Her initial leads, however, had now begun to dry up, suggesting Go Wild was likely removing material from online sources and generally battening down the hatches.

She did, of course, have another line of enquiry open to her, should she choose to use it. Ava poured herself a coffee and considered this.

She and Mark went back a long way. They’d spent time together in Afghanistan and worked on exposing a number of high-profile international organizations, companies and politicians. If anyone could help her it would be Mark Sylvester, scourge of anyone high-ranking and influential who had something to hide.

The problem was, would he want to work with her again?

She’d kidded herself that their break-up had been mutually decided upon, when it definitely hadn’t been. She’d been the one to end it, abruptly and without explanation. If Mark chose not to answer her call, she had no one to blame but herself.

She pondered this by the kitchen window, taking heart from the vision of the kye freed from their winter lockdown. When she and Dougie had released them, their delight had been wonderful to watch. They’d literally pranced their way into the fields. Their mooing at the discovery of acres of luscious spring grass and the ability to roam wherever they wanted had lifted her spirits. Dougie had been the same, the joy on his face confirming what she already knew. Dougie was born to be a farmer.

And she was about to take that away from him.

Dragging her thoughts back to the problem she could resolve, Ava picked up her mobile and brought up Mark’s number, her thumb hesitating over the call button before pressing, almost hoping he wouldn’t answer.

It only took three rings before he did.

‘Ava, how great to hear from you. Are you still in Orkney?’

Momentarily shaken by the sound of his voice again, and the obvious delight in it, Ava hesitated. When she did so, Mark came back in.

‘I was so sorry to hear about your mum and dad. How are things? How’s Dougie doing?’

In those few moments, Ava realized how much she missed Mark, as a friend, a colleague and a lover. Back when they were together, she would have confided in him about the farm and Dougie, but she had no right to offload her troubles on him now.

‘We’re okay, thanks. You’ll have heard about our ghost ship?’

‘I’ve been following your reports. Fascinating stuff. In fact, I’ve been meaning to get in touch with you about it. See if I might be of help with your investigation into the Orlova.’

It was, she realized, an answer to her prayers. How could she ever have imagined that Mark would have reacted any differently? To her, or to the type of work he relished.