When they arrived Perez put cheese and oatcakes on the table. He found that he was nervous. He’d lost the habit of entertaining and wasn’t quite sure what he should do. And he couldn’t forget how he’d felt about the Uist woman in the Lerwick house. It hadn’t been her fault, he supposed, but he found himself blaming her for what had felt almost like adultery. He realized he’d forgotten small plates for them and saw that his hand was trembling when he lifted the crockery from the cupboard.

Willow Reeves made herself quite at home. He’d lit a fire when he and Cassie had arrived back from her father’s house, because it was still only April and the evenings were cold. Willow sat on a kitchen chair in front of it and stretched out her long legs across the sheepskin. He saw how tired she was, the skin around her eyes looking dark like bruises. Sandy set a bottle of whisky on the table – an obscure island malt that Perez had never tasted. ‘A present from the boss,’ he said.

So, Perez thought, she’s already the boss.

Willow stirred and smiled. ‘I brought it to Shetland with me,’ she said, ‘to remind me of home. And I’m taking it back at the end of the night.’

Perez fetched three small glasses and poured a dram for each of them, but he didn’t speak. She was the boss; let her start the discussion.

The first sip of whisky seemed to revive her. She sat up and leaned forward. ‘I’ll sum up what we have so far, shall I?’ And she continued without waiting for them to reply. ‘Our victim: Jerry Markham, born-and-bred Shetlander, with an English father and ambitions beyond the islands. He went south to escape a shotgun marriage to a local lass.’

‘No,’ Perez said. ‘No, it wasn’t quite like that. I spoke to Evie Watt this morning. Markham had got the place on the London newspaper before he found out she was pregnant. It was very embarrassing for all concerned, but he’d ended the relationship before the pregnancy was made public. He’d seen it as a summer fling, and she was in love for the first time. I’m not sure that provides a motive. She’s getting married on Saturday to a local man.’ He looked at Sandy. ‘John Henderson? Do you know him?’

‘Aye,’ Sandy said. ‘He’s a pilot. Lives up north. Works out of Sullom Voe. Had a wife who died a while back. I don’t know him well, but he’s always seemed kind of boring. I can’t see him committing murder.’

‘But Sullom Voe’s the last place Markham was seen.’ Willow was tense now and Perez thought there was something of the hunting dog about her, her face all sharp angles and points.