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“Okay, how do you want to get there, then?” She doesn’t seem upset that I’m changing her plans.
“Train. Look, we can leave from Florence tomorrow morning by train. The train will stop off in Bologna, where we will need to change. From Bologna, it’s a couple of hours to Milan. Then we change at Lugano, then at Arth-Goldau. A change at Basel to Hamburg then—”
“Okay, okay, I get it. There are a lot of changes,” Callie laughs.
“Yeah, but it means you get to rest on the journey. Driving from here to Copenhagen is a lot, Cal. By train we will be in Copenhagen in under twenty-four hours. We won’t have to keep pulling over for gas and snacks, or to sleep.”
“Hey if you’re game, I am. I love trains.” That bit of information surprises me. I guess there are plenty of things I still need to learn about Callie.
“I’ll book the tickets and then we can head out for dinner. Deal?”
“Deal.” We seal it with a kiss (sorry for the Jason Donovan reference).
* * *
It hasn’t escaped my notice that Callie is being very tight-lipped about the location of the third set of pages. I should just ask her, but something is stopping me. We’ve been sitting on the train to Hamburg for an hour and she’s drifted off to sleep again. I can’t settle. My phone vibrates and I see Penny’s name flash across the screen. Shit, when was the last time I contacted her?
“Hey, you.” I manage to prop my phone up on the little service tray attached to the seat in front of me.
“I thought I should check you’re not dead.” Oops, she’s pissed.
“Sorry, Pen, I lost track. I’m fine, no harm done, healthy as a horse.”
“Where are you?” I disabled my phone tracker after the whole Gary debacle.
“On a train.”
“That’s it, that’s all you’re going to say?” I wish I could fill her in, but that would be reckless. The fewer people know, the better. It’s vital that we have an element of surprise. Betty might look like a church-going, cardigan-knitting sweet old lady, but she’s fucking ruthless. I have no doubt she would hurt every single person that had the slightest inkling we were coming for her.
“Pen, it’s better you don’t know.”
“Well, did you catch up to Callie? You can at least tell me that.”
“I did. I’m with her now.”
“Wow, okay. So when will you be home?”
“Not sure. Don’t worry, It won’t be too much longer. Did you feed Walter?” Walter is my goldfish, that has lived a surprisingly long time in my care. I could kill a cactus so he’s doing really well.
“Of course. Right, I’ll let you get on then. Please be careful.”
“Will do. Bye.” I hate that a little part of me is suspicious that Penny called. Is that how it’s going to be now? Am I going to question everyone’s motives? Jesus, it’s exhausting. I would love to be at home now, snuggled on my lumpy sofa with a pack of bourbon biscuits and a cup of tea, binge watching something on Netflix.
I look over to Callie, who is sleeping still. She really is wiped. I doubt she’s got this much sleep in the six years she’s been running. Will she come back to Edinburgh with me? What does she want to do when it’s over? I huff out a breath. I want her with me more than anything.
The train slows, ready to make its final stop in Hamburg. Call me paranoid, but something or should I say someone catches my attention. A woman sitting four rows back is glancing at us. When did she get on the train? Was it at Florence or after? Our seats are facing backwards, so I have a clear line of sight. I nudge Callie awake. She’s disorientated.
“Callie, I think that woman is looking at us.” I can’t say she’s following us because I’ve only just noticed her. Callie discreetly looks.
“When did you notice her looking?”
“Just now when I finished on the phone with Penny.”
“I didn’t see her in Florence. She must have gotten on later.”
“Do you think it’s something to worry about? I could be mistaken.” I’m no expert. My mind could be playing tricks. Callie looks again.
“There’s only one way to find out. The train is going to stop soon. You need to be ready to go. I’ll grab our bags. Don’t look back, just run to the exit.”
