Page 45 of The High Island

The answer was as he’d expected. Scattered sightings of Kris across Mainland, which when followed up had proven to be someone else entirely. As for the vehicle, it seemed to have vanished, which didn’t please the rental company.

The talk then moved on to other issues currently being dealt with, which consisted mainly of drunk-driving incidents and minor assaults. Then the upcoming cases in Kirkwall Sheriff Court, which would involve some of his officers having to give evidence, further depleting the team.

At this point, Erling inwardly decided to request help from Highland Division with respect to what he was certain would turn out to be a murder investigation.

Without voicing this, he addressed the final topic, which had been raised with him recently by the street pastor.

‘Leo Strachan is convinced that a supply of stronger drugs is finding its way into Orkney, based on his observations of the weekend clubbers. How and where they’re entering or who is supplying them, he couldn’t say. Bearing this in mind and with the weekendupon us, I believe we require a bigger presence out on the streets of Kirkwall for the next couple of nights.’

There were some groans at this, although eventually a few hands went up. Erling askedDSGreen to finish up here and took himself down to his office to make the next set of necessary calls.

His first was to Willie Halcro. Having decided that they required a temporary police presence on Hoy, he wanted to ask for Willie’s aid in setting that up. Considering their last sighting of Kris had been there, and now the discovery of the body, Hoy appeared to be at the centre of the investigation, for the moment anyway.

They settled on a location for interviews to be taken by himself andDSGreen withPCTulloch, who was great with the locals here and, Erling suspected, on every other island in the archipelago.

That organized, he made his call to the Scottish mainland and, having explained his dilemma, was rewarded with the promise of aDSto aid in their enquiry. The supporting officer would be on the ferry to Stromness first thing tomorrow morning.

Conscious now of the time, Erling resolved to explain his plans to bothDSGreen andPCTulloch on his return from the reading of the will.

But before he left, he went by the evidence store and, booking out Ivor’s box, took it with him.

20

Eddie’s office was in an old bank building in the centre of town. Approaching on foot, Erling wondered how many folk were aware of the timing or significance of the meeting that was about to take place in the double-storey stone edifice within view of the cathedral.

He’d said a few good mornings on the short walk from the station, so his movements through the town had been noted. But there was no one hanging around outside the offices of Balfour Legal Services when he arrived fifteen minutes before the allotted time.

Pressing the buzzer, he gave his name and the door was opened.

Climbing the stairs to the first floor, he found the reception desk unattended and Eddie’s door ajar.

‘Come on in,’ Eddie’s voice ordered.

Eddie Balfour wasn’t a man who was easily rattled, but judging by his tone and expression, he was today.

‘Has something happened?’ Erling immediately asked.

‘No, but I have a feeling it’s about to,’ Eddie admitted. ‘I must say, I’m relieved to have you here.’

At this, Erling placed the small metal box on the table. ‘Ivor left this box for Kris, in the care of Elspeth and Cathy at St Magnus House. I haven’t looked inside it as yet, but depending on what happens here today, that might prove necessary.’

Eddie looked intrigued. ‘Ivor was a wily old bugger. D’you think he foresaw what might happen if he died?’

‘I wondered that myself. Or he just liked to stir things up,’ Erling added. ‘I take it you’ve heard nothing from Kris Mowat?’

‘Nothing,’ Eddie confirmed.

‘Last time I spoke to Hugh in person, I asked him to have the family put out the word on Kris going missing.’

‘And you think he did that?’ Eddie said.

‘My fear is that the word that went out was more likely a warning to Kris not to reappear, in particular on this occasion.’

‘Maybe that was why Ivor had the codicil added stating that the will couldn’t be read out unless his great-grandson was present.’

At this moment, the buzzer sounded.

‘You’ll have noticed that Sandra, my receptionist, isn’t in the building,’ Eddie said. ‘I wanted to spare her what I fear we’re about to witness.’