A/N's: I'm feeling a bit depressed today over some stupid group that I didn't get into at my school. So, to ease the feeling of crappiness I've decided to turn to my old reliable friend...writing. Hope you all enjoy.

Chapter Three

Three weeks later, Sharni was again packing for departure. She got all her things laid out on her bed and began to run through them methodically.

"Would you know what I did with my copy of Cardiac Nursing?" she asked Carol, who had come into the room bearing a cup of tea.

"You kept it at the Castle when you were nursing Himself," said Carol.

Sharni groaned. "Oh, it must still be there. I'll have to get it."

"But how will you get in?" said Carol. "Jani is still on the mainland with her daughter."

Sharni chuckled. The window of her bedroom at Mint Castle had never closed properly. She could retrieve her property without anyone knowing that she'd ever been there.

When it was dark she found her way easily to the house. She made her way to the shed, where she knew she would find a ladder.

The window yielded easily. She pulled it wide open and hoisted herself over the sill. She could make out the furniture in the moonlight.

She had reached the cabinet and was leaning down to open it when the noise of the window being pulled shut made her whirl around. A huge shape loomed between her and the light.

"I don't know who you are," she managed to say, "but you've got no right to be here."

"That," said a harsh voice, "was the last thing I expected you to be stupid enough to say."

At the sound of that voice she clutched the cabinet for support. She had heard it once before.

He took her by the shoulders and pulled her round so that he could see her face in the moonlight.

"Just as I thought," Mark Calloway snapped. "The girl from the antique shop, doing a little more thieving."

She stared at him, aware that her jaw had dropped. "I climbed in that window to get back my own property. If I'd known you were here, I'd have knocked on the door."

He gave a short, angry laugh. "That's a little feeble."

"I'm telling the truth," she said wildly. "My name is Sharni Bruerer and I'm a nurse. I looked after Franklin because he had a bad heart, and when I left here I forgot to take my book on cardiac nursing."

"Where is the book?" he demanded.

"In my bedside cabinet."

He released her, and she darted to the bedside cabinet. Frantically she reached into every corner, but the cabinet was empty. "It was here," she said desperately. "Jani must have moved it when she cleared up after I left."

"I don't like thieves." He had taken hold of her arm and was propelling her towards the door. He drew her downstairs and into Franklin's study. He snatched up the telephone receiver and seemed to become aware for the first time that there was no dial. While he hesitated, a voice spoke in his ear. Jessica Gudinas had piercing tones, and Sharni had no difficulty in making out her words.

"What number can I get you, please?"

"The police station," said Mark Calloway, "and quickly."

There was an ominous pause. It meant that Jessica, who was "sensitive," had heard a voice she didn't recognize and disliked its tone.

Then Jessica's slightly acid voice was saying, "I'm afraid there's no reply from the police station."

Mark drew in a slow, exasperated breath. "That's impossible. There must be someone there."

"Ay, you'd think so," Jessica agreed in an affable manner that told Sharni she was preparing to dig her heels in, "but he's not there, I can tell you that. Would you try again later, perhaps?"

Before he realized what she was doing, Sharni snatched up the receiver. "Let me show you how it's done. Hallo, Jessica? I'm awful sorry to trouble you at this time of the night."

"Och, it's no matter," said Jessica, friendly now that she was dealing with a caller who paid her the proper respect.

"Who's supposed to be on duty at the police station?"

"Sam Brodie. But he had to slip over the Bebber Farm awhile. That dog's been worrying their sheep again."

"Could you call Bebber Fram and see if Sergeant Brodie is still there?" said Sharni. "And if he is, ask him to come over to the Castle. A hardened criminal has been found breaking in"

"A hardened criminal, you say? Who would that be?"

"Me, of course. Who else?" Sharni put the receiver down and faced Calloway. "Bebber Farm is no distance. Sergeant Brodie should be here in about five minutes."

He regarded her through narrowed eyes. "Well, I'll be damned," he said slowly. "I've got to give you the prize for nerve. You should have gone into business, Miss Bruerer. You'd probably have made a million by much the same methods as I did myself."

"I wonder if your methods are the kind I'd care to stoop to, Mr. Calloway," she said coolly.

His face hardened again. "I'm not taking that from a girl who's been robbing a sick old man of his treasures. The worst that's ever been said of me never included an accusation of that sort of behavior. But I'm glad you said it. It's cured me of a momentary weakness I was beginning to feel. Now you can take what's coming to you."

A knock came at the front door a few minutes later. When Sam Brodie came inside, Sharni smiled up at the man who had bounced her on his knee when she was a child.

"Now, what sort of game are you playing, lassie?" Sam said.

"I'm afraid," said Sharni, "Mr. Calloway caught me climbing up a ladder to get into the window of my old bedroom."

"Now that was wrong of you," said Sam at once. "Suppose you'd slipped and fallen?"

"I take it that you know you this young woman?" asked Mark.

"Of course," said Sam, bewildered. "Everybody knows Sharni. She kept Himself alive almost single-handed with her fine nursing."

"I cam to get back my book on cardiac nursing," Sharni said for Sam's benefit. "I go to Dublin tomorrow."

"You're away to the hospital to be a nurse again, aren't you?"

"I'm going to be a sister now. They've promoted me."

"Och, that's wonderful. I hadn't heard that. Congratulations, lassie. I'd have come and drunk your health in The Thistle tonight if I'd known-"

"When the two of you have finished," said Mark, rigid with anger, "perhaps I could draw your attention back to the matter in hand?"

"I think you'd better clear my character, Sam," Sharni prompted. "Mr. Calloway thinks I'm a thief because I popped into Maria's shop with one of Himself's ivory figures. Nothing will convince him that I'm not replenishing the stock by unorthodox methods."

"Don't talk so daft, lassie," Sam begged. "Take no notice, Mr. Calloway. Sharni has her own sense of humor."

Sharni tightened her quivering lips to stop herself laughing out loud and found that Mark's hard, glittering eyes were fixed on her. She'd done the unforgivable, she realized. This man would not tolerate being made an object of mockery.

Sam turned to Mark. "Sir, are you easier in your mind now that we've cleared up the identity of this desperado, or do you want me to arrest her and give her a night in the cells?"

"Since you vouch for her good character, that won't be necessary." He had recovered his poise, but Sharni deceived. Beneath that smooth exterior, anger till vibrated.

"Now then, lassie, shall I walk you home?" Sam asked.

"I'd be obliged if you'd remain here, Miss Bruerer," said Mark at once. "Since you seem to be familiar with the house, I'd like you to show me where everything is. I can escort you home afterwards."

"I'd not put you to the trouble, sir," said Sam.

It was obvious that Mark Calloway wanted privacy to have a flaming row with her, and Sam was determined that he wasn't going to have it. But Sharni wasn't afraid of him.

"Thanks, Sam, but there's no need," she said. "There's nothing for me to be scared off."

"In that case, I'll be off home to my bed." He went and closed the door behind him.