Elena sent the mask away to the lab to be analyzed. The process would take several days or maybe even weeks and Rollie still could make another one since he would be meeting with Loubar one last time in Aberdeen.
Four hours later she and Rollie were on a plane flying into Aberdeen airport.
Once again, they stayed at a private estate instead of at a hotel. There was less chance of them being spotted by Loubar this way.
Rollie rented a car and went out to get some supplies that he would need from the local hardware store. Other items he would need had been shipped up from London. Rollie was very busy over the next few days turning the yacht Elena had acquired into a perfect replica of Lord Percival's yacht.
Rollie worked with local carpenters and handymen all day and into the night to get the retrofitting on the yacht done on time. At the end of it, it was almost a perfect replica of The Great Scot, except the insides had been retrofitted for the mission's purposes.
Elena and Rollie then met with Lord Percival Kington-Blair. They explained the threat against his life and the evidence they had against Loubar. He was obviously keen to help in their apprehension of his would-be assassins and more than agreeable to the idea of staying out of harm's way in the process.
The next day Rollie and Elena left to join Lord Percival on his yacht. Rollie used a digital camera to film Lord Percival and all of his staff aboard the yacht doing things they would normally do. He filmed him having dinner, having drinks, and having high tea. He filmed the servants making preparations for dinner and lunch. He filmed them bringing tea and cigars to Lord Percival. Rollie also filmed Lord Percival doing his preparations in readiness for his fishing trip. He didn't know if he would need all of the footage but he figured he would rather have more footage than not have enough.
During the entire few days since they arrived in Aberdeen Elena had been trying to have some private time with Rollie but he always managed to avoid spending any time alone with her. In fact, he barely spoke with her or even looked at her when it had nothing to do with the case. He stayed in his room most times or took long, solitary, walks on the grounds. It was all he could do to try and forget his betrayal against Angie and his resulting guilt. He wanted so much for this to be over and done with but at the same time he dreaded returning home and telling Angie of his betrayal. He never considered not telling her but he didn't know how, or if, they would make it through this. In fact, Rollie wouldn't blame Angie if she never wanted to see him again.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow would be the day that this could end. Rollie would have to keep the meeting with Loubar at the Black Boar Inn this afternoon and then tomorrow Loubar would be nabbed, as his attempt to kill Lord Percival Kington-Blair would be discovered and documented. His prints would be on file. His plotting would be on file. Everything that was needed to send that bastard to jail would be in the hands of the authorities. Then, soon afterwards, Rollie would be flying back home to Angie. The thought was now filling him with dread.
Rollie dreaded putting on the mask of Angus McKay especially now that he figured out the correlation between how he felt afterwards and the wearing of the mask. The test results hadn't come back from the lab but Rollie was certain that the way he felt after wearing it could be traced back to the mask. But, at least it would be the last time he would be wearing the mask.
Leo called from London just as Rollie was about to head out the door with Elena to his meeting.
"Leo? What is it? Did you find something in Loubar's lair?" Rollie asked excitedly, slightly out of breath.
"Sure did pal. And you were right. There were booby traps upon booby traps. It kept the bomb squad pretty busy for almost the whole day. But...the thing is— you have to see this place. Come here as soon as you get back to London. This is...I don't know what it is but you're not going to like it."
"Leo, bloody hell! Could you be any more cryptic? Just tell me."
"I— I can't explain over the phone. Really Rollie, this is something you have to see. Call me when you get back to London."
"Right. Bloody hell."
"Och, Mr. Loubar. You're late," Rollie declared as Loubar finally joined him at 4:57. The Black Boar Inn was an out of the way place with many dark corners to hide in. The patrons were also apt to stay out of any...unpleasantness. You didn't come here if you wanted witnesses. Elena thought it was a risky place to meet but it was exactly the kind of place both Loubar and McKay would use.
"I'm here, aren't I?" Loubar sneered.
"Aye that you are. But for a moment there I was thinking that everything I heard was true...and you had found yet another reason to botch another assignment." Rollie taunted Loubar. "What was it, Mr. Loubar? Did the elusive Rollie Tyler show up in London?"
"Rollie!"Elena warned through the mic.
Loubar leaned in and glared at Angus McKay. "I told you once before never to bring up his name again." Suddenly he reached over and grabbed McKay by the throat. "Do I make myself perfectly clear now, Mr. McKay?"
