Page 76 of Death at a Scottish Halloween

“I know where everything is.”

“Yes, you do. Goodnight then.”

I texted Ewan to let him know Abigail and Tommy were here.

After a quick shower and fresh pajamas I climbed into bed. It was chilly up here year around, but I didn’t mind. I loved lying under a ton of blankets. Now getting out from under them in the morning was another thing.

I stared at the gabled ceiling for an hour. Then I sat up and turned on the lamp. I had a stack of books on the nightstand.Everything from forensic psychology to my Agatha Christie favorites. I pulled out theOfficial Police Service of Scotland Procedural Guide.

Six hours later I woke up with my glasses askew on my face, and the book heavy on my chest. The clock said it was four in the morning, which was not my usual wakeup time.

There was a noise downstairs. I was out of bed in seconds and traipsing down the stairs with my trusty baseball bat. It had traveled across the pond with me when I moved here. Then I’d ordered three more to keep around the practice and my home. I also, unknown to Ewan, had a taser, but I was afraid to use it. I kept it in my desk drawer, though.

My heart was in my throat, as I crept into the living area. It was dark, but there was a light from the kitchen. There was a lump of blankets, and I assumed Abigail was still fast asleep.

Whoever was in the kitchen was trying to be quiet.

I slowly moved to the doorway and found Ewan and Tommy seated at the table eating a sandwich.

Ewan nodded toward me. “Tommy made breakfast,” he said.

“What are you doing here?”

“I was checking the perimeter and saw the light on in the kitchen,” he said.

“This early? Did you sleep at all?”

“I only need a few hours.”

“Sandwich?” Tommy asked without looking up. He’d made them peanut butter and what looked like jam. The contents were on the counter.

“Those look so good, but it’s a bit early for me. Thank you, though.”

“Welcome,” he said staring at his food.

I grinned. He was such a great kid. Well, technically a man, now. But there was innate sweetness in him. I swore that was what made him so great with flowers and animals.

I made myself an espresso. By the time I was done, Tommy was out the back door and headed for his garden and greenhouse. It may have been my place, but those things belonged to him in my head.

I put another cup of espresso in front of Ewan. I’d never seen him turn down a coffee, and he took it gratefully.

“Thanks,” he said.

“Welcome,” I said like Tommy did.

“He makes a pretty good sandwich. With everything going on, I forgot to eat last night.”

“How is my patient doing?”

“Thanks to the tablets you gave him, sound asleep in the cell when I left. I felt bad with the arm, but his parents agreed.”

“How did he take it?”

“Like it didn’t matter, but he’s scared. I told him we’d consider charges this morning.”

I grinned. “Mean.”

“Well, he scared you to death and resisted arrest.”