Page 63 of The High Island

‘Ms Everett hasn’t come back,’ came the answer to his question. ‘And no one else has come looking for her.’

‘When do you finish?’ Erling checked.

‘Eight thirty, when Gail arrives.’

‘Okay, I’m about to speak to one of mySOCOteam. Warn Gail there should be someone with her shortly to work on the room and collect copies of the security footage.’

Hanging up, he now called Eleanor Gilmore, his chiefSOCO, who was definitely awake as evidenced by her swift response.

‘Hey boss, what’s up?’

‘I was about to apologize in case I woke you,’ Erling said.

‘I’ve already been out on my morning run,’ she told him with a laugh.

‘So you won’t mind a trip to the Stromness Hotel?’ he said.

‘Why?’ she answered, her tone turning sombre.

Erling gave her a swift résumé of the previous night’s proceedings.

‘God. I’d heard the news about Rachael’s appearance at the willreading and was nursing the hope that Kris Mowat was about to resurface,’ she told him.

Erling acknowledged this before saying, ‘No one, other than myself andDSGreen, has been in the room since Rachael left the hotel with a hooded man. And I’m pretty sure the guy used the toilet while in the room with her.’

‘Right, we’ll collect whatever we can,’ she assured him.

‘Plus take possession of the security footage we watched last night. Gail, the receptionist, knows the drill. And keep in touch,’ Erling told her. ‘If there’s anything, however small, I want to know about it.’

Swallowing some of the coffee Rory had left in the pot for him, Erling grabbed one of the fresh bannocks and headed out to the car. The first sailing from Houton was soon. If he was quick, he might just catch Jo andPCTulloch before they left for Longhope.

The pleasant sunrise he’d experienced earlier had developed into a bright but blustery morning. Noting the white horses as he drove down to the pier, Erling wondered how rough the crossing might be. Ivan Tulloch, coming from Sanday, was well able to deal with rough water. As for his detective sergeant, he remembered she’d crossed to Rousay in poor weather on their last case and had coped okay.

His mind then switched to Rory. Would he go out on the dive despite the choppy conditions? Doubtless he would. If your workrequired you to deep dive in the wild waters of the North Sea, then today’s Scapa Flow would hold no cause for concern on Rory’s part. Or his own, had he been able to go with him. Putting that regret to the back of his mind, Erling parked up and, exiting the car, made for the police vehicle that was already in the queue to board.

‘All set?’ he said as Jo lowered the window.

‘We are, aren’t we,PCTulloch?’ she said, nodding to Ivan. ‘I’ve learned a lot about Hoy already,’ she added with a smile, before asking whether there had been an update from the Stromness Hotel.

‘I spoke to Derek, the night porter. He says Rachael didn’t return last night,’ he told her. ‘There’s aSOCOteam on their way there shortly to examine the room.’ He changed the subject. ‘Let me know when you’re all set up at Longhope. I get the impression from Willie Halcro that there are quite a few folk keen to talk to you. Including Willie himself.’

‘PCTulloch has relatives on Hoy,’ Jo told him. ‘And on Flotta and Longhope,’ she added.

‘You’re in good hands, then. Look afterDSGreen,’ Erling told a serious-looking Tulloch.

‘I will, sir,’ Tulloch assured him.

He didn’t wait for the ferry departure, but headed to his car and set off for Kirkwall.

He’d scheduled a meeting for nine o’clock with the remainder of his team to be brought up to date on developments. Having ordered the forensic team to the Stromness Hotel, he fully expected everyone at the station to be already aware of Rachael’s disappearance. And likely as worried by it as he was.

But there were other aspects of the case to be discussed and acted upon. If the team had confirmed Kris Mowat’s identity, then the Pandora’s box destined for Kris from Ivor could be opened.

He’d also decided that Hugh Mowat had some serious questions to answer about his father Ivor and the night he had died. Added to that, the police needed to examine Ivor’s laptop, phone and anything else released to Hugh on his father’s death.

Reaching his office, his first call was to Balfour Legal Services to leave a message informing Eddie of Rachael’s disappearance. His next was to Cathy McCue. Cathy was one of the last people to see Ivor alive, and also likely to know what had been handed over to Hugh Mowat after Ivor’s death.

Despite the early timing of the call, it was swiftly answered. Listening to his request for information about Ivor’s belongings, Cathy told him she would send over the official list.