Rollie choked and coughed, as he couldn't move. Loubar's grip was strong. Rollie's hand went to Loubar's arm but was still unable to wrest his grip free. Rollie's hand dropped down again and he used the opportunity to plan another tracking device in the pocket of Loubar's coat. Some of the other patrons at the Inn turned to see the ruckus but quickly turned back to their own conversations and drinks. Finally, Loubar loosened his grip around Rollie's neck
"Aye." Rollie coughed. "Aye that you do." Rollie coughed again. "My apologies Mr. Loubar but I couldn't help but see ye' all fired up again one last time." He coughed again. Rollie took a gulp of his ale. He honestly didn't know what had possessed him to taunt Loubar like that but he admitted to himself, he had enjoyed it. "Shall we get on with business?"
Loubar nodded.
Rollie rubbed his neck where it was still sore. He cleared his throat and took another sip of ale. "Our man will be taking a little fishing trip tomorrow morning. I want you to hit him then."
"Tomorrow morning is not a lot of time."
"Och! If you're not up to the job, Mr. Loubar, you should have said so—"
"I didn't say I couldn't do it." Loubar growled. "Answer me this; how are you so sure that he will be going out on his boat tomorrow?"
"He's been in town for a few days. It's his usual routine to spend a few days at this estate and then go out for a day or two of fishing on his boat when the weather is good. His yacht is moored at his estate. Then, he navigates it along the river into Aberdeen when he stops at the Albert Quay to have the boat refueled and to pick up supplies. He usually goes out for a day or two. It's a commercial dock but he's granted special privileges because of his lineage." McKay grumbled under his breath. "He should be there at least 45 minutes. While his yacht is being refueled, Lord Percy will go to The Shepards Rest for a light repast before heading out to sea. Plenty of time for you to get the job done, aye? I've studied him and his routines. I also have a spy in the household." Rollie smiled. "I am taking no chances, Mr. Loubar."
Loubar rose from the table. "Wire the rest of my payment into my account tomorrow afternoon." Loubar left without confirmation or any other word. He had a job to do and once it was done he would get on with his own plans. Plans that include a return trip to New York...and his final revenge against Rollie Tyler.
Rollie returned to the van and to Elena's wrath.
"What the hell were you thinking provoking Loubar like that? God damn it, Rollie, do you have some kind of death wish?" Elena railed at him.
Rollie pressed the button on the remote unit to turn the mask off. He couldn't wait to get it off, again feeling as if it suffocated him especially after the way he felt after wearing it the previous times. "Loubar had to know that I, Angus McKay, was still suspicious and was still going to keep a close eye on him. Loubar needed to be knocked off balance. Bringing up my name did that. Did you hear how rattled he became?"
"Oh yeah, I heard all right. He was so rattled he nearly throttled you to death." Elena glared at Rollie. "Don't ever do something like that without authorization again, do you hear me?"
"Oh, I hear you. Loud and clear." Rollie glared back. "But don't worry, if all goes well I will be on my way back home in a few days and you can continue playing these dangerous games all by yourself."
"Rollie," Elena spoke more quietly as she sat in the seat next to him. "You are not an agent. You weren't even armed. What if something had happened in there? What if, when he grabbed you, your mask came off? What then? You would have blown your disguise as well as any element of surprise we have over Loubar. Not to mention you could have been killed." Elena reached over and grabbed Rollie's hand in hers. She pulled it up to her face and caressed it with her cheek. "I don't want anything to happen to you. Do you understand?" she whispered.
Rollie's thumb caressed Elena's fingers and he knew she was right. He had acted recklessly. He knew it when he was doing it but it sure didn't feel good getting chewed out over it either.
"Look, Elena, I didn't plan on doing what I did. I acted on instinct. Loubar needed to be rattled and now he's going to have visions of Rollie Tyler dancing through his head. He thinks he left the nightmare behind him in London but I just brought it to Aberdeen for him in full and living colour," he said almost bitterly. "Loubar won't be expecting a set-up. He won't be alert." Rollie pulled his hand away. "And that is exactly the kind of reaction I wanted. I want this over with. I want to go home—"
Elena swung her hair away from her face and smiled knowingly. "So you can fix things with Angie?" She had come to accept Rollie's love for Angie. Elena knew that whatever fantasies she had about them being together were just that: fantasies.
