Page 36 of The High Island

‘Aye, if you survive the early part of the year here, you’ve likely got the constitution for island life,’ Erling said. ‘Thanks again for your help, Doctor.’

Back in his car, he made his call to Elspeth Crawford. Her answer was so swift he assumed that she’d been forewarned by Cathy. He was right.

‘Inspector Flett, Cathy told me you would call. It’s about Ivor’s death, I understand?’

‘It is,’ Erling confirmed.

‘I’d like to speak to you about it face to face. Can you come round to the house?’

When Erling confirmed this, she gave him her address.

‘I’m here on my own, so we have privacy to talk. I’ll expect you shortly.’ And with that she rang off.

There had been relief in her voice, he registered. Like Cathy, it seemed she’d been perturbed by Ivor’s sudden death. And if two of the women closest to Ivor in his last days felt unease about it, then, Erling decided, he had to pay attention to those concerns.

Elspeth lived east of the harbour in a pretty bungalow with a fine sea view from the sitting room window.

Ushering him in, she explained that her husband, Ronnie, was at work, so they could talk freely.

‘I’ve spoken to him about Ivor, but he thought my worries were unfounded. He kept reminding me that Ivor was ninety-six, as if I didn’t know that,’ she said firmly. ‘Anyway, what do you want to ask me?’

‘Tell me about the night he died,’ Erling said.

‘Well, when I arrived for work around six, he was out in the garden with the cat. Well wrapped up as always, although it was a fine soft evening. That cat’s a devil, you know. Half wild and big and with a murderous intent towards the birds that come down to the bird table.’ She paused, with the hint of a smile. ‘Ivor loved that cat and he was the only person that tomcat would permit to pet him.

‘Anyway, I coaxed Ivor inside for his evening meal, which he ate. Then he went to watchTVin his room. Sometime after that his son Hugh arrived. I realized this because I heard raised voices. Ivor was mighty angry about something. They both were. The door was shut and I didn’t eavesdrop.’ She paused. ‘Maybe it was the argument that upset him so much that . . .’ She tailed off.

‘Did you see Ivor alive after that?’

‘I don’t know when his son left. I was busy with other residents. Putting them to bed, giving out their medications. Next time I passed Ivor’s room, the door was open just a little and theTVwas on, so I thought all was well again. Ivor liked his telly.’

‘Did you go in?’ Erling said.

She shook her head. ‘I was on my way to see another resident. But I wish I had now. I was just pleased that he was back watchingTV.’ She looked at him with tears in her eyes.

‘None of this is your fault,’ Erling said.

‘But if he was failing then, I could have called the doctor . . .’

Erling gave her a few moments before saying, ‘Tell me about when you found him.’

‘It was around eleven thirty. I was doing my rounds and I checked in on Ivor. He was lying on the bed and looked asleep, but there was something wrong. I could sense it. So I went for a closer look. I knew before I touched him that he was dead.’

‘And you called the doctor?’

‘I did. Dr Liddell came shortly afterwards. He confirmed Ivor’s death and called for an ambulance.’

‘Did you mention your concerns to him?’

She shook her head. ‘I was in a state, to be truthful, but the more I thought about it . . .’ She shook her head again. ‘I’ve worked there for ten years and death is no stranger to the place. After all, it’s where people go to be cared for in the final years of their lives. But this felt wrong,’ she said. ‘Definitely wrong.’

As he drove back along the shore road, Erling decided his next move would be to talk to the retired Dr Stewart, who had known Ivor Mowat the longest. After that, it would be time to question Hugh Mowat as to the reason for the argument with his father on the night Ivor had died.

17

He drove a little away from Elspeth’s house before checking for messages, hoping Jo had had a reported sighting of Kris Mowat.

In this he was disappointed. There was a message, but not regarding Kris. Rather it was to say that Hugh Mowat had lodged an official complaint regarding the care home’s treatment of his father. He’d cited neglect and their failure to inform the doctor of Ivor’s mental and physical decline prior to his sudden death.