Page 38 of The High Island

‘Thank you, Sergeant,’ he responded. ‘The description Rachael gave of Kris when she last saw him. Was there anything mentioned in the way of jewellery, piercings, tattoos and clothing?’

‘I need to check my notes,’ Jo said.

‘Okay, Sergeant. You do that and come back. Who phoned this in?’ he added as she moved to leave.

‘It was Willie Halcro, sir. He said to call him back. That’s why I was trying to reach you.’

‘Right. Thank you. I’ll do that now.’

The formality of their interchange, he knew, was being used to shield them from the horror of the news. Horror at any reported loss of life, but especially if it turned out to be that of Kris Mowat.

When Jo left the room, Erling moved to the seat behind the desk and sank into it, amazed that his legs had continued to hold him up.

It was as though his thoughts on the way here had been preparing him for this moment. A moment he had been trying hard not to think about as he’d focused on how they might help Rachael until such time as they could locate Kris.

Composing himself, he brought up Willie’s number.

The resulting call rang twice before the familiar voice answered.

‘Erling, I’m sorry to be the bearer of such sad tidings,’ Willie said.

‘You think it’s Kris Mowat?’ Erling immediately asked.

‘As I said to your sergeant, the victim was badly burnt about the head and upper body, so not recognizable, but . . .’

‘You think he was maybe caught up in the hill fire?’ Erling said.

‘If he was, I don’t see how he could have ended up in the water at Lyrawa Bay,’ Willie told him. ‘I take it there’s been no notice of a ship fire in Scapa Flow? Or anyone gone overboard?’ he added.

‘There hasn’t,’ Erling confirmed. ‘And just one person reported missing, and that’s Kris Mowat. How long has the body been in the water?’

‘Not long,’ Willie said. ‘But a post-mortem will tell you that and the nature of the burns, and maybe much else besides.’

‘What about any obvious identifiable marks? Any jewellery, piercings, tattoos? And clothing? What was he wearing?’

‘The coverings were mostly fire-damaged. No jewellery as far as I could see, although I didn’t move the body. The tide had brought it half onto the sand, face down.’ He stopped there. ‘I called the coastguard first. They contacted the launch. Then I called the station.’

‘Has the launch picked up the body?’

‘Yes, it’s on its way to the hospital now. I did take some photos with my mobile. I’ll send them through to you.’

‘Thanks, Willie. And can I ask how you found out about the body?’

‘An anonymous call to the fire station. Muffled male voice.’

Erling thanked him again then rang off, waiting for the ping of the incoming images, desperate to view them, yet worried at what he might see.

When they arrived, he decided to transfer them to his laptop sothat he and Jo might check them together. He was doing this when his sergeant reappeared.

‘Most of what I took down from Rachael was in the description we circulated,’ she told him. ‘But she did mention a body tattoo, not in plain sight. Also, he was wearing a black ring on the index finger of his left hand. And a black leather band on the left wrist. I’ve sent my notes to your mobile.’

‘Right, let’s take a look at the photographs Willie sent through.’

He turned the laptop and came round the desk to join her.

The first photo was taken from a distance, as though Willie had begun as soon as the body became visible. Then a selection of shots as he got closer. The body, as he’d said, lay face down on the sand, the already retreating tide abandoning him. Had he been lying on the beach when the tide came in or had the tide brought him there?

Closer now, Willie had started to record a video, slowly moving round the inert figure, capturing close-ups as he went.