Page 99 of The High Island

Signalling toDSGowan to remain silent, Erling waited, sensing this might be the moment of reckoning.

Eventually Hugh drew himself up.

‘My father found out what was happening. He knew that Harald, using Mowat money, was behind the drug trade into Kirkwall from Aberdeen. I told him I would stop it. He didn’t believe me. We argued. He said that I was incapable of controlling Harald and that he would leave everything to Kris.’

‘That was the argument Cathy overheard at St Magnus House?’ Erling said.

‘Yes.’

‘And Ivor was alive when you left him?’

Hugh looked shocked. ‘Of course he was. I would never have hurt my father.’

‘And what about Kris Mowat?’ Erling said.

Hugh met his eye. ‘I don’t know where he is,’ he said firmly. ‘Although, if I know my father, he would have warned Kris about what he would face here from the family.’

‘And Harald?’ Erling said. ‘Was he aware of Ivor’s plans for Kris?’

‘I only told Harald that Ivor wanted the drugs business to end—’ He hesitated. ‘I didn’t mention Kris.’

‘So when Kris turned up at the funeral . . .’ Erling began for him.

‘Harald saw him and realized who he might be.’ Hugh paused again. ‘Kris looks a lot like Betty.’

‘And Harald?’ Erling said quietly. ‘Does Kris look like his father?’

A deafening silence followed this and Erling heard a deep intake of breath fromDSGowan beside him.

When a stunned Hugh failed to answer, Erling continued. ‘Ivor told the two ladies at the care home that he knew who “the bastard” was who made Betty pregnant. He then wrote it in the notebook he kept in the deed box. Harald raped Betty. She became pregnant and, unable to confide in anyone about this, left Hoy.’

Hugh was a man turned to stone, then his expression twisted inhorror. ‘Harald is Kris’s father?’ He said this almost to himself, as though this revelation might answer other questions.

‘It appears Kris turning up here was a threat to Harald in more ways than one,’ Erling continued. ‘Did Harald threaten Kris? Maybe at the wake?’

‘No,’ Hugh said. ‘And he maintains he has done nothing since. Although he will of course fight any claim to the family business that Kris might make in court.’

‘And you believe Harald when he says he hasn’t harmed Kris?’ Erling demanded.

Hugh was trying to gather himself. ‘I think Kris took Ivor’s advice and went into hiding. The girl too. I think Harald’s likely looking for him, just as you are.’

‘So who is the body on the beach?’ Erling said.

‘My guess is it’s one of the Liverpool mob. Or someone who crossed them. To show us what happens when you do that.’ He looked frightened by his own words.

‘You think Eilidh crossed these people?’ Erling said quietly.

‘Or she stood up to them.’ Hugh shook his head, as though in despair.

‘Is there something about Eilidh and all this you’re not telling me?’ Erling checked.

Hugh appeared to be wrestling with himself, before finally blurting out, ‘It’s my fault she’s dead. I told her about the drugs coming into Kirkwall. I said Ragnar could be implicated and things were going bad with a gang from down south. That the police were involved.’

It was an explanation for Eilidh coming to Kirkwall, despite her mother’s order to the contrary. Maybe she wanted to warn Ragnar, or maybe the man seen with her was warning her to keep out of it. Whatever happened, it had resulted in her death.

At this point,DSGowan chose to remind Hugh of what he’d said earlier about Ivor.

‘You said you believe Ivor told Kris to go into hiding for his own safety. But Kris didn’t know Orkney. This was to be his first time here. Ivor would surely have advised him where he might go?’