Rollie was quiet for a few moments. He stood up and moved away from Elena, feeling the guilt come back to haunt him and he sighed. "I don't know if that's possible now."
Elena came over to him. She took his hand in hers and with her other hand she reached up and pulled his face to hers. She kissed him softly, her hands wrapping around his neck. For her, in a sense, it was a goodbye kiss.
But Rollie didn't know that as his strong hands came up and gripped hers, softly at first then more forcefully as Elena resisted his efforts. "Elena," Rollie spoke softly but with a warning tone. "Don't. What happened in London...it...it never should have happened." He pulled away from Elena. "I'm sorry. I never meant for it to happen. I love Angie and I know that I will lose her for good when I tell her about it but—"
"Rollie."
"No. Elena. It's no good. The other night...God!" Rollie turned away and shook his head but try as he might he couldn't get the memory of waking up in bed with Elena out of his head. "I never meant— we— I don't know how it happened and I'm sorry for how that sounds...."
"Rollie please, just listen!"
"I'm sorry Elena, I am. I consider you a friend and I don't want to hurt you but I love Angie, do you hear me? I love her," Rollie said emphatically as he slapped his chest. "I can't...I can't do this!" Rollie shook his head as his voice shook with emotion.
Elena stared at his back. She shook her head as she realized that she really had lost Rollie, if he ever really was hers. "Angie's a very lucky woman."
"That remains to be seen," Rollie replied dryly.
Elena and Rollie drove back to the estate in quiet silence. As they entered the estate, Rollie threw his jacket onto the sofa and went straight to the bar and poured himself a scotch, something he found he needed badly right now. He wasn't one to overindulge in the spirits but he needed something to numb his senses. His drank the scotch in one gulp and then poured himself another one.
Elena watched him uneasily knowing that drinking hard liquor was unlike Rollie and feeling responsible for pushing him this far.
"Rollie, there's something I need to tell you...about the other night—"
"Elena. Don't." Rollie held up the hand with the glass of scotch in it and pointed at her. His eyes showed the pain and turmoil he was experiencing plus a slight touch of the buzz from the alcohol. "We've said it all or at least I have." Rollie rubbed his eyes. "I'm tired and I have work to do. I have to load up the screens and the A/V equipment into the van. We need to be ready and have everything in place for Loubar."
"But Rollie—"
"ELENA!" Rollie slammed down the glass onto the bar, spilling some of the liquid onto the bar. "Give it a bloody rest!"
Elena was taken aback by Rollie's temper flare-up. She had never seen him like this before. "Alright. Have it your way," she agreed finally. "But we need to clear the air before you go back to New York."
"I've said all I've have to say," Rollie said as he walked away. He went upstairs and closed the door on Elena and any future conversation they might have on the subject.
Angie Ramirez felt good.
She was lying on her stomach, being careful of her baby, and getting a nice, relaxing, massage from a Swedish masseur named Svend at a luxury spa in the Catskills. She had let Lucinda talk her into coming with her. Lucinda's new boyfriend, Lars, worked here as a fitness instructor and had invited her up here for a few days. Much to the surprise of Lars, Lucinda invited Angie along.
Angie suspected it was because Lucinda was experiencing commitment issues. But the reasons didn't really matter much to Angie because she was experiencing major changes in her body. Angie and Lucinda both felt that a few days at a spa would do her a world of good. She was more tired lately. Her breasts were sore and tender. She had to pee more often. She was nauseous in the morning, often until lunchtime. The doctor said that should be easing up soon. And on top of all of that...she missed Rollie terribly.
Lucinda smiled across from her as she lay on her stomach on the other table. "I bet I know who you're thinking about." She cooed across to Angie in a teasing way. Then, she smiled at Svend. "Sorry Svend darling but it's not you. Angie's thinking about the love of her life, the father of her baby, a certain Mr. Rollie Tyler."
"Lucinda!" Angie's head rose. "I asked you not to say anything," she chastised her friend as she blushed.
"Hey, no one here is going to tell. Besides...." She teased. "I swear you are starting to show."
