Chapter 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.’
Having released the front door, they listened as the sound of heavy footsteps hit the stairs.
‘I’ll usher them into the main room,’ Eddie said. ‘I suggest you wait here until they’re all assembled, then come in yourself.’
Erling tried to count the footfalls passing Eddie’s office, but could only surmise that it was quite a few.
Having not yet consulted with Magnus as to the full family tree, he had no idea how many Mowats there were in total.
However, the heaviness of the footsteps suggested that the majority of the arrivals were male.
Unless the females of the family had taken to wearing Doc Martens.
When the stairs fell silent and a mere murmur came from the main room, Erling ventured along the corridor.
Via the open door, he could see a fair portion of the assembled clan, seated in rows. Hugh was in the front and next to him were his three brothers. First was a very belligerent-looking Harald, then Albert, then Cameron.
So Harald sees himself as second in line to the throne, Erling thought, despite the fact that Albert was next to Hugh in age.
Behind them were the younger males, including the final two who had been carrying the coffin.
So the funeral cortège team were all present and correct, and seemingly as angry and determined as they’d been in the cathedral, Erling thought.
No females were present as far as he could see. Perhaps they’d either chosen to stay away or the family business lay in the hands of the males only.
‘Come in, Detective Inspector Flett.’
At Eddie’s command, all eyes turned to the door in surprise. The first ones to meet Erling’s were those of Hugh Mowat, where astonishment was swiftly replaced by anger as he rose to his feet.
‘This is a private reading of our late father’s will,’ he said directly to Eddie.
‘In view of the fact that the youngest member of the family is reported missing, I deemed it necessary that DI Flett should be here,’ Eddie said firmly.
Hugh was about to argue when Eddie came back in. ‘Also, Ivor left strict instructions that the will should not be read out without his great-grandson Kris being present.’
This announcement was followed by a babble of angry voices.
Harald now rose to join Hugh, but whatever he was about to say was suddenly interrupted by the buzzer indicating that someone else required entry.
As all surprised eyes turned towards Eddie, he pressed the switch allowing the front door to be released.
Whoever it was chose not to state their name, but immediately entered and began climbing the stairs.
Erling and Eddie exchanged glances. Might this be Kris? Erling found himself elated at the thought, while also concerned about what might be the outcome of his arrival.
He’d shut the door to the corridor on his own entry to the meeting room, and he went to open it for the visitor. Silence reigned in the room as all eyes fixed on the now-open doorway.
Erling, however, focused his gaze on both Hugh and Harald Mowat. If either brother believed or in fact knew Kris to be already dead, would that be obvious from their expressions?
Hugh’s face gave nothing away, while Harald’s remained furious. As for the other members of the family, theirs were a mixture of bafflement, surprise and anger.
Then a figure appeared in the doorway and stepped into the room.
Erling’s heart leapt in his chest.
Rachael, looking frightened but determined, cast her eyes around the room of bemused males before alighting on him. Her surprise at his presence was only matched by her obvious delight.
‘Detective Inspector Flett. I didn’t know you would be here,’ she said.
Hugh Mowat had found his voice. ‘Who the hell are you?’ he demanded.
Rachael returned Hugh’s angry gaze seemingly without flinching. ‘I am Rachael Everett. Kris’s partner,’ she said quietly. ‘And I’m here to represent Kris at the reading of his great-grandfather’s will.’
The pregnant silence that followed her announcement now gave birth to mayhem as the men all started shouting at once, either in Rachael’s direction, or at Hugh, or Eddie.
It was Erling’s barked order that eventually brought this to an end. He turned to Eddie. ‘What is the legal procedure in such a situation?’
‘I’d like to speak alone with Miss Everett in the first instance,’ Eddie said.
Hugh didn’t much like that suggestion and immediately said, ‘As Ivor’s eldest son, I insist I be present at that meeting.’
Rachael’s intervention at this point was perhaps the biggest shock of all. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out an envelope.
‘This is a letter for you, Mr Balfour, from Kris, giving his permission for me to be here in his stead.’
At this, Erling decided that the best plan would be for him to marshal Eddie, Rachael and Hugh from the room.
Once they were inside Eddie’s office, he told Eddie to await his return before opening the envelope, then went back to the ruckus in the meeting room and commanded them all to take a seat and remain silent.
‘If you cannot do this, then I suggest you leave now or you will be taken to Kirkwall police station where you will be charged with a breach of the peace.’
Had the looks now being thrown at him been knives, he would have already expired in a bloody heap on the floor. But silence followed his threat, so he was content with that.
Although, to show his warning was not without teeth, he made a call to the station and ordered that an officer report immediately to the offices of Balfour Legal Services and stand guard at the entrance until further notice.
After which Erling joined the others in Eddie’s office.