Martha shrugged. ‘I’m not sure, really. You were so loved up, and when I saw him next he was back to normal, and nothing was said. I thought maybe he was just hungover – remember that was the night of the Baileys.’ She looked up at the clock. ‘Sorry, I’ve got to go in a minute, meeting the boss. How’s Sir Thomas Bouch going?’

‘Pretty good, though the more I find out about him, the more I’m amazed he even got the contract to build the bridge in the first place. I just came across this poem written by William McGonagall after it was finished in 1877. Check it out, it was a couple of years before the disaster, mentions my man Bouch.’ She pointed to a poem in the book at the top of the pile. ‘Look at the last two verses.’

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay!

I hope that God will protect all passengers

By night and by day,

And that no accident will befall them while crossing

The Bridge of the Silvery Tay,

For that would be most awful to be seen

Near by Dundee and the Magdalen Green.

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay!

And prosperity to Messrs Bouche and Grothe,

The famous engineers of the present day,

Who have succeeded in erecting

The Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay,

Which stands unequalled to be seen

Near by Dundee and the Magdalen Green.

‘Great, isn’t it!’ said Fiona.

‘Only because it’s got your address on it! Some poem!’

Fiona laughed. ‘Not sure it’s so much a poem as a piece of doggerel.’

‘You are such a pedant, Fiona Craig.’ Martha headed for the door. ‘See you tomorrow, hope Jamie gets on okay at his new school.’

‘Thanks, M, so do I.’

CHAPTER 27

Chapter 27

Sunday 4 January 1880

Ann stood at the door of the kitchen. ‘Will your husband be back soon?’

‘He left over an hour ago, Mrs Craig.’ Mrs Baxter looked round from the sink. ‘I would think he will be back soon.’

‘I shall wait.’

‘Are the children in the nursery?’

‘Yes, Miss Graham is about to take them to the Green to make a snowman. She is a daughter of the manse so if she says it is suitable for a Sunday, then so be it.’

Both women looked round as the back door opened.

‘Baxter, what news?’

Baxter shut the door behind him and walked towards Ann. ‘I did as you requested and asked Mr Smith to see the three bodies in the mortuary at the station. Two were women, one a man. He was indeed a gentleman but he was short and his hair white. I looked no more than I had to.’ He let out a sigh and shook his head. ‘That wasn’t Mr Craig, that’s for sure.’

Ann pursed her lips together and stood up tall. ‘Thank you for doing that, Baxter. There will be more bodies soon.’