The Kilt Killer

By Anne Franklin

Meg and Janet, from 'A Winter Murderland', are now in the Scottish Highlands on the banks of Loch Ness. In the local village pub they meet an assortment of interesting characters. A brutal murder is committed on the nearby moors. It is soon discovered that it is linked to previous murders in Inverness. When Meg and Janet are stalked by the killer, their will to survive is once more tested.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anne Franklin
• Release date: Apr 19, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311754899

Anne Franklin

My name is Anne C. Franklin. The ‘C’ stands for Curry, after my grandfather, Dr. J. B. Curry. I was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, but I was raised in Miami and the Space Coast of Florida. I live with my husband in Cape Canaveral.I am visually impaired, as is my protagonist in my books. Every night I read audio books until long after my husband has turned off the light and fallen to sleep. My other passions are traveling and writing.I started writing my first book, A Winter Murderland, several times. I started, and I stopped, for years. When I finally decided to be serious about writing, I had to rewrite much of that book. There were no more German Marks, and no one went to currency exchange shops to get foreign money. How excited I was when I found my first ATM in Austria.I’ve combined my three passions, reading (mysteries and suspense), writing, and traveling, into something constructive. So, I plot suspenseful mysteries, which take place while my protagonist is traveling.I also love telling my friends about my trips. Every time I tell a story of an adventure I’ve had, I try to make it more interesting, don’t want to lose my audience. When I was confined to a hospital in Germany, to get my broken arm repaired, I laid in the hospital bed thinking of how I would make this experience exciting for my friends.To my friends: Don’t believe everything I tell you, just enjoy it.I have a license to lie.I am now the author of "The Meg and Janet Vacation Murder Mysteries" series.The first book, A Winter Murderland, has the protagonists Meg and Janet on their winter vacation in the beautiful town of Trier, Germany. They book into a curiously empty hotel. A wild blizzard isolates them in a hospital inhabited by a cloister of robed monks. When a murder is committed and they are victims of brutal attacks, the two travelers discover a puzzling tale of fear and greed.The second book in the series, 'The Kilt Killer', has Meg and Janet vacationing in the Highlands of Scotland, where they encounter a series of gruesome murders. When they become intended victims, they must once again use their wits to survive.I just finished and published the third book in the series, 'Evil Irish Lies', which has Meg and Janet touring Ireland, where they become involved in murder and intrigue involving missing art pieces, and are again forced to use their wits in a fight for their lives at a centuries old estate in County Kerry.

Book preview

Prologue

"It is a beautiful day, is it not, Max? he said to the black terrier proudly prancing a few feet in front of him. The heather is gone, but warm days will return, not to worry. Then . . . "

He heard the crunch of steps behind him. Looking back over his right shoulder, he saw a man in a gray kilt, using a walking stick to maneuver the rocky path to the moor. He gave the man a tip to his hat and continued on before Max, in his exuberance, got too far off course. When he looked back again, the man was gone.

Odd, he thought, and the kilt was a bit off. He shrugged his shoulders.

Quickening his pace, he gave Max a sharp whistle. He and Max spent many happy hours walking these paths, and although it was quiet and peaceful during the winter, there was an occasional sighting of red deer. He stopped suddenly and listened . . . A grouse, he was positive. The ‘chut!chut!chut!chut!chut!chu!’ sound was distinct. He adjusted his binoculars and searched the flat area to the left. Making a pass back, he saw it; a red grouse perched on a lonely boulder.

He had the beginnings of a smile on his face, when he felt a stabbing hot pain in his back. As he fell to the ground, clutching his binoculars to his chest, he heard Max’s anxious yapping.

Chapter 1

Meg lay quietly in bed waiting to wake up. It was a process she went through every morning. There was no jumping out of bed, ready to face the world, for her. She had to ease into it. She turned her face toward Daniel and moved closer. She could hear his sleep breathing. She moved closer. He draped an arm across her waist, but did not open his eyes. She waited, and went nose to nose with him. Now she could see the black curl in the middle of his forehead and his bottom lip quiver as he exhaled. She spent a moment enjoying a close–up view of this beautiful person she loved so much.

