Page 85 of Death on a Scottish Train

I turned to find her on the arm of her new friend.

“Do you remember, Teddy?”

I didn’t but I waved hello and smiled. “It’s good to see you again. Mara, you look beautiful.”

“That she does,” Teddy said good heartedly. “I’m a lucky man.”

She patted his tuxedoed chest. “Yes, you are.”

We all laughed.

“Did you see who was in the corner?” She threw her thumb in their direction.

“I was curious about that,” I said.

“The most likely scenario is this is one of her charities,” Ewan said. “She mentioned that during the interviews we did that she was involved with several and her main residence is here in Edinburgh. But I can ask my mother.”

“Or we could just ask Mrs. Burns,” I said. “Though, isn’t it odd he has his business in Sea Isle if they live here?”

“Aye, he said there was less competition in a small town. He didn’t like having to compete with the bigger firms here in the city. And he’d grown up there and knew his clients.”

“And it probably made it easier for him to keep a separate residence for his affairs,” I added

“You may be right about that.”

“Let’s go chat with them.”

“I told you he’s called in his solicitors,” he said.

“Right, but this is a social event, and we are only going to say hello.” I pulled Ewan along with me.

He seemed resigned. Of course, Mara and her date joined us. But before we reached them, a bell chimed and we all turned toward the stage where Ewan’s mother stood among the musicians, who had been playing.

“I’m sending a hearty welcome to our distinguished guests and thank you for supporting such a worthy cause,” she said. His mother went on to talk for a good five minutes. “As you enjoy your evening, please bid wildly on our auction items, and kindly make your donations. These children need our help, and we should be there for them.”

While she’d been speaking, I lost sight of the accountant and his wife.

“Do you see them?” I asked Mara and Ewan.

They shook their heads.

“I have an idea,” Mara said as she looked from Ewan to me.

“What’s that?”

“Why don’t we take a night off from the snooping, and just enjoy ourselves for once?” She grinned.

“I’m all for that,” her date said. “Though, I had no idea we were looking for someone. May I ask who we were snooping on?”

Ewan cleared his throat. The last thing he’d want was to share the case with a stranger.

“You make a good point. I wonder where Jasper is?” I said, changing the subject.

As if I’d conjured him, Jasper walked up to us. He was dressed in a tuxedo, as was the man with him.

“Whoa, you two look so handsome,” Mara said.

“I agree,” I added.