Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
T he woman squinted over her shoulder, back at Portree Library. ‘You’re looking for the Skye Lovers’ Cross?’
Campbell nodded. ‘Do you have any information about the cross?’
The woman looked conflicted all of a sudden, her gaze uncertain under her layered, dark blonde hair. ‘Yes. No. I mean, I think I might.’
She started to move away from the library’s entrance and beckoned to the three of us to follow. ‘I’d rather not talk here though, if you don’t mind. You don’t know who could be listening and I don’t trust Gabriel Jamieson to tell me the right time.’
Logan flexed one brow at me.
‘I’m Ava Fairlie,’ the woman continued, hitching her black and gold shoulder bag higher up her shoulder as she walked. ‘I live just round the corner.’
Ava, who I estimated to be in her late fifties, persisted in delivering cautious looks everywhere as she guided us back to her house.
‘Do either of you know her?’ I whispered to Logan and Campbell as they strode either side of me.
‘I’ve seen her around, but never spoken to her,’ said Logan. ‘I don’t know absolutely every single person on Skye, despite what you might think.’
Ava led us around the corner and past a bijou cashmere shop and another selling picture frames and greeting cards.
Ava creaked open her garden gate, which took us up a path towards her cottage and blush pink front door. The flower beds on either side of us were erupting with heather and daffodils that waggled their heads in the gentle breeze. It was finally starting to feel a bit like spring on Skye.
Ava unlocked her front door and quickly ushered the three of us inside as though we were participating in some covert operation.
The air in her polished hallway smelled of fresh laundry and the wooden floor gleamed, contrasting nicely with the navy and cream swirly patterned carpet of the sitting room off to the right.
Ava encouraged us along the hall and passed framed landscaped pictures into her lounge.
It was small but cosy, with plenty of potted plants erupting from ceramic pots. It felt more like an arboretum than a sitting room.
‘Would you like tea or coffee?’ she asked, hovering on the spot and clasping and unclasping her hands.
We thanked her but politely declined, so she took up residence on one of her apple green armchairs, while Logan, Campbell and I sat down beside each other on the matching sofa opposite.
Ava had removed her swinging camel coat and kept rubbing the knees of her black, flared trousers. ‘I hope you don’t think I was eavesdropping,’ she blurted, her almond-shaped eyes appealing to us. ‘But I couldn’t help but overhear what was being said.’
She pulled at the right cuff of her dark, stripey top. ‘I go to the library a lot. I’m studying for an Open University degree course.’
‘Oh, that’s great,’ enthused Logan. ‘What are you studying?’
‘Botany.’ Ava smiled, signalling to her leafy surroundings and looking a little embarrassed. ‘I felt like I needed to occupy my time after I lost Lennox a couple of years ago. He was my husband.’
‘We’re very sorry,’ I said with a gentle smile.
‘Thank you.’
Ava fell silent for a moment and then recovered herself and resumed speaking. ‘So, like I said, I go to the library a lot. I find I’m more productive there and can focus better on my studies. Too many distractions at home.’
I noticed her fiddle with the simple gold wedding band on her left hand. ‘What that cunning old bugger Gabriel Jamieson said to you just now … well, he’s lying. Pure and simple.’
‘Lying about what?’ asked Campbell, looking puzzled from where he was sandwiched between me and Logan. I was glad of the space, as any time any part of Logan’s body came anywhere near me, my blood pressure threatened to go through the roof.
Ava lowered her voice again. ‘The Skye Lovers’ Cross. Or, at least, he’s pretending he’s not interested in it.’ She shifted forward in her armchair. ‘If he was so ambivalent about it, why is he always looking up information about it online?’
‘How do you know that?’ asked Campbell, his rich, cultivated voice full of intrigue.
‘Because I saw him with my own eyes. I’d been searching for a particular book to read as part of my course but couldn’t find it, so I went up to the library desk to ask him for help.’ Ava’s expression became more animated as she spoke. ‘Unfortunately, the other librarian, Sheena McLure, was out on her lunch break. She’s a lovely lady. Anyway, I approached the desk and Gabriel was tapping away on his computer, with his back to me, so I could see the computer screen over his shoulder and he was reading up about the history of it. He’d no idea I was standing there.’
Campbell and Logan exchanged frowns.
‘What happened then?’ I asked.
‘Well, I let out a polite cough and he almost jumped through the library ceiling. Then he got all agitated, clicked away from the screen and started asking me if I was in the habit of creeping up on people.’
‘Very odd,’ muttered Campbell, to no one in particular.