What? he mumbled.

Wake up.

No.

Open your eyes.

No.

Daniel Delaney, this is your wife speaking. Open one eye!

If I do, I’ll wake up, and I don’t want to, he groaned.

We have to pick Janet and Erich up today. And, I want to go to that supermarket in Inverness before we go to the airport.

Okay, give me a minute.

It’s cold. Go turn the heat up, she whined.

"You turn the heat up."

I can’t, I’m visually impaired.

Now, what the hell does that have to do with it?

My vision is worse when I’m cold.

You’re full of crap, he said and pulled her on top of him. "I’ll warm you up, and then you can turn the heat up."

"If you turn it up, I’ll make you an excellent breakfast."

He cocked his head and studied her. Okay, I give.

They had rented this self–catering croft almost two weeks ago, and spent a wonderful snowy Christmas day lounging in bed, reading, and eating all sorts of delicious pre–cooked foods from the local bakery, meat market, and pub.

The old, two room, fieldstone farmhouse had been renovated to include an upper floor with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. On the first floor, the original two rooms were now the living room and dining room.

The living room was small. There was a long comfortable couch placed against the wall directly in front of the original stone fireplace. Two cozy chairs were nestled together to the left of the fireplace and another to the right. A TV was also in the corner to the right, but they had never turned it on.

A large, round, farm table, which could seat at least a dozen people, dominated the dining room. The only other piece of furniture in the room was a relaxing window seat filled with pillows. A compact, but modern, kitchen and utility room had been recently added to the first floor.

The croft sat on a rise above Loch Ness’s east bank. Stretched out on the window seat, you could see the narrow road from Inverness hugging the bank of the loch. The drive from the capital city of the Scottish Highlands was only interrupted by a few small villages and pasturelands dotted with black and white sheep.

After Meg’s excellent breakfast of sausage and French toast smothered in a honey–whiskey sauce, they sat in the sunroom overlooking the loch. Meg was wrapped in a heated blanket sipping hot tea. The sunroom’s inefficient heating system was an electrical strip along the baseboard. The second day of their vacation Meg had convinced Daniel that an electric blanket was the only way to go. Now she was comfortably gazing out at the loch and mountains beyond. She had her binoculars on a table beside her in case Nessie decided to make an appearance.

She had spotted the legendary sea monster several times this week, but Daniel had dismissed the sightings as logs, shadows, and Meg’s vivid imagination. But that was okay, because she knew.

After over stocking at the supermarket, Meg said, I want to stop and get another electric blanket for Janet. I’m sure she will probably need a heated one for the sunroom. Maybe we should get a tartan plaid blanket. If we go on a picnic, I don’t want to use one of the croft’s blankets. What do you think?

I think I agree, believe it or not, he laughed.

With the blanket shopping complete, Meg said, To the airport! I’m so excited to see them. They’ve been married four months. It’s hard to believe. I want this to be a great holiday for them, and I get to see the kids. It’s too bad you’ll miss them. Their flight comes in about two hours after your flight leaves on the third, so we won’t have to wait long.

They waited outside the security area as passengers filed out. Tell me when you see them, Meg said as she rummaged through her purse. She pulled out a white folded paper and started straightening it out.

There they are, Daniel said.

Point, Meg said.

There.

Meg held up the paper. What’s that? Daniel asked.

She turned it toward him. In thick black lettering it read, ‘The Janners’. He grinned, When did you do that?

Janet, she yelled, holding the sign high and jumping up and down.

Janet dropped her luggage and threw her arms around Meg. That’s funny, she said, grabbing the sign. I want to keep it.

Meg pushed her out by the shoulders, and said, You haven’t grown an inch.

Janet laughed, It’s only been four months since you saw me. Besides, I’m 38, she held her hands out, this is it, all five feet two inches of me.

And you’re letting your hair grow longer.

My goal is to have a pony tail by summer, Janet said.

Daniel and Erich were shaking hands. Meg pulled Erich away for a bear hug. I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you for bringing Janet to me.

That was part of our marriage vows, I think, Erich laughed.

As they drove out of Inverness and approached a roundabout, Meg said, Left. She turned to the back seat, He does well, except for the roundabouts.

