‘Advent course?’ Now Willow couldn’t help interrupting. She felt a nerve in her ankle twitching. She’d been sitting still for too long.

‘For people looking for answers,’ Annabel said. ‘An introduction to the spiritual life.’

‘And Jerry was running a story about it?’

‘No!’ Annabel smiled. ‘He was one of the participants. At first he couldn’t take us seriously. I could tell. He was there for a joke or a bet. Or perhaps for a story. Yes, perhaps that’s why he turned up that cold December day. Or because it was raining and at least there’d be some shelter and lunch and coffee. But in fact, of course, he was sent to us. He needed to be there.’

Oh, shit, she’s a God-botherer! Another. As if there aren’t enough already in this case. Willow’s parents had been Buddhists in a vague, undemanding way, and she’d rejected all ideas of the supernatural before leaving school, had become an aggressive atheist. Another form of rebellion.

Annabel continued to speak. ‘He fought it of course. People often do. But that made it even more wonderful when he finally let the Lord into his life. He’d been so certain, so antagonistic, and then all the barriers were down. It was a privilege to be a part of the process.’

‘And now he’s dead.’ Willow couldn’t help herself.

‘And now he’s dead,’ Annabel agreed seriously. ‘Faith isn’t always an easy path.’

‘You think he was killed because he was a Christian?’ Willow made no attempt to keep the incredulity from her voice. In her head she had an image of Annabel at worship: a congregation of like-minded deluded souls, eyes half-closed, waving their arms in the air. Mad as snakes, but hardly a threat, hardly likely to provoke violence, just extreme irritation. She wondered if the girl’s father was a church member too. Willow found it hard to imagine. Richard Grey seemed too sophisticated to be part of that scene.

‘Jerry was committed to fighting evil.’ The woman’s voice was firm. ‘And that takes courage.’ She looked to her father for support and, although he nodded gravely, Willow thought the reaction was automatic. He didn’t share his daughter’s faith.

Perez broke in before Willow had a chance to speak again. ‘Was there a specific example of evil? I mean, a specific reason for Jerry visiting Shetland so soon after his conversion?’

It occurred to Willow that Perez might well be a God-botherer too. In these northern islands superstition would be rife.