Page 30 of Edinburgh Escape
Angus had entered the flat and hovered by the door. Maggie and Callum joined him to stay out of the way. The officers questioned them, though they didn’t have much to add as they’d been hiding and out of sight while the burglars ransacked the rooms. The young police officer snapped photos of the damage and the writing on the wall.
Maggie shivered and leaned into Callum for warmth. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close, holding her there until the police finally left them alone.
“I slipped the tracker into the rubbish bin,” Angus said. “Whoever has been following will now follow the truck through Edinburgh. It might buy you a little peace.”
Maggie and Callum helped Angus clean up what they could and set the furniture to rights. They couldn’t fix the mattress on his bed or wash the paint from the wall, but they did what they could.
“Don’t worry about it,” Angus said. “It’s just paint. I can take care of it.
“But your bed—” Maggie felt so bad about what had happened to the man’s place when all he’d done was offer them refuge.
Angus waved a hand. “I have a friend who sells mattresses and can have a new one here before the end of the day.”
“I’ll pay for it,” Maggie said. “My mother left me a small trust fund when she passed. I can wire the money once I get back to Montana.”
Angus was shaking his head before she finished speaking. “The men who broke in did this. Not you. Besides, that’s what insurance is for.”
Callum laid a hand on Angus’s shoulder. “You’re a good man.”
“We take care of our brothers,” he said, meeting Callum’s gaze.
Callum’s eyes clouded as he nodded solemnly. “Or watch them die.”
Angus’s brow furrowed. “We do the best we can, given the circumstances.”
“Sometimes our best isn’t good enough.”
“And sometimes, there’s nothing you can do to change the outcome,” Angus said. “When that happens, you have to live in the present and leave the past behind.”
Maggie bore witness to the exchange, knowing nothing about what had happened that inspired their words, but she could feel the pain and regret that obviously weighed heavily on Callum’s mind and memories.
Callum broke eye contact and glanced down at his watch. The moment passed.
“If we leave now, we can pick up a rental car at the train station and make your meeting with Ewan Drummond.” He shot a glance toward Maggie. “Can you be ready to go in five minutes?”
“I’m ready now,” she said.
Callum’s gaze went to Angus. “Thank you again. I’m not sure what will happen when we meet with Drummond.”
“When I first planned to come to Scotland, I’d hoped to stay close to where my half-brother lived and spend a little time getting to know him.” Maggie shrugged and grimaced. “Now, I don’t know. If it’s all incredibly awkward and...who knows?...dangerous, I might just move on, see some of Scotland and go back home to Montana.” She sighed. “When Ewan invited me for a visit, I thought it was no big deal. I was excited to know I had a brother.”
Callum’s gaze softened. “Let’s meet the man, and we can decide what to do from there. If we end up leaving the same day, so be it.”
Callum clasped Angus’s forearm and pulled him in for a hug. “Stay safe, my friend.”
“And you,” Angus responded. “I’m here, if you need backup.”
“Be careful what you offer,” Callum said. “I might take you up on it.”
Angus clapped Callum hard on the back and stepped back. “I’m counting on it.”
Maggie hugged Callum’s big friend. “Thank you, Angus. If you ever come to Montana, you’re welcome to stay with me.”
“Now, you be careful what you offer. I might just take you up on it.” He winked and kissed her cheek.
“I’d be honored.”
Maggie slung her backpack over her shoulder. When she went to collect her roller bag, Callum beat her to it. With his backpack over one shoulder, he lifted her suitcase and led the way out of the flat and down the stairs to the street below.