We’re going to let Erich do the driving when we do our driving tour, Janet said.

Their plan was to stay in the croft for a week or so with Lilly and Kurt, and then drive up to John O’Groats and around the west coast and south to Glasgow.

No problem, Erich said. Just remind me to stay left.

This is a beautiful drive along the lake, Janet said.

The loch, Meg corrected.

"Right, Loch Ness. Have you seen Nessie yet?’

Several times, Meg said.

Daniel just laughed, and Meg knew he was shaking his head.

Are you two tired or hungry? Meg asked. I thought I’d make sandwiches when we get there. Tonight we’re going to our pub. They have great food. Janet, you’ll love the fish and chips. They have a sauce for the chips called a ‘chippy sauce’. It’s kind of a vinegary sauce but better. They have it on every table like a staple condiment."

Sounds good, Erich said. I am starting to get hungry. We spent the night at a hotel near the Gatwick airport last night, so we are rested.

Why didn’t Lilly and Kurt come with you, Meg asked.

We have a party of five people at the hotel until after New Years Eve, Janet explained. So the kids volunteered to man the front desk.

These people are our regular customers, Erich said. They come every year for a family reunion, and I couldn’t let them down.

We’re almost there, Meg said.

Erich, you can be the gate keeper, Daniel said. Unlatch the gate and push it open. Then close and latch it after we drive through. I won’t have to worry about Meg falling and breaking something.

Is that a dig about what happened on my watch? Janet asked.

No, no, Daniel said. That just came out wrong. I say it all the time.

Last February, on Meg and Janet’s vacation, Meg had slipped and fallen in Trier, Germany. She ended up having surgery to repair a broken elbow.

Listen, Meg said, if I hadn’t fallen, you wouldn’t have met Erich and the kids.

Yep, Janet said. Your fall changed my life.

Here’s the gate, Erich, Daniel said.

I’m on it, Erich said, jumping out of the car.

That’s the croft up there, Meg pointed up the hill.

Okay, what’s this croft thing? Janet asked.

It’s an old farmhouse made out of fieldstone. They were built for tenant farmers, I think.

The road up to the croft had two hairpin turns to ease the trip up.

When we booked the croft, they told us we would need a four–wheel drive, Meg said. It will probably come in handy on our driving trip next week. And here we are.

Daniel parked in front of a large rustic barn. A stone walkway on the left side of the barn led to the front door of the house.

This is actually the back door and leads into the utility room and kitchen. The front door is on the loch side, but doesn’t have a path around the house. When we get inside remind me to tell you about the day we arrived.

Meg, this is wonderful. What a great little kitchen. I see a washer, but no dryer.

That’s another story, Meg laughed.

The men came in carrying the luggage and most of the purchases. Erich and Janet followed Meg up to the top floor. This is our room and bath to the left. There are two bedrooms and another bath to the right. You two take the one on the end because the other one has bunk beds. I hope the kids will be okay with that.

This is bigger than it looks from the outside, Erich said.

You all unpack and we’ll make some sandwiches for lunch. You haven’t seen the best part. It’s a surprise, Meg said.

Back downstairs, Daniel said, I’ll get the sunroom ready, you get the sandwiches started.

When Janet and Erich came down, Daniel opened the large wooden doors to the sunroom and said, The best view in town.

Wow! Janet said. This is awesome.

Meg had a tray of sandwiches and a pot of coffee on the small table in the middle of the sitting area.

Sit here, you two, Meg said, ushering them to a large oversized chair to the left.

A heated blanket, Janet said, I could sit here all day. Look at that view. Is this where you saw Nessie, Meg?

Yep, right out there, Meg pointed straight out at the loch.

Tomorrow night we have reservations at a great inn for our New Years Eve dinner, Daniel said.

You’ll love it, Meg added. Then after dinner there’s a party at the pub.

I want to know why Jamie didn’t come with you, Janet said. And, we don’t have a dryer?

