AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Our voices are raised. No, it’s only my voice. A waitress appears. Cyrus composes himself and apologises. I’m supposed to do the same, but I don’t because I don’t like Cyrus seeing my scars. It’s bad enough that I see them when I look in the mirror. The coin-sized lesions on my stomach and buttocks, caused by cigarettes being stubbed out against my skin.
‘Can we start over again?’ asks Cyrus, his voice softening. ‘Good morning, Evie. Did you sleep well?’
‘Like shit. You?’
‘I was worried about a friend who was late getting home. But I’m happy now.’
How can I be angry at him?
I nibble at the end of a croissant as he tells me about meeting Angus Radford’s father, who warned him to stop asking questions.
‘Is Willie Radford the Ferryman?’ I ask.
‘I don’t think he’s big enough. I mean, he’s clearly a big fish in St Claire, but this is a small pond, barely a puddle. The Ferryman has international connections. He’s trying to control the movement of people across borders and oceans.’
I feel an ache in my chest. ‘They know we’re here now.’
‘Which is why I’m taking you home.’
‘We haven’t found out what happened to me.’
‘I’m not putting you in danger. This was always a long shot.’
We sit quietly. Somewhere above us, a cistern empties and refills.
‘Who were you trying to help last night?’ he asks.
‘A girl. Her name is Addie. Her grandmother owns this place.’
‘Addie must be related to Angus Radford?’
‘Her uncle. Her father runs the Waterfront Inn. Her aunt works in the kitchen.’
‘How did you get back to the guest house?’
‘Her father took me. He told me to go back to Nottingham.’
‘Did you tell him where you lived?’
I shake my head. ‘I also didn’t tell him where I was staying.’
Cyrus frowns in concentration. ‘What was his name?’
‘Sean Murdoch.’
His mobile interrupts us. Cyrus answers brightly. ‘DI Carlson. To what do I owe the pleasure?’
‘What in fuck’s name are you doing in Scotland?’ he bellows, loud enough for me to hear every word.
‘Having breakfast,’ says Cyrus, completely unruffled.
‘Don’t fuck with me,’ says Carlson.
‘I’m investigating Angus Radford.’
‘You are not a detective.’
‘This is a private matter.’
