The dark interior got even darker as a black bag was thrust over his head. He couldn’t see his attackers, but he could still scream abuse at them. Until the needle was plunged into his neck.

‘Shut the fuck up, Jock pig’ was the last thing he heard before his world collapsed and all the angry words died in his throat.

44

‘Why was Erling really here?’ Dougie said when the car drove away. ‘Was it about me? I told you I was coming home, didn’t I?’

Dougie’s sudden arrival with Erling there had been awkward, although she’d been overjoyed to see him home again. Erling, perhaps sensing this, had simply welcomed Dougie with a smile, and made a swift departure.

‘His dad came round earlier to offer you help with running the farm. Erling was talking to me about that.’

Dougie’s expression changed from anger to one of surprise. ‘Is that possible?’

‘We’re definitely going to talk it over with him,’ Ava said, glad she had some good news at least. She stopped there, struck by something. ‘Where’s Finn?’

‘Outside,’ Dougie said.

His face clouded over again and she thought maybe the collie was hurt in some way. ‘Is something wrong with Finn?’

‘No,’ he said sharply. ‘I have something to show you.’

Ava’s immediate thought was he’d found another dead cow, but when she asked, he shook his head impatiently and beckoned her outside.

‘Where are we going?’

‘The byre.’

Dougie led the way, moving so quickly that Ava had to almost run to keep up with him. He’d put on his head torch and the beam bounced along the muddy track before them like a runaway ball. Ava’s brain was racing with thoughts of what it might be that was so mysterious. None of her imaginings were good.

Now at the barn, he threw open the door. ‘It’s me, Finn,’ he called.

The dog gave a little welcome bark and jumped up from the hay where he’d been lying.

It was then Ava saw the girl, her eyes blinking in the sudden light. Ava was aware she was staring, open-mouthed, but couldn’t help it. Had Dougie found the girl here? If so, how long had she been in the barn and who was she?

She turned to Dougie, hoping her startled expression asked all those questions.

‘Her name’s Nadia,’ he said. ‘She’s from the Orlova.’

Before she could comment, or even absorb this, he continued, ‘She’s a witness to what happened there. If the men from Go Wild find out she’s alive, they’ll come looking for her and kill her like the others.’

The girl had said nothing, her teeth chattering from cold and, Ava suspected, fear.