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  They continued to climb, up a narrow gully, shaded by oak and ash trees. “This was the big oak tree,” Evan said, as they came out to upland meadow. “We always left our snacks here when we played the game. And that’s the hill where we played capture the castle.”

  Bronwen looked up at it and nodded with approval. “It does look like a fortress with all those rocks. I bet you had fun here.”

  Evan turned away from it and followed just the hint of a path upward, beside a little stream. Trees grew beside the water, shading them as they climbed. The clear splash and tinkle of the water as it bounced and fell over rocks were a musical accompaniment. It was hot and sweaty, sheltered from the breeze. Evan marveled that Sarah had dared to come this far alone. Then the last of the trees died out, and the little stream meandered across a high, bleak plateau with a ring of mountains rising ahead. The first of the heather was blooming, painting the slopes purple. The path, such as it was, disappeared into an area of tufty grass, soft and springy underfoot.

  “Are you sure she came up here?” Bronwen asked. “It’s an awfully long way for a small child.”

  It became damp underfoot as the stream spread into marsh. Their feet came free with a sucking sound at each footfall. Then Evan came to a sudden halt. “Oh,” he said.

  “What?”

  He continued to stare. Ahead of them was a small, round pond. Mist rose from its surface, drawn upward by the sun. The area around it was bright green—a green so glaringly bright that it dazzled. A lump came to Evan’s throat. The fairy ring, where the grass was greener, the magic lake. Of course she would have thought she’d found the Twlwyth Teg at last, not knowing that the bright green grass was a warning sign, not an invitation, and the magic lake was a bog. If he hadn’t refused her when she’d wanted to sneak away with him, if he’d been less intent on winning that stupid game, she’d never have come up here alone. He had pitied the Thomases for the guilt they had carried throughout their lives and hadn’t realized until now that he shared that guilt with them. From now on he would be carrying the same burden as them wherever he went.

  “Was this it?” Bronwen asked.

  Evan continued to stare at the shimmering water. “I was right all along,” he said, in a low voice. “She was taken by the fairies.”

  Glossary of Welsh Words

  Cariad (pronounced ca-ree-ad)—darling, honey

  Hwyl (hoil)—cheers, bye, see ya. A friendly greeting that can mean many things.

  Bach/fach (pronounced like Bach the composer) — literally, “small.” A term of affection.

  Escob Annwyl (es-cobe ann-wheel) — literally, “Dear Bishop.” Something like “Good heavens.”

  Nain (nine) — grandmother (North Wales)

  Taid (tide) — grandfather (North Wales)

  Twlwyth Teg (tool-with teg) — fair folk. Fairies.

  Bore Da (booray dah) — good day

  Noson Lawen (nose-on l-ow-en) — festive evening

  Tomos Dau (Thomas Die) — Thomas Two, twice times Thomas. Nickname for Tomos Thomas.

  Cwm Rhondda (coom rhontha) — Rhondda valley (here name of hymn tune)

  Pedwar (pedw-are) —four

  Cachwr (cahk-er) — mild swear word. “Bugger.”

  Or gore (or gor-ay) — all right

  Hen diawl (hen di-owl) — old devil

  Also by Rhys Bowen

  The Constable Evans Mysteries

  Evan Only Knows

  Evans to Betsy

  Evan Can Wait

  Evan and Elle

  Evan Help Us

  Evans Above

  Evanly Choirs

  The Molly Murphy Mysteries

  For the Love of Mike

  Death of Riley

  Murphy’s Law

  EVAN’S GATE. Copyright © 2004 by Rhys Bowen. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

  www.minotaurbooks.com

  eISBN 9781429992152

  First eBook Edition : January 2011

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Bowen, Rhys.

  Evan’s gate / Rhys Bowen.

  p. cm.

  ISBN 0-312-30114-6

  EAN 978-0312-30114-9

  1. Evans, Evan (Fictitious character)—Fiction. 2. Missing children—Fiction. 3. Police—Wales—Fiction. 4. Wales—Fiction. I. Title.

  PR6052.O848E94 2004

  823’.914—dc22

  2003058777

  First Edition: April 2004