Shot Through The Heart (Supernature Book 1) by Edwin James Read Free Book Online

think I saw it in the bar earlier."
    Harris grinned. "Ah, yes," he said. "There has been a stray roaming the village the last couple of days. We usually let them into the bar. It doesn't really do much harm."
    "Shouldn't you report it to the authorities?" asked Mark.
    "As I said, it's not doing much harm," said Harris. "And besides, we don't really have the public services up here that you may be used to Edinburgh."
    "Fine," said Mark.
    As he walked to the garden, something about the dog nagged at him, but he couldn't quite grasp it. He decided to bring it up with Elizabeth that afternoon - after all, it had been with her daughters.

twelve

    Mark spent the rest of the morning speaking to locals around the village, before seeking refuge in the tea room that he had noticed the previous evening, hoping to drown himself in cups of tea.
    He'd spoken to a few of the other customers - none had seen Kay since Saturday. He stood at the counter, waiting to settle the bill. The elderly lady that ran the place hurried over, fussing about with a cleaning cloth. "Pot of tea, wasn't it?" she asked.
    Mark nodded. "It was," he said.
    "That'll be one pound fifty," she said.
    Mark raised an eyebrow. "I could barely get a teabag for that in Edinburgh," he said. "I'm just wondering if you had someone come in here?" He got out his mobile and showed her Kay's photo from her Facebook page.
    She put on the glasses that were hanging round her neck on a cord, but it didn't seem to stop her squinting. "Oh aye," she said. "I know her face. Used to come in most mornings and get a coffee."
    "Was she ever with anyone?" asked Mark.
    The scowl deepened. "I can't mind, son," she said. "If you're looking for her, I'd try the blacksmith and the paper shop, they're the only other shops in the village."
    "Many thanks," said Mark.
    He left the building and walked down the high street, squinting in the midday sunshine, past the small shop that mainly sold local and day-old national newspapers. He had tried first thing that morning, but had drawn a blank on sightings of Kay. The houses that lined the street were generically Scottish - he could have been in Fife, Ayrshire or Angus.  
    The blacksmith was the last building on the right, a stone cottage, painted white, with dormer windows upstairs. He rattled the door, and eventually it was answered by a tiny old man.
    Mark thought that he resembled a dwarf from some Tolkienesque fantasy, practically a barrel on legs, with a long beard and bald head.
    "How can I help?" asked the blacksmith.
    Mark introduced himself.  
    The blacksmith looked at Mark. "Do you want to see my forge?" he asked.
    "You've got a forge?" asked Mark.
    "Aye," said the blacksmith. "Got one in the garden. How else do you think I make rings?"
    Mark could picture the man going on an endless quest for one of them. "I thought you just made horse's shoes," he said.
    "There's a fair amount more to the ancient art than horseshoes," said the blacksmith. "Have you come for a wedding ring?"
    Mark smiled at his persistence. "No, thanks," he said, holding up his hand, "I'm already married."
    "Aye, what about for your next one, though?" asked the blacksmith.
    Mark laughed. "I wasn't planning on remarrying," he said.
    "You've got a glint in your eyes, laddie," said the blacksmith, "that's for certain."
    "I've just become a father," said Mark. "I've got a six-month-old daughter."
    "Well, if you insist that's where your sparkle comes from," said the blacksmith, "then who am I to judge?"
    "I'm looking for someone," said Mark.
    "See, I told you it wouldn't be the last time," said the blacksmith.
    Mark was getting impatient. "An employee of mine has gone missing," he said. "A young woman, name of Kay McGregor."
    The blacksmith tugged at his rugged beard, then suddenly whistled. "Oh aye, her," he said. "Very pretty young lady, indeed."
    "You know her, then?" asked Mark, his spirits suddenly raised.
    The blacksmith nodded again. "Aye, lad, she chatted away to me in the