‘That’s why I wanted to speak to you,’ explained Ava with greater urgency. ‘He’s lying. Why though, I don’t know.’
I could see Campbell mulling over what Ava had just said. ‘I came back to Skye, because I don’t want to give up on finding the cross. I still believe it’s here.’ He fished around in his coat pocket. ‘I don’t suppose you’ve any idea who might have written this letter?’ He handed it to Ava. ‘Or maybe you recognise the handwriting?’
Ava slid the letter from the rumpled white envelope and began to read. When she’d finished, she shook her head. ‘Sorry, I don’t.’
Ava observed Campbell accept the letter back from her and slip it back into his coat pocket. ‘Where did you get it? The letter?’
‘It was posted through the door at The Gorse where I’m staying. It’s all rather cloak and dagger.’
Ava’s eyes popped. ‘My goodness.’
Campbell gave his coat pocket a pat. ‘Whoever wrote this, thinks the same as you, that our local librarian knows more than he’s letting on.’
Ava nodded. ‘But I always thought the cross was just a figment of someone’s imagination.’
Logan agreed. ‘You’re not the only one to think that.’ He glanced around at our expectant faces. ‘I think we need to keep this quiet for now. The fewer people that know, the better. We don’t want Skye turned into some treasure hunter’s fun fair.’
We all nodded in agreement.
‘And if our search does come to a dead end,’ pointed out Campbell, ‘we won’t look like a bunch of silly buggers. I’ve been there, done that and got the t-shirt.’
At that moment, my mobile trilled out. ‘Oh, excuse me a second.’
I fished it out of my bag by my feet. Justine’s name shone up at me.
I’d just reached Ava’s hallway, so I could take the call, when Justine’s voice purred down the line. ‘Just wanted to check in again with you and find out how things are going? You haven’t sent me an update or been in touch very much the last couple of days, darling.’
I chewed my lip, trying not to stare at Logan through the crack in Ava’s partially closed sitting room door. ‘Good, thanks. I’ve been busy,’ I replied, hoping to inject an innocent lightness into my voice.
‘I hope so! What are you doing at the moment? I need to feed back to the publishers about the progress you’re making.’
A guilty rush raced through me. I didn’t want to admit that I’d been so preoccupied with Logan and the Campbell affair, that my research for my travel guidebook was beginning to take a bit of a back seat.
I also realised with a stunned jolt that I hadn’t been checking out social media anywhere near as much as normal. Was this some sort of record for me? It must be. And the weird thing was, I hadn’t missed it.
‘We need to ramp things up,’ persisted Justine, oblivious to my social media revelations. ‘Get more people talking about you, accumulate even more of those likes. Any ideas?’
‘For what?’ I asked, my attention straying again to admire Logan’s stubbly profile through Ava’s sitting room door.
‘For this week’s lottery numbers. For drawing attention away from Miss hippy chic, of course. What else would I be talking about? It’s bad enough she’s secured a place on that reality TV show!’
I tried to focus on my agent’s rant.
‘We need to get you a few more column inches. You’re beginning to lag behind, Darcie.’ She hesitated. ‘I must say, you’re taking the latest news about our friend River very well. I thought you’d go ballistic.’
‘What news?’ I’d no idea what Justine was talking about.
Justine’s tone became hesitant. ‘Ah. So, you don’t know then?’
‘Justine, I wouldn’t be asking if I did.’ God, she loved to dramatize everything.
‘I can’t believe you haven’t heard. I think the sooner we get you off that island and back to London, the better.’
My attention slid in Logan’s direction again. I didn’t say anything. He was still chatting to Campbell and Ava.
‘I’ll send you some publicity shots of River’s latest adventure now,’ continued Justine with evident irritation. ‘But I’m warning you: you’re not going to like it.’
A few moments later, images of River glammed up and posing in front of a giant glitterball appeared on my phone screen. She was wearing a Santa hat at a jaunty angle, and the headline screamed, river about to rock Christmas let’s dance .
My jaw dropped to Ava’s patterned hall carpet and bounced back up again so hard, it felt like I might be experiencing some sort of seizure. This wasn’t happening. This was so unfair! I might’ve been able to stomach someone else getting on the Christmas special of Let’s Dance , but not the likes of her. I loved that show!
‘Darcie. Darcie! Are you still there?’
My blood felt like it had turned the most hateful shade of green and was bubbling hotter and faster. ‘She’s… She’s…’ I struggled to force the words out.
‘See what I mean?’ chided Justine, in her ‘I told you so’ voice. ‘That’s why we need something to come back with, darling. We’ve got to keep your name and your profile at the forefront of people’s minds.’
