Children of the Mist by Douglas Skelton

Author:Douglas Skelton [Skelton, Douglas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Suspense
ISBN: 9781846976254
Publisher: Polygon, Birlinn Ltd
Published: 2023-07-10T16:00:00+00:00

26

The silence was deeper here. Richer.

When Rebecca had taken a moment as she stood beside the gate at Burnes House, she had thought the peace was perfect, but now she was back in the Black Wood she realised perfection had degrees, and here it was at its peak. She could understand why Fergus loved the place. Again, she felt that sense of past and present existing in harmony, that this place was a pocket of history that had defied the onslaught of man and climate.

She had picked the location for a reason and not simply because there was nobody to overhear. A tourist or a walker might amble by – the valley was an all-year-round tourist destination – but she was confident they could talk in peace. Rebecca couldn’t tell whether Shona was amenable to talking, but it was possible that bringing her to where Fergus may have last been seen might help loosen her tongue.

Rebecca had waited in her car for about half an hour and was beginning to wonder if Shona had simply agreed to get rid of her. Then, in her rear-view she saw a small, red sporty number rounding a bend and she knew immediately it was Shona Everton’s car, one that managed to be understated while also screaming, Look at me.

The flat shoes Shona had worn earlier had been replaced by a pair of Ugg boots, although the black leggings remained. A thick coat of what Rebecca hoped was fake fur but really couldn’t say for certain was draped around her, and her blonde hair was encased in a matching hat. If their walk was going across the steppes of Siberia, then she was all set.

‘Thanks for agreeing to meet, Mrs Everton,’ Rebecca said.

Shona said nothing, as she lingered at the side of the road, her head turned in the direction she had come. She waited a long time, watching and listening, before she stepped off the verge and they crossed the road to the pathway into the wood.

‘Please, call me Shona. I won’t be Mrs Everton for much longer, thank God.’

‘You and your husband have split up?’

‘Oh, yes.’

Rebecca wondered if she should pursue that subject but decided against it. They had other things to talk about.

‘Did you choose this place purposely?’

Busted, Rebecca thought. ‘Would you believe me if I said no?’

Shona laughed. ‘No.’ She looked around them as they walked. ‘Fergus loved this place, but I suppose you already know that.’

‘What can you tell me about him?’

‘What do you need to know?’

Rebecca took a few paces before she answered. ‘What was he like?’

It was Shona’s turn to pause, as she considered how to respond. ‘He was . . . funny. He was intelligent. He was loving.’

‘I take it his disappearance was out of character.’

A sideways glance from Shona. ‘What do you know of that day?’

‘Not much. He was supposed to be going to Pitlochry, at least that’s what he told his parents, but his car was found back where we parked. He was never seen again.

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