Page 10 of The High Island

The rising sun streaming through the same window wakenedhim earlier than he would have chosen. But unlike the previous day, instead of rolling over, he rose immediately.

A brisk shower, then into the kitchen, where he took advantage of the early hour and made himself a cooked breakfast of bacon, egg and black pudding.

While he ate, he studied the note from last night again. Wondering now if perhaps a fingerprint might be lifted from it and run through the database. Although this did feel pretty extreme for such a happenstance.

Then again, whoever had written the note did appear to be claiming knowledge about the identity of the Hoy victim.

He stood up and, transferring his dishes to the sink, went to fetch an evidence bag from his study. His intention being to take the note to the station and have it logged in as possible evidence.

He then called Tommy, who, as a farmer, would already be well into his day by now. That thought was proved right when Tommy answered straight away.

‘What is it, son?’ he said against a background of outside sounds.

‘Can you do me a favour, Dad?’ Erling said. ‘Could you sketch me a family tree for the Mowats?’

‘I think I can manage that,’ Tommy said. ‘Back as far as Ivor, I take it?’

‘His parents, if possible?’ he said.

‘Okay,’ Tommy told him. ‘I’ll have a go.’

‘Thanks, Dad. Also, have you heard the name “Stella” associated in any way with the Mowat family?’

‘Stella? Can’t say I have,’ Tommy said after a moment. ‘Although I can’t be certain there wasn’t a Stella somewhere in the lineage.’

‘You said Kris is the youngest member of the family. Is he the only great-grandchild?’ Erling asked.

‘Not certain,’ Tommy said. ‘Why are you asking about a Stella anyway?’

Erling explained about the note and was rewarded with a studied silence.

‘You still there, Dad?’ he asked after what felt like a long wait.

‘I am. And this note was definitely delivered by hand?’ Tommy checked.

‘Well, it wasn’t the postie,’ Erling confirmed. ‘Any suggestions?’

A further silence followed as though Tommy was considering what he might say. This time Erling held his peace and, eventually, he was rewarded.

‘Auld Mackie, who lives on the hill along the road from you. The white house with the steep drive up. He’s in his nineties now. He wasn’t at the funeral, although he and Ivor were pals at one time.’

Tommy waited as though expecting Erling to confirm a memory of Auld Mackie, which he found himself unable to do.

When he was a teenager, and before he left for university and a life off-island, he’d barely registered the older folk living alongside them in Orphir. He’d only been at Ivor’s funeral because of the connection with his own grandfather, who he’d been fond of. So he knew the house Tommy referred to, but he’d never been inside, although he’d smelt the peat smoke that rose from its chimney often enough. ‘You think he delivered the note?’ he said.

‘Mackie’s housebound now, so no, but he could have got someone to deliver it for him.’

‘Okay, I was planning to chat to my near neighbours anyway. I’ll drop in on Mackie,’ Erling told him.

‘Park at the road end. The drive’s way too steep for a vehicle. Open the front door and shout your name. He’ll give you leave to enter.’ A brief silence followed, then, ‘He’ll try to keep you there.And he’s unlikely to give you the information you’re looking for until he’s ready. So be patient,’ Tommy told him.

‘Okay,’ Erling said, already considering his next move on this.

Ending the call, he immediately made another. This time toDSGreen.

‘Can you come pick me up, Sergeant?’

He’d told Jo when he’d stepped out of the vehicle last night that he would take his own car in the morning. Despite this, Jo didn’t enquire about the change of plan.