‘Yes, we heard about that.’ Peter stooped over the table to pour coffee, and Perez couldn’t tell what he thought about missing out on the chance to be a grandfather. ‘Not directly from Evie, but through other people, as one does in Shetland. Word always gets out.’

‘She didn’t tell Jerry that she’d had a miscarriage?’ Perez thought it was odd that the news hadn’t come through their son.

‘I don’t think they were communicating much at that stage. She had been very much in love with him, you know. She was young and it hurt her when things didn’t turn out as she’d hoped.’

‘She was stupid,’ Maria said. ‘She should have realized that Jerry would want someone more interesting than her for a long-term relationship. She’d spent all her life on Fetlar. What would he see in her?’

‘Oh.’ Peter stroked the back of his wife’s hand, an attempt perhaps to calm her, to prevent her speaking of the girl so unkindly. ‘She was a pretty little thing. I could definitely see the attraction. But she could have had nothing to do with Jerry’s death. She’d moved on. Francis told me that she’s about to be married. Her husband-to-be is a seaman, older than her. He’s a pilot at Sullom Voe. A good man, according to Francis.’

‘Jerry had moved on too,’ Maria said. ‘He was doing brilliantly in London, Jimmy. His editor said he was the best reporter she’d ever worked with.’

Perez wondered if that was true. ‘Where was Jerry yesterday?’ he asked.

‘I told your sergeant that. He was at the oil terminal, chasing some big story.’

‘And did you know the name of Evie’s fiancé?’ Perez supposed it was a coincidence, Jerry Markham heading off to Sullom Voe, which was close to where the girl’s new man worked, but it would have to be checked.

‘He’s called Henderson,’ Markham said. ‘John Henderson.’

Perez made his apologies for disturbing them and went, leaving his coffee untouched. The other questions could wait. It wasn’t his case, after all. Halfway up the bank towards his house he paused and looked out to the sea. He had reasonable phone reception in this spot. A hundred yards on he’d lose it again. He called Sandy, his hands trembling a little as he hit the buttons. He asked what they’d planned for the afternoon, then wondered if he might join Sandy and the inspector from Inverness at the terminal, just to sit in on interviews. If he wouldn’t be in the way.

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten