Taking Miller Row, Gilmont headed away from the quaint nineteenth-century Dean Village toward the Water of Leith Walkway, a path that meandered alongside the small river through Edinburgh. Kneeling at the water’s edge, he washed his hand and sleeve, then cleaned the blade of fingerprints on his shirttail and dropped the knife into the water’s murky depths.

Grateful the distasteful act was done, he made his way to Queensferry Road and waited in the queue for the next bus. Luckily, one sputtered to a halt shortly after he arrived at the stop, its brakes whooshing as it came to a halt. Climbing aboard, Gilmont took his seat across the aisle from an elderly couple.

The woman leaned toward him, eyeballing his duffel. “Is this your first trip to Edinburgh?”

“Yes. Do you have any recommendations, other than the castle?” Gilmont asked.

“You’ll regret that question, young man,” her husband cut in.

The man was right. The woman shared every shred of historical knowledge she possessed about the Scottish capital until Gilmont rose for his stop and politely thanked her, grateful beyond words to end her diatribe on Scotland’s barbaric past.

Pulling his duffel, he started up the cobbled street, anxious to see what toys Mohammad had left inside the car’s boot.

Harry removed the jet suit while elation pumped through his veins. He had just mastered and successfully landed a long-distance flight over the River Tweed.

“Good work, Benson. You’re a natural. I was serious when I told you Defiance Industries could use someone like you for a test pilot,” Bob Musgrove stated.

“That’s a heady experience. Don’t tempt me.” Harry nodded to Musgrove and started for his vehicle.

A few years back, he probably would have followed through on Musgrove’s offer, but the ever-changing missions Nigel provided suited his restless nature. Harry climbed into his Land Rover and whipped out his mobile, a smile lifting the corners of his mouth.

It rang twice.

“I was wondering if I’d hear from you.” Elise’s husky voice came through the line.

“Before I kicked off for the day?”

“Aye.”

“Why is that?” Harry leaned back in his seat, basking in the connection.

“Because waiting until five thirty is much too long.”

“Agreed. Doing anything tonight, my lady?” Harry attempted to keep the possessive edge from his tone.

“What do you have in mind?”

“I want to wear Sammy out so he’ll go to sleep early and we can have some alone time for just us.” Harry absently wiped a smudge of dust off the dashboard.

“I think I can arrange something.”

“Brilliant. Your place or mine?”

“Most definitely mine. Come for dinner and bring your swimsuits.”

“Are you planning to drown my son?” Harry turned as Colonel Horwith and several other officers took off for their daily bicycle ride.

“Tempting. Sammy’s been an absolute demon. I think it’s because he was up so late.”