aboot that. Tom only met Chris in Russia, he did nae even know his last name. And he definitely would nae have known where he lived. I’m sure it’s unrelated.”

   “Okay, it was just a thought.”

   “Thanks fer trying though, I guess we just have tae be patient.” Scott said as he moved close to her and held her.

   Later that afternoon, Scott’s phone rang. He quickly picked it up saw it was from an unavailable number, there was a good chance that it was an international call.

   “Hello.”

   “Scott, this is Angela Walker. I just thought I’d let yer know that the police have found Chris’s car. It was on a car park near the Southern end of Loch Lomond. It was parked normally and they said there was nae sign of a struggle. His phone was in the car but nae switched on. I dinnae suppose yer have any idea what he may have been doing up there, do yer?”

   “Och I really dinnae have a clue! Sorry.
So are the police starting a search fae the car? Are there any footprints tae follow?”

   “Aye they started a search earlier when they found the car. They had several teams up there, including various dogs and a couple of helicopters. It’s dark now though so they’ve put it on hold until the morning. And we’ve had heavy snowfall fer the last couple of days so there were nae footprints.”

   “This is really strange, is there anything else yer can think of tae why he may have been up there? Scott asked.

   “
We’re oot of ideas Scott, we’re just hoping the search turns up some good news in the morning. Sharon’s here if yer want tae talk tae her.”

   “Aye, I would please.”

   Scott waited as the phone was passed to Sharon. Scott had met her several times but hadn’t spoken to her for a few years.

   “Hi Scott,” said a nervous sounding high pitched voice.

   “Hey Sharon, how are yer holding up?”

   “Nae
guid Scott, I dinnae know what tae tell the kids, they’re asking questions.”

   “It’s a strange situation I know. Do yer have any idea why he may have been up there?”

   “Nae idea Scott, I really dinnae know.”

   “You two are still quite close though, reet. I mean he always said yer were quite friendly and he still saw the kids often.”

   “Aye, we were fine. We probably got on better since we broke up than we did when we were together. And aye, he did nae ever miss a visit with the kids.”

   “I dinnae know what tae say Sharon, I have nae heard fae him since early Novem
ber and he seemed fine then. Have yer noticed anything unusual aboot him recently.”

   “Nae really, he was complaining aboot his job but that was nae anything unusual, he did nae ever really like it. He did seem tae be throwing more money aroond
over the last few months though. He bought a new car, and was buying the kids more expensive toys quite often. I just presumed he’d gotten a raise at work or something. Apart fae that though, I did nae notice anything.”

   “I really wish I could help yer Sharon, but I’m as confused by this as yer are. If yer or Angela hear anything else though, please call me.”

   “We will Scott, bye.”

   “Take care, and guid luck.”

Scott put the phone down, this just didn’t make any sense. He held Tiffany in his arms.

   “They found his car but he was nae in it.”

   “Where did they find it?”

   “Loch Lomond, it’s probably aboot 15 miles fae where he was living. It was on a parking lot near the South end of the Loch. Nae signs of a struggle or anyth
ing and the police are searching fer him. I know the area around there is quite heavily wooded though so it will nae be easy. This is really strange Tiff.”

   “
I’m sorry Scott, I hope you get some good news soon.

   “Aye, me too. It’s kind of hard tae get this oot of my mind. I really want tae go over there and help.”

   “I know Scott, and I don’t mean to sound selfish but you have to think of your own health first. You have another treatment tomorrow. This is your last week. You can’t take a chance by missing treatments.”

   “I know yer reet, but it does nae help with the guilt. He came straight away when I called him tae help with yer brother. Now I cannae go and help search fer him.”

   “It’s not your fault that you’re ill Scott, you can’t blame yourself. I know it’s hard for you but you have to let the police handle it.”

   “Aye I know, I just have tae trust them and concentrate on getting through these last few treatments. Then I can go help if I need tae.”

Chapter 6

   S
cott and Tiffany waited in the doctor’s office. It was Friday and he’d just had his final treatment, blood drawn and a scan done. All they had to do now was to wait for Dr. Bjorkman to look at his scan. It had been a long week. There had been no news about Chris. Scott had checked the computer every day and had been in touch with Angela and Sharon but as yet, there’d been absolutely no trace of his friend. It was like he’d just vanished off the face of the earth. The huge police search had continued and there had been regular reports on local TV in Scotland about the search.  The confusing situation was made worse for Scott by the fact that his mind wasn’t as sharp as it usually was, due to the effects of chemotherapy. Scott was extremely frustrated. He couldn’t get the thought out of his mind that he may be forgetting something that could help find his friend. It had been an extremely painful week and he just wanted it to be over. Then, the door opened and the doctor walked in. He greeted them both in his normal cheerful way and sat down behind the desk, holding the scan in his hand.

   “So is it all over doc?” Scott asked impatiently.

   “Virtually Scott, there’s still a very small trace there. I don’t want to take any chances so I’d like you to come in next week for another three treatments just to make sure. Then we’ll monitor it closely and make regular appointments for scans. We have to make sure it’s not going to come back.”

   “Och I thought I was done, do yer really think it’s necessary that I have more treatments?” Scott was frustrated. Tiffany held on to his hand tightly, she could feel his pain.

   “I’d just rather not take any chances, Scott. I want to be sure it’s gone. I’d highly recommend that you do this.”

   “It’s just one more week Scott, you’ve come this far, don’t stop now,” Tiffany
tried to reassure him.

   “So how long does it normally take for the side-effects to wear off and I feel like I’m back to normal? Scott asked.

   “It could be a few weeks, could be a few months. There’s no way to know exactly. But in your case, being as though your treatment length was quite short, I don’t think it will take too long.”

   “Okay
thanks,” Scott replied.

It was not the news he wanted to hear but he knew it wasn’t anyone’s fault.
Scott agreed to come back for the extra treatments. He knew deep down that he had to. It made sense to not take any chances. His phone had been turned off for the last few hours while they were inside the hospital and when he turned it on there was a new voicemail. He listened to it as they walked across the parking lot towards their car. It was bad news, a body had been found in the woods about five miles from where Chris’s car was found. There were no other details yet as police were still trying to identify it. Scott’s heart sank and he stopped walking, he was devastated. The guilt he felt for not being able to go and help search for his friend had now been magnified.