Sylvie was laden with grocery bags when she came home a bit later. Seamus unchained the lock to let her in.
“Why was the chain pulled?” she asked crossly. “I couldn’t get in, and this stuff is heavy.”
“There’s been a problem,” Seamus said. “Greer will tell you all about it.” He took the bags from her and went into the kitchen.
“What’s going on?” she asked, easing herself into a chair opposite me and crossing her legs. She gave me a questioning look while she nodded her head toward the kitchen. “Does he know I told you?” she whispered.
“No. At least, I don’t think so. I didn’t say anything.”
She noticed the heat pack I was pressing against my back. “What happened to you?”
I told her all about my encounter with the man at the cathedral and again in the gardens. She listened, her mouth agape.
“Who was it?” she demanded. “Have you told the police?”
“I don’t know who it was, and of course I’ve told the police. I’m waiting to hear whether they find anything on the cathedral security footage or in the gardens. I called them as soon as I got home.”
“But you must know the man from somewhere. Strangers just don’t go around attacking people.”
“He obviously knows Neill. He thinks I know where Neill is, and he’s trying to scare me into telling him.”
She thought for a moment. “It seems like the police should have found something by now, don’t you think?”
I shrugged. “It’ll take them a while to go through security footage and to scour the gardens for evidence.”
“What happens now?”
“I’m going to rest for a bit, then I’ll go back out and look for Ellie again.”
“But aren’t you afraid that man will find you again?”
“A little, but I can’t stop looking for Ellie just because I’m afraid of some man I don’t know.”
“You’re braver than me,” she said.
Seamus came in, bearing a tray of teacups and saucers. “Thought we could all do with some tea,” he said with a wide smile.
I drank the hot, strong brew and settled onto the cushions so my back would be more comfortable. Seamus offered to reheat the pad for my back and I gratefully accepted. Before long, I was asleep again.
But the caffeine in the tea had produced its intended effect and I woke up a short time later, restless and ready to get back to looking for Ellie.
I lumbered up from the couch and made my way to the kitchen, where Sylvie and Seamus were talking quietly. “I’m going out for a little while,” I announced.
Sylvie gave me an incredulous look. “What?! Why? You’re hurt, you’re scared, and it’s getting dark. What can you possibly accomplish?”
“I’m not trying to accomplish anything. I just want to go for a short walk. I’ve been thinking my back might hurt less if I got off the couch and exercised it a bit.”
“Whatever you say,” she said with a sigh. My mum used to say that when I was a teenager. It was bad enough coming from my mother, but it was almost unbearable coming from my little sister.
But when I stood on the sidewalk in front of the flat, I was too scared to go anywhere. I looked up and down the narrow street, seeing only threats: a person could be hiding between those parked cars; someone could be watching me unseen from the park across the street. Dozens of other scenarios crowded my mind, and I couldn’t bring myself to venture any further for a walk. But I didn’t want to go back inside, so instead I went around to the garden at back of the house.
I passed through a wrought-iron arbor at the entrance to the patio, then followed the meandering stone path, looking at the foliage and berries hanging from the shrubs and trees all around me. This was a huge garden for the center of Edinburgh. There were browning clusters of rudbeckia, several acer trees with fiery red leaves drooping gracefully toward the cold ground, and Black Lace berries clinging to branches naked of leaves. Where the berries hung, there would be gorgeous pink flowers in the spring.
There was a large fireplace at the back of the garden, almost hidden by trees and evergreen shrubs. I knew the owner of Bide-A-Wee House kept seasoned firewood in the basement. A cluster of small tables and matching chairs dotted the ground in front of the fireplace, inviting residents to relax. I couldn’t wait to bring Ellie out here and enjoy a crackling fire with her.
My heart constricted as my thoughts turned to Ellie. I was getting nowhere in my search for her. Wherever Neill had taken her, they were hidden well if the thug who accosted me was also unable to find them. I suspected people like the loan sharks looking for Neill had ways that were, at best, illegal and at worst, dangerously effective to find their borrowers. Of course, most of my information about such criminals came from television and movies, but it seemed logical.
