Shot Through The Heart (Supernature Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

daughters and their husbands."
    Mark frowned as he tried to keep his eyes off her leg. "You don't look old enough to have married children," he said.
    Elizabeth threw her head back and laughed. "Oh, I'm older than you think," she said.
    Mark knew that he shouldn't be flirting with the woman, but he couldn't help himself. "Thanks for the kind offer," he said, briefly closing his eyes, "but I'll take my chances with the hotel in the village."
    "That's fine," said Elizabeth, looking disappointed, her bottom lip almost pouting.
    The last thing Mark wanted was her appearing in his room in the middle of the night, or some mishap with towels outside a bathroom. He needed to focus on the book. And on his marriage.
    "I'll get Ivor to give you a lift back," said Elizabeth, as she rang a bell, an air of indifference emerging.
    "That would be perfect," said Mark. He felt bad. She seemed lonely and, while she was picking the wrong target in him, he never liked letting people down. "Would you be free to do the interview with me?"
    Elizabeth suddenly smiled, her face restored to beauty. "It would be an honour," she said.  

six

    Mark's mind was racing as he lugged his bike inside the Ruthven Arms Hotel on the village's high street. He leaned it against the reception desk before slipping his rucksack from his shoulders and dropping it to the floor. He felt fatigue hit him as he admired the interior, tired eyes following the large spiral staircase up, the rest of the ground floor a large open space, coffee tables and armchairs tastefully spread out.
    He was relieved to get away from Elizabeth Ruthven - she had practically been all over him. He hoped there were still rooms free. The place was deserted, but at least it appeared to be open - the noise from the bar gave him some encouragement. He rang the bell and waited.
    He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror behind the desk - he was nothing to write home about. What had she seen in him? Was she just desperate? He'd never been the sort to attract women, and didn't know why he would start to now - he wasn't getting more distinguished as he got older.
    A sprightly, camp man in his late forties appeared from behind a curtain. He was in full Highland dress - kilt, jacket, sporran, the lot. The light from the chandelier in the reception hall bounced off his bald head, shaved practically to the bone. He was very short, barely over five feet in Mark's estimation. He had a brass name badge attached to his jacket - Alec Harris.
    "Can I help you, sir?" asked Harris.
    "I spoke to you this morning about a colleague of mine who is staying here," said Mark. "She didn't turn up to an interview this morning, so I'm here to track her down. Her name is Kay McGregor."
    Harris frowned as his eyes looked to a ledger on the counter in front of him. "Ah yes," he said. "She hasn't checked out and she had an open-ended booking, so she's still here, as far as I'm concerned. Her possessions are still in her room."
    "Would I be able to have a look around?" asked Mark.
    "Her room?" asked Harris.
    Mark nodded.
    "Well, that would be most irregular," said Harris.
    Mark groaned - he figured this wasn't going to be easy. "She was employed by me as a research assistant," he said. "I'm writing a book on the Highland Clearances, and I need to get hold of the material she was producing for me."
    "A likely tale," said Harris.
    Mark frowned. "It's the truth," he said. He held up his laptop case. "I've got her employment contract in my bag, if you want to check it."
    "You carry her contract around with you?" asked Harris.
    The truth was that Mark hadn't had the time - or inclination - to clear his laptop case out and it was full of months of paperwork. "Yes, I do," said Mark. "Look, I really need to find out where she is."
    "Why?" asked Harris.
    "I might need to tell her parents," said Mark. "Or the police."
    Harris looked Mark up and down a few times. "Fine," he eventually said in a withering tone. "I will allow it just this