Daniel laughed, I’ll answer the dryer question. Our first load of wash was hung over a broom handle to dry. Also, we were burning logs from the supermarket in the fireplace. So, the second day I went out to the barn to investigate. The barn doors on the front were padlocked with a chain, and the extra key we had didn’t fit it, so I had not thought about trying to get in. Then, I noticed a small door in the back, which was also locked, but the key did fit. Guess what was inside, a clothes dryer and logs.

Janet chuckled and said, Thank heavens, I packed light thinking I’d wash often.

What was the other question? Meg said.

Jamie, Erich said.

Jamie is with her dad. We tried to talk her into coming but she had so many plans and her dad was looking forward to having her all to himself for the holidays.

Too bad she didn’t come, Erich said. "She is a very good influence on Kurt. Meeting her in August got him interested in his education again. He is starting back at university this next semester. Lilly graduates from high school in May and will start college in the fall, so he has that competition also.

"So, what kind of dress for tonight?" Janet asked Meg.

Jeans and your warm boots tonight. Tomorrow we’ll dress up a little, and you can wear your sexy boots.

On the drive to the pub, Janet commented, This is so beautiful. We need to get out early so we can see more.

The road has left the loch banks, and we’re going higher, Meg said. Our optimal touring time is ten to about three. Days are short this time of year, Daniel and I are finding it difficult getting started before the sun sinks.

As they entered the pub, there were ‘hellos’ all around. Lauren, this is my very best friend, Janet, and her husband, Erich. Where’s Willy?

Oh, he’ll be around, for sure, soon. There’s a bit of a problem in the village. Come on over, we have a table going. People, this is Meg’s friend, Janet, and her husband, Erich.

Janet, Erich, Lauren said, we have Mary and Mat, she pointed the two out, and Karl and Lexie here.

Chairs were arranged, and the men exchanged handshakes.

Nice meeting you all, Janet said. This is a wonderful place. It’s just what I would think a pub would look like, but much larger. Have you been able to see the beautiful wood work, Meg?

Oh yeah, I’ve been over every inch. It’s amazing. She turned to Lauren, who was handing out the food list for the evening, and asked, What’s the trouble in town?

I’m not sure. We’ll find out when Willy gets here. Meg, I know ye love the fish and chips, but Lexie says the beef stew is wonderful tonight.

They placed their orders, stew for Daniel and Meg, and fish and chips for Janet and Erich.

Meg and Daniel have had some lovely weather, Mary said. It snowed a bit but melted away immediately. I hope it continues as long as possible.

Pints were served just before Willy burst into the room. He looked grim but gave a friendly hello to the new comers.

What’s going on, Willy? Meg asked.

Bad news, for sure, he said, taking a long slug of his beer. A body has been discovered on the moors south of here. It’s a bloody scene, it is. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Chapter 2

Who is it? Mat asked.

Hard to tell, it’s horrible, Willy took a longer swig of his beer.

Meg felt Janet tense. She put her hand on her friend’s knee. It’s got nothing to do with us this time, she said.

What’s wrong? Lauren asked her.

Meg hesitantly started the story of their experience in Germany last February.

Ye were isolated in a hospital in the middle of a blizzard? Lexie asked dubiously.

She’s not kidding, Janet said, no electricity, monks in scary hooded robes, dead bodies, and we were even attacked ourselves. But it get’s worse.

My god, how could it? Lauren said.

At the end of the short version of the story, Meg said, So that’s why we call Janet’s tote MacGyver.

Ah, the old American tale show, Lauren said. I watched it when I was a youngster.

Right, Meg said. If it weren’t for MacGyver, we’d be dead.

Wow, Mary said. I have never known anyone who went through something like that.

There was conversation around the table about the experience, and then Willy asked Erich, Ye are a policeman?

I use to be, no more.

We have the police arriving from Inverness soon, because this is the third similar case in nearly two months.

Erich leaned around Janet toward Meg and Daniel. I forgot to tell you, my roommate from college works in the police department in Inverness. I contacted him and told him we were staying nearby. He and his wife are going to get in touch this next week, and maybe meet for dinner somewhere.

Janet added, They were scheduled to attend our wedding but an emergency messed up their plans.

He became interested in law enforcement at the same time I did, Erich continued. In fact, I think we talked each other into it.

