‘Who is he?’

‘Gareth.’ The other boy smirked slyly at his friend. ‘McAllan. He lives at Glen Bart Farm.’

‘She won’t find him there though,’ Al added. ‘He’s not been back home since it happened.’ He gave a derisive snort. ‘Baby.’

It was easy to judge when you were a kid and you hadn’t seen what Gareth had seen. ‘So where is he then?’

A calculating expression crossed Al’s eyes. ‘Buy us a pack of fags and we’ll tell you.’

‘Smoking’s bad for you.’

‘Not as bad as working for a television company where everyone keeps dying.’ The spotty one had a point.

I shrugged. ‘Okay.’

‘Fags first. Then we’ll tell you.’

Arse. These two were smarter than they made out. I nodded in agreement and they directed me towards the nearest corner shop, although they kept out of sight. I had the feeling that the shopkeeper was probably wise to their tricks.

Buying the first packet I saw, I handed over a crumpled ten-pound note and marvelled at the cost. Then I palmed the packet and went back outside again, finding the boys scuffing a nearby wall. I held up the packet. ‘Here you go. You have to tell me where I can find Gareth before I hand it over though. Belinda will be really keen to meet him.’

‘Back there.’ Al jerked his head at the leisure centre. ‘He’s in the gym. Thinks if he bulks up he’ll be in with the ladies. As if.’

Gareth hadn’t struck me as the kind of person who enjoyed a good workout. I shuddered slightly. Even the mention of the word brought me out in hives. It was also somewhat galling that he was so close; I could probably have found him without the dubious help of these two.

‘Thanks,’ I beamed. Then, before either of them could reach for the cigarettes, I drew a rune and set the whole packet ablaze. ‘Up in smoke,’ I said sadly.

‘You…’ Al stared at me like I’d just killed his puppy.

I shrugged. ‘It really is bad for you. You should get a new hobby.’

He lunged for me but his friend grabbed him and held him back. ‘Leave it be. She’s obviously some kind of witch.’

Something flashed in his eyes. ‘No wonder she’s so ugly. Do you ride a broomstick? Will you turn us into frogs?’

I smiled. ‘No. But I will tell your parents if you don’t piss off.’

I received identical glares of vicious hatred. I raised my hand as if to draw out another rune, however, and they got the message quickly enough, taking their bikes and sloping off with only a few scowls over their shoulders in my direction. They’d get over it. One day they might even thank me. I watched them go then turned round. Gareth was waiting.

Chapter Eight

My unhappy confidants hadn’t been lying. Gareth was indeed in the gym, heaving a barbell even though the pallor of his skin suggested he might do better to lie down for a week or two. He certainly didn’t look like he was having fun.