Death on a Shetland Isle by Marsali Taylor

Author:Marsali Taylor [Marsali Taylor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780749023898
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2018-03-25T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Cat had slipped out during the change-over. I had no doubt I’d find him in the hall grounds, watching birds. I paused at the tea trolley to pick up an angel cake and a piece of millionaire’s shortbread for an on-duty snack. I was just folding them into a napkin when Oliver came forward with that air of someone who doesn’t want to make a fuss, but has decided something needs done. He went straight up to Captain Sigurd, surveying us all benevolently from the organisers’ table on the stage, and spoke softly to him. The captain listened, asked a question, and Oliver replied with a headshake and a vehement gesture of his hands. The captain lifted his head and looked around until his gaze rested on me. He nodded, and I walked over.

‘Ms Lynch, Mr Eastley is concerned that his sister hasn’t come back yet. You were on the island all morning. Did you see Miss Eastley in your walk?’

‘No, sir,’ I said. I’d leave it to Gavin to talk about blood.

‘Please ask your watch if they saw her.’

Petter and Mona were playing each other at Gavin’s table. I went over to them and said softly, ‘I don’t suppose any of you saw Laura in your travels?’ Gavin didn’t turn his head, but I knew he was listening. ‘She’s not back, and her brother’s worried.’

Petter shook his head, but Mona nodded. ‘She walked from here towards the bird loch.’

‘On her own?’

‘No, with a woman from one of the other watches.’ That jogged my memory. I’d seen her going off too. ‘They said they’d walk first, to stretch their legs, and get the bus back if they felt tired.’

‘What woman?’ I asked. ‘Is she here?’

Mona glanced round the tables, took a second long, slow look, then shook her head. ‘I don’t think so. I didn’t notice her particularly. She was smaller than Laura, and wore a knitted cap. Not one of our watch. That’s all I remember.’

I went back to the captain. ‘She went east, sir, on foot, with another woman, from the blue or red watch. She’s not here either.’

‘Laura often skips lunch,’ Oliver said, ‘so I’m not worried, exactly.’ His face showed that he was. ‘Maybe she and this other woman were having fun watching birds or something, rather than coming back here. But I’d have thought she’d want to see the tournament.’

Captain Sigurd’s gaze returned to me, then moved to Alain. I could see he thought it was a fuss over nothing, but he had to do the right thing. ‘Ms Lynch, can you ask Mr Martin to come over. Then convey my compliments to Ms Solheim and say I would be obliged if she would join me here.’ I rolled my eyes mentally at this careful grading of officers, and went off to Alain. His warriors had just surrounded Johan’s king, and they were shaking hands over the scattered bodies. ‘The captain wants you,’ I said, and headed for Agnetha, to convey Captain Sigurd’s compliments.

‘I would like you, Ms Solheim, to take over the ship,’ he said, once we were gathered around him.

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