Page 83 of The Secret Castle in the Highlands

Alarmed, I hurried back around the corner. ‘Everything all right?’

A flustered-looking Katie was circling a figure in dark clothing. ‘Think we’ve caught our first shoplifter.’

‘I told you I wasn’t trying to shoplift,’ insisted a young male voice.

The hooded shape, propped like a puppet on one of our armchairs, jerked his partly concealed face up towards me.

My thoughts criss-crossed one another.

It was the mystery messenger.

Resigned to the fact that he was confronted by two stern-faced women, the figure tugged down his black hood. His pale skin, darting blue eyes and awkward teenage limbs seemed familiar. He lifted one ringed hand and smoothed down his thick red hair.

‘Don’t I know you?’ I asked, examining his sharp features. ‘Wait a minute. Aren’t you the lad who just started working at the fishmongers across from the bakery?’

‘Aye. And?’

‘Why are you creeping about up here?’ Katie challenged. ‘Trying to steal something to sell on?’

‘He isn’t a shoplifter.’

Katie switched her attention to me. ‘How can you be so sure?’

‘Because I think I know why he’s here.’ I extended one hand towards him. ‘I take it you came here again to deliver another note. Well, where is it?’

Katie planted both hands firmly on her hips. ‘What note?’ She stared at me as I gestured to him to hand it over. ‘What are you doing?’

The young lad heaved a laboured sigh and delved into the zipped-up pocket of his hoodie. He thrust a crumpled piece of paper into my right hand.

‘He’s been delivering cryptic messages to Mason and me. It’s to do with Mason researching the story of the Scarlet Highwayman.’

I unfolded the paper and read the typed message:

Look close to home and you will find the answer.

I then read the message aloud to Katie.

‘What does this mean?’ I asked him.

‘How the hell should I know?’ he bit back. ‘I just do what she pays me to do.’

‘Who is she?’ asked Katie. ‘Who are you working for?’ She leaned forward and pushed her freckled face closer to the lad’s nose. I got the impression she had watched too many US crime dramas.

The teenager glowered from under his pale lashes at Katie’s overenthusiasm. ‘I don’t know her name.’ He crossed his arms. ‘She came to the fish shop early one morning a few weeks back. I was emptying the crates.’ He uncrossed and crossed his arms again. ‘She got talking to me and asked if I might be interested in earning some extra money by running a few errands for her. I thought she meant getting her some shopping, taking her mail to the post office, that kind of thing.’

I waved the latest message in front of him. ‘But instead, it was delivering these?’

He nodded. ‘I don’t know what her game is or what those messages mean. All I know is that my boss at the fish shop is a right tightwad and the extra money she gives me comes in handy.’

A doubtful smirk crept across Katie’s face. ‘Port Starr is a small town. How on earth can you not know who this woman is?’

‘I’m telling you the truth. I don’t know her name. My family and I only moved here six weeks ago.’ A pleading spark appeared in his voice. ‘You’re not going to tell old Arthur, are you? I could lose my job.’

‘No. I’m not going to say anything,’ I assured him.

He fidgeted in the armchair. ‘Thanks.’

‘But I want you to keep delivering these notes.’