Page 18 of Snowy Surprises in the Highlands (Scottish Highland #5)
Olivia wore tailored trousers in the MacBain tartan and a soft, pale blue cashmere sweater.
She looked every bit the lady she was, classy and sophisticated.
‘Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to Drumblair Castle Distillery on this very auspicious occasion. As most of you will no doubt be aware, a whisky must legally be allowed to mature for a minimum of three years in its oak cask for it to be classed as single malt, hence our delicious gin being for sale first. We’re an impatient bunch here at Drumblair, however, and so something had to be done about this one small matter.
’ A rumble of chuckles travelled the room.
‘So, we set about researching the possibility of a blended drink, and after months of trial and error, that I have to say were quite fun in their own right,’ more low laughter, ‘we are here and so excited for today’s launch of our very first blend which is now bottled and ready for your delectation.
So many people have been involved in bringing this wonderful drink to you but at the forefront, aside from the very important job of the tasters, I’m looking at you, Uncle Innes and Brodie,’ another rumble of laughter swept through those gathered and Innes and Brodie doffed invisible caps as they joined in the chuckles, ‘the main person we need to thank is Mr Colm Cassidy. Although born in Ireland, Colm was a long-serving fixture at McIver’s in Inverness for many years.
When Mr McIver decided to call time on his business, we took on the casks and the staff from the distillery, and we were so grateful that Colm accepted the position as Distillery Manager.
But we were even more delighted that he agreed to be our new Master Blender and brought his many years of experience to the role to help create the smooth, earthy, warming drink we are launching today.
And I have to say it’s just the perfect thing for a chilly autumn day such as this. ’
Bella’s phone began to ring and vibrate in her handbag and many heads turned her way. Her cheeks heated as she mouthed her apologies and reached into her bag to fumble around until she was able to flick the sound-off switch on the side of the handset.
Olivia continued, ‘I have fond memories of whisky being consumed here at Drumblair, at parties and clan gatherings, and it warms my heart to know that we are now producing a drink that was a firm favourite of my father, one which I know deep down would make him incredibly proud?—’
After only a few seconds, Bella’s phone rang again, and she huffed as she took it out of her bag and tiptoed to the back of the room as Olivia continued speaking.
She glanced at the screen and concern gripped her insides.
Dorothy Lyndhurst’s name flashed up on the screen.
Bella was down as next of kin for her granny seeing as she lived closer than her parents, so why would the manager of the residential complex where Granny Isla lived be calling her unless it was serious?
A shiver of dread shuddered down her spine, and she immediately opened the door and stepped outside.
The autumn sunshine had appeared deceptively warm from the interior of the distillery and Bella regretted taking off her jacket and hanging it in the cloak room, as, stepping through the door, the chilled air hit her skin and made goosebumps appear.
Although it could have been the physical manifestation of dread at answering the incoming call.
Her biggest fear was of that one inevitable yet horrifying call, to say her granny had passed away.
Although spritely for her age, Isla was in her late eighties and Dorothy didn’t usually make a habit of calling Bella.
‘Dorothy? Is everything okay? Is my granny okay?’ She failed miserably in her attempt to not panic.
‘Erm… I don’t know how to say this, Bella, but… she’s… she’s gone ?’ The distinct question in Dorothy’s voice was a bizarre addition. Either she was or she wasn’t, surely?
Bella’s stomach plummeted and she felt the colour rapidly drain from her face towards her feet as her heart tripped over itself.
‘What? No!’ she cried out, leaning on the wall to steady herself as she felt her surroundings spinning and the ground falling away from her feet.
Her insides knotted and she thought for a moment she might throw up.
‘She can’t be. She was fine when we left the day before yesterday, and she was fine when I spoke to her yesterday morning.
’ Her voice wobbled and her eyes welled with tears that clouded her vision and made the sunlight seem unbearable.
What would she do without her? This couldn’t be happening. Not to Granny Isla. Not now.
‘No, Bella, I mean… not gone gone but… just gone . I… I take it she’s not with you then?’
Bella was sure she should probably feel somewhat relieved but the concept of Isla actually being missing bothered her almost as much as the thought that she had passed away. ‘No, she’s not with me. What are you saying, Dorothy?’
