Fiona put the ironing board away in the cupboard and looked up at the clock. Half past three. They’d have just blown the whistle for half time at the football. She couldn’t wait to hear how he enjoyed it. Jamie had been so excited all morning before Martha and Allie picked him up, he could hardly even eat his lunch. She was feeling upbeat, having had that phone call from Doug. She knew Pete wouldn’t have bought a stolen car if he’d known. She was still incredulous that there were so many alleged criminals near Alyth willing to go along with Lawson’s insurance scam involving dead deer.

She chuckled and headed for the larder, having decided she’d bake some scones for Martha and Jamie coming home. She had meant to go into work to research the Craigs, but decided she’d stay at home instead.

She was just weighing out the flour when the phone rang.

‘Fi, it’s me.’

Dorothy’s voice was soft, breathless.

‘You all right, mum?’

‘Not really, there’s been…’

‘Speak up, Mum, I can hardly hear you.’

‘I’m in an ambulance, on the way to hospital.’

‘What? What’s happened? Are you okay?’

‘It’s Dad, he’s had a heart attack, they’re trying to stabilise him, they need to put a stent in and…’

‘Where are you, Mum?’

‘Not sure, I can’t say. I’ll give you over to…’

‘Mum!’ Fiona shouted. ‘Mum, speak to me!’

‘Hello, you must be Mrs Craig’s daughter.’ It was a softly spoken voice; a lilting accent.

‘Yes, it’s Fiona Craig here. Can you tell me what’s going on, please? My mum sounds really strange. Did she say my dad had had a heart attack?’

‘Yes, I’m afraid so. She’s a bit upset.’

Fiona leant against the back of the chair.

‘He’ll be all right, won’t he?’

‘Early days, still early days.’

‘What happened?’

‘Well, they were on the Tarbert to Uig ferry. It takes only about an hour and forty-five, but unfortunately the attack happened just about half an hour from arrival, so not near enough to the shore to get immediate help.’

‘Can’t Mum speak to me?’

The voice had softened to a whisper. ‘Your mother is in a state as she said they’d had a blazing row. And Mr Craig had just shouted something at her when he collapsed. She seems to think the heart attack was her fault, that’s also why she’s so upset. Obviously it wasn’t, but that’s not important right now. They gave him CPR on board while the captain got emergency procedures in place, managed to get the ambulance waiting at Uig harbour and we got him in twenty minutes ago and we are off now to Portree Hospital.’