Free Sword Dance by Marie Laval Page B

suddenly unbearable. His brain filled with the distorted sounds of the library door opening and boots pounding the parquet as three of McRae’s henchmen walked in. Behind them were two women clad in flamboyant gowns billowing like sails with their every step. Each wore a large, colourful ostrich feathered hat that sat atop their chignon like some gigantic bird about to take to the air. With their garish make up and the perfume that wafted around them like a noxious cloud, it wasn’t hard to guess what their profession was.
    He’s seen them before.
    McRae’s men now stood in next to the women, hands resting on their pistols.
    â€˜That’s him all right!’ The oldest woman shrieked, a look of sheer horror distorting her painted face as she pointed a finger in his direction. ‘I’d recognise that big brute anywhere. He was full of drink and in such a violent mood he gave us a right scare that night. He looked like the devil, he did. We cater for respectable gentlemen in our establishment, not thugs like him.’
    â€˜Aye, and he insisted on taking both girls away, even though the poor lambs could hardly stand, let alone walk, by the time he’d finished with them,’ the other woman carried on. She shook her head, her double chin wobbling like an unappetising blancmange. ‘He had to carry them in his arms,’ she finished with a wail.
    â€˜What poor lambs? Who are you talking about?’ Bruce asked.
    â€˜That young girl, a bonnie blonde lass – she couldn’t have been more than fifteen. She didn’t talk much but she said she knew you the moment you staggered in, drunk as a skunk.’
    Hell. Could she be talking about Fenella McKay?
    Bruce rose to his feet and took an unsteady step forward. ‘I didn’t hurt anyone.’
    The woman jumped back with a squeal as if scared he would touch her.
    â€˜I was in no fit state to do anything to any woman for that matter,’ he carried on but the words came out slow and raspy. ‘I’d just been ambushed by a gang of thugs. I don’t beat girls or women up.’
    â€˜Well, we know what we heard and what we saw, and that’s what we told that old lawyer,’ one of the women decreed as she crossed her short, plump arms on her chest.
    Bruce pressed his finger and thumb against the bridge of his nose. What if the women were right? After all, he did remember some kind of brothel, and he’d definitely seen Malika, but could he really have hurt, raped and killed her? Could he have tortured her? And what about that other girl he’d forgotten all about? Damn it, why couldn’t he remember?
    McRae’s voice cut through the haze of doubts and troubled thoughts swirling in his mind.
    â€˜The statements will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal in Thurso at first light tomorrow morning. I think we can expect police constables to pay us a visit soon after and take you to Inverness jail.’
    He paused and let out a low chuckle.
    â€˜You never know, you may even get to spend time in Fergus McGunn’s old cell – the one he stayed in before being taken to London for his execution. Do you think history is about to repeat itself?’
    He dismissed the women with a flick of his hand and ordered one of his men to take them back to the servants’ quarter for refreshments. Two men stayed behind, guarding the door and scowling menacingly at him.
    â€˜I don’t remember anything,’ Bruce muttered.
    McRae’s face twisted in a mock grimace and he put his hand to his heart.
    â€˜How awful for you, but I assure you that the women are prepared to testify at your trial. For now, I’ll leave you to think about your predicament. We might be able to come to an agreement later. Take him to the tower,’ he then instructed his men. ‘We’ll keep him there until it’s time to leave.’
    Leave? Leave for where?
    By then he was too weak to fight the men off, and he