When she’d completed her examination, four officers had helped lift the waterlogged remains onto a stretcher and carried it up to the waiting van, just as the sky was welcoming the advancing dusk.

‘Well timed,’ Erling said as they walked to his vehicle. ‘Even in Orkney, the day ends eventually. Now if it had been midsummer . . .’

‘I remember it well,’ Rhona said with a smile.

‘How long do you want at the mortuary?’

‘Just enough time to bag his clothing and photograph and tape the unclothed body. He’ll get a full forensic examination at the PM.’

‘I’ve had a report back from the second search of the Orlova,’ Erling told her. ‘They found a hidden room in the hold, possibly created for drug smuggling, where someone had obviously been living. Looks like you were right, someone might have been there when we searched before. I assume you’ll want a look in the morning?’

She would, Rhona told him.

Her mobile rang just short of Kirkwall. Answering it, she found Bill keen to know how the day had gone. Rhona gave him a brief résumé of the recovery of the beach body, plus Erling’s latest find on the Orlova.

‘So you’ll check out the ship tomorrow?’

Rhona assured him she would, before asking, ‘How did McNab get on in London?’

There was a short but pregnant silence, before Bill said, ‘McNab wasn’t on this morning’s sleeper and we can’t reach him. DCI Sutherland has been in touch with the Met. It appears McNab arranged to meet DI Cleverly in central London, but never turned up.’

46

The smell of frying bacon met her on the way downstairs. Ava hesitated before entering the kitchen, knowing Dougie would be keen to engage her in a further conversation about Nadia.

After they’d both gone to bed, she’d sat up well into the night, trying to find if the name Nadia Kowalski occurred in any of the Go Wild literature she’d assembled, or anywhere in the material given to her by Mark. Both searches had drawn a blank.

Despite all her brother’s assurances, his pleadings not to inform the authorities of Nadia’s existence, Ava still had misgivings. Something she would have to face up to today.

‘Hope you’re hungry,’ Dougie greeted her. ‘I’ve cooked loads.’

Ava made a point of fetching a plate and pouring herself coffee, waiting for Dougie to start the expected conversation. Eventually he did.

‘You want to tell Erling about Nadia?’ he said, apparently reading her thoughts.

Ava didn’t answer right away, mentally choosing the words. Aware no matter what she said, it would be wrong.

‘Someone’s been attacking our cattle. I think it may be because of my investigation of Go Wild. It might not be safe for Nadia to stay here.’

Dougie shook his head vehemently. ‘The cows have nothing to do with the Orlova.’