Page 54 of Edinburgh Escape
Alastair nodded.
Bryce’s brow was still furrowed. “Does that mean I can’t show Maggie my horse?”
“Of course, you can show Ms. Maggie your horse,” Ewan said. “As long as one of us grownups is with you.”
Bryce turned to Alastair. “Will you go take me and Maggie to see Montana?”
Alastair nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Bryce’s frown disappeared. “I’m finished with my breakfast, may I be excused?”
Ewan’s brow wrinkled. “You haven’t eaten half of what is on your plate.”
Bryce rubbed his stomach. “It makes my tummy hurt.”
“Do we need to have the doctor come for another visit?” Ewan asked.
“No, I’ll feel better,” Bryce said. “Promise.” He waited on the edge of his seat for Ewan to dismiss him.
Ewan’s lips pressed into a tight line. “You may go.”
Bryce pushed back from the table, carried his plate to the sink and hurried out of the kitchen.
“Does he always have a tummy ache when he eats?” Maggie asked.
Ewan’s lips thinned. “Fiona said it started after my father passed. She thinks it might be the stress of losing his father. She took him to see the doctor, but he couldn’t find anything wrong with him. He suggested a medication for anxiety, but Fiona wasn’t keen on giving a five-year-old mind-altering drugs. We’re keeping an eye on him, but he hasn’t shown signs of improvement.”
“He really didn’t eat all that much,” Maggie said.
“He might be too excited to show you his horse,” Ewan said.
“Then I’d better be ready,” Maggie smiled.
With the boy out of the room, Callum let the others know about his conversation with his friend, who ran a security organization, and the man’s promise of more help heading their way to protect them. “A former SAS, Peter Atkins, should be here sometime this morning.”
“Atkins?” Ewan’s eyes narrowed. “I remember an Atkins. A little older than us. He’s not with the SAS anymore?”
Callum shook his head. “He works for my friend. We’ll need to let him through the gate when he arrives.”
Ewan nodded. “We will. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m still going through the ledgers. I can’t believe my father kept them manually in this day and age. He has them dating back to when his father was still alive.”
They finished breakfast and helped Cook clear the table. She shooed them out of the kitchen. “If you keep doing my job, you won’t need me anymore.”
Maggie hesitated at the bottom of the staircase. “I’m going up to brush my teeth and pull my hair back.”
Though he wanted to go with her, he resisted. After what had happened, he needed some distance. As long as she stayed in the house, she should be fine.
Callum explored the ground floor, noting all doors and windows that could be opened. Though if someone wanted in badly enough, they’d break the windows. However, that would be loud and alert the occupants. The last room he investigated was what appeared to be an office or study.
Ewan sat at a large mahogany desk with stacks of ledgers piled on either side, his head bent over another opened in front of him.
Callum knocked on the doorframe.
Ewan looked up. “Come in. Come in. My eyes are already crossing at all the entries. My father might have been an arse, but he was meticulous and his handwriting was excellent.” He glanced up. “I’ve come across some entries that don’t make sense, one of which might have a connection to Ms. Maggie. Have a look and tell me what you see.” He pushed his chair back, allowing enough room that Callum could get in to look at the ledger.
Ewan pointed at an entry. “This entry is marked A.M. for two thousand pounds. There isn’t a check number, but there are the letters W.T., which I assume stands for wire transfer, but he made the same entry every month for as far back as I’ve looked so far.”
“How far is that?” Callum asked.
