The dilemma she was in stared back at her. She desperately wanted to tell the girl’s story. What a scoop that would be. Her editor would never turn it down, despite his reservations about Mark. But if she did that, Erling, Magnus, Rhona, everyone who’d been involved in the Orkney part of the story, would know she’d broken the law or, at the very least, defied it.

Taking a deep breath, she picked up her mobile and, saying a silent prayer, dialled Mark’s number again, only to hear the same grating message signifying an unknown number. The short and pleading email she then sent, asking Mark to get in touch as it was an emergency, bounced back almost immediately. Mark had disappeared off her radar and there was no way of reaching him.

Despair swamped her. She gave it time to ebb and flow, then re-emerged to try an alternative. She would have to be careful what she said to the Glasgow detective, but she could at least check if he’d succeeded in making contact with Mark.

Bringing up McNab’s name, Ava pressed the call button.

45

They were over the cliffs at Yesnaby now. Rhona had spent most of the flight across the Highlands studying the photographs from last night, keeping her mind off the fact she was up in the sky with only a rotary blade keeping her there.

Interspersed had been the co-pilot’s enquiry as to why Chrissy wasn’t with her this time.

‘Too much work to do in Glasgow,’ she’d told him.

‘She’s an enthusiastic flyer,’ he’d said, somewhat wistfully.

‘Chrissy’s enthusiastic about most things,’ she’d assured him.

‘A busy love life too?’

‘Usually.’

‘So I’d have to stand in line?’

‘Chrissy likes being pursued,’ Rhona had offered as way of encouragement.

There were a few moments of thoughtful silence before he drew her attention to where they now were.

‘There’s where the Orlova came ashore.’ He indicated a series of jagged cliff faces, frothed by crashing waves. ‘It was some job getting personnel on board and then towing the ghost ship into Scapa Flow.’

Rhona could see what he meant.

‘Your bay is just ahead. After that’s the bigger Skaill Bay and the Neolithic Skara Brae settlement. Magic place.’

They were dropping towards green fields and grazing cattle. Rhona spotted a row of police vehicles parked along a farm track and someone waving up at them. It appeared Erling was there as promised.

Minutes later she thanked the crew and, dipping her head, walked towards his tall figure.

‘You’re back,’ he said with a smile. ‘Although I wish it was under better circumstances.’

‘All in a day’s work,’ Rhona said. ‘But the scenery always helps.’

He pointed the way ahead. ‘It’ll take ten minutes or so to walk there.’

‘I’m glad to have my feet on solid ground again,’ Rhona assured him.