‘So where is it then?’ asked Cam.
‘She didn’t have the opportunity to. I was with her,’ argued Molly.
‘So where is it then? Because I know I left it right here.’
‘It must be somewhere. You must have taken it with you or placed it down somewhere else.’
‘I didn’t. I’ve not had it all morning. Who else came into the shop?’
‘No one, but honestly, Cam, I don’t think that is the case.’ Molly couldn’t believe that Bree would have taken it. Molly had been kind to her and let her into their home. And Bree had been grateful. Molly had washed and mended her coat, given her extra warm clothing and food – she didn’t want to think of Bree stealing from them. ‘I don’t believe she would have done it.’
‘This is exactly what I was trying to say to you. We don’t know her. Phones don’t just disappear into thin air. We’ve already caught her stealing once today. She cannot be trusted.’
Molly was fully aware that Dixie was watching them closely.
‘But we don’t know for sure. She’s a sixteen-year-old girl who might have stolen a croissant to curb her hunger, but come on, accusing her of stealing a phone … that’s something completely different.’
‘Who’s a sixteen-year-old girl?’ interrupted Dixie, still none the wiser as to what was going on.
‘Molly, I don’t want to argue with you.’ Cam blew out a breath and scratched his head. He walked over to the landline and picked up the phone. He dialled his number. The phone rang out. ‘It’s ringing, but it’s not here in the shop.’
They stood in silence listening and then Cam hung up and rung the phone again. This time his phone didn’t ring out, it went straight to answerphone.
‘That phone is full of valuable contacts. My life is stored on it.’ Cam put his coat back on and grabbed his van keys.
‘Where are you going?’ asked Molly. ‘The roads are treacherous.’
He hovered in the doorway. ‘I’m going to drive around and see if I can spot her and get my phone back. She can’t have gone far in this weather.’
‘Spot who?’ asked Dixie, now a bit agitated at continuously being ignored. ‘Am I invisible?’ She threw her arms up in the air, which caused Cam to look towards her.
‘Sorry.’ Cam pressed a swift kiss to his grandmother’s bewildered face. ‘I’ll leave Molly to explain.’
Molly knew there was no point trying to convince Cam that driving around the streets was a pointless exercise. Once he had an idea in his head, it was best to let him get on with it. She really didn’t want the row to escalate further in front of Dixie. She watched alongside Dixie as Cam shut the door behind him and went striding off towards the van.
‘Would you say I’m a good judge of character?’ Molly asked Dixie.
‘I would, and you don’t suffer fools.’
Watching the van disappear down the road, Molly turned towards Dixie and relayed the goings-on of the morning.
‘And are you sure there’s be no one else in the shop this morning?’
Molly shook her head. ‘No one … to my knowledge,’ she replied, knowing exactly how it sounded. ‘The shop has been dead all morning.’
Dixie raised her eyebrows. ‘The sensible thing would be to call the police or have a chat with Sam at the shelter. Get her take on it.’
‘But I just can’t see how Bree could have done it.’
‘Opportunists are quick and this girl has to survive on the streets, not that I’m agreeing with Cam or anything. There’s only one way to find out … Martha can take a look into her crystal ball.’
Molly smiled. ‘If only it was that easy. . . But I’ll be there. I could do with a good girly natter. And a scandal, you say?’
‘There’s something brewing – Martha has that feeling. In the meantime, try and get this girl out of your mind. I’m not interfering and I wouldn’t like to think of anyone out on the streets in this weather, but Cam is also right. You have enough on your plate at the minute.’ Dixie gestured towards Molly’s stomach. ‘My new great grandchild, for one thing.’
As the old-fashioned bell tinkled above the door Molly quickly grabbed Cam’s apron from the hook and tied it around her waist. She brightened and trilled a good morning, but now all that was playing on her mind was what Cam might do if he did actually find Bree. She hoped he would handle the situation with care.
‘Dixie, could you possibly pop the kettle on? I’m in need of a cuppa.’
