Mack had an idea. “How about this. If you could choose to do anything in the city, for fun, what would it be?”

Flora took a tissue from the box on the coffee table and blew her nose. “What do you mean?”

“Just like I said, what’s your favourite thing to do? Maybe that you did with your granda?”

Flora knew immediately. “The Glasgow Kelvingrove Art Gallery. I love museums, and that’s my favourite. It has art, fossils, suits of armour, early human artefacts, everything.”

Flora’s face lit up when she talked about it. Mack had hit the right idea. “Okay, after you’ve had your appointment, we’ll go to your museum, have lunch, and have a long walk around. If you could focus on that fun part of the day, would that help?”

Flora laughed through the tears before wiping them away. “I haven’t been since Grandad died because I wouldn’t go myself. I’d love to. It’ll still be so stressful, but if I’ve got that to look forward to, then it’ll help me cope. I can’t believe you would do all this for me, put yourself to so much trouble.”

Mack grinned. “I’m your guardian angel, remember? I’ve got to keep my halo shining bright.”

She pretended to polish her invisible halo above her head, making Flora laugh. “You’re so funny.”

“So have we got a deal? Do we make the appointment?”

“But do you like museums? Have you been to Kelvingrove Art Gallery before?”

“I can’t remember—we went to one at school, but I don’t remember which,” Mack said.

“It’s not exactly your cup of tea, is it?”

Mack took one of Flora’s hands and kissed the back. “Anything is fun with you, Flo.”

* * *

Kevin was trying hard not to show how much he was trembling. He’d expected Malky to go for him as soon as the door of the blacked-out car shut.

All he’d said was, “Let’s go for a drive, Kevin.”

Going for a drive with Malky was a very dangerous thing to do, and Kevin was terrified. As they drove, he realized they were heading to one of the disused pier and warehouse areas on the Clyde. A reminder of the Scottish ship building industry that once built seagoing vessels for countries all over the world, now all but a few companies had relocated further up the river.

Malky gazed at him silently. He was much more terrifying than his father. His dad had at least a small glimmer of empathy inside him, but Malky looked dead inside.

“So, Kevin. Have you got today’s money?”

Kevin was certain Malky knew the answer to his question already.

“No, Malky. I…the dealers were frightened off,” Kevin said.