Dorothy cleared her throat. ‘Erm… she went out with Maeve yesterday, perhaps just after you had spoken to her. I saw them as they were heading to catch the bus to Portree, like they do regularly, so I thought nothing of it, and I presumed she’d arrived home later, and that I’d simply missed her, but when I did my rounds this morning she wasn’t there. ’
Bella’s shoulders relaxed. ‘Oh, I see, they’ve probably gone out again today. She’s an early riser. What’s the weather like there? It’s dry and bright here so perhaps she’s making the most of the sunshine while it lasts. She’s probably taken Beau for a wee walk.’
‘I wondered that too but…’ Dorothy fell silent.
Bella’s heart rate picked up, tripping over itself again. ‘But what, Dorothy?’
‘The thing is, Beau is with her neighbour Flora. But Flora can’t remember why she has the dog or where Isla said she was going.’
‘I’m sorry, what? That can’t be right. Flora must know something. And Granny takes Beau everywhere with her.’
Dorothy continued, ‘I should also mention that I, erm, checked the CCTV earlier and they never actually returned home yesterday. Bless her, Isla wouldn’t know this, but Flora has recently been diagnosed with the onset of dementia and can’t remember much recent stuff, but ask her to sing the Welsh national anthem, in Welsh , and?—’
‘Wait, hang on a minute. They ? So, you’re saying Maeve is missing too?
’ Her stomach took a dive once again as she turned and peered through the glass of the door to where her handsome fiancé was standing with his back to her.
The pale blue linen of his shirt stretched across his muscular back as he listened to Olivia without a care in the world.
He would be so worried when he found out his mum was missing along with her granny.
But they couldn’t drive back because they’d been sampling the gin and had had wine with lunch.
‘Oh, sorry, yes, I’m afraid so,’ Dorothy almost whispered.
Bella’s heart pounded so hard she could almost hear it. ‘Oh God, Dorothy, why are you only finding out now that they’re missing? They could’ve been lying in a ditch all bloody night in the cold.’
‘Bella, I understand you’re upset but with the greatest of respect I’d like to remind you that this is a residential complex, not a high-security prison. The residents are allowed to come and go as they please. We don’t keep them locked down like inmates.’
Bella knew she was right but the anger she felt gripped her insides so tightly she couldn’t seem to unravel them. ‘I know that, I do, I’m sorry, Dorothy, but I’m really worried now. Ooh, have you asked Tam? Maybe he knows where they were going.’
Dorothy sighed. ‘I’m afraid Tam went to stay with his daughter on the day you left for Inverness, so it’s unlikely he would know anything. Oh… just hang on a second, the other line’s ringing.’
‘Dorothy, please don’t put me on h—’ The line fell silent.
Bella growled and stamped her foot before dragging her hand back through her shoulder-length hair.
She paced for a few moments and then stopped and peered in through the glass again, waving her hand at the middle-aged man who was standing beside Harris to get his attention.
The man waved back with a crumple of confusion to his expression.
She huffed and gestured again but this time by pointing her index finger in a jabbing motion at Harris.
The man seemed totally baffled by what she was asking, and he contorted his face as he shrugged his shoulders.
Eventually, after more of Bella’s aggressive gesticulations, his eyes widened in realisation, and he tapped Harris on the shoulder.
The man said something to Harris, and he finally turned around to look in Bella’s direction, so she beckoned hurriedly for him to come outside.
He opened the glass door and stepped through the small gap. ‘What is it? What’s wrong?’
Bella, shivering now, sighed, wondering how on earth she could tell him. Blunt and direct was best, she decided. He was a policeman. It’s what he was used to. ‘We have two absconded octogenarians on our hands, Harris.’
He chuckled. ‘Eh? What are you on about?’
‘My granny and your mum?—’
The line clicked. ‘Erm… Bella…’ The hesitation in Dorothy’s voice wasn’t lost on Bella. ‘I’m so sorry to tell you this but… Tam isn’t at his daughter’s after all.’
Bella closed her eyes and shook her head. This couldn’t be happening. She opened them and looked into her fiancé’s concerned gaze. ‘Make that three.’