Maybe we can arrange a get together before I leave, Daniel said,

I’ll give him a call tomorrow, Erich said. If they don’t have New Years Eve plans, do you think we could add two more to our reservations?

I’m sure it won’t be a problem, Daniel replied. I’ll call the Inn tomorrow.

Lauren said, Don’t forget we’re having our Hogmanay party here tomorrow night.

Hogmanay? Meg asked.

It’s our end of the year celebration. Very important to us, Lauren said.

Hogmanay, Meg said. I have learned something new.

While Willy ate, Lauren had ordered a burger for him earlier, the conversation continued. Are you on the police force? Erich asked Willy.

No, we are a small village, no police. We have a council that coordinates with authorities when the need arises, like tonight. His cell phone rang, and he stepped away from the table.

Meg saw him motion toward the bar, and heard him say, Half hour.

He returned to finish his burger as two men came over from the bar. We’re needed, mates, half hour.

Lauren said, Bo, Lenny, these are Meg and Daniels’s friends from Germany, Janet and Erich. Get yer drinks and food and join us before ye have to leave.

When the two went back to the bar, Lauren said, Bo is a member of the council. Lenny is our newest and youngest council member.

Janet leaned over to Meg and whispered, Bo looks like Keifer Sutherland, under six feet, with a serious face and serious muscles. Lenny is a tall string bean.

Since Meg had lost much of her vision three years earlier, Daniel and Janet were getting adept at describing every thing that could help her enjoy her surroundings. So, Janet paused a moment before saying, I think his first impression could be deceiving.

What do you mean? What’s deceiving? Meg whispered back.

His appearance, Janet answered her. He’s wearing a tight long sleeve black tee shirt. I don’t see string bean arms; I see muscles.

Bo put his plate down and attacked his man–sized steak with vigor.

Meg immediately thought of some National Geographic show she’d watched with some lion or tiger attacking a zebra. Gross, she thought.

On the other hand, Lenny sipped slowly on a beer and didn’t eat at all.

‘The murder scene has been upsetting to Lenny. Meg heard Willy say, in a low voice, to Lauren. He’s not taking it well."

So it’s bad? Lauren asked.

It’s horrible, Willy whispered back.

Maybe Lenny shouldn’t go back, or station him away from the scene, Lauren said."

Good idea, he told her. Then to the table, Willy said, We’ll be going back to the scene. We’re concerned about the press arriving soon. Erich, what is yer friend’s name at the police?

James Dewitt, Erich responded. He is a detective with crime investigation. Maybe he will show up tonight.

I’ll keep my eye out for him, and let him know ye are here, Willy said. Love, he kissed Lauren on the cheek, I’ll call ye within the hour to let you know what is likely to happen tonight.

Karl said, Let us know if we can be of assistance. We’ll be here visiting for a while, but you can call me at home also.

Mat said he would be standing by if Willy needed him.

On the way out, they stopped by the bar and had a short conversation with a few people, and then, they waved and were gone.

What a terrible thing, Lexie said, a murder right here on our loch.

Through all of this, Meg was listening and trying to make sure she didn’t miss anything. We’re not involved, she said to Janet. We have nothing to do with it.

Yeah, you already said that, Janet said. Trying to convince yourself?

"No, we don’t have anything to do with it."

James Dewitt comes to mind, Janet said, Erich’s old roommate. Remember?

Well, yeah, but we’re not directly connected.

Erich broke in, Let’s talk about something else.

Lauren picked up her pint and said, Karl and Lexie have a home a kilometer or so past ye, toward Inverness.

I thought I saw you headed that way the other night when we left the pub, Daniel said.

What work do you do? Meg asked.

As little as possible, I think, Lexie laughed.

I’m involved in software design, Karl said. I am from Germany also, Hamburg.

Big city, Erich said.

Yes, it is a very big, and busy, city. I was in Inverness for six months installing and testing new software for a company. That was a year ago. I met Lexie—the love of my life—and decided to stay. We have been married a bit longer then you and Janet, but not by very much.

Do you still design software? Janet asked.

Oh yes, that has not changed. I do the same work for the same company, just not in Hamburg. If you have good Internet service you can work from anywhere.

