By the time he landed, Carl had crossed six time zones and been in the air for the better part of ten hours, except for a three-hour layover. He wasn't the only one flying into Canada to avoid the weather, and it took time to refuel and get clearance to take off again. After he landed in London, he caught a cab to a hotel, took a hot shower, and went to bed to catch a few precious hours of sleep.
The next morning, he hired a driver and went to see Miss Emma Walker, the ex-schoolmarm at Mary Cathleen's Boarding School for Girls.
The cottage Miss Walker lived in looked just like the picture Jackie found online and sent to him while he was in the air. He walked to the door, knocked, and waited. She didn't answer. If she wasn't home, he fully intended to stay, no matter how long it took or what the waiting taxi would charge. Court would reconvene on Tuesday and they didn't have a lot of time left. He knocked a second time and, at last, the door opened.
"Miss Walker, my name is Carl Kingsley. I am looking for Georgia Marie James."
A small woman with gray hair and a cane, Emma had fire in her eyes when she raised both eyebrows. "You're just now wanting to know where she is? Where have you been all these years?"
"I am afraid you misunderstand. I am not a member of her family. I work for a private detective in America and it is important that we find her."
"You don't need to tell me you're from America. I'd know that accent anywhere."
"May I come in? I promise I won't take up much of your time."
"What is your name again?"
"Carl Kingsley."
"I suppose it will be alright." She opened her door wide and let him walk through. "You want some tea?"
"That would be wonderful."
"In the kitchen, then." She motioned for him to follow her, went to the cupboard, set her cane against the counter, and then took a mug off the bottom shelf. "Sit down, if you will."
"Thank you, Miss Walker." He pulled a chair away from her kitchen table and sat down. He waited while she poured hot water into her teapot, added the loose tealeaves, and then used a strainer when she poured the tea into two mugs. Carl stood up. "Can I help you with those?"
"You may, young man. Thank you."
Carl smiled as he carried both mugs to the table. "I haven't been called young in quite a while."
"When you get as old as me, they all look young."