White Nights

Ke

Now, Perez tried to remember what the two of them had talked about as they were digging out drains and mixing cement. Ke

Then suddenly he remembered a party that had taken place in the Fair Isle hall. A return wedding: an island boy who’d gone away to marry a southerner in her own town, then brought her back to celebrate properly on the Isle, the lass wearing the long white wedding dress and carrying flowers just as she would have done in the English church. There’d been a meal in the hall, all the island invited, and afterwards a dance. Perez remembered Ke

When he came to the house, Perez knocked at the kitchen door. He stood for a moment. There was no answer and he was wondering if he should let himself in when Ke

‘I was looking out for you,’ Ke

‘Do you want to carry on? We can talk just the same.’

‘No, I was about ready for a coffee. You’ll join me?’

The kitchen was tidier than most croft houses Perez had been in. Ke

Ke

‘Of course,’ Perez said. ‘Whatever you’re having.’ He could have done with a strong espresso, but knew it wouldn’t be right to ask.

He waited until Ke

‘What time did you find him?’

Ke

‘It would have been about ten-past nine this morning. Edith had left for work around half-past eight and I was thinking about starting on the neeps; there aren’t many days like this, even in the summer.’ He smiled. ‘I was tempted by the fishing. Thought we might have a bit of a barbecue tonight if I got lucky and brought back some piltock or mackerel.’

Perez nodded. ‘I know you didn’t see his face, but do you have any idea who the dead man might be? We need to identify him.’

Another pause. ‘No. I’d never met him.’

‘But you might have some idea?’

‘Bella had one of her parties last night. The place was full of strangers.’

Not so full.

‘You weren’t there yourself, Ke

Ke

‘Do you know if she had any people staying at the Manse with her last night?’

He shook his head. ‘I’ve told you, Jimmy, we don’t mix with Bella these days. We wouldn’t know. I don’t think she has such big parties staying in the house as she did before. The old days, the Manse was always full of strangers. Even then it was as if Biddista folk weren’t good enough for her. Maybe she’s finally growing up and she doesn’t need people telling her how wonderful she is all the time.’

‘Roddy was at the Herring House.’

‘Then he’ll be staying with her at the Manse. Slumming it until he gets a better offer.’

‘You don’t like the boy?’

Ke

‘He was at the St Magnus Festival in Kirkwall and Bella persuaded him north to play for her.’

‘He’s a fine musician,’ Ke

‘I just know what I read in the press.’

‘Well,’ Ke

Perez found himself eager to hear the stories about Roddy’s exploits. It probably had no relevance to the death of a strange Englishman, but everyone in Shetland was fascinated by Roddy Sinclair. He’d brought glamour to the islands.

‘I did see someone leave the party,’ Ke

‘What time was it?’

The pause again. The deliberation. ‘Nine-thirty? Maybe a little later.’

Perez thought that would fit in with the disappearance of the Englishman.

‘Did he get into a car?’

‘No, he didn’t go towards the car park. He came this way, up towards the Manse. But he was a good way off. I couldn’t swear it was him. He was ru