Cold Earth

Chapter Forty-Eight

Willow decided she’d go south on the ferry. The weather was calm and still again, and she needed a slow trip. Time to get her head round all that had happened, to prepare for life away from Shetland and Jimmy Perez. The day had been spent waiting. In the Gilbert Bain hospital, for the required check-up before her bosses would allow her to travel. In the police station, while Sandy and her colleagues from Inverness finished interviewing the man who’d almost killed her.

‘He’s confessed to everything.’ Sandy had been flushed with triumph. ‘He says Alison’s death wasn’t planned, that he walked to Tain, just to persuade her to leave the islands. Found her all dressed up and ready to entertain him. It’s been too long, Simon. There’s champagne on ice and I’ve cooked your favourite food.’

‘He ate with her before he killed her?’

‘Apparently. “She was a bloody good cook. I wasn’t going to let a meal like that go to waste.” That’s what he said.’

‘Sounds premeditated to me.’ Willow had thought Agnew’s need to show off would mean that no jury would believe any manslaughter plea.

‘He even went to bed with her,’ Sandy said. ‘Afterwards, when she was lying there, he got the belt round Alison’s neck and twisted it. He’s still a strong man for his age.’

Agnew was being flown south. Another reason for Willow’s decision to take the ferry.

Jimmy Perez insisted on carrying her bag onto the ship and seeing her settled in her cabin. He stood awkwardly and seemed to take up the whole space between the two narrow beds.

‘We never had that talk,’ he said.

‘Ah well, other things got in the way.’ The last thing she wanted was for him to go all soulful on her. She wanted to leave with some dignity.

‘We will stay in touch?’

‘Of course, Jimmy.’ Now she just wanted him to go, so that she could lie on the cold, clean sheets on the bunk. She was suddenly very tired again.

‘Look out for Fair Isle as you go south,’ he said. His face lit up and she remembered why he’d haunted her. ‘You should see the lights from this side of the boat.’

‘You promised to take me there one day.’

‘And so I shall.’

She leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips. ‘Off you go, Jimmy Perez, or you’ll be carried away with me. And what would Shetland do without you?’

‘But you’ll come back to see me?’

She smiled. ‘Just try to stop me.’