Special Epilogue for
​ The Thief

*SERIOUS SPOILERS INCLUDED*
​There were many questions that weren’t answered in the book, so I thought this would be the best way to address them all. If you have others I do not cover here, feel free to send me a message through the contact page or one of my Facebook pages.
 
Lorraine and Loretta Muir
It still bothers them that they didn’t know Persi was in their shop. They had known only that Soni was coming and that the second visitor that day would be bad news for them. Maybe their nerves got in the way.
After Soni left, they both had the feeling they had seen Persi before, and not just because she had resembled her grandmother, Helen. They will soon remember where—in their vision about their own deaths, which will occur in Oxford, England. Persi’s image was part of that vision. And yes, it scares the blue polyester out of them, knowing premonitions like that one always come to pass.
Also, since it is never wise to know too much about one’s own death, they suspect that might be why they didn’t sense the younger woman’s presence, that Fate might have been kind. Though they may be proven wrong about this.
 
Wickham
Yes, Wickham play a hand in bringing down the tree that exposed the remains of Hanlon’s cousins. Before he left town, if you recall, he met with each of the former ghosts to see what they needed. Whatever Hanlon told him—probably that keeping his family secret was his one and only need in life—Wickham must have had a different opinion on the matter.
 
The Dig
When the team was allowed to examine the site after the skeletal remains had been removed, they found even more remnants of the Forbes tartan, along with various belt buckles with scraps of leather still attached, and one shoe heel that had been sealed with tar. Beaver hair (from sporrans) were found beneath each skeleton. The only other metal found in the ten-by-ten-foot dig site included four shoe buckles and exactly three musket balls, one of which had killed Hanlon Forbes, April 16, 1746.
 
Lady (Forbes) MacWatt
The woman died in her sleep that night, after giving her secrets and the shadow boxes to Hanlon. Staying true to her beliefs--that taking secrets to the grave only insults the living—was precisely what kept her alive well past a hundred years. She’d been waiting for someone worthy with whom she could entrust with the truth—someone who would keep that truth alive.
Her son was not that man, and young Richard, her great grandson (and the only footman she could afford) was too young. Besides, Lord MacWatt still had too much influence over the boy—or so she believed. More about this in a moment…
 
Lord MacWatt
As it happens, Lord MacWatt’s cheese slipped a little off his cracker the day he broke into the box room. He’d been so sure the map was there. He knew his own two maps only led to barrels of rocks, and he was convinced the third map led to the complete treasure. With his estate finances circling the drain, he depended upon finding it, or he’d soon be out on his ear, and his family with him.
You might be interested to know that he was, in fact, not on the board of the Jacobite Historical Preservation Society. He’s been a nuisance to the JHPS for decades, hounding them for access to those boxes. He had never been allowed within a hundred yards of them.
 
The Forbes Documents
Anything that surfaced related to this mystery, or the players in it, were forwarded to the Forbes family as a matter of courtesy, where they were immediately destroyed. The fact that MacWatt found a letter from Lilias Forbes to her brother, Guthrie, was an absolute miracle.
 
More on the MacWatts
Lord MacWatt was detained by the police, examined by mental health professionals, and placed in a hospital for a week of observation. He was more himself when he was released, but went home to find his mother had died in his absence. She was buried on his estate, though he didn’t expect to be able to visit for long.
The stress of it all proved too much for him, and he was placed in the family plot three short months after his mother.
As for the shadow boxes, he never noticed their absence because they were returned, along with tams and maps, while he was still in the hospital. They remain there to this day, because…
 
Richard Forbes
Richard, the footman, became Young Lord Forbes in quick order. Hanlon Forbes took him under his wing to help him get his estate in order. Thanks to anonymous donations made in honor of the recently deceased, finances were not an issue for the young lord.
 
The DNA Test Results
When the results finally came back, they did prove Hanlon was first cousins with the two sets of remains from the moor. Like other Forbes documents of the past, the cousin comparison was never made public with the rest, and the documentation was destroyed. On the bright side, it gave Osanne scientific proof her husband was exactly who he claimed to be. Her occasional questioning of her own sanity grew more and more rare.

