Everything went dark.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
KIT
Ivaulted over the fence and cattle grid, then ran towards the picture-postcard farmhouse. I’d once told the grumpy farmer – who’d mumbled his name so badly I wasn’t sure if it was Boxer or Topher – that it looked like the house Kate Winslet lived in for part ofThe Holiday. He’d glared at me for several tense seconds before shuffling off.
As I ran up the well-beaten path, I reached out with my advanced senses. I’d been doing that all the way to the farm as the rain beat on my coat and soaked the section of jeans above my wellies. I zeroed in on heartbeats, but I couldn’t tell if they were human or animal. The rain was too loud, the wind howling.
I’d made it here quickly, unconcerned about being spotted since none of the hardy islanders would be out and about in this kind of weather, but I slowed as I approached the farm house. If Boxer/Topher looked out of his window and saw me pelting towards his home faster than any human should be able to, he would be much less inclined to let me inside to check on my friend.
A small porch outside the front door provided a reprieve from the rain. I pushed damp hair from my forehead and madesure my scarves were tucked close to my neck, then knocked on the door.
I bounced from foot to foot, counting to ten, then knocked again. Another ten, and I was about to thump on the door when it swung inwards.
The farmer wasn’t wearing his usual battered jeans and stained shirt. A blue jumper brought out the colour of his eyes, and his legs had to be comfy in a worn pair of pyjama bottoms.
One of his feet was encased in a fluffy slipper, the other absent. The soft fabric of his pyjamas was folded and pinned just below his knee. His left arm was occupied with a wooden crutch.
A jolt went through me, despite the panic rampaging in my chest. I hadn’t realised Boxer/Topher was missing part of his leg. It felt remiss in a way that I couldn’t quite define that I hadn’t noticed.
But then, maybe he hadn’t wanted me to. His expression as he regarded me on his doorstep was pure grumpy resignation.
‘What the fuck are you doing here?’
‘Is Lucas inside?’ I figured answering with a question would help him figure out why I’d appeared at his farm in the middle of a storm.
His expression softened. ‘No. He went to check on the eagles.’
My heart sank. Lucas had told me about the island’s pair of rare eagles. Apparently, it was important and exciting that they were raising their young on a cliff-face at the north of the island.
If he’d gone there, then he could still be out in the storm.
‘I’ve got to go.’ I turned and ran back down the path, whatever the farmer shouted after me lost in the swirling wind. I waited until the door slammed shut, then kicked up to full speed.
I needed to find Lucas. He would have sought out shelter when the storm rolled in, but I didn’t like to think of himhuddling in one of the goat huts without a working phone or anything substantial to keep him warm.
I ran back to the village. I’d considered driving my Mini to the farm but, as much as I loved it, it did have a tendency to be unreliable. It had become more and more temperamental with each trip up the mountains to Callum’s cabin.
At the village, I barely bothered to reduce my speed as I sprinted along the road to Bonnie and Joshua’s cottage. Sea spray joined the rain splashing into my face as lightning flashed overhead and grumbles of thunder rolled on.
I crashed into the front door in my haste to get inside, my wet fingers fumbling at the handle.
‘Errol?’ I called out. ‘I need your help.’
Louisa found me dripping on the front mat. Her hair was tied into a bun on top of her head, her jumpsuit bright yellow with swooping swallows. Her eyes widened as she no doubt scented the wild panic billowing from me.
I made myself breathe as I shut the door, keeping the storm out. ‘Lucas went out to the north of the island this afternoon. He’s not come home.’ Another forced breath. ‘I’m worried he’s stuck somewhere in all this.’
Errol joined Louisa. He already had one of the beanies Louisa’s grandmother had knitted for him pulled over his close cropped hair. He reached past Louisa to grab his coat.
‘Is he with Callum and Aster?’ he asked.
I sank back against the door. ‘Oh yeah. He could be.’
I closed my eyes, hope zinging in my veins as I focused on my inner imaginary wolf. The connecting line to Callum stretched up into the mountains. We couldn’t usually hear each other at such a distance, but then we’d never needed to before.
‘Is Lucas with you?’ I asked aloud.
