Page 71 of The Other Side

“Not yet. Sit down.”

Drum sat again bracing himself for a lecture on how stupid he was being.

“You did good work with those villagers who knew the murdered woman. Purbeck likes Arthur for the crime.”

“What?” Drum exclaimed before he could stop himself. “Sorry, sir, but no way. He loved her. I know being a nice man doesn’t mean he couldn’t kill someone, but it doesn’t fit. He’s wrong for this.”

Gordon chuckled briefly. “I agree. Nor do her sons have anything to do with it. They’ll inherit the cottage, but they’re independently wealthy, have solid alibis and were clearly fond of their mother. Trouble is, we have no other suspects. No one saw anything. No fingerprints, other than Sonita’s and Arthur’s. Well, there might have been one on the key but…”

Drum winced. “Sorry, sir. I was trying not to have to break a window.”

“Keep your ears and eyes open. You might hear something useful.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And then we have Matthew Green. Quite a mystery. Huge coincidence that you stumbled across him. Did you get details of the wild swimmer?”

“No, sir.” Drum wanted to add more but maybe it was better that he look at fault for not taking a name.

“Is Matthew any wiser about what happened?” Drum mentally crossed his fingers.

“Basically, no. He’s been admitted to hospital for observation. He seems to be in good health, but he’s adamant he was only absent for a few days, not months… Any thoughts?”

“Maybe he was kidnapped? Drugged? Saw something he wasn’t supposed to have seen?”

“If any of that is true, it could still be an issue.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Keep your wits about you, Drummond. You can go.”

Chapter Twelve

When Osian heard the knock at the door, he knew it wasn’t Drum. There’d been no engine on the lane, no crunch of tyres over gravel. His stomach tightened. He crossed the room in silence and pressed his ear against the wood.

“Osian. Let me in.”

He sagged. His brother Leaf. Osian’s hand fumbled with the catch before he yanked the door open.

“What’s happened? How did you find me?”

Leaf slipped inside without waiting to be invited, his face pale beneath his freckles. He glanced over his shoulder before Osian shut the door.

“Belem knows you crossed over. He knows you brought someone back to Faeryland with you.”

Osian’s blood turned to ice.

“He wants you back. Now.”

“How does he know?”

“Does it matter? He probably set it up so he’d feel the breach.” Leaf’s expression darkened. “He also found a mortal tool that makes light.”

Drum’s flashlight. Shit.

“How did you find me?”

“I followed your trail from the old house.”