Angie screwed up her face at her as she looked down at herself. "I am aren't I? Do you know I had to buy some pants with an elastic waist?" Angie grew panicked as she sat up with the sheet around her. "I can't. I can't show. Not yet. Rollie doesn't even know yet. Oh my gosh! That would be a nice how do you do, don't you think? Me with a big belly waddling over to meet him at the airport." Despite her panic at her body beginning to show, Angie grinned at the picture. She knew Rollie's face would be priceless.
Lucinda laughed. "Yeah. But don't worry. You're only just beginning to show and I'm sure I only noticed because I know your secret. Some women don't show all that much and you're so skinny. I'm sure it's going to show up like a very big mosquito bite—"
"Hey! Don't compare my baby to a mosquito bite!" Angie tried to be serious but couldn't help but laugh. She was so happy Lucinda was here to keep her company. Mira had been so busy lately and besides it was nice to be able to openly share her happiness, her concerns, and her fears about being pregnant with someone else. Lucinda definitely wasn't Rollie but she would have do for now.
As time went on it was getting harder and harder to keep her secret. She knew that Dingo was suspicious that something was up. Angie was wearing baggier clothing. She was resting a lot more and her morning sickness had lasted a lot longer than any flu. But Angie was putting off telling him as long as she could. She knew she couldn't keep up the charade forever. Soon, she would start showing and she would have to start telling people but she hoped that Rollie would be home by that time. Angie really wanted him to be the first one, after Lucinda, to find out.
After their massages Angie and Lucinda went down to the dining room for a healthy lunch. Along the way, Angie spotted a gift shop and went inside. She spotted a soft, fluffy, white teddy bear, which she promptly fell in love with.
"Ooh, my baby's going to love this," Angie cooed as she rubbed its soft material against her nose. It made her remember all the times she had bought baby shower gifts for her friends and how she always said that she was fine with it because she had a career and that was all she needed. But that was before she and Rollie discovered the wonderful love they now shared. Now, here she was making a fool of herself over a fluffy, white, teddy bear!
"It starts."
"What?" Angie asked innocently.
"That. Buying stuff for the baby. Once you start you won't be able to stop." Lucinda warned her.
"Oh really? When did you become such an expert?" Angie asked as she fingered another stuffed animal.
"I have plenty of friends who have babies and I've watched them." She hugged Angie. "I think it's sweet though and I don't blame you one bit."
Angie attention was grabbed by another item and she quickly went over to it.
"Now, don't go overboard. At least not until Rollie knows," Lucinda warned Angie. "After all you don't want Rollie's first clue to be when he returns home to find the entire contents of FAO Schwartz in the loft."
"Yeah. You're right." Angie sighed as she put the second stuffed animal back on the shelf and listened to Lucinda's advice. "Anyway, it will be more fun shopping for baby things with Rollie."
Rollie packed up the van and he and Elena drove to their decoy yacht. Rollie spent the entire night outfitting all of the windows on the yacht with special plasma screens. Then, he wired the AV signal into the electronics system on the yacht. He spent several hours making sure the signals came through. Then he adjusted the resolution and the screen height so that it would seem like people were actually on board the yacht, even if Loubar were looking from very powerful binoculars.
The plan was for Lord Percy to board his yacht with his staff at his estate and to make the initial trip down river to Aberdeen. Then, once the yacht had been moored at Albert Quay, Lord Percy and his staff would vacate the yacht through special below-deck panels. Special agents would then take their places in the old bait-and-switch move. In the meantime, Loubar would have found a way to place a bomb on the yacht. It didn't matter how he did it. It only mattered that he did. In any case, movements were being tracked and filmed for posterity from Rollie's position in the van.
Rollie was now parked a few meters from the Albert Quay, the perfect perch from which to watch. It was 6:30 in the morning when Elena showed up and handed him a cup of hot tea and a breakfast sandwich. Rollie was testing the signal once again when he noticed a glitch. Gray snow showed onscreen instead of the movies he had made.
"Damn it!" Rollie grumbled as he looked at the screen and fiddled with some buttons.
"What is it?" Elena asked as she peered over his shoulder.
"Interference from somewhere," Rollie answered slowly. "It wasn't coming in earlier. Bloody hell!" he grumbled as he walked outside with his PDA and took a look around.
Elena joined him outside. "Do you think Loubar could be on to us? Could he be using a signal scrambler?"
