Page 80 of A Scottish Island Summer

You need to speak to Gabriel Jamieson. Something tells me he’d be a good place to start.

Wishing you luck,

A fellow islander.

Logan read the letter over for a second time, before passing it to me. ‘Who’s Gabriel Jamieson?’ I asked, looking up from the letter.

‘Local librarian,’ replied Logan. ‘Bit of a dour bugger.’

I handed the letter back to Logan, whose brows were furrowed in thought. ‘Could this be a hoax, Mr Adams?’ asked Logan. ‘Maybe someone on the wind-up? They don’t give any details about where it could be or any evidence that it does exist.’

Campbell shook his head. ‘I very much doubt it. Someone’s made a point of writing that letter and getting it to me. And how did they know I was back on Skye? I’ve been very circumspect. Deliberately so.’

His face grew more confident. ‘I think this letter’s genuine.’ He flapped out the hem of his coat, settling further into the chair. ‘And please, young man, call me Campbell.’

Logan grinned as if his favourite footballer had just offered to have a kickabout with him.

Campbell carried on, enthused. ‘Logan, I don’t have to tell you that I’m seen as some sort of eccentric here on Skye.’ He hesitated. ‘But I’ve read up about you. You’re an excellent geologist. You know this island inside out and upside down.’

‘But so do you,’ batted back Logan.

‘Aye. I do. But you’re not viewed as a stupid old tit, whose wife left him because of his obsession with hidden treasure.’

Campbell glanced around Logan’s sitting room with its scattered rugs and black and white prints of Skye landscapes dotted on its walls. ‘My reputation would be restored if I can prove the cross is real, but I can’t do this alone. So, will you both help me find it?’

Logan indicated to me. ‘I’m supposed to be helping Darcie compile information for her travel guide.’

My cheeks zipped with guilty embarrassment. ‘I still have another couple of weeks here and anyway, you’d be doing your childhood hero a big favour.’

I couldn’t tell Logan that the prospect of finding the Skye Lovers’ Cross was something that would benefit me too as not only would it give a huge injection of publicity to my travel guide, but it would really boost my career as a whole. It could be a win-win-win situation for all three of us, but knowing how little Logan thought of my career as an influencer, I knew he might not want to participate if it meant giving me even more reason to be constantly on my phone while I was here on Skye.

Campbell grinned over at Logan. ‘I was your childhood hero? Seriously?’

Logan let out a self-conscious laugh. ‘Yes, you were. I had you up on a pedestal beside Indiana Jones.’

‘Hence the movie poster in Logan’s hallway,’ I added.

Logan went pink under his stubble.

‘It’s nothing to be ashamed of,’ I assured him.

Campbell’s mouth quivered. ‘All the more reason for you to jump at the chance to work with me then.’

Logan mulled over everything that Campbell had said. ‘I’m going to be honest. I’m still a little sceptical about this cross story.’

‘Oh, go on,’ I urged him. ‘You know Indy would jump at the chance to solve a centuries old mystery.’

Logan gave me a playful nudge. ‘Have you quite finished giving all my secrets away?’

‘Depends how many you have.’

Logan’s eyes sparkled at me. ‘You’ll need to find out.’

A blush crawled up my neck. I shifted beside him.

Campbell appraised us both with a not-so-secret smile. ‘So, can I rely on you both to help this old fart resurrect what’s left of his career?’

‘But why us?’ persisted Logan.

‘Because, like I said, my career’s taken a real hammering over the years over this. Some folks might not be so keen to talk to me, but they might be more amenable to speaking to both of you.’ He gave Logan a small smile. ‘You know this island and you have a great reputation in geology.’

He clasped his hands together on his lap. ‘I can’t do this on my own. Believe me, I tried years ago and look where it got me.’ Campbell sighed. ‘I know it’s out there and I know that I can find it, but I need you two with me.’

Logan arched one attractive brow at me in questioning mode.

‘Like I told you last night, Campbell, I’m in. But I’ve only got another two weeks here on Skye and then I return to London.’ When I’d first arrived, the prospect of seeing the red London buses and meandering around the posh little coffee shops again had made my chest ache with longing, but it wasn’t having the same effect anymore. What was happening to me? Why wasn’t I as buoyed about London and returning home as I was before?

‘Then that’s all the more reason to get cracking and trying to find it.’ Campbell’s ink-black eyes brimmed with excitement. ‘I always wanted to write a book about my search for it.’

A lump of guilt sat heavy in my stomach, realising he was willing to hand that dream over to me if it meant I’d agree to help.

‘So,’ encouraged Campbell, leaning forward in Logan’s armchair. ‘Wha’s the answer going to be? Are you two just going to jog along with what you’re doing or are you going to throw caution to the wind and join me?’ He gave a wink. ‘I think the three of us know what Indiana Jones would do.’

I turned to look at Logan beside me. His expression was thoughtful. Then he broke into a slow, wide grin. ‘It looks like it’s down to the three musketeers to prove everyone wrong. So, when do we start our treasure hunt?’