Isla answered, and she heard Dexter bark in the background. “Hi, wee barra, you got Dex from Granny? How’s ma boy?”

“Hi, Mack, he’s fine. We ate chicken and had some ice cream. His little belly is full.”

“See? That’s why you are the best doggie sitter. Do you think you could keep him till tomorrow?”

“Yes! I’d love that.”

“You’d love what?” Mack heard Nikki say in the background.

“Put your mum on, Isy.”

“What have you got my Isy to agree with?”

“Looking after my boy till tomorrow,” Mack said.

She could almost see Nikki shaking her head. “You’re making this puppy argument really hard.”

“Shut up, he’s a wee darlin’. I’ll pick him up tomorrow if that’s okay,” Mack said.

“Okay, okay, you’ve made my little girl happy anyway. How did your day go?”

Mack gazed at Flora’s sleeping form and felt another bit of her heart lost. “It went well. She really liked the therapist. Dr. Carrson volunteers at Mum and Aunt Chrissy’s homeless charity.”

“Hmm. I wonder if she would suit us.”

Mack knew she was meaning Isla. “Maybe. I’ll give you the details.”

“Isy and Mum said you had a suit on when you dropped off Dexter.”

“And what?”

Nikki laughed. “She really must mean a lot to you if Mack the Knife wore a suit.”

Instead of making light of it, Mack said, “Aye, she does.”

At that moment Flora began to waken, and her eyes fluttered open. When she saw Mack gazing at her, Flora smiled.

“I’d like to meet her,” Nikki said. “Can you bring her to poker night? Isy keeps asking about the offer to help out in the shop. I’d like to meet her in person first.”

Mack couldn’t blame Nikki for being so protective. She’d nearly lost Isla. “I don’t know. I can ask.”

“Okay, I know she has her issues, but it’s important. Listen, I wasn’t going to tell you this, but there was a lot of merchandise on the streets today, mostly around the train and bus station.”

That concerned Mack. “Why wouldn’t you tell me? It’s important.” Mack was trying to keep her voice calm now that Flora was awake.

“Because I want to keep you away from anything that could cause difficulties.”

“I need to know, Nik. I’m always going to be involved. It’s in my blood. Who was it?”

Nikki sighed. “Kevin Drury was seen, using his little helpers. Jamsey and Murdo sorted most of it out, but if Drury is back on the streets, I’m sure he’s being backed by McDade.”

“And he knows we can’t touch him.”