Chapter 108

Stuart left to handle the sale of the Keeps items. Thorburn, Ailene and the guard who had found Màiri went looking for the Magistrate. He was an unctuous little man who made them wait for several minutes before seeing them.

"What are you here for?" he demanded when all three of them trooped into his office.

"We're reporting a crime, torture and murder," Thorburn replied. "Of a wee slip of a girl maid who used to be in our employ but was let go for thieving."

"If she was a thief, why do you care what happened to her?" The magistrate asked.

"Because no woman should have to go through the torment this one did, no matter what her crimes were," Ailene said angrily. "What happened was a crime not only to her, but all humanity. Come and look at her body yourself."

"You have her with you? Why?"

"Because you might not have believed us if we just told you," Thorburn said. "I can scarce believe what was done to her myself despite the evidence of my eyes."

"Was she dead when you found her?"

"Nay. This man found her while on guard duty. She was awake when he found her, but passed out as soon as she realized she was back on Keep property. He brought her in, Ailene tried treating her. She didn't regain consciousness until just before she died. She was tortured near to death and died due to her injuries. A blind man could see it. Come look at her," Thorburn said.

"Show me the body then."

They led him outside to the cart in which her body lie. Thorburn pulled back the sheet and the magistrate gagged, both from her appearance and the stench of putrefaction setting in. He turned away.

"Cover her up please."

"You should take a real good look at her to see what the bastard did to her," Ailene said.

"Watch your language, young lady! What bastard?" He asked.

"Blackthorne," Thorburn replied.

"How do you know it was Blackthorne? What evidence do you have?"

"Before she died, she stated it was Blackthorne," Ailene said. "What more evidence do you need? Isn't there some kind of dying declaration considered to be sufficient proof of guilt?"

"If it was witnessed by a magistrate. How many people heard this declaration?"

"Just me. Everyone else had gone to bed by then."

"So it was just you, no other witnesses, not even a man."

"What does being a man have to do with it?" Ailene asked. "Do they hear better than a woman?"

"According to Scottish law, the declaration must be witnessed by two men or a magistrate to be valid evidence of anything. You have no other proof Blackthorne committed the crime than your word?"

"I would think the word of Lady Cameron would be good enough to at least question him," Thorburn said. "It's not like she's a criminal or known liar."

"Not against a man of Blackthorne's wealth and prominence. It would take substantially more than the word of a woman in a family with a known animosity against Blackthorne. I don't think so."

Ailene pulled the sheet back again. "Look at her. Look at her please!" He glanced quckly and looked away. "Look at what was done to her, and you say we can't get justice for this?"

"No, I'm sorry. Not without more proof. As of now this is an unfortunate, mysterious death by person or persons unknown."

Ailene wanted to say more, but Thorburn pulled her aside. "He won't do anything. It's pointless to argue further. Let's go."

When Ailene met with Stuart again, she was steaming mad; outraged there would be no justice for Màiri. Stuart could see she was angry, but unsure of the reason why.

"What did the magistrate say?" Stuart asked.

"That lily-livered, oily, ignorant, two faced, pimply, rat visaged, slithering, dung beetle of a man doesn't even deserve to be a magistrate!" Ailene fumed. "He's pond scum! A detestable, spineless, weasel unworthy of being a Scot, let alone a magistrate!"

"I assume it didn't go well, then?"

"Go well!" Ailene ranted, "the fucking cow turd isn't even going to question Blackthorne. He's too fucking 'wealthy and prominent' to question based solely on the word of a woman. Maybe if it was two men who heard Màiri's dying declaration, they could give it some credence, but not based on the word of a woman from a family with a 'known animosity' to Blackthorne. As if we created the animosity. As if the attack by an inordinate and highly trained group of bandits was anything other than a move by Blackthorne. We didn't attack ourselves. We didn't kill our own men. It's unbelievable what goes for justice if you're rich and powerful like Blackthorne. That crime will never be solved either as long as you don't even dare question the man."

"Don't give yourself apoplexy, Ailene. We know Blackthorne is well protected and it's going to take something major to bring him to justice. We'll need to develop more in the way of evidence to trip him up."

"He'd have to be standing over the dead body before they'll even investigate the man," Ailene argued. "There might be evidence she was at Blackthorne Manor if they'd only look. He took some of her fingers; he cut off her fucking breasts, for God's sake. Unless he fed it to his pigs, it might still be there. Somebody, a servant or someone had to have heard her screams. If they don't question them, how will anyone know? It's not right."

"I know lass. You're right. It's not fair or just. But we can't change what is right now. We'll have to find some other way to bring him to justice." Stuart pulled her into his arms and held her tight.

Ailene's breathing slowed as she slowly calmed down in his loving embrace. Suddenly, she pushed him off her and taking his hand, started dragging him in the direction of the Inn.

"Dear heart, where are we going?" Stuart said, struggling to keep up with her fast paced stride.

"We're taking a room at the Inn for a few hours. I've not had you inside me for most of a week and I'm desperate to feel you there. I'll not let my anger with the magistrate spoil the little time I have with you."

Stuart stepped up the pace, as eager to get there as Ailene was. When they arrived, Isobel spotted the innkeeper keeping an eye on the guests in the common room.

She marched up to him and said, "A key to your best room, and hurry," in her most confident and commanding voice.

He grabbed a key and handed it to her before he'd even thought about it. Ailene took the key from his hand and started up the stairs, Stuart in tow.

"Excuse me, you need to check in," he stuttered as they were halfway up the stairs.

"We'll settle up with you in a couple hours, sir, and if you hear any strange noises coming from the room, ignore them," Ailene said, still leading Stuart up the stairs.

Stuart shrugged his shoulders at the bewildered innkeeper and said, "We haven't seen each other for a week, you understand."

"My wife and I used to be like that," he mused, but only to himself, they were already gone and he heard a door slamming and locking behind them.