“Maybe it was the key in the box.”
“What?”
Tabby signalled and turned out of the city centre, making their way along a tree lined road toward their house. “I’ve been reading about keys recently. Keys that do strange things. Maybe this is one of them. It didn’t have an M marked on it by any chance, did it? Silver key about so long.”
Daisy screwed up her face as she tried to remember. “It was silver and…I think it did have an M on it.”
“Then maybe it’s one of the magic keys.”
“Look, Tabby, I know you believe in that kind of thing but I-”
“You woke up in MacGregor Castle when you touched the key, I bet you.”
“Look, even if I did, the key’s gone so it’s academic now, isn’t it?”
“Maybe not.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll tell you when we get in.”
“Don’t do that to me, tell me now.”
“It’ll be easier to show you. Just rest for a bit. We’ll be home soon.”
Daisy sat back in her seat and closed her eyes, her head starting to throb. Beside her, Tabby hummed to herself as she drove.
“We’re here,” Tabby said.
Daisy opened her eyes. “That was quick. Did I fall asleep?”
“Snoring like a chainsaw.”
“Was I?”
“Nah, but you were definitely asleep. Muttering something about Scottish men ravishing you on the wild moors. Come on, there’s something inside I think you’ll want to see.”
Daisy opened the door and climbed out, still feeling woozy.
The fog behind her eyes vanished as soon as she stepped into the house and saw what was waiting for her on the kitchen table.
“How on earth did that get here?” she asked, walking over to the table and picking up the small wooden box that she recognized only too well.
“Funny story,” Tabby said. Tea?”
“Don’t drag it out any longer, Tabby. Tell me!”
“Well about ten minutes before the hospital rang me, I got a knock on the front door.”
“And?”
“And this really old man from the post office depot is standing there looking as if he might be about to blow away if a stiff breeze hits him.”
“White hair? Red coat, right?”
“Right. How did you know?”
Daisy lifted the lid of the box. “He was the one who gave me this just before the car hit me.”
