Page 69 of The High Island

‘The patriarch of a local family died recently and the relatives are fighting over who gets the spoils.’

‘We’re used to dealing with gangland family disputes here in Glasgow. Didn’t think it was an Orkney problem.’

‘The only difference is in the accent,’ Erling told him.

‘Okay. Send your stuff through. I’ll see how Ollie’s placed to take a look,’ McNab told him.

Ringing off, Erling did as agreed, while wondering whether he should have mentioned that Rory had been the one who’d taken the photograph on Flotta. But why would he do that? What was the point? McNab had never used his knowledge of Rory’s true identity as either a bargaining chip or a threat. Despite the Glasgow detective’s bristly manner, and somewhat wayward methods of detection, Erling believed he never would.

Unless or until Rory crossed a line. Even as these words entered his brain, he knew it was him who worried about that, rather than McNab.

32

Having worked their way through those who’d been waiting for them at the fire station, Willie suggested they take the opportunity to check out their accommodation, and the site of the fire.

‘I posted the times you would be here to take statements, and the second slot is this evening, after folk finish work. You’ll likely get a younger contingent. Although some of the real youngsters here, as everywhere else, don’t like to be seen talking to the law. In that case they’re more likely to make an anonymous call to the fire station. I’ll take note of any such calls, while you’re away.’ He looked to Jo. ‘Was there anything useful in this morning’s lot?’

‘Maybe,’ Jo said cautiously, with a quick glance atPCTulloch, who nodded in agreement.

‘Good, because we want to get the bastard who started that fire. And find out what happened to the guy on the beach.’

Now back in the car, Ivan asked where Jo wanted to go first.

‘I’d like to check back at the fire site and maybe find a way down to the beach?’ she said.

Ivan nodded. ‘I think it will be good for folk to see the police car on the road. We can stop and talk to anyone we encounter on the way. I also have relatives over here. They’ll no doubt turn up somewhere at sometime.’ He checked his watch. ‘DSGowan should be getting picked up from Stromness about now. Wonder what he’ll be like?’

Jo nodded without comment.

‘Bringing someone in is always tricky,’ he said, ‘although theGlasgow detective worked out all right on the Skaill Bay case. I heardDSGowan volunteered to come.DSMcNab certainly didn’t do that. He hates to be anywhere outside Glasgow. Came here under duress. Seems there was also history between him and the boss,’ he added, with a sideways glance at Jo. ‘Before your time, of course. A murder out on Sanday.DSMcNab didn’t deal too well with the locals. Even got thrown over the wall and into the sea at the Kettletoft Inn.’

Now this was something Jo hadn’t heard, so she steered the conversation in that direction and away fromDSGowan, laughing at Ivan’s tale of a McNab out of his depth on the second-most northerly isle.

‘You like it here in Orkney, don’t you?’ Ivan suddenly asked.

‘I do,’ she answered honestly, while internally adding,so far.

They passed a few cars on the road, the third one of which honked at them and, by hand gestures, indicated that the driver wished to have a word. Drawing up at the side of the road, Ivan went over and got in the passenger seat.

From Jo’s viewpoint there appeared to be an animated conversation between them, before Ivan re-emerged and strode back to the car.

Jo waited while he settled himself back in the driver’s seat before asking what it had all been about.

‘Boy racers,’ Ivan told her. ‘Seems they’re using this road at night like a racetrack. He was keen to give me two registration numbers, which I took down. Then he had something more interesting to say.’

‘What was that?’

‘He’s seen a boat hanging about Lyrawa Bay on occasion. Thinks it moves between Cava and there.’

‘A dive boat?’ Jo tried.

‘He thought not. He knows the dive boats that operate in thearea. And apparently this one comes late at night. Mr Maine’s a star gazer. That’s how he spotted it.’

‘The boss wondered how the victim had arrived on the beach. From land or sea,’ she said.

Ivan nodded at that. ‘I gave Mr Maine our contact numbers and asked him to keep a record of when he sees the boat back there, and anything else he spots through his telescope. It has an inbuilt camera so he’ll try to take a photograph.’

‘Did he say anything about the fire?’