The Great Silence by Doug Johnstone

Author:Doug Johnstone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orenda Books Ltd
Published: 2021-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

38

DOROTHY

Dorothy finished her Highland Park and sighed. She’d sat at the kitchen table as dusk crept across the sky, the room becoming gloomy around her. It was strange to have the house to herself, except for the six bodies downstairs in the fridges. Jenny was at Fiona’s house with the police following the message from Craig. What the hell was he up to? Dorothy had fallen for his charisma like everyone else at the start, but he was unhinged. And poor wee Sophia. Hannah and Indy had gone out for dinner with Indy’s grandparents, life trundling on with Indy’s parents in the fridges downstairs. And Abi was out with Kazuko and Taylor seeing another three-band bill at Sneaky’s. Dorothy admired the girl’s ability to switch off the mayhem of her life, or maybe tonight was just a moment of relief.

Schrödinger came to her from the window seat, weaved his way around her legs as she stroked him. The cat had taken a beating from Craig too, in this very room, on one of the worst nights of Dorothy’s life. She realised she hadn’t seen Einstein in a while, usually he fol­lowed Schrödinger like a shadow. They had obvious affection for each other, even if Schrödinger hid it in typical cat style.

‘Where’s your pal, eh?’ she said, running her hand along his tail.

She looked out of the window at the gloaming creeping from the east. She felt the whisky in her veins and thought of her husband’s ashes scattered on the links. She stood and grabbed the dog’s lead and went to the doorway.

‘Einstein?’

She waited a moment, nothing. There was usually the thud and clack of paws on the floor, but she stood in silence.

She went downstairs, the light gloomier here.

‘Einstein?’

She walked through the front rooms, then to the embalming room and workshop. The garage door was ajar, shit, he’d got out. Normally not a problem but with this goddamn jaguar around Dorothy felt a tightness in her chest.

She went to a locker in the garage and opened it. She pulled out a large-headed gold club from Jim’s old bag, felt the heft of it, and went outside.

‘Einstein?’

It was warm, no wind, sweeping shade from the oak and pine, the sky purple above. She walked around the garden, no sign.

‘Einstein.’ This was louder, anxiety creeping into her voice.

She left the garden and went round the corner to Bruntsfield Links. Over to the left was where the dog found the foot. It seemed a lifetime ago, but was just over a week.

There were a few people on the paths through the park, walking or cycling, heading to the bars or home, shadows moving in the soft light. She waited till her eyes grew accustomed, looked around.

‘Einstein.’ This was a proper shout, drawing attention from a young couple to her left.

She looked the other way, into the southeast corner of the links. There was no path there, and the streetlights on Whitehouse Loan hadn’t come on yet.

She thought she saw movement and walked

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