Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
L ogan and I blinked in consternation at each other as Campbell took off over the grassy hill.
We followed.
But Leyton McPhail and Gabriel had melted into the darkness. There was no sign of them.
Logan raced down the hill and stared up and down the empty pavement. His tall, broad frame was silhouetted under the orange street lamps. ‘Are you sure that hoodie guy was Leyton McPhail, Campbell?’
‘Oh, it was him alright. The smug bastard had the audacity to wink at me!’
The bonfire was still puffing out coils of smoke over the top of the hill. Families were beginning to trudge home with their weary children hoisted on their shoulders. Languid couples embraced in the shadows and a couple of the ceilidh band members were supping pints while they packed up their instruments.
I noticed though, that Conall and Chrissie were huddled together over by the bonfire. They were talking, their heads bent together in animated conversation.
Campbell and Logan were chatting too, speculating about Leyton McPhail again, and had dropped back behind me.
It was as I got closer to Chrissie and Conall, that their chatter became a little more coherent. Their words, growing more heated, flung into the air.
I dropped my head, in case either of them recognised me, and moved off to the right of where they were, but they were so busy arguing that they weren’t paying any attention to anyone else.
Chrissie pushed a lock of her springy blonde curls back behind one ear. ‘Look, I’m sorry, OK? I didn’t know my ex-husband was going to show up pissed out of his skull!’
Conall grimaced. ‘It was embarrassing, not only for us as a couple but for the pub. I’m a successful businessman.’
Chrissie said nothing, just wrapped her arms around herself and shot Conall a fierce glare.
But Conall carried on, regardless. ‘I can’t be seen fraternising with idiots like your ex.’
‘We weren’t fraternising. He came up and started an argument. He embarrassed himself, Conall, not us.’
I continued to keep my head down and slid my phone out of my back pocket and pretended to be engrossed in its contents.
‘And who’s that other cretin who appeared?’ asked Conall, irritated. ‘He’s not local, is he?’
Chrissie shook her curls. ‘No. He’s that Leyton whatshisname. He’s here supposedly trying to help Gabriel locate the Skye Lovers’ Cross.’ She glanced around herself and I buried my face deeper into my phone. ‘At least, that’s what the local gossips are saying.’
She leant into Conall. ‘Gabriel got as drunk as a skunk a couple of weeks back in the pub. Rolled in while you were at the football, telling me he’d found some letter hinting that the cross does exist, and said he reckoned it could be hidden somewhere on the island.’
I almost gasped out loud. So, Chrissie had lied to Campbell. But why?
Conall let out a sarcastic bark of laughter, pulling me from my thoughts. ‘Aye. Right. And Micky Mouse is real too.’ But his laugh died. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Of course, I am.’
Conall rubbed his forehead. ‘It’s the first I’ve heard of it. Why didn’t you tell me before?’
Chrissie shrugged her slim shoulders under her cerise-coloured fleece. ‘Och, in all the years Gabe and me were married, he was always banging on about the next big thing that would make us rich.’ She sighed. ‘That man’s always been Skye’s answer to Walter Mitty.’
Conall slipped his hand into Chrissie’s. ‘Aye. Well, at least you’re with a winner now and not a monumental loser, eh darlin’?’ He bathed her in a self-satisfied beam.
What a prick!
Chrissie responded with a none-too-enthusiastic effort of a smile. ‘Come on. Let’s get back to the pub and call it a night.’
They soon evaporated up the darkened street, together with the other revellers who were ambling away.
I thrust my phone back into my jeans pocket and headed back to where Campbell and Logan were still talking, like two archaeological bookends. It was rather endearing.
‘She lied,’ I said in an excited tone, interrupting their conversation about the cross.
Both of them turned to look at me, bemused.
‘Who did?’ puzzled Logan.
‘Chrissie Aitken.’
Now it was Campbell’s turn to look confused. ‘What did she lie about? How do you know?’
I pointed to where Chrissie and Conall had been loitering only moments before, the air around us still peppered with the faint traces of smoke from the bonfire and lit fireworks. ‘I heard them talking; Chrissie and Conall that is.’ I dropped my voice to a hush, even though there was now only the three of us left on the hill. ‘Chrissie said something about Gabriel talking about discovering a letter about the cross existing.’
Campbell arched his brows. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Absolutely.’
I could see Logan turning over what I’d just told him. ‘She probably wants to keep it quiet too, just in case there’s any truth in it. Pity we couldn’t get hold of this letter.’
There was an awkward cough from behind us causing us to spin round in surprise.
‘I’m sorry, but I overheard you talking. Again,’ said Ava. She blushed. ‘I’m making a bit of a habit of it. I’m sorry.’ She flicked an embarrassed look at Campbell and hesitated, her cheekbones pinging candy pink again. ‘Anyway, I’ve got a suggestion.’
‘Oh?’ said Campbell, surveying her in the darkness.
Ava huddled deeper in her blush-coloured coat. ‘I’ve a friend who’s a bit of an expert when it comes to family trees here on Skye.’ She eyed us with a glint of optimism. ‘His name is Elliott Becker. I know it could be a bit of a long shot, but he might be able to give you some additional background about Gabriel, if you think that would help? Might throw up some background information on him, which could be useful?’
I nodded. ‘I think it’s worth a try. Campbell? Logan?’
After a few seconds deliberation, Campbell and Logan were in agreement.
‘Alright Ava.’ Campbell smiled. ‘Thank you. What have we got to lose?’ He continued to study her. ‘You seem to be turning into our guardian angel.’
Ava broke into a delighted grin and I nudged Logan pointedly.
Seems like the Skye Lovers’ Cross might be working some romantic magic already.