Page 92 of The High Island

‘As the night wore on, people began to emerge from the club to smoke, maybe cool down a bit, talk since it’s really noisy inside. A couple of girls came out, pretty drunk, propping one another up. One wanted to go home, with the other arguing not to. They sat down on the ground and seemed unable to get up again. I had a feeling more than drink was involved. I persuaded them to call a taxi. They did and headed off.’

He thought for a minute, before continuing. ‘A girl came out and was sick, then went back inside. A guy came out to talk on his phone. Clocked me and went back inside. It was late by then and the place was close to shutting, which is our busiest time, especially with the girls who need the flip-flops. I was busy with a few of them. Then—’ He halted there.

‘Then what?’ Erling said.

‘Shecame out.’ He stopped there, a look of anguish on his face.

‘Who?’ Erling demanded.

‘The girl in the harbour. I thought I hadn’t seen her before, because she was so wet and lifeless when we pulled her from the water, but I think I did now. She was with a guy who I didn’t recognize. He had her arm and was shouting something in her ear.’ He looked at Erling. ‘Then I was called away to a girl who’d fallen and hurt her knee. I was patching her up whenDSGowan appeared and called on me to follow him down the street to the harbour.’

‘Could you describe the male who was with her?’ Erling said.

‘He was at least six inches taller than the girl. Dark hair, shaved at the sides, longer on top. Mid to late twenties. Fit-looking. Had an accent.’

‘What accent?’

‘LikeDSGowan’s.’

‘He was a Liverpudlian?’ Erling checked.

‘I can’t be sure, but it sounded like it.’

At that moment there was a knock and the door opened to revealDSGowan.

‘Sorry to disturb you, sir, but there’s someone here who thinks they may know the victim?’ Gowan’s expression suggested he didn’t want to mention the name.

‘Okay, Sergeant, I’ll be right there.’

Waiting until the door was shut again, Erling thanked Leo for his time and his help.

‘I’ll get back to you if anything else comes up. Obviously if you recall anything more, just get in touch. And thank you for your help last night and today.’

Escorting Leo to the front door, he foundDSGowan waiting outside his office, indicating that whoever had arrived was in there.

Erling waited until he saw Leo walking across the car park before turning to Gowan.

‘Who is it?’ he asked quietly.

‘Hugh Mowat,’ Gowan said, obviously aware of the significance of the name.

Erling, shocked into silence, eventually found his voice. ‘Thank you, Sergeant, I’ll deal with this myself.’

Opening the door, he stood for a moment before he spoke.

‘Hugh,’ he said finally. ‘You wanted to speak to me?’

The figure rose from the seat and turned to face him. Erlingknew it was Hugh Mowat, although it didn’t look like him any more. He looked ill and old and frightened half to death.

‘Is it her? Is it my granddaughter, Eilidh?’

Erling gestured at him to sit down and, going round the desk, sat down too.

‘We haven’t identified the girl as yet. She had nothing on her person to help us do that. I didn’t recognize her. Neither did the ambulance crew. Or the officer and pastor that took her from the harbour.’

A small flicker of hope hovered on Hugh’s face for a moment. ‘Do you have a photo of the lass?’ he asked.

Erling had no wish to show him the photo of the face that was firmly embedded in his own memory. So he said, ‘Why do you think it might be Eilidh?’