Page 101 of Death at a Scottish Halloween

Again, she gasped. “What? I was trying to scare him into giving the ring back.”

“She didn’t know it was in the box,” Robert said. “In a way, it was an accident. We just wanted him to return it.”

“By pointing a gun at a vulnerable man,” Ewan offered.

“He called a week or so ago. He asked me if anything special was missing,” she said. “I thought he was barmy and had no idea what he was talking about. I told him no. Then I explained to Robert about the call, and he lost his mind.”

“The puzzle box was special to me.”

She grunted. “Because it’s where you kept your little gifts for your women.”

“I’m not the one chasing some poor guy around the streets of a small town with a gun. What were you thinking?”

“No, you and your idiots tried to frighten that poor doctor to death. She told you she didn’t have it, and you still wouldn’t leave her alone.”

“Well, at least I didn’t use a teenager to scare her to death.”

It went on and on. Ewan didn’t even have to ask any more questions. For a good half hour, they tossed insults at one another and threw each other under the bus.

It would have been hilarious if the circumstances hadn’t been so sad. But they both ended up in a cell and that was only fair. That was where they belonged.

Hours later, I was in Ewan’s arms. Me in my beautiful emerald party dress from Lulu’s and him in his tux with black velvet lapels.

“You are a wonder,” he said.

I sighed next to him. “Why? Because I solved your cases?”

He chuckled. “It was more about how beautiful you are tonight, and that you’re still on your feet. You have to be exhausted. But yes, you’re brilliant.”

“Thanks, so are you.”

“Smile,” Mara said, from beside us. “Say, hello to Jasper.”

The video showed him sitting on his couch in his PJs. I envied him a little. Not that he was sick, but that he was cozy at home.

“We love you and miss you. I wish you were here. Are you behaving?”

“I am. I’m on season ten of Bakeoff. I forgot how fun this show is.”

“You should try out,” Mara and I said at the same time.

He laughed. “I’ll think about it. You have enough fun for me and you,” he said.

“We will.” I promised. “I’ll be by to visit tomorrow.”

We waved goodbye.

“He’s looking much better,” Ewan said. “We’re lucky to have you, Em.”

He said Em, instead of Doc. That made it even more personal. I laid my cheek on his lapel, so he didn’t see them turn pink.

There was nowhere I’d rather be than with a room full of our friends and in Ewan’s arms in our sweet town of Sea Isle.

I was the one who was lucky.