I circled the garden several times before going back into the flat. Seamus was directing dinner preparation, and Sylvie was happily following his instructions.
“Look, Greer! Seamus is teaching me how to make stovies. We’ve got corned beef, potatoes, carrots, and onions in this.”
“It smells wonderful,” I complimented her. “Do I have time for a shower before dinner?”
“Sure,” Seamus answered.
The hot water on my back felt so good, I didn’t want to get out. But when I did, I was surprised to find James in the kitchen with Sylvie and Seamus. I smiled at him, embarrassed because my hair was still dripping wet and I was dressed in pajamas.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming over?” I scolded. “I would have at least put on street clothes.”
James grinned. “It’s fun to see you relaxed and sloppy for once. I stopped by to see what was going on, and Sylvie and Seamus invited me for dinner. If it’s all right with you.”
“Of course it’s all right. I won’t bother changing, now that you’ve seen me in pajamas.” I poured four glasses of wine and handed them around to everyone. James looked at me, narrowing his eyes.
“Are you limping?”
“Yes. I was trying not to.”
When he asked what happened, I was forced to retell my story. His look changed from interest to concern to horror as I told him about the events of the day.
“Why didn’t you call me right away?”
“Honestly, all I wanted was to come home and sleep. I was exhausted. I called the police, but then I just wanted it all to go away for a while.”
“I’m so sorry this happened,” James said earnestly. “I would have come to help you. I could have stayed with you this afternoon.”
“You wouldn’t have enjoyed watching me sleep. There was no need for anyone to be here.”
“I most certainly would have enjoyed watching you sleep,” James retorted. Seamus whistled through his teeth and Sylvie started to laugh.
“Och, Greer, this is getting serious!” she said with a grin.
I could feel my face turning a hundred shades of red. I rolled my eyes and changed the subject. “James, are you working tomorrow?”
“I have to go in for a little while in the morning, but I won’t be long. Why? Do you have plans?”
“I was going to go out looking for Ellie again, and I was wondering if you could go with me. If you do, I’ll buy you lunch.”
“How can I refuse an offer like that?” he asked with a grin. “Of course I’ll go with you. I’ll come by and pick you up when I’m done at the museum, and we’ll go together. That way you don’t have to go by yourself to meet me. I think you should always have someone with you when you go out, at least until the man who hurt you is caught.”
Sylvie agreed. “And if James can’t be with you, then you need to ask me or Seamus. You shouldn’t even have left the flat tonight to go for a walk by yourself.”
It was nice to hear Sylvie say that. She didn’t often give the impression that she cared about people other than herself.
We enjoyed the stovies Sylvie had made. The corned beef was delicious, tender, and perfectly spiced. “Ellie loves stovies,” I told them while we ate. “She’s a big fan of Scottish food.” Then, suddenly and to my great embarrassment, I started to cry. James jumped up from the table and came to put his hands on my shoulders. Sylvie put her hand on mine and Seamus looked around the kitchen awkwardly.
“Greer, you’re going to find Ellie. We’re going to find her. I just know it. I feel it,” James said, leaning over to kiss the top of my wet head.
“He’s right, Greer. We’ll find her, of course we will,” Sylvie agreed. “She can’t stay lost forever.”
Forever. The word made me cry harder. James rubbed my shoulders and Sylvie apologized for her word choice. “Och, what I mean is, she’s got to be in Edinburgh. Between the four of us and the police, there’s no way she can stay hidden.”
I wiped my eyes, sniffling, and tried to smile at her. “I know. It just seems so hopeless sometimes.” I glanced up at James, who was looking at me with concern. “I’m okay. Really. I’m okay now.”
He sat down again, and we finished our dinner. Seamus, obviously relieved my crying jag was at an end, changed the subject. He was a great storyteller, and he regaled us with tales of how he got each of his tattoos. Listening to him and the others laughing made me feel a bit better. I finished my wine and began to feel a bit groggy again, so I went to bed shortly after dinner ended. James left after promising to pick me up mid-morning. But I had started to change my mind about the next day’s plans.