As it was one of the few rooms I’d never entered during my time here, I was curious to see what secrets it held. The reality was disappointing; it looked like any other study anywhere in the world. There were bookshelves containing row upon row of leather-bound tomes, none of which, I noted sardonically, had cracked spines. It was no surprise that the Bull wasn’t much of a reader. He also wasn’t very clean or tidy. Despite the lack of a lock, he guarded the interior of this study too carefully to allow anyone inside to dust or sweep up and the results were obvious. There was a thick layer of grime along the windowsill, making me glad that we’d not entered that way, and several messy piles of papers on the desk. And, in the far corner and in plain sight, an old-fashioned safe.

Taylor cracked a grin and stepped over to it. He ran his hand across its top in admiration. ‘I’ve not seen one of these models for years,’ he whispered. ‘What a beauty.’

Lexie scrunched up her face. ‘It’s ancient,’ she said with a note of disgust. ‘I’d been hoping for a challenge.’

Taylor wagged his finger at her. ‘Now, now,’ he warned. ‘Just because it’s old, doesn’t mean it’s weak.’

‘Are you talking about yourself, old man, or about the safe?’

He jabbed a mock punch in her direction. ‘Have some respect for your elders. One must wait until evening to see how glorious the day has been.’

I opened my mouth but Brochan reached over and clamped his hand over it. ‘I love you, Tegs, but no.’

‘Mmmmph.’

‘You have to promise.’

I glared at him then nodded. He released me. Stepping away, I pouted. ‘It was a really good joke. Now you’ll never know just how funny it was.’

‘I’ll live.’ He pointed at the safe. ‘Open sesame.’

Bob, who’d been snoring on my shoulder, jerked his head up abruptly. ‘You called?’

‘Figure of speech, Bob. We’ve got this.’

He frowned. ‘Are you sure? Because you could just wish…’

‘No wishing.’ I glanced at Taylor. ‘Do you want to do the honours?’

He swept a bow. ‘I’d be delighted.’ He grinned at Lexie. ‘Watch and learn, young one. Watch and learn.’

He knelt by the safe, one hand on the dial at the front and the other resting on the side. A look of intense concentration crossed his face as he began to turn the dial. It clicked round, Taylor muttering to himself as he listened for the tell-tale changes in sound that would indicate the correct numbers for the combination. I left him to it and flicked through the papers on the Bull’s desk. There was little here of interest, just letters from tenants and old bills. Interestingly, there was a photo of Tipsania hidden behind one pile of envelopes. She looked about twelve years old and she was wearing a dress that wasn’t a million miles away from the one I’d seen in MacKay’s Marriage Emporium. So that was where the Bull had got his inspiration from. I picked it up to examine it more closely and realised as I did so that the photo didn’t quite fit the frame. There was something underneath it. Biting my lip, I unclipped it to reveal another picture. When I drew it out, my mouth dropped open.