I still wasn’t sure that a few hours’ practice was going to be nearly enough to help Little Big Man at this late stage, and it crossed my mind that it would be an ideal opportunity to try to convince him to reconsider again. Forget it, Norman. Just surrender and it’ll all be okay.

But something stopped me. And maybe it was my mini epiphany at the Little Creek Arms, or perhaps it was just because Norman’s was the only plan we had and practice really might make perfect, but for the first time in my life I entertained the thought that running away mightn’t always be the only way to save yourself.

“Don’t worry, Mum. I’ll lock the door and I won’t even leave the room. I promise. I’ve got my phone to call you if I need to. And I’ve got the crisps and chocolate and I... I won’t answer the door to anyone. Except if it’s Leonard, of course.”

He’d thought of everything. The words were tumbling out now and, even as they landed in a messy heap on the floor, I realized that Norman’s plan did make sense.

“If you’re out there, you’ll have much more of a chance on your own of finding him before anything...well, you know...just to find him. I know you can find him, Mum. I know it.”

He had me on the ropes.

“Oh, and apples. I’ve got the apples, too, Mum.” Kapow.

40

THERE WASN’T ONE bone in my body that was happy about leaving Norman alone, but I knew he was right and that if he stayed in the room he’d be perfectly safe. I could also see that without outside help, aka snitching to the police, getting out and scouring the streets of Edinburgh really was our only option of finding Leonard. And even though there was only a remote to nonexistent chance that I’d succeed, I had to try.

It was eleven o’clock, and Leonard had potentially been on the run for six hours already. That was long enough for him to be halfway up Ben Nevis in first gear if he’d so chosen. Or in Paris, if the 1969 British rally champ had really put his foot down.

I set Norman up on the huge bed in the Caramel Suite, surrounded by Post-it notes and crisps, with the big free-standing mirror angled so he could practice his onstage facial expressions. I made sure his fully charged mobile phone was right beside him and went through the rules. Don’t OD on chocolate, do alternate a glass of water and an apple with the crisps, and don’t set foot outside this door except to go to the toilet, and even then be quick.

“I mean it, Norman. And no matter what happens, I’ll be back by six o’clock at the latest. Okay? No ifs, no buts. That’s a promise. Whatever you do, just do not go anywhere, not for anything.”

“I’ll be fine, Mum, I promise. Don’t worry.”