Evans to Betsy

“Preaching at people?”

“I’m sure she didn’t. Like I said, she was very quiet and shy. She only started talking to me because we were in the linen closet together. Otherwise, she pretty much kept to herself.”

“So you don’t know why she left? Do you think it was because the people here were pagans?”

“It could have been. I didn’t realize she was gone until they told me. ‘Where’s the American girl?’ I asked. ‘Up and hopped it,’ someone said. ‘Just left a note.’”

“Well, at least we’ve established something positive,” Glynis commented as they drove out of the compound. “We have the dates when she was here. Now, the next thing to check would be buses and trains out of Porthmadog. Damn, I didn’t think to ask whether she had a car. Hardly likely to, being a college student, would you think?”

Evan shrugged. “You could check with the rental companies, but cars cost money. Did you say the family was rich?”

“Very ordinary. It was hard for them to come up with the cash to come over here looking for her. She wasn’t any spoiled little heiress, if that’s what you’re getting at.” The car swung onto the main road and joined the line to cross the estuary. “By the way, thanks for agreeing to meet her parents when they arrive. You’re the sort of person who knows what to say on occasions like this. I’m terribly awkward, I’m afraid. It’s something I’ve got to learn.”

“It’s never easy,” Evan said. “I’ve had to bring bad news quite a few times now and it doesn’t get any easier.”

“That’s what Sergeant Watkins says.” Glynis glanced up at him. “Look, do you want to go for a pint somewhere? I said I owed you one, didn’t I?”

“I’ll take you up on that sometime,” Evan said, “but I have to get straight home tonight. I’m cooking dinner for my girlfriend.”

“Oh.” A definite pause. Then she said lightly, “A gourmet chef as well as all your other talents?”

“Not even close. I’ve just moved into my own place and most of my attempts have been disasters. Tonight I’m attempting spaghetti and I don’t think that even I can mess that up too much. Spaghetti with a bolognese sauce and a tossed salad. Do you think that’s all right?”

“Sounds wonderful,” Glynis said. “She’s a lucky lady.”

Chapter 10

  Later that evening Evan was standing in his kitchen, surrounded by saucers and bowls of chopped onion and garlic, minced beef, and tomatoes. Survival Cooking for One was propped on the shelf beside him. A large pot of water was bubbling on the stove and he was just heating some oil in a frying pan when the front doorbell rang.

“Damn,” he muttered. It couldn’t be Bronwen, surely? He’d begged her not to be early and made it very clear that he didn’t want her to help him. He wiped his oniony hands on a tea towel and went to the door.

“Hello, Evan.” Betsy was standing there, looking young and fresh and rather lovely. Usually she went in for ultrahip, sexy clothes that left little to the imagination. Today she was wearing jeans and a hand-knitted sweater a couple of sizes too big for her.

“Oh, Betsy. Is something the matter?”

“No. Nothing. I just thought I’d stop by and see how you’re doing. I’ve just been over at Mrs. Williams’s and had a bite to eat with Emmy. Mrs. Williams is a lovely cook, isn’t she? She makes the lightest pastry, even better than my old nain used to. So we got to talking about you and Mrs. W hoped you were doing all right, so I said I’d pop in and see on my way home.”

“I’m doing just fine, thank you,” Evan said. “To tell you the truth, I’m in the middle of cooking—in fact, I have oil heating on the stove.” He ran back into the kitchen and rescued the smoking pan in time.

“Oh, look at you!” Betsy said in admiration. “What are you cooking? Looks very fancy.”

“I’ve got Bronwen coming to dinner in half an hour,” he said. “I’m making a sauce for the spaghetti.”

“You can buy that out of a jar,” Betsy said.

“Yes, but it’s not the same. I have to show Bronwen that I can do this.”

“Do you want some help?” Betsy was already pushing up her sleeves. “I’m quite handy in the kitchen myself, having cooked for that ungrateful Harry Lloyd at the Dragon all this time. Want that lettuce washing, do you?” Before Evan could answer, she had it pulled apart and was running it under the tap. “He’s regretting it already, I’m sure,” she went on. “I peeked in there tonight and you know there’s only a couple of blokes in there. Charlie Hopkins and Evans-the-Meat. Dead as a doornail in there. I knew it.”

She shook out the lettuce so that spray went everywhere.

“Hey, watch it,” Evan said, laughing. Betsy gave him a mischievous smile and flipped the lettuce spray into his face. It was a deliberately flirtatious move and Evan stopped himself as he was about to grab her wrist. Any physical contact with Betsy and who knew where it might lead!

“Stop distracting me, will you? I’ve got to get this sauce simmering. Now let’s see. First the onions and the garlic.” They fell into the pan with a sizzle.

“So did you find out any more about that missing girl?” Betsy asked. “Bethan said you’d been back to the Sacred Grove today.”

“Only that the girl was there for less than a week then left again. It’s not much to go on.”

“So she could be back in America by now.”

“It’s very probable.”

“Too bad I’m not further along with my psychic training. I could just close my eyes for you and pick up her vibrations.”