The trip wasn’t official Fiscal business. Rhona was a member of many island committees that had little to do with her work. Her love of sailing had brought her north, but she didn’t intend to be a Fiscal in the wilds forever. She’d always had political ambitions, could see herself in a position of power; in her wildest dreams she imagined a seat in the Lords. Baroness Laing of Aith had a ring to it. And that would only happen if she forged the right connections, made herself useful to the party. A senior politician had indicated that such a move wasn’t impossible. Rhona had no strong feelings about green energy, but it had seemed to her that the topic would grow in importance, especially north of the border. So she’d read about it, represented the islands in discussions over the controversial wind farm. And now she’d made sure that she was a part of the tidal-power working group. Of course if the Jerry Markham connection came to light, there’d be no chance of any form of political preferment. She wouldn’t even keep her post here in Shetland.

She put coffee into the filter machine and took a shower. Very hot, to clear her head. At least the Power of Water meeting meant she wouldn’t have to go into the office this morning. She wouldn’t have to answer questions about the investigation. Then it occurred to her that she still had leave to take before the end of April. Why not hand over responsibility for the Markham case to her assistant? She could say that she was compromised because she’d found the body. Ethically she shouldn’t be involved. That would run well with the press. Drying herself, she felt slightly more optimistic. It would be a way to distance herself from the investigation and from Detective Inspector Willow Reeves.

She checked her emails and found a message from Evie Watt’s BlackBerry, asking if they might meet at the proposed tidal-power site half an hour later than planned. Something unexpected had turned up and she was running a little late. That meant Rhona had time to call her line manager, say that she intended to take a few days’ leave and explain her reasons. ‘Just until the police have completed their investigation,’ she said. ‘We must be seen to be acting with complete transparency.’ Then she called the office, checked her watch and saw that she could still fit in more coffee and a slice of toast.