Chapter 37
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.
If such a thing were true, then that would go some way to explaining Ivor’s decision to denounce his family. To sell the croft behind their backs, to bring Kris back and leave everything to him.
It might also be the reason Kris had disappeared either voluntarily or otherwise.
Ivor had stated categorically to Cathy at the care home that he knew ‘who the bastard was’ who’d impregnated his granddaughter. Had he said the same thing to Hugh the night he died? Might he have accused Hugh of being Kris’s father?
Maybe that was what the argument that night had been about. If so, Ivor’s subsequent death would have been a godsend to the Mowats. Until, that is, Kris had turned up unannounced and unwelcome at the funeral.
He thought back to his meetings with Hugh Mowat.
In particular, the most recent interview.
Hugh hadn’t given anything away and had still been intent on pursuing his complaint against the care home.
Plus seemingly certain in his belief that his father had lost his wits in the run-up to his death, so was unfit to sell the family croft to Maitland without consulting his sons.
Ian Stewart, Ivor’s former GP, had dismissed any suggestion that Ivor’s mental faculties were compromised. Cathy and Elspeth at the care home agreed. As to Ivor’s physical health, it had been good until that fateful night.
So had the argument with Hugh triggered Ivor’s sudden death? Or had something else been responsible?
Ever since his talk with Dr Stewart, he’d been considering an exhumation.
In that moment, Erling decided that it should happen.
There had been no post-mortem to confirm the cause of Ivor’s death.
That there now should be was his current opinion and he had no doubt Dr Stewart would support him on that.
As for the rumour regarding Kris’s parentage, might the woman who’d felt compelled to speak to Jo know more about that? Or was she simply repeating a rumour? Of course, it could be proved true or false by a comparison of Kris’s DNA with that of Hugh and his brothers.
His thoughts now moved to Kris and Rachael. Were they hiding somewhere together? Or would Monday bring the fateful news that the body on the beach was Kris?
Then there was Ivor’s notebook to consider. Might it answer some or all of his questions?
With that thought in mind, he decided he would call Auld Mackie. Explain that they’d like his help with some notes Ivor had written in undecipherable longhand, learned no doubt when they were in school together.
Mackie was swift to answer, then listened in silence as Erling gave a brief explanation regarding the notebook.
‘So you opened Ivor’s box, then? I wondered when that would happen. Is that because Kris’s lass has gone missing too now?’ Mackie said, obviously already aware of the answer to his question.
Erling nodded. News had always travelled fast in Orkney, even back in the days when folk didn’t have a telephone. Now, with both a mobile and his home help, Yvanna, giving him the daily news, Mackie, he realized, was likely as up to date as himself.
‘Ivor’s notebook doesn’t appear to be a daily diary,’ Erling explained.
‘It’s more like a series of random memories, with a date attached.
One of these was about his twelve-year-old self meeting Stella.
Other entries are about more recent events.
Although they’re as undecipherable to me as hieroglyphics. ’
A heavy silence followed, before Mackie responded. ‘Aye, Miss Richen taught us the real writing at Orphir Primary. I can take a look for you, Inspector. See if I can make it out.’
Erling thanked him. ‘I’ll bring it round first thing tomorrow, together with DS Green, who’ll work with you on it.’
‘That’ll be grand, Inspector. I’ll see you both then.’
He tried Willie next, but the call went to voicemail, so he left a message asking Willie to call back as soon as he was able. He then checked to see if there was a message from Rory. There wasn’t, so he sent one saying he wasn’t certain when he’d manage to get back.
Rory had cooked enough beef stew for tonight’s meal, which he could warm up later, he thought, conscious even now how hungry he was.
Leaving the office, he went to check on the night team and found them together with DS Gowan in the meeting room. Standing by the open door, he listened as Gowan outlined his plan for tonight, including his intention to mingle with the punters inside the club.
‘I’m new to you all here in Kirkwall, except of course for DS Green,’ he added. ‘Who I’ve worked with before.’
There was no response to this, although Erling thought that the likely understanding among the team was that Jo hadn’t mentioned she was acquainted with DS Gowan.
Choosing at that point to enter, Erling gave the order to dismiss, requesting that DS Gowan should wait behind. Once alone, he decided it was time for the question to be asked.
‘DS Green has never mentioned you, Sergeant. Nor did she indicate she knew you when your name came up as the officer answering my request for back-up. Why do you think that is?’ he asked bluntly.
Gowan’s expression moved through surprise to concern, then dismay. ‘I have no idea, sir.’
‘Exactly how well did you know DS Green?’
Gowan gave a shrug. ‘Not well, sir. We’ve worked on a couple of teams together but not recently. Maybe that’s why she didn’t mention it.’
Erling knew he was lying. It was just too offhand and dismissive, as if Jo was a female he’d met briefly in passing. All of which suggested it had been more than that.
He recalled his sergeant’s reaction at the mention of Gowan’s name. How swiftly she’d tried to cover her distress. No. Gowan was someone she didn’t want to meet again for whatever reason. DS Gowan, on the other hand, had apparently volunteered for this assignment probably knowing she was here.
‘Right, Sergeant,’ he said. ‘Check in with me at regular intervals tonight. Also, Leo Strachan is due here any minute. The others know Leo and his fellow pastors, it’s important that you do too.’
He watched as a flicker of resentment crossed Gowan’s face.
‘I advise you to listen to what he has to say, Sergeant. I suspect we’ve had better results in Orkney than they’ve had on mainland Scotland because of Leo and his team.’
He’d given Leo a call just after his earlier conversation with Gowan. Gowan held rank over the other officers out on the streets tonight, so could tell them what to do. Not so with Strachan.
Despite his own misgivings about the pastor and his reasons for patrolling the Kirkwall streets, Erling knew that the young folk trusted him, especially the females, and he didn’t want that trust broken by Gowan.
It was at this precise moment that the pastor made his appearance. Catching sight of Gowan, Leo looked interested and welcoming. DS Gowan not so much.
Erling was suddenly reminded of his most recent meeting with DS McNab, who’d been ordered back to Orkney much against his will.
Having now made the introductions, Erling intimated that he would leave them to chat and reiterated that he wanted to be kept informed of tonight’s events as they occurred. Then he wished them good luck and left them to it.