Page 14 of The High Island

Having discussed the arrangements for the transfer of the bodies to the mortuary in Glasgow, he headed out to the car.

Jo’s call came as he started the engine.

‘Sorry, sir, but Mr Maitland and Ms Barrett are here and insist on speaking only to you,’ Jo said in an exasperated manner.

‘I’ve just finished with the Prof,’ he said. ‘I’ll be with you shortly.’

Erling could hear the relief in Jo’s response to that.

So the couple from last night were as irritating in person as they had been on the phone, he thought.

Heading for the station, he reminded himself that said couple had bought a piece of land on which to build their dream house. Only to have the first machine to arrive on site unearth the grave of a possible murder victim.

He wouldn’t have been very happy with that state of affairs either.

‘They’ve been installed in an interview room,’ Jo told him, her expression reflecting how well that had gone down. ‘It was the only space available,’ she said, ‘apart from your office, and I didn’t think you’d want that.’

‘You were right,’ Erling told her. ‘Anything back from Hugh Mowat?’

‘He offered to come in to see you late afternoon. I said yes. Hope that’s okay?’ she added.

‘Late afternoon is fine. Any luck finding Kris Mowat?’

‘He and his partner are staying at the Stromness Hotel. The reading of the will is this Friday morning.’

‘Okay. We’ll head there directly after I talk to Maitland.’

Arriving at the interview room, Erling steeled himself before entering. The usual stiff greetings followed, after which he took a seat opposite them, noting the full coffee mugs and plate of biscuits.

‘When can I access my land?’ Maitland said, on a nod from Ms Barrett.

‘Just as soon as we’re finished with it.’

‘And that will be when exactly?’ the woman asked sharply. ‘We have a crew of men waiting to begin work on the site.’

Erling eased back in the chair and exhaled. ‘The bodies of a young woman and we assume her child were found buried next to the remains of the old Mowat croft house. There is a possibility she may have been murdered,’ he said.

The term ‘murdered’ wasn’t what either of them wanted to hear, which was why he’d used it.

‘Murdered?’ Maitland repeated. ‘But I thought it was an archaeological find?’

‘It may turn out to be that. Nevertheless, we wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t deal properly with an unmarked grave and its contents.’

‘But I understand you have already retrieved the bodies?’ the woman said.

‘The surrounding area also needs to be examined,’ Erling said as pleasantly as possible. ‘We have a team there now.’

‘How long will that take?’ Maitland tried. ‘We have workers due to arrive together with the materials. The ground should have been cleared by now to allow us to lay the foundations.’

‘I can assure you we will work as swiftly as we can,’ Erling said. ‘Now, I require some information regarding the land you purchased.’

‘Why?’ the woman demanded. ‘It was a private sale.’

Maitland shot her a look before saying, ‘Of course, Inspector, anything we can do to help.’

‘When did you purchase it and from whom?’ Erling said.

‘I purchased it from Mr Ivor Mowat, its owner, two months ago.’