Page 60 of Secrets of the Eternal Flame

‘Thank God, I was worried you weren’t going to answer.’

‘Scarlett…’ I paused. ‘Have you heard about Gwen?’

‘Gwen? Why? What’s happened to her? I was ringing about Archer,’ she explained nervously. She sounded like she didn’t have a clue about Gwen’s death and I didn’t want to be the one to tell her. Yanni might want to ambush her with that information later to see how she reacted.

I focused on her comment about Archer. ‘What about Archer?’ I asked. ‘He’s in police custody, right?’ I lied.

‘No, he’s not. He’s out on bail until his hearing and he rang me.’ Her words stumbled out so quickly she barely paused for breath. ‘He said he’s got those things – the mug and the grimoire. He said he took them one day when Gwen was in the back of the shop. He knew they were worth something so he hid them properly.’

‘Hid them properly?’

‘At a friend’s house.’

I frowned. ‘Why would he tell you that?’

‘He said he wants us to get back together – that the money from the sale would save my mum.’ Her voice was trembling with emotion. ‘He’s already lined up a buyer. He said it’s going to change his life – our lives.’

‘Did you get any details about the buyer? Male? Female?’

‘A woman,’ she said. And my stomach clenched.

‘An old woman?’

‘I don’t know. He said some woman was going to buy them from him this evening and he’s meeting her down at the industrial estate. I thought you needed to know because you said they were important.’

Relief surged through me so strongly it almost knocked the breath from my lungs. We could still stop my grandmother from getting hold of the cup and the grimoire. ‘Do you know what time he’s meeting her?’

‘Yeah. He asked me if I wanted to go too since I’d “helped” him. I didn’t help, Bea, I really didn’t – I didn’t even know he’d taken them. But I thought I should tell you. The meeting is at the industrial estate at 11.30pm.’

I spoke as calmly as I could. ‘Thank you for letting me know.’

‘What do I do?’ she asked, her voice quivering. ‘If I don’t go, then—’

‘Don’t worry,’ I said. ‘You stay home. I’ll handle this. I promise, it’ll be fine.’ Scarlett hung up, and I took a deep, steadying breath. I abandoned my plans for questioning the neighbouring shopkeepers and headed home instead. I’d need time to prepare and recce the area before the meeting went ahead.

Sometimes, when you really need it, the universe comes through. Unfortunately it meant I was going to have to cancel my own plans for the night, which I really didn’t want to do. But hey, once the issue of my grandmother and the relics were put to rest, Fraser and I could have all the evenings together that we wanted. I just needed to stop her first.

I hated that I needed to cancel my date with Fraser, but needs must. I pulled out my phone and rang him. I took a deep breath and prepared to lie. ‘I’m really sorry,’ I said when he answered. ‘Something’s come up tonight. Can wetake a rain check until tomorrow?’

‘Is that both you and Eva taking a rain check, or just you?’ he asked.

I chuckled as I glanced at my dog. ‘I think I’m going to take Eva with me for this one,’ I said, glancing down at her. From the way she was looking back at me, I guessed that while she was happy to be included she was also disappointed to be missing out on Fraser’s cooking. She wasn’t the only one.

‘You want backup?’ he asked lightly.

‘No, we’re good. We’re only doing some surveillance.’

‘Dinner tomorrow instead?’

‘Yes, perfect. Eva was looking forward to tonight so she’ll be furious if it doesn’t happen soon.’

‘Evawill be?’ I could hear him smiling down the line.

‘Absolutely. I mean I’ll bring her because Ihaveto but—’

‘Oh, youhaveto, do you? Well, in that case, she can always come by herself. She knows the way. Then you can pick her up after dessert.’

‘Fine,’ I said, unable to stop myself from laughing. ‘Iwantto see you and Iwantto bring Eva. Is it weird that I miss you already?’

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