Page 53 of The High Island

His next call was to Magnus, who immediately confirmed that he was keen to talk over what he’d discovered regarding Stella.

‘I’ve been in touch with Hoy Heritage regarding female personnel, both army and civilian, during the Second World War, and there are some possible Stellas in there.’

‘And I have anAI-generated image, just sent through from Dr Ruth Styles, of both mother and child,’ Erling told him.

‘You have?’ Magnus said, his tone becoming more sombre. ‘Can you share it with me and I’ll see if any of the women whose images Ihave might be a match?’ He hesitated at this point, before adding, ‘I take it you have an idea how the mother and baby may have died?’

When Erling told him what he’d learned from Colin, his explanation was met with a heavy silence.

‘Either way is awful,’ Magnus eventually responded. ‘And both warrant an explanation. If Stella hanged herself, who buried her body near the croft house, together with the child? If she was strangled, who killed her and buried both her and the boy?’

‘I’m increasingly of the mind that Ivor Mowat knew or at least suspected something had happened to his Stella.’ Erling detailed his thoughts on the secret sale of the house.

‘You believe Ivor was aware that once work began on the eco-house, Stella’s body would be discovered?’ Magnus said.

‘You’re the criminal psychologist,’ Erling reminded his friend. ‘What do you make of Ivor’s behaviour?’

‘I don’t work with many ninety-plus subjects, but I have met Ivor Mowat in the past. I suspect he did nothing without good reason,’ Magnus assured him.

‘Hugh plans to prove that his father had lost his wits before he died,’ Erling said.

Magnus laughed. ‘Good luck with that, is what I’d say to Hugh.’

‘You’re acquainted with Hugh Mowat?’

‘More so one of his nephews. Name of Max Mowat, son of Hugh’s brother Harald. I gave evidence in a drug trial in Aberdeen last month. Max Mowat was one of the defendants.’

Now that was interesting.

‘So this Max is one of Ivor’s grandchildren?’

‘He is, and has a son of his own, called Ragnar. I’ve put them on the updated family chart, which I’ll send over.’

‘Was he convicted of the drug offence?’ Erling asked.

‘No, he got off,’ Magnus said.

‘According to our local street pastor Leo Strachan, we have stronger drugs coming into Kirkwall. Likely some of the newer synthetic types.’

‘I’d believe him,’ Magnus said, ‘because they’re everywhere.’

Erling remembered something else he wanted to mention.

‘Maitland’s grandfather served on Hoy during the Second World War. According to him, Ivor read the piece Maitland wrote regarding his grandfather inThe Orcadian, which prompted Ivor to contact Maitland and offer him the Mowat land to build on. Maybe his grandfather was billeted in or near Lyrawa Bay. It appears Maitland’s grandmother was from Hoy.’

‘I’ll definitely follow up on that,’ Magnus told him.

They rang off then, with Magnus promising to keep in touch regarding the images.

Having forwarded the Stella files, Erling went to check on the roster of who was scheduled to police the town centre over the weekend. Then he called Leo Strachan to tell him more officers would be on duty.

‘Not in uniform, I hope?’ Leo said.

Erling listened as Leo explained his concern about this. ‘We’re generally trusted. That’s why we can do our job. If a sudden influx of uniforms appears, it’ll look like we’ve been blabbing to the police. The dealers will go to ground and the buyers will boycott us.’

‘Then we’ll provide plain-clothes officers,’ Erling said, thinking that could be a job forDSGowan, tomorrow night at least.DSGowan was an unknown person in Kirkwall, and in Orkney in general, which could prove useful.

Leo came back in then. ‘Are you just acting on my concerns or have you had a lead on what new drugs are coming in and where?’ he asked.