Page 55 of The Boathouse by the Loch (The Scottish Highlands #4)

David glared at her. ‘Are you insane? You didn’t say this when we picked you up from the airport.

You’re jealous of her new life. I bet you’ve never got on with your stepdaughter, and you’ve come to ruin it for her.

Well, it’s not going to work.’ David turned to Sean.

‘She didn’t say any of this earlier. She was perfectly fine when we greeted her at the airport and on the way back to the boathouse. ’

Robyn stared at Judith. She hadn’t been perfectly fine.

Robyn had caught her in the mirror at the beauty counter in the airport throwing her a strange look, and she’d been oddly quiet on the journey to the boathouse.

Then, when they’d arrived, she’d rushed around the boathouse, looking in all the rooms as though she was … Robyn swallowed … looking for someone.

Judith turned to David. ‘I told her, before she conveniently fainted, to stop.’

David shook his head. ‘I don’t understand – stop what?’

‘This charade. I want her back. I told her,’ she pointed at Robyn, ‘and I’m telling you, that I played along with your little game at the airport, thinking isn’t this just like Robyn? Never straightforward . I thought I knew what your game was. You were her new friends—’

‘But we are her new friends …’

Judith rigorously shook her head. ‘I thought she’d asked you all to play some silly prank on me, and when I arrived I’d find her here, at the boathouse.’

Robyn glanced over at David. Their eyes locked. He’d seen it too, her rushing around the place, frantically looking in every room.

Judith opened her handbag.

Sean stepped forward and said, ‘What are you doing, Judith?’ as she put her hand in her bag. ‘What have you got in the bag, Judith?’

Judith’s hand emerged from her handbag with her purse. She got out a small photo, and showed it to the officer.

Sean took a cursory glance. ‘Very nice. Now, are you going to join these good people for their meal, or do I need to arrest you for wasting police—?’

‘This photo was taken on the university campus before I left on my travels.’

‘That’s nice,’ said Sean, glancing over at Joe and David, and shrugging.

‘And this person next to me,’ said Judith, pointing at the photo, ‘is my stepdaughter – Robyn Parker.’

That got Sean’s attention. ‘Let me see that.’

Judith handed him the photo and stood there, arms folded, glaring at everyone in the room, her eyes eventually settling on one person in particular.

Robyn stood there, her heart pounding.

Sean’s expression changed. Gone was the ready smile. In its place was an officer on call. He looked at Judith. ‘Can I keep hold of this?’

‘Be my guest,’ Judith said smugly. ‘Are you going to arrest her now?’

Joe said, ‘Let me see that photo.’

Sean passed Joe the photo.

‘Joe?’ David said, looking across at his brother.

Joe passed the photo back to Sean without a word, but nodded at his colleague.

Robyn gulped as the police officer walked over to her. ‘I need you to come with me,’ he said flatly.

No sooner had he spoken the words than an uproar ensued. Everybody wanted to know why she was being taken to the police station. Sean held up his hands for them to quieten down. ‘I’m sorry to tell you that this woman is not Robyn Parker.’

There were gasps around the table.

‘Come with me, please.’

‘But I … I am Robyn!’

‘No, you’re not.’

Robyn looked around the table. Everyone was staring at her, but nobody made a move to stop the officer arresting her.

She looked at David. ‘David …?’

He pursed his lips and looked at his brother.

She followed his gaze. ‘Joe …? Tell him there’s been a mistake.’

Joe heaved a sigh. ‘There’s been a mistake all right. Who are you – really?’

‘I … I’m Robyn Parker.’

‘No, you’re not,’ said Judith adamantly.

‘But … but if I’m not Robyn, then who am I?’ She searched the faces of the people sitting at the table, her friends – or they ha d been, only a moment earlier.

‘Suppose you tell us ,’ said Sean.

‘But … but I can’t remember.’ She looked around the table. ‘You do believe me, don’t you?’ But she could tell by their expressions that they all thought she’d deceived them. All apart from the mystery guests.

Jake Campbell-Ross suddenly stood up.

Robyn looked at him in surprise. ‘Do you know me?’

He shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, I do not. I’ve never set eyes on you before today. Do you know my wife?’

‘Your wife?’

‘Eleanor Campbell-Ross. Have you ever met her?’

‘I told you. I told all of you, I don’t remember anything.’

‘Are you sure about that?’ he asked.

As Sean approached her, that episode came to mind, the memory she’d had when she’d visited Wilbur’s Bookstore and had remembered sitting at the table in the window. She had been sitting with someone at that table – she was sure of it.

As she was led out of the kitchen, she glanced over her shoulder at Jake Campbell-Ross, who was staring at her intently. Had the person she’d been sitting with been Eleanor?

She overheard Judith saying, ‘I can’t stay here. I’m getting my bags and leaving.’

Gayle said, ‘Where will you go? It’s the summer. A lot of places are booked up.’

‘Well, what do you suggest?’

‘Come and stay with me at Lark Lodge.’

Robyn overheard that as she walked out of the door, feeling herself getting emotional over losing her friends and the life she thought she’d built. She turned to the officer as he led her out to the waiting police car. ‘Can you tell me who I am?’ she pleaded.

‘Well, that’s what I’m taking you to the station to find out.’