Page 5 of A Perfect Discovery

‘Yeah, yeah,’ said Will.

‘Yes.’ Calum tapped his middle finger on the desk. ‘Now, seriously, Will. This is important. I got the planning department’s email about the land at Kilnarkie.’

‘Great. Have they granted permission for your house?’

‘No.’

‘Oh, that’s a shame. Why not?’

‘It has an archaeological condition attached.’ Calum leaned his elbow on the desk and rubbed his chin as he scrolled the email again. Phrases leapt out at him.Identified as a possible site of historical interest... Must be thoroughly examined… No building work should be undertaken…

‘What does that mean? Did they find bones or something?’ Will shuffled in behind Calum and nosed over his shoulder.

‘No. It’s close to the old church and the planning department have decided there might be relics there or something. I don’t really know myself. I only know it’ll cost me a lot of money.’

‘Don’t the council pay for it?’

‘As if. It’s down to the developer to pay and have it thoroughly examined. It’s a total minefield.’

‘You’re taking it well. I thought you’d be spitting feathers at a hold-up like this.’

Calum’s chest burned; the feathers were ablaze inside him, but he held it in. ‘I need to figure out what to do.’

‘I wonder.’ Will’s face brightened like a light bulb had sprung into action on the top of his head. ‘Why don’t you ask Rhona Lamond for advice?’

Calum rubbed his fingertips into his sternum, his shoulders tensing around a growing pain. Did Will just suggest approaching one of the Lamonds? Why would a Lamond ever help him?

The land at Kilnarkie was only a couple of miles from their family home. They were more likely behind the hold-up. How like them to raise objections with the planning authorities about his land.

‘Are you serious?’ He glared at Will, stretching his shoulders, trying to ease the tension. ‘Do you think I’d ever ask a Lamond to help me out?’

‘Ah, come on, Calum. You don’t still hold that grudge, do you?’

‘Hold a grudge?’ Calum inhaled as much air through his nose as he could and held it for a few seconds. ‘Have you forgotten what they did to me… and you?’ He tapped his pen on the desk, keeping his jaw set, forcing himself to breathe steadily. Will might be able to sweep the past under the carpet but he couldn’t. The pain in his chest deepened and his heartrate notched up.

He swallowed, rubbing his ribcage, but there was no escaping it.Arran Lamond was at the bottom of the concrete school stairs, lying there, motionless... Dead?If that afternoon had never happened, how different things might have been. Calum might have finished school, met someone and been worthy of them, had a family of his own. His ribs ached with every breath. No. He’d never willingly work with a Lamond. Not now, not ever.

‘I try not to think about those days.’ Will’s voice trailed off. He’d always been good at keeping his head in the sand.

Calum blinked away the visions of Arran Lamond prone and lifeless. His heart raced like he was still standing over him.Is he alive?Calum sometimes woke in cold sweats after nightmares.What if he’d died?His revenge on Arran, who’d been his best mate for a time, had been anything but sweet. The attack hadn’t ended their troubles – as Calum had intended. It was just the start.

‘Hell will freeze over and Scotland will win the World Cup before I let a Lamond loose on my land.’ The words came out through gritted teeth.

‘You’re such a grouch. Why not forgive and forget? Rhona had nothing to do with any of it. She’s a sweet little thing.’

‘I don’t even know who she is or why I would ask her in the first place.’

‘You remember, she’s Arran’s little sister.’

‘Not really.’ And if he did, he was happy to forget. Erasing the Lamonds from his life was the ultimate step towards happiness.

‘She’s an archaeologist.’

‘Good for her. I expect she’s thousands of miles away digging up the tomb of Tutankhamun.’

Will chortled.

The Lamonds could do whatever they wanted. Calum had chosen to stay on the island, as had Will and a couple of other school friends, but most had spread their wings and flown long ago.

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