The Treasure (Big Time Spoiler, look away if you haven't read the book!)
What happens with the treasure will be revealed in a spin off series tentatively planned for 2023 or 2024. If it pops up in the next series, I'll be as surprised as you are. 

The two stalker-cars...were driven by members of Clan Forbes. They're new at this treasure hunting game. Give them time.
 
As for Persi, her story is coming. 
 
Always remember the words of wise old women…
“The past is just an ugly cake we hide under frosting. Most honor is a façade. And those who take their secrets to the grave…insult the living.”  ~Lady MacWatt

MacTavish Epilogue 2

​ 
Gibbs was truly touched when Lindsay, Fenton, and Tulloch came all the way to Edinburgh just to sit in a waiting room with him. Oh, he could have gone inside to be with Gemma during such an important moment, but she’d wanted to be on her own.
She was like that, sometimes, when she was creating. So it was no surprise she felt that way now. And he knew her well enough not to have his pride bruised by it.
Lindsay straightened and answered his phone. “Sorry, Ivy. No word yet.” He held the phone out from his head and lifted a brow at Tulloch. But the other man shook his head. “No. He kens nothing either.”
No matter how Gibbs tried, his gaze always returned to Tulloch for some hint at what was to come. Not many knew he was the famous Seer of Huntly, and though the rest of the 79 had known, they were careful never to take advantage of the man. But Gibbs hoped that Tulloch’s personal involvement—his friendship with Gemma, and the time they’d all spent together on Seelie Pause—might give them all the advantage that day.
For the moment, the Seer seemed as nervous as the rest of them. So Gibbs closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and prayed for patience. The next time he glanced the Highlander’s way, however, Tulloch’s brow had smoothed. He was struggling to keep a passive face and failing.
Lindsay noticed as well, and jumped to his feet to start pacing. Fenton sighed and leaned back to throw his arms over the backs of the chairs, as if he’d just won some game of wits. And considering how long they’d been waiting, Gibbs supposed they all had.
Tulloch gave them all a stern look. “Ye must act as if ye ken nothing!”
They all nodded. Gibbs leaned his elbows on his knees for the hundredth time and put face in his hands, only this time, he thanked God for his mercy.
It was another five minutes before the double doors opened. Gemma was in tears. Her shoulders slumped with the weight of her precious Filson bags. Gibbs hurried to her. Taking that weight for himself was the least he could do while she found her voice.
She shrugged, then nodded to the room at large. “One now. Two more on option, depending on bids and budgets.”
One of the suited men from the committee came out of the door, then hurried over to shake Gemma’s hand. She introduced him to everyone as some sort of officer of Trust for Scotland.
“We’ve always been the Land of Castles. It appears we’ll soon be known as the Land of Castles and Glass. Congratulations to you all. Scotland is lucky to have gained a daughter in Mrs. MacTavish.”
A few minutes later, Gibbs was nestled in the back seat of the car with the love of his life pulled against him. Every few minutes, he’d pulled her close for a squeeze. She’d smile and tears would leak down her cheeks, which she mopped up with a tissue.
Tulloch raised the tissue box in the air and shook it. “Gibbs, I warn ye, there are few of them left. But I believe, if ye leave off squeezing Lady MacTavish, she’ll cease leaking.”
In the front passenger seat, Lindsay turned with wide eyes. “Did ye just call her Lady MacTavish?”
Tulloch shrugged. “Did I?” Then he turned his attention out the window.
Gemma looked at Gibbs for an explanation. He shook his head and shrugged. “Dinnae fash, love. Tulloch says odd things all the time.”
Lindsay tapped the Seer on the knee. “Best ye tread carefully with yer prophesying when ye find a lass ye like, or ye’ll never catch her.”
Fenton laughed. “If matters become dire, we could belt a kilt on him, gag him, and auction him off like they did Grey Strachan, with the stipulation they marry before he has a chance to speak.”
Gemma straightened in the seat. “I saw a movie where falling in love cost someone their powers. Do you ever worry about that?”
“I pray for it daily.”
 
THE END
 
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