“Thank you for dinner. I appreciate it.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Good night.”
And then she pushed inside and closed the door before he managed to reply. She flipped the lock, leaned against the door, and blew out a breath, her hands still shaking. She stood there for a long moment, staring at her sister’s handbag on the table and wondering what had been in that blue velvet bag. Why would Bruce want it?
Chloe headed to her bedroom to change into her favorite jeans, sneakers, and a long-sleeved cable-knit sweater. She pulled on her light jacket as the nights were chilly. After swiping a brush through her long auburn hair, she headed for the door and paused there, staring at it. Wondering if she had given Bruce enough time to drive away.
She checked her watch. It was nearing the time for him to be on stage at the pub. Confident he was long gone, she pulled open the door and stepped into the night.
***
When she arrived at the Royal Mile, she made her way through the street looking for the small shop she’d spied earlier that evening. She reached into the pocket of her jacket and pulled out the card, staring down at it in the light from a streetlamp. The embossed letters shone in the lamplight, sparkling in a way she hadn’t noticed before.
Just when she was about ready to give up hope, she saw it nestled there between the two other stores she had seen earlier. It seemed strangely out of place here, but she was determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. The name on the door—Mystic Treasures—was in the same shimmering gold letters as the business card in her hand.
The bell on the door signaled her arrival. The moment she crossed the threshold, a strange pull pounded through her, as though she were meant to be there. She stood a moment in thedoorway, taking in the small store crammed full of antiques with everything from trinkets to furniture. A sense of calm washed over her.
“Hello, there,” a woman called with a bright smile as she approached. “I was about to close for the night but something told me I should wait.”
Chloe stuck the card back into her pocket. “I can come back tomorrow.”
The woman halted in front of her. She was striking with long pale hair and bright-blue eyes that sparkled in the light of the shop. When she smiled, it showed off her dimple. Her name tag read Moira. Like on the business card.
“Nonsense,” the woman said. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
That gave Chloe pause as she remained rooted in place at the door. What did that mean? Cold pinpricks danced up her spine and pooled at the base of her neck. But it wasn’t alarm she felt. No. It was more like…anticipation. Like she was about to get all the answers she needed to find her missing sister.
“If this is a bad time…” Chloe began.
“Not at all.” She smiled at her, a warm, congenial smile that was meant to put her at ease. “You’re the last customer of the evening. I’ll let you have a look around.”
She disappeared through the maze of clutter, leaving her standing there with unanswered questions. What did she mean she’d been waiting for her?
Chloe moved deeper into the small shop, the musty smell of antiques wafting to her nose. In all the time she had been in Edinburgh, and all the time she’d spent on the Royal Mile, she had never seen the shop before.
“Have you been here long?” she called.
“Not long,” the woman answered. “As long as I need to be.”
Chloe’s brows drew together. She didn’t understand what that meant either.
“Have a look around,” Moira said. “I’m sure you’ll find something you’ll want, Miss Sinclair.”
Gooseflesh erupted on her arms underneath her sweater as she stared at the woman who busied herself dusting a shelf of knick-knacks. How did she know her name? She hadn’t told her.
“I don’t…how did you…”
“Och, I know you have questions. They’ll be answered in time.” She paused her dusting to meet her gaze. “But first, look around.”
There was an oddity about the shop and the woman proprietor. Chloe almost turned and dashed for the door until she heard a faint humming. She turned to look around for it, tipping her head to one side and listening.
Chloe stepped deeper into the shop as the humming increased as though there were a force pulling her toward it. Normally, she didn’t believe in all-powerful things, but there was something about the thrumming of the sound, drawing her closer and closer, until she stood in front of a glass case with all sorts of trinkets inside.
There were small items with Celtic symbols on them. A mother-of-pearl necklace. A Celtic cross. Intricate knotwork that wove through what appeared to be an old faded bookmark. A silver circular brooch adorned with Celtic knotwork and two amber stones on either side of it. She caught herself staring at the brooch for a long moment, admiring it. It was a beautiful piece of jewelry.
But then another item in particular caught her attention. It was a small, odd-shaped stone with faded lines across it. The stone looked at though it were part of a bigger piece. As if it had been broken or split in two. She was certain she had heard the humming coming from behind the glass from that stone and pressed her hand against it, confident she’d feel the vibration. She didn’t.
Her heart drummed hard against her chest. Her pulse quickened. A vision flashed through her mind of a castle against the inky backdrop of night and a tall man with a thick beard, long hair plaited on either side of his face, and eyes like the sea after a storm.
She dropped her hand from the case and stepped back, her heart in her throat.
