Page 34 of The High Island

‘You’re happy for us to take it to the police station?’ Erling checked.

‘Yes. When you find Kris, you can tell him we all loved his great-granddad here and we miss him.’

Erling assured her that he would, then asked if Cathy might spare them a few minutes more of her time.

‘I spoke to Eddie Balfour, Ivor’s lawyer, before coming here,’ he told her. ‘Hearing our concerns about Kris’s whereabouts, he explained how Ivor’s will had been drawn up.’

Cathy took her seat again and said, ‘Ivor wrote it himself, inthat old-fashioned writing of his. He didn’t mention what was in it, though. Just asked me and Elspeth, who was on days back then with me, to witness it.’ She smiled. ‘He even made us laugh, asking if we thought him of sound mind when he wrote it.’

‘And you have no idea what’s in the will?’ Erling said.

She indicated not. ‘Although I’d hazard a guess and say, whatever Ivor had, he wanted it to go to Kris, his great-grandson.’

‘One last question, Cathy. Who was Ivor’s last visitor?’

‘His eldest son, Hugh. It was earlier in the evening before . . . it happened.’

Erling waited as she gathered herself for the rest of the story. ‘I was off duty by then,’ she said, ‘but Elspeth was here.’

‘Was it Elspeth who called for the doctor?’ Jo asked quietly.

‘Yes. She popped her head in just after midnight to check on Ivor. Sometimes auld folk don’t sleep and welcome some company. She was the one who found him.’

‘I’d like to speak to Elspeth in person,’ Erling said.

‘She’s not due in until six o’clock. You’ll probably catch her at home just now. I can give you her number?’ It was clear by her tone that Cathy was keen for such a meeting to happen.

‘That would be good,’ Erling said.

Back in the car park, Erling told Jo to head for the station with Ivor’s box, which should be stored in the evidence room.

‘I’m going to try to have a word with both Elspeth and Tom Liddell before I head back myself,’ he told her.

‘So you know Dr Liddell?’ Jo asked.

‘I do,’ Erling assured her. ‘Although he’s not been in Orkney long. He’s a ferry-louper like yourself and much the same age – and single,’ he added with a smile. ‘If you fancy a change from a farmer?’

HisDSthrew him a look that wasn’t hard to interpret, beforeresponding with, ‘I’ll let you know if I ever require an introduction, sir.’

Moving on to more important things, Erling said, ‘I’ll head to the health centre first. Then try to speak with Elspeth Crawford. Let me know immediately if there have been any reported sightings of Kris Mowat in our absence.’

‘Will do, boss.’

16

On his way to the health centre, Erling mulled over their conversation with Cathy McCue. Working in a care home, Cathy had undoubtedly seen the passing of many of its elderly inhabitants. So her concerns around Ivor’s death had to be taken seriously.

The fact that it had happened immediately prior to the much-anticipated arrival of his great-grandson seemed cruel in the extreme. Or perhaps rather fortuitous for the other members of the family, who were intent on challenging Ivor’s state of mind when he’d sold the Mowat land behind their backs.

Dr Liddell, he hoped, would put both his own concerns and those of the two women to rest regarding this.

Entering the car park, he spotted the doctor’s car and was pleased his visit wasn’t in vain.

Judging by the empty waiting room, today’s surgery was over, and checking in at reception he explained that he’d like to speak with Dr Liddell. Adding ‘on police business’, in case they thought it was regarding his own health.

Minutes later, the door to the doctor’s consulting room opened and he was invited to enter.

‘Inspector Flett,’ the doctor said, closing the door behind him. ‘I understand this isn’t a health call?’