She hadn’t secured a safe haven for Harry’s son. With Gilmont on her tail, she had no other option—she must take the lad with her into the forest.

Worries clanged. Could she protect the lad and outsmart Gilmont with her limited resources and partially healed body? For an instant, her confidence faltered, but after one glance at Sammy, her fighting spirit surged. She would do anything for the lad, no matter who his parents were. Eight was much too young to be hunted by a monster.

Taking dirt roads to avoid CCTV cameras, Elise followed signs to the Hermitage car park, a half-formed plan swirling inside her mind. All she had for her stop in Little Dunkeld was a few flapjacks she had purchased at the petrol station and a narrowed lead over Gilmont.

“Were you going to leave me at the church?” Sammy asked.

Elise hesitated before she answered. The lad needed to understand some of what lay ahead, but he was too young for the full details.

“A bad man is after me,” she said, picking her words like a soldier in a minefield. “I wanted to leave you with the minister to keep you safe.”

“Are you going to hide from the bad guy?”

“We are going to camp in the forest until help arrives.”

“Oh.” Sammy placed his foot on the seat and tied the loose laces on his boot. “We’re going camping?”

“Aye.”

“Fishing?” Sammy’s eyes brightened.

“Perhaps—unless you’d rather eat bugs for dinner.”

“I ate a bug once.” Sammy scrunched his forehead. “It crunched and tasted nasty. Have you ever eaten a bug?”

“I have.”

His eyes widened as though she had told him she could fly. “But you’re a girl.”

“And girls can’t eat bugs?” Elise’s lips curved.

“My friend Thierry doesn’t eat bugs.”

“I ate it because my brother told me I was a feartie cat eedjit if I didn’t.”

“What’s that?”

“The most horrible thing he could call me at that age.” Conversations with Sammy zigzagged all over the place.

“What’s your brother’s name?” Sammy asked.

“Roddy.”

“He doesn’t sound very nice if he made you eat bugs.”

“When you meet Roddy, I’ll let you decide.” Elise grinned in anticipation of her brother’s response to Sammy.

“Can we shoot bow and arrows tomorrow?”

“We might have to if I don’t catch any fish.”

A herd of roe deer sprang from the thicket onto the road in front of the 4x4. Elise slammed on her brakes. The action catapulted the wood ball covered in twine from the back seat to the front. It ricocheted off the front dashboard and hit Sammy square in the face.

“Ow.” Sammy grabbed his forehead and rubbed it.

“I’m terribly sorry, Sammy.”

Tears started in his eyes, but he blinked them away.