She googles ‘loch’, ‘forest’, ‘waterfall’ then ‘mountain’ … and then suddenly, there it is, the exact same waterfall as the one in Lumin’s picture. The Audhild Falls. It’s near one large loch but despite searching into the night, Amber can’t for the life of her find the lodge Amber drew.

Still, this was a clue, wasn’t it? A big one! But if it’s right, if Lumin does come from Scotland, what on earth was she doing so far from there now?

Chapter Nine

The next day, Amber goes to see Lumin and shows her the photo she’d printed off of the waterfall and its surrounding lochs. From the ward’s window, they can see the hustle and bustle of the annual Christmas market stalls being set up. But Amber barely notices, her mind focused on getting Lumin home.

Lumin taps her finger on the waterfall and nods. ‘There’s something about this. And it looks just like the picture I drew, right?’

Amber nods. ‘It’s in Scotland, in the Highlands. It’s right near a loch too, Audhild Loch. Ring a bell?’

Lumin shakes her head. ‘What about the lodge?’

‘No sign of a lodge that looks like the one you drew,’ Amber admits. ‘But that doesn’t mean there isn’t one there. Have a look through my printouts, I found lots of photos of the area.’

Lumin turns her attention back to the photos and after a few moments, a smile spreads over her face. ‘It all feels so familiar.’

Amber punches the air. ‘Yes! Finally, a lead. I’m going to let Detective King know, all right? There are different newspapers in Scotland, so that might explain why nobody’s come forward. If they focus the media attention there, something might come up.’

But nothing does. Two days later, Amber gets a call from Detective King. ‘Not having much luck, I’m afraid. Just the usual cranks.’

Amber’s shoulders slump in disappointment. ‘But she recognised the area. Maybe you can take her there? Being absorbed in the place where all her main memories have come from might trigger even more.’

‘We don’t have the resources, Miss Caulfield, especially this close to Christmas. How do we know it wasn’t just a holiday she took there as a child? God knows how many people visit the Highlands each year.’

Amber bites her nails. ‘It’s more than that, I know it. Lumin does too.’

He sighs. ‘Look, it’s only been ten days. The doctor who’s treating her is convinced her memories will return with some more time.’

‘But it’s Christmas soon,’ Amber says, peering out at the market stalls in the distance and stifling the guilt she feels at not opening the shop yet that morning. ‘She can’t be in that place for Christmas. What if she just went to Scotland of her own volition? Can anyone stop her?’