He also writes technical manuals and does editing. He is quite brilliant, Lexie said proudly, putting her arm through his and leaning closer.

Lexie does much of my research and data input.

You do all of this from your home on the loch? Meg asked.

Aye. We have a proper office set up, and we try to keep regular business hours, Lexie said.

They have a wonderful garden in the summer, and provide us all with fresh veggies, Mary added.

Actually, Mat is the gardener, Karl said. We just provide the land and water, and we weed when he tells us to.

It does get us away from the computers and out in the sunshine, so that’s another plus, Lexie said. And the tomatoes are the best. Nothing like what ye purchase in the supermarket.

I can relate to that, Janet said. Oh, to get a tomato that tastes like a tomato.

Their meals were served, except for Karl and Lexie, who had eaten earlier. They were enjoying some kind of sweet pudding. Meg could smell the sweet aroma, and decided she may have to check it out.

Tell us about your garden, Lexie, Meg said.

"Let Mat tell ye about our garden project," Lexie responded.

We have a very short growing season here in Scotland, Mat said. Those tomatoes ye were talking about took a lot of work. Karl and Lexie have almost nine acres, and are very generously donating one acre to build a greenhouse as a community project.

Mary said, We have many neighbors who want to participate. They will either donate money, time, or talent to the project. We are very excited about it and we hope to get started in early spring.

How exciting, Meg said.

Bo Brady, ye just met him, is a building contractor and will lead in the construction, Lexie said.

Lauren added, We have many decisions to make before we can start: are we going to use growing lights, where will our water come from, and what will the annual expense be? We all have some talent we can contribute, so we will figure it out.

Makes me want to be here to participate, Janet said.

I was just thinking the same thing, Meg said. You’ll have to send pictures and a progress report so we can stay involved.

What is that pudding you were eating, Lexie? Janet asked.

It really smelled good, Meg said.

It’s a custard which Pub Mary makes every week, Lexie said.

Pub Mary? Janet asked.

Pub Mary and her husband, Frank, own the pub. We refer to her as Pub Mary to keep the two Marys separate, Lexie said.

The best part of the pudding is the surprise at the end, Karl said. I won’t tell you what it is tonight because it will ruin it for you. It is usually some kind of fruit, but you never know.

I’m having it, Meg said.

Me too, came several other declarations.

Erich’s cell phone rang. I wonder who in the world that could be, he said.

Meg and Janet looked at each other and sighed. Yeah, I wonder, Janet said.

Hello, Erich said, and paused.

Hey there. What’s up?

Everyone at the table waited.

Sure, we’ll be here for another hour. Erich leaned over and looked at Meg. She nodded.

Okay, I’ll check.

What? Janet asked when he hung up.

That was James. He’ll be by soon. Lauren, he wants to know if there is a B&B here for three men.

I’ll call Lucy and see what she has available. She stepped away from the table.

What’s going on? Meg asked Erich.

He didn’t really say much. I assume it is about the murder. You and Daniel don’t mind waiting a bit, do you?

Are you kidding? Meg and Janet aren’t about to leave this pub, until they know what the pudding surprise is tonight, Daniel laughed.

The pudding was excellent and the surprise was raspberries covering the bottom of the bowl.

Mary said, Raspberries are grown abundantly in southern Scotland. Pub Mary takes her children, and grandchildren now, down there to pick. She does this with all kinds of fruit, if she doesn’t have to drive too far. They make a vacation out of it.

It really is delicious, Janet said.

She also donates fruit to the elder care ladies, who make wonderful jams, Mary said. Ye can purchase them at the shop in the library.

What’s sticky pudding? Meg asked. I’ve always wondered.

Mary said, It is a moist sponge cake with dates chopped into it. We pour a toffee sauce over it. Very good! I’ll ask Pub Mary to make it next week.

If she has time, it would be wonderful, Meg said.

Lauren returned, Lucy has no guests now and isn’t expecting any for the next month. So, there are four double rooms available.

Great, Erich said. You can give him directions when he gets here.

There were two men sitting alone at the bar. One was chatting amicably with the barman. He finally downed