My eyebrows climbed up my forehead.
"I know. It's the best we could come up with now. Rebecca doesn't want the police involved at all, and she's not saying why. She wasn't hurt, by the way, she's just a bit shaken up. You wanted to get here to verify our story and see your sister before you phoned your mother."
"OK. D'you think she'll buy it?"
"She has to."
"Yeah. Is Angus OK?"
"He is. He should be up and about in a few hours."
"Thanks."
Marcus nodded, and turned and left as silently as he had arrived. I fried bacon and eggs, and made a fat sandwich while I waited for the twenty minutes to elapse until I could phone my mother. I dialled her number a few minutes early, anyway. I was still licking bacon fat from my fingers. I would have to talk to her about the vegetarian thing. Eventually.
"Hello?" anxiety laced her voice, but there was hope also.
"Hi Mum, it's Mark."
"Mark!" the word gushed from her. "Are you with Rebecca?"
"Yes. She's fine, just shaken up and exhausted." All truth so far.
She said nothing for a second or two, and then,"Oh, thank God!" and she started sobbing uncontrollably. I said nothing, and let her cry for a minute or so.
"Mark, is it true that she doesn't want the police involved?"
"Yes." Truth. "The guys who took her had the wrong girl, so they let her go, but said if she described them to the police, or told them anything about them, they'd come back for her." All lies. Oh, well.
"Oh Mark! Poor baby. She must be terrified. But that's not right. The police are involved already. They were the ones who informed me what had happened." I heard the reproach in her voice, and felt guilty.
"I know Mum, but she starts crying if we even mention the police. I think it would be best to leave it. She can answer some of their questions when she gets back, but I can tell you now that she won't tell them much Mum appeared to accept this. I was pleased. I made that one up myself. Slick.
"Where are you?" She sounded more composed now.
"Aberdeenshire. As soon as Rebecca is awake we will get Angus to drive her back."
"Angus. How did he get involved?"
"He was the only person I could think of to help. I couldn't stand about waiting for the police when so many other people saw what happened and could answer their questions as well as I could. Probably better. I couldn't even identify the make of the damn van."