Page 32 of Snowy Surprises in the Highlands

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Mel parked the police car outside the residential complex and the five women climbed out.

‘I’ll just go in and speak to Dorothy to see if there have been any developments,’ Bella said.

Mel nodded and reached out to touch her arm. ‘If you give us the spare keys, me and’t lasses can go an’ have look at her flat. See if there’s owt that looks outta place.’

Bella reached into her bag and handed the spare set of keys over. ‘Thanks, Mel. I’ll meet you there shortly.’

‘Come on, I’ll go see Dorothy with you,’ Jules said, linking arms with Bella.

As the other three women headed towards the units, Bella and Jules stepped in through the double doors and headed straight for the reception desk where Dorothy sat speaking to someone on the phone. Her usually immaculately made-up face was pale and makeup free today, and worry was evident in the dark circles around her eyes.

‘Thank you. Please call if you hear anything,’ Dorothy said into the handset. ‘Isla’s granddaughter has just walked in, so I’d better go.’ She hung up the phone and stood. ‘Bella, how are you?’

‘Not great, Dorothy, to be honest. Anything to report?’

Dorothy shook her head. ‘Not as yet. I’ve called all the shops on the main street at Broadway but no one has seen them. I’m so sorry about this. It’s never happened before.’

There was that sinking feeling in Bella’s stomach again, like she had gone over a steep bump in the road and was on a rapid descent. ‘And I’ve never known my granny to just go off without telling anyone. She knows how worried and cross I’d be. It’s just not like her and that’s why I’m so terrified. But for three of them to be missing… It seems so weird and very suspicious.’

Dorothy nodded and a crease formed between her eyebrows. ‘I know. Tam’s disappearance may not be connected as Maeve and Isla went out together the day after he left but even so… We’ve informed the police, but it seems Harris had already instigated a search, which is understandable, of course. But please let me know if I can do anything else to help.’

Bella nodded. ‘Thanks. My police sergeant friend has gone around to her unit to have a look around and then we’re heading out to chat to people and see if anyone knows anything, or might have seen anything.’

Dorothy nodded and her chin trembled. ‘I feel so terrible about this, Bella. I hope they’re all okay. I will never forgive myself if anything has happened. I’m already considering handing in my resignation.’

Bella stepped closer. ‘No, Dorothy, please don’t do that. This isn’t your fault. Like you said, you don’t run a prison camp. I’m sorry for my attitude on the phone, it was uncalled for. I’ve just been beside myself with worry, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.’

Dorothy reached for a tissue from a flowery pink box on the desk and dabbed at her eyes. ‘Well, thank you, but I still feel awful.’

Bella smiled. ‘There’s really no need, honestly. Look, I’ll keep you posted with any developments, okay? And you do the same if you hear anything else.’ Dorothy’s face contorted, guilt and anguish evident in her features as she nodded. Bella turned and left the reception area, stepping outside where the weather had taken a turn now, and dark clouds were rolling in from the direction of the sea. The grey vista matched her mood; the ominous clouds a visual representation of the turmoil she felt inside.

The two friends walked across to Isla’s apartment where they met Mel in the living room. ‘Does your granny keep a diary?’ she asked.

‘She has a pocket one that she keeps in her handbag with her appointments in but I’m guessing she has that with her,’ Bella replied with a despondent sigh.

The little apartment was tidy and smelled of the usual pot pourri that was kept in a bowl on the coffee table. She smiled as she remembered Beau, her granny’s beagle, finding out the hard way that it wasn’t a bowl of crisps. These days you only have to lift the bowl, and he runs and hides as if he fears you’ll try and feed it to him. Daft wee thing.

There was a knock on the door and Bella answered it to find Flora from next door standing there with Beau sitting patiently beside her.

As soon as he saw Bella, he began to jump around and bark excitedly, so she crouched down and hugged him as he wiggled in her arms.

Flora let go of his lead. ‘Hello, dearie. I saw that you were here and thought you might like to keep wee Beau. I think it’s what your granny would’ve wanted.’ She dabbed at her eyes with a pristine white cotton hanky.

Bella tried to remain calm and not burst into more tears, but she peered up at the neatly presented old lady and her voice came out strained and a little sharp. ‘Thanks, Flora, but she’s not dead. She’s just… away.’

After a brief moment where her brow crumpled and her mouth pursed in evident confusion, Flora waved a dismissive hand. ‘Oh, aye, of course, hen. I’m sure she’ll be back home very soon… But if she isnae, maybe you should take wee Beau anyway. He’s pining for Isla, bless his heart.’

‘Have you any idea where they might have gone, Flora? Or anything that might be significant?’ Bella asked eagerly, hoping that something might have come back to her.

Flora shook her head. ‘My memory’s not what it was and I’m afraid all I can remember is Isla coming to ask if I’d watch Beau while she went… somewhere. Och, I’m sorry, hen. I just cannae remember.’

Bella nodded. ‘That’s okay. Thanks anyway. But if you do remember anything, no matter how insignificant it may seem, please tell Dorothy, okay?’

‘Aye, hen. I will do. I’d best be off anyway; I need to let Beau out.’

Unsure how to handle the situation, Bella stood and smiled. ‘It’s okay, Flora, I have Beau now, so I’ll take him with me.’