I was fighting to listen to Justine, while simultaneously attempting to stem the jealousy rampaging through me. I hated feeling like this. Why my favourite show? Why her?
‘Now, I know you’re doing your Skye travel guide, but is there anything else we can use?’
I couldn’t speak. I was fighting to process River’s latest, boastful success.
When I didn’t say anything, Justine let out a weary sigh. ‘You’re not giving me much here, Darcie.’
I was about to say that I thought it was her job and that of the agency PR gurus to come up with ideas like this. My eyes bored into my phone screen again, starting at the images of self-satisfied River, and the lump of resentment grew larger and more solid in my chest. I bet she’d never even watched Let’s Dance !
Over my murderous thoughts, I could hear Logan, Campbell and Ava talking in animated tones.
Visions of River sashaying around the dance floor in some glitzy ensemble consumed me and I found myself blurting, ‘There might be some hidden treasure here on Skye that I could end up being involved in finding.’
As soon as the words shot out of my mouth, I regretted them. A sour feeling dried up my tongue and I clamped my eyelids shut for a few seconds.
Hadn’t I listened to what Logan just said?
‘What, chocolate coins?’ sniggered Justine.
My conscience was battling it out. I couldn’t stop there. I had to explain. ‘No, not chocolate coins,’ I answered in a small voice.
She let out a thrilled gasp. ‘Are you serious, sweetie? What? You mean, something major?’
My voice sounded weird to my own ears, disembodied, strangled. Part of me wanted to reel back what I’d just said, deny it and say that I’d exaggerated and I wanted Justine to forget it.
But the other part of me—the petulant, envious side—couldn’t let go of River’s smirking expression. ‘Yes,’ I managed, hating myself. More guilt flooded through me. ‘But… I mean … it’s still all up in the air at the moment.’
‘Right.’ I could hear Justine’s brain whirring from here. ‘What’s this piece of so-called treasure then?’
I cleared my throat and tried not to look through the crack in the door at Logan. I felt wretched as it was. ‘It’s supposed to be a piece of jewellery, made during the time of the Vikings.’
Justine’s excitement erupted again. ‘Oooh, this could work. We could make you sound like Lara Croft.’
My stomach spun to the floor. ‘No. No. That’s an awful idea. Please don’t do that.’
Unperturbed, she carried on. ‘What about this Logan? Is he involved as well?’
I raised my eyes from Ava’s carpet. They locked on unsuspecting Logan just as he grinned at something Campbell was saying. His toothy smile lit up his face and my heart lurched.
‘Y-es,’ I faltered. ‘Yes, he’s involved in the search too.’
He must’ve sensed me watching him, because he twisted round on the sofa and his gaze met mine.
My breathing ramped up. What was wrong with me? And what the hell did I think I was doing?!
Logan continued to study me, but I jerked my gaze away. No. I couldn’t go through with this. It was a mistake. River or no River, it wasn’t right. I didn’t want to let anyone down and the thought of ruining the search out of some ugly, misplaced sense of jealousy made my stomach squirm. ‘Just forget I said anything,’ I scrambled. ‘It’s not definite. Nothing is. Most of the islanders don’t even believe the treasure exists in the first place.’ My words were coming out thicker and faster. ‘It’s probably just an urban myth.’
‘Is it a ring? A bangle?’
‘Not sure,’ I replied. My worry fired up even more at her interest. ‘Don’t say anything to anyone. Please.’
When Justine just let out a non-committal murmur, my panic went into overdrive. ‘I mean it, Justine. I shouldn’t have said anything. It was a mistake.’
Logan was now listening to Ava and rubbing his stubbled, square chin.
Bugger! Why did I let my jealousy get the better of me like that?
‘Justine! Promise me. I mean it. Just forget all this. Promise me?—’
‘Alright. Alright! Bloody hell.’
‘Please,’ I carried on. ‘I want you to promise me that you’ll drop any idea of running with this treasure thing. We can come up with something else.’
‘Yeah. Yeah. Whatever, darling.’
I gripped my mobile tighter to my ear. I allowed myself a long, low, deep sigh of relief. ‘Thank you. OK. Right. I’d better go.’
‘Yes, I’d better push on too. And please don’t leave it too long to get back to me with some suggestions for keeping you in the spotlight,’ she sing-songed. ‘At this rate, River will be running for Prime Minister by Halloween.’
Then she rounded off her call with a breezy, ‘Ciao!’ and a theatrical kissing noise down the line.