Page 82 of The High Island

‘How could you tell that from what I just said?’

‘Because I know you.’ Rory gave a small laugh. ‘For some reason you don’t trust this temporary recruit. Want to tell me why?’

Erling definitely didn’t want to do that, so he mumbled something about a fish out of water.

Perhaps guessing his reluctance, Rory changed the subject. ‘I’m pretty tired, so if you have to stay a while, I’ll eat and head for bed.’

Erling had been going to suggest he do just that, but Rory had beaten him to it, which worried him a little. Why, exactly, he didn’t know.

‘Right, see you in the morning,’ he said, while silently reminding himself that he planned to take an early ferry from Houton to Lyness.

An hour later into the night, with no identifiable problems, Erling decided that he would in fact head home for food and a sleep before his early trip to Hoy tomorrow.

Jo hadn’t called him, which likely meant that nothing of interest had happened on her scouting trip to Cava. She was probably back now at Maggie’s guest house, well fed and asleep. Both things he craved himself.

Tucking Ivor’s diary back in the evidence bag, he took it with him, in preparation for Auld Mackie tomorrow.

Telling the night sergeant he was off for some shut-eye, he confirmed that he should be contacted right away if anything did go down tonight in Kirkwall. Then he headed for the car and the drive back to Orphir.

It was shortly before midnight when, on passing Houton Bay, he spotted the lights of Seaview still on, despite the late hour. Magnus, he knew, could be a night owl when he was working on something. Curious as to what had kept his friend up so late, he decided to give him a call in the morning to check on where he was on identifying the elusive Stella.

Reaching Langwell, he found it in darkness, while along the road he noted that Auld Mackie’s lights were still on.Another night owl, he thought.

Entering the kitchen as quietly as he could, he caught a meaty smell and realized that Rory had left the slow cooker on low, ready for his return. Removing the lid, he breathed in the wondrous scent of second-day stew. Even tastier than day one.

Spooning two ladles’ worth onto his waiting plate, he ignored the open bottle of red wine and waiting glass and switched on the kettle instead. He couldn’t yet shake off the possibility that he might have to return to Kirkwall.

Then Erling sat down to enjoy his late meal.

He was about to have a second helping when his phone vibrated in his pocket. Discarding the ladle, he swiftly answered. It wasPCTulloch.

‘Sorry to disturb you, sir,’ he said, ‘butDSGreen’s still not returned from her trip to Cava and I can’t reach her on her mobile.’

‘Is there likely to be a signal where she was going?’ Erling checked.

‘I was assuming she might be out of range. So I’ve come down to the harbour to check and theAngel Heart, that’s Ethan’s boat, isn’t here, so they must have gone out as planned, but that was nearly five hours ago, sir.’

Erling was beginning to share his constable’s concern. The question was, did he make an incident of it now or await developments? Jo was a good and reliable officer. And Ethan Howie was skilled in dealing with Scapa Flow in all weathers.

‘Has there been a call-out to the coastguard?’ he asked.

‘No, I checked that, sir.’

‘Then that suggests theAngel Hearthasn’t got into trouble, but they’re perhaps just delayed in their return.’

‘Yes, sir.’PCTulloch waited.

Erling wondered if they’d gone ashore on Cava, then found themselves without a signal. He could call out the police launch, but it was moored on the north side of Mainland and would take a while to get here. There was also the coastguard.

He thought then of an alternative. He’d been out in Magnus’s boatSeawolfdozens of times. Swift and reliable, it would reach Cava far quicker than calling out the police launch would achieve. If they couldn’t locate theAngel Heart, then he would alert the coastguard.

‘Remain at the harbour and keep trying Jo’s number,’ he told Tulloch. ‘I’ll make arrangements to come over myself, just earlier than expected. How did your other business go tonight?’ he checked.

‘According to my source, sir, there’s a shipment of drugs due to arrive from Aberdeen. How it’s getting here and where the delivery spot is, he couldn’t tell me, but . . .’ He hesitated.

‘You think there might be a chance it involves the boat that’s been seen off Cava?’ Erling finished for him.

‘Yes, sir.’