Rollie grimaced at the thought. "I don't know. Maybe. He gave no indication of suspecting." He looked around at the buildings nearby. "I suppose anything is possible but I hope not. That would just make things a whole lot more complicated than I would like." Rollie pointed his PDA at some of the buildings. "The interference could be coming from those satellite dishes on the pub and the hotels over there. I don't understand why it was working a short while ago though."
"Well, is there anything that you can do?"
"I can try to reconfigure the signal. Make it stronger. In the meantime, do you think some of your guys can go over to those establishments and kindly ask them to turn off their satellites?"
Elena smiled at the polite way Rollie was asking for the impossible. She shook her head and laughed. "I'll see what we can do."
The signal came back on stronger than ever, as Rollie was able to boost the signal. Rollie still had some tweaking to do and the time spent fixing the signal had taken away from that. Now, he was working under a tight time frame to get the signal set. He also had to fix a mask on one of Elena's agents who would be masquerading as Lord Percival Kington-Blair as he boarded the yacht.
The streets nearby were cleared of any innocent bystanders and undercover cops and Scotland Yard agents took their places instead.
Elena came into the van after briefing the agents on what to do and what to expect of Loubar, which was basically expect the unexpected. She watched as Rollie was putting the finishing touches on the Lord Percy double.
"You are a master." Elena smiled in admiration at Rollie as she massaged his shoulders.
"Thanks. That's why they pay me the big bucks," Rollie replied, feeling uncomfortable with Elena's touch.
"Do you have your wetsuit on?" Elena asked the agent that had just entered the van.
"Under my suit." The agent replied.
"And the others?" Elena asked again.
"They are all set. We all have our wetsuits on. Mr. Tyler has drummed into us the importance of timing." The agent explained. "We have exactly eight minutes once I get onboard to get off the boat."
"Good." Elena looked at her watch. "It's almost eight o'clock. You should get to your stations."
Rollie sat back in his chair in the van and watched as the agent left. Elena took the seat nearest to Rollie. She reached across and touched Rollie's hand.
"We'll get him Rollie," she assured him.
"We have to," Rollie replied seriously, not wanting to think of any other possibility at this point.
All the agents were in place. The Lord Percival double arrived by armored limousine at the docks. His chauffer, also an agent, opened the door for him and carried his bags with them to the yacht. Once there, another servant followed Lord Percy on board the yacht.
Meanwhile, once on board the yacht the agents went down below to the lower deck. They took off their street clothes to reveal their wet suits. Then, they put on their oxygen tanks and goggles. They opened a hatch that Rollie and the local carpenters had built into the bottom side of the yacht and swam away to safety nearby. At the same time Rollie activated the video signal. It now appeared as if Lord Percy and his staff were all still on board the yacht.
Rollie started the engine by remote control and guided it out of the harbour on a pre-set course.
On board it appeared that Lord Percival was settling down to tea and reading the morning's newspaper. His staff was busy preparing lunch and getting his berth ready.
Elena sat next to Rollie in the van watching him work. Her eyes roamed all over his face. She still couldn't believe that she had let him slip through her fingers. She had been too preoccupied with her career, having to prove herself dedicated and hardworking above and beyond what her male colleagues had to prove. Elena had been so focused on her career that she had forgotten how special Rollie Tyler was, or could be, to her. She had also taken it for granted that he would always be there and available for her. She had been a fool. Elena knew that now.
"How far do you think Loubar will let the yacht go out before he strikes?" Rollie asked, breaking Elena's reverie.
Elena took a moment to consider the question. "Based on what we know about him and based on the way McKay would have run things...I would say that he would want it to be very public. He would want the village to see the explosion. He would want them to know exactly what happened and to whom it happened to. Remember, he wants to send a message to the Queen."
"I think you're right." Rollie admitted as he watched onscreen as the yacht continued to make its way slowly out of the dock area and into deeper waters. "Did the agents get back okay?"
"Yes. They made it out okay," Elena assured him.
Rollie was getting antsy. What if something went wrong? What if the radio frequencies he had set up to zone in on Loubar's remote device didn't work? What if the complications he had experienced earlier with his own video transmissions happened again or they interfered with Loubar's remote device? Rollie realized that there were still too many variables. He prayed silently that they would catch Loubar today and that his reign of terror would end.