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Francine rolled her eyes at that. “Still then,” she said, passing the cold bottle. “Ice?”

“No, thank you.”

“Mike, you hungry?” Francine tapped the window and craned her neck around, holding out a wrapped sub for their driver. “Might as well eat something.”

Chapter Forty-Two

They’d sat on the motorway for over three hours before finally a path was cleared, and slowly cars edged past the remains of several vehicles and a van that had all collided. The ambulances had long gone, and it was now just an investigation and clean-up operation, but Alex kept her eyes closed until they were well past and heading in the right direction for their next hotel.

Just outside of St Andrews, a picturesque building with climbing ivy and a grand entrance came into view. It looked just like the photo Morgan had seen on her phone earlier when she’d scoped out the next hotel on Google.

“Yep, we’ll wing it tomorrow,” Francine said into the phone. “It’s a good job you guys took off early, so you didn’t get caught up in it.” She nodded at whatever Jessie was saying. “Alright, that sounds like a plan. I’ll see you when we arrive, but everyone else can head off and enjoy the evening.”

Morgan glanced across at Alex, who had been sleeping peacefully for the last thirty minutes or so. “Has the hold-up really messed everything up?”

“A little. I’ll just have to shift everything around tomorrow,” Francine said, continuing to stare at Morgan. “You know, I’m glad you were here earlier. If that had happened and it had been just me—” She shook her head. “I can manage a lot of things, but—anyway, thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Morgan answered, softening towards her. “It’s really just about holding yourself calm. Talking her out of it.”

“Yeah, all sounds so simple till you’re faced with it. That day when I brought her to the hospital, I really thought she—it scared the shit out of me.”

“Panic attacks often look and feel much scarier than they are.”

Francine’s attention turned to the sleeping form. “I just wish I could take it all away for her. How something from so long ago can still haunt her, it’s just unfair.”

Morgan nodded. “Yes, it really is.”

They were greeted at the hotel by the manager, a large, exuberant man in his forties, wearing a kilt and with a beard that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the trendy bars of London.

“Conner MacTavish,” he said with a bold handshake that moved quickly between the three outstretched hands. “I’m the duty manager, and I’m looking forward to making your stay with us as comfortable and relaxed as possible.”

“Thanks,” Francine answered for them all. Alex was still a little groggy. “If you could get us up to our rooms, we’d be grateful. It’s been a very exhausting day.”

“Aye, I heard aboot the accident, very unfortunate turn of events. If you want to follow me.” He grinned before turning on his heel and striding off to the left of the hotel entrance, along the front of the building.

“You go up. I’ll organise luggage with Mike,” Francine said to Morgan. “Get her to sleep it off, yeah. I need her fully focused by morning.” She jutted her chin towards Alex.

“Sure, she’ll be fine,” Morgan assured, sliding her arm around Alex’s waist. “You okay? You look a little sleepy still.”

Alex eyed her. “I do feel tired. Did you roofie me?”

Morgan laughed. “I did not. I did however give you a light sedative to help you relax.”

“Hm, I feel very relaxed.”

“That’s good.” Morgan lowered her voice. “You can get into bed and relax further.”

“I’m not sure…I’m up for that tonight.”

“I meant sleep, sweetheart.”

They tried to take notice of Conner as he explained the history of the building and how it had stood there for over 200 years, but he confused her when instead of walking inside, he climbed into a buggy out front.

“Hop in, it’s a wee bit quicker than walking.”

“Are we not staying in there?” Morgan pointed towards the building that looked exactly like a hotel in her mind.

“Och no, we’ve got something much more splendid for a star like Ms Montgomery.” He turned a key, and the buggy kick-started into life and lurched forward. The sudden movement caught Alex by surprise, and she yelped, as her grasp on Morgan's arm tightened.