Bean clattered up the rough stone steps in her school shoes and disappeared around the corner of the spiral staircase.
‘Come on,’ she shouted.
Tyler and Flick gave each other a look and followed, disappearing into the gloom themselves, the narrow slits for archers throwing slivers of light into the tower. Halfway up the steps Tyler felt Flick take his hand, and a trill ran up his arm straight to his heart.
They hadn’t paid entry to Craigmillar Castle, it was easy to sneak past the old woman at the front gate, just walk through the field further down the hill, reach the cover of the trees, then you could pop up at the side wall and clamber over.
Tyler had persuaded Barry to let him out of the car at the high school, telling him it would look less suspicious if he attended a couple of classes this afternoon. He hadn’t gone to class, obviously, just walked through the woods at the back of the school until it was time to pick up Bean from primary. Just as he was standing waiting in the playground Flick had called, keen to meet up, and he couldn’t think of a reason not to.
So here they were like a bizarre family, mum, dad and little daughter, exploring the medieval ruins at the top of Craigmillar Hill. Tyler remembered being here at night with Flick – how long ago was that? He was losing track of the days, drowning in time, unable to get a clear view of a future.
Halfway up the tower they came out into a great hall, high ceilings and a ten-foot wide fireplace. Bean stood in the fireplace, stretched her neck and shouted at the narrow chimney slit way above. She came out and darted off to the side, found another staircase and steps. Tyler and Flick smiled and went after her. They found her in a smaller room down some steep steps, a sign on the wall saying it had once been a prison. From here the prisoners could’ve heard the sounds of partying from the main hall, would’ve smelt the roast boar. Tyler thought about prisons as Flick pretended to lock Bean inside and throw the key out of the window.
Then Bean was off again, up and up until they were at the top of the tower, where Flick had kissed him that night.
Flick was holding his hand again by this time. Bean noticed, smiled and took Flick’s other hand. But she had to let go when they scrambled up the last battlements and round to the front of the ramparts overlooking the city.
Tyler looked west, searching for smoke in the air, but he couldn’t see anything. He hoped that meant the house hadn’t gone up, the flames had somehow stopped spreading, or someone had got there in time and doused the fire.
‘This is amazing,’ Bean said, running up and down the narrow path cut into the rampart. Like Tyler, she’d lived in the shadow of the castle but had never been here. It was amazing what could be right in front of you the whole time that you never even noticed.
There was an information sign about how rival armies used to try to take the castle, and how the people inside would fire arrows at them, pour boiling oil down on advancing soldiers. Flick read it out to Bean, who grimaced and laughed, acted out getting burned alive, gargling and giggling. Tyler thought of Kelly and grabbed the handrail to steady himself against a gust of wind. He would have to tell Bean that Kelly was dead. She hadn’t been a big part of Bean’s life, Tyler had shielded her, but she was still her half-sister, it still mattered. But he didn’t want to break this fragile moment between him, Bean and Flick. He tried to imagine the three of them heading off somewhere together, a remote cottage in the Highlands or a small apartment by the sea in Greece. But he couldn’t picture it. Couldn’t see them any place where Barry wasn’t lurking in the shadows, where the Holts weren’t looking to take him out.
Bean had run off to the adjacent wall of the tower, singing a song under her breath as she trailed a hand along the stonework.
‘Sure.’
‘You look worried. Is it your mum?’
He thought about Kelly and Barry, how to explain it all. He thought about the Holts, and what Pearce had said at the station, that whoever was helping him and Bean was putting themselves in the firing line too. When Flick had called him, he hadn’t had the strength to say no. Now he was regretting that, wondering if somehow the Holts were watching them, closing in on Flick and Bean.
The wind whipped round from the west and Flick pulled a strand of hair from her mouth. She was still in that bright-red uniform, unafraid to show people where she was from. He admired that confidence, wanted some of it for himself.
‘I was at the police station earlier,’ he said.
‘Why?’
He looked out to sea. Inchkeith hiding out there, shrouded in fog.
‘Kelly is dead.’
‘Oh my God, Tyler. I’m so sorry.’
She hugged him. He tensed up at her touch, then tried to relax. Eventually he pulled away. She was looking in his eyes, so he had to turn away to the view of Arthur’s Seat and the Crags.
‘What happened?’ she said, watching him.
‘She was murdered.’ He couldn’t bring himself to tell her the details.
‘Is this to do with Barry? Why your house wasn’t safe?’
She looked over to where Bean was pretending to have a sword fight with an invading knight.
‘Maybe.’
‘You can’t go back there,’ Flick said. ‘You and Bean can stay in Hope Terrace as long as you like.’
‘But your parents.’
‘They won’t be back for months. We can work something out before then.’
Tyler shook his head. ‘We can’t impose on you like that.’
She touched his arm. ‘Of course you can.’
‘This is crazy, we’ve only just met.’
She held his other arm too now, as if she was going to shake him. ‘Tyler, you’re the best thing that’s happened to me in years.’
He frowned and turned away.
‘I’m serious,’ she said.
‘All I’ve done is bring you trouble.’
‘That’s not true, you saved me from Will.’
‘Then you saved me from him.’
‘There you go, we’re perfect for each other.’
Tyler looked at Bean, who looked over and waved. He waved back. Behind her was the hospital, the clutter of white rooftops in the hollow of the land. Rainclouds were sweeping in from that direction, they’d get wet here soon.
‘My mum is at our flat.’
‘They let her out of hospital already?’
‘They needed the bed.’
‘Then bring her to the house.’
‘I can’t do that.’
‘Of course you can. There’s plenty of room.’
‘She’s…’ He didn’t know how to end that sentence.
‘She’s your mum,’ Flick said. ‘And Bean’s mum. That’s all that matters.’
Tyler stared at her. She was so much more together than him.
‘Let’s go and get her now,’ Flick said.
Tyler frowned. ‘You take Bean back to the house, I’ll bring her.’
‘Why?’
He didn’t want Flick anywhere near Greendykes House, the Holts might be waiting there. Or Barry. And even if they weren’t there, Angela would take some persuading, if she was in any fit state to be persuaded.
‘Just do it, please,’ he said.
Bean ran towards them and Tyler stepped back from Flick to accept a hug from his sister. He looked up and Flick was smiling at him, just as he felt the first drops of rain on his face.