Page 77 of The High Island

‘If this is true,’ he said, ‘it’s no wonder the lass left Hoy.’ He muttered an expletive under his breath. ‘If Ivor found this out, that might begin to explain his fury at his family.’

‘D’you think that could have been what Ivor and Hugh were arguing about the night he died?’ Jo suggested.

‘Maybe,’ Ivan said. ‘The boss needs to know about this. It might well be a vicious rumour, but if it is true then the whole business of the Mowat clan, Ivor and Kris is about to unravel.’

She dropped Ivan back at Maggie’s, then made the call to Erling, her heart rate speeding up, because surely by now Gus would have spoken about her to the boss?

Erling answered promptly. ‘Jo, good to hear from you. How are things on Hoy?’

‘There have been some developments,’ she said, deciding to lead with Ethan Howie and his boat story first.

‘And what he says about this boat matches Tom Maine’s sighting?’ Erling immediately said.

‘It does,’ she confirmed, going on to explain about Ethan’s offer to take her to Cava tonight. ‘I told him we could use the police launch to investigate and he suggested that would be a mistake.’

‘He’s right about that,’ Erling said, before listening to her explanation of how Ivan had a clandestine meeting with a Flotta relative who he hoped would have some information regarding Kris.

Silence followed before Erling asked if she was willing to go alone. ‘I know Ethan the ferryman. Not well, but enough to be certain he means you no harm. If you’re okay about going, then I’d take up his offer.’

‘Right, sir.’ She hesitated.

‘There’s something else, Sergeant?’

‘There is, sir.’ Jo took a deep breath before continuing. ‘During the interviews this morning, an elderly woman told me that Betty was raped by one of her uncles. Which, if true, means Kris Mowat’s father is one of Ivor’s sons.’

After a stunned silence that seemed to last for ever, the boss came back with, ‘The woman’s name?’

‘She wouldn’t give her name,’ Jo said. ‘She appeared frightened and she didn’t want anyone else in the place to hear what she had to say. In the end, she wrote it on my notepad.’

Silence followed again, before Erling said, ‘I’ll have a word with Willie Halcro. He’ll likely know who she is. If this is true, it might account for the argument Cathy overheard between Ivor and Hugh the night he died. Well done, Detective Sergeant. I knew you and Ivan Tulloch would make a good team.’

Pleased and relieved at how the call had gone, Jo was about to say her goodbyes when Erling asked her to wait. There was something else that they needed to discuss.

A sliver of fear now arrived. Would this be the moment he would mentionDSGowan and ask her why she had lied about knowing him?

‘I want you back here tomorrow, Sergeant. First thing.’

Gathering her wits, she said, ‘Right, sir, may I ask why?’

Trying to control her dread at this sudden command, she listened to the story of the opening of the deed box. Of its contents, more especially the notebook, the writing inside and his wish that she be the one to work with Auld Mackie to decipher it.

Realizing that he was waiting for her to acknowledge the order, she found her voice at last.

‘Of course, sir. I’d be happy to help with that.’

‘Good. No need for you to come into the station,’ he added firmly. ‘I’ll pick you up at Houton and take you to Mackie’s place myself.’

Relief now swept over her, because despite being back on Mainland, she wouldn’t have to face Gus Gowan just yet. Then a thought occurred. Was that whatDIFlett had intended?

‘And, Sergeant, call me after your trip to Cava. Let me know what you find, if anything.’

Confirming this, Jo rang off, then headed for Lyness and theAngel Heart.

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Erling stared into the near distance, his brain attempting to analyse what Jo had just told him regarding Kris’s possible parentage.

Ivor had five sons: Hugh, Albert, Harald, Cameron and James, Betty’s deceased father. The accusation had been levelled at one of Betty’s four uncles.