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‘Aye, we know. But the offers there. Someone will need to take over this place when we can’t. It could be you.’
I let the idea ruminate for a moment, imagining staying there with Jock and Eva. Already they’d been so welcoming, treating me like one of their own, like family. The taverna was quaint and wonderful, full of life, but without being somewhere where anyone would spot me and report back home. I enjoyed working there. It could be perfect.
Jock sidled up beside me and put an arm around my shoulder, pulling me into a side hug. ‘I don’t know who the man you are running from is, lass, but I know you can’t keep running forever.’
‘I know,’ I whispered, leaning my head against his shoulder, welcoming the gentle intimacy he offered.
‘Don’t go running off in too much of a hurry.’ Jock coughed and released my shoulders, wiping discretely at his eye. ‘Now, off with you into the village. You’ll find the market at the bottom of the hill. It has toiletries, snacks, some clothes. There’s a coffee shop too which does the best churros I’ve ever tasted.’
I grinned at him and pocketed the money. ‘Well, if there are churros to be eaten, it would be rude not to go. Thanks, Jock.’
‘Och, it’s nothing, lass.’
In the main bar area, I took off my little apron and hung it up behind the bar.
‘Off out?’ Eva asked with a smile.
‘Yeah, Jock’s convinced me to take the afternoon off and see a bit of the village.’
‘Good. You can’t stay cooped up in here day and night. Go, have fun.’
She shooed me out of the bar as I laughed.
Nerves pricked at my tummy as I left the taverna. Standing on the street brought memories of the attack flooding back. Taking a deep breath, I scolded myself. It had been late at night and this was the middle of the day. People bustled about their daily lives on the stone streets and it was as safe as it was going to get.
I picked my way down the hill, taking in the hodgepodge of stone buildings almost piled on top of one another, their red roofs visible further down the hill. Grass and tree-covered hills towered over the village, almost encasing it in a geographic hug from two sides. It was breath-taking.
The market was easy enough to find, though I already dreaded how much my thighs would burn on the way back up to the taverna. If I stayed, I’d have thighs of steel by the end of the summer. I picked up some shampoo and deodorant, a new toothbrush and toothpaste, as well as a pack of tampons. I was still a few weeks off - I thought - but was losing track of the days.
The cafe was adorable, and I sat outside in the sun drinking a strong coffee and munching on the cinnamon laden churros. I did not know if they were indeed the best, but they were bloody delicious. Melt in your mouth, groan out loud, delicious.
As I tucked into a second helping, a prickle of warning crept across the back of my neck. I sat up straighter and looked around me. Nothing was amiss. An ancient old lady pulled a trolley up the hill. A couple walked hand in hand with their baby strapped to their chest. The workers in the market milled about busily. I traced my eyes from building to building, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Was I imagining it? It had to be because of the attack. Subconsciously, my body was still on alert. I took a steadying breath and pushed my coffee away. Perhaps the caffeine had me on edge.
Still, maybe it would be best to return to the tavern. I felt safe there.
I started the long trek back up the hill with my bag of goodies over my shoulder. The unease creeping up my spine carried me the whole way, despite the expected burning of my thighs.
I didn’t breathe easily until I was back in my room, surrounded by four sturdy walls and two people who seemed to care about my welfare despite being virtual strangers.
How long would it be until I could relax and feel at ease again?
I sighed as I flopped back on my bed, glad of my new deodorant after that walk back up the hill.
TWELVE
ALEC
I followed the bus in the hire car I’d picked up at the previous village. If Esther was in Cuelle, I’d need transportation to force her back to the airport. Manhandling her onto the bus would raise far too much suspicion.
Seeing a gap on the dusty road ahead, I overtook, wanting to be parked up by the time the bus pulled into the village. I still needed confirmation on whether Esther had been on it. Assuming it was the same driver.
The village rose like a pile of kids blocks teetering up the hill. The houses seemed almost haphazardly stacked on every available piece of land, and no two were the same. A far cry from my cookie cutter house back in Glasgow. I’d have liked to be visiting under much less pressing circumstances so I could explore the maze of a town, but there was little time for that. Both Harold and Malcolm had been blowing up my phone, demanding results which I hoped I could assure them on soon.
I parked at the outer edge of the village and hot-footed it to the bus stop, waiting and watching as the bus slowly trundled along. At last it stopped, its doors opening with a sigh as the few passengers alighted. The driver raised an eyebrow at me when I stalked on, flashing my faux badge at him.
‘Do you speak English?’ I asked, trying to keep my voice warm and non-threatening.
‘Yes.’
