Morag found the light switch and turned it on.
‘That’s better,’ she said. She took off her hat and wiped the snow from her face. I did the same, blinking the flakes from my eyes until I could see properly again.
‘Are you all right?’ I asked.
‘I’m fine. Absolutely fine.’
It was beyond basic in the bothy, with bare stone walls and a pair of old armchairs that looked like they’d been obtained in a charity shop, a small bookcase with several old paperbacks and maps stacked on it, and an open fireplace with a simple washing line strung above it.
‘For drying your wet socks,’ Morag said. She seemed distracted, looking out the window.
But I was fascinated by the bothy, inspecting a basket of firewood and kindling. I could see how appealing this place would be if you were a hiker: a cosy oasis and place to rest up.
There was no sign that Jasmine had been here, though. I touched the fireplace to confirm it was cold and hadn’t been lit recently, though I didn’t know if Jasmine would even know how to do it. Surely they don’t need open fireplaces in the Sunshine State.
There was also a mattress on a raised platform, which I guessed hikers would place their sleeping bags on. I couldn’t see any blankets. Not hygienic, I supposed. Tired suddenly, I sat down on the mattress and took a moment to catch my breath while Morag sat in one of the armchairs.
‘No Americans here,’ she said, still looking towards the window.
‘Did you hear that she and Charles are already married?’
‘Really? Huh.’
I got to my feet. ‘We should go. Can you think of anywhere else she might have gone?’
‘Let’s just wait a minute. I’m knackered. I need to rest before getting back in the car.’
I was exhausted, but too restless to sit down again. I paced the tiny interior of the bothy, thinking about what had justhappened in the car. Morag definitely knew something. How could I get her to open up to me?
‘Is it the money?’ I asked.
‘What?’
‘Is that why you’re afraid to tell me what you know about Samir? I think you know something. I think you saw him. But you’re worried the money from Gravitas will stop.’
She narrowed her eyes at me. ‘You have no clue. You also don’t know when to shut up, do you?’
I’d realized that leading with the money question had been a mistake the moment the words had left my mouth. There was no point pressing her, not now.
‘Can we get going?’ I said, standing up again. ‘She’s not here, and it’s freezing.’
‘Just give it another minute.’
I stared at her. ‘What is going—’ I broke off. ‘Did you hear that?’
‘What?’
‘It sounded like a car.You did phone someone. Morag? Who was it?’
She refused to even look at me.
‘I needed him to know I didn’t talk to you. I didn’t do anything.’
She didn’t reply.
I went over to the window and peered through but could barely see a thing.Wasthere another car out there? I went over to the door, opened it and called out, ‘Hello?’ No response. I strained to hear, but it was silent.
I went outside and headed down the path.
