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of,” said Hamish.
    â€œBut I gather she tricked them two years ago. Surely someone would have retaliated then.”
    â€œNot necessarily. Up here, they take their time. Here is my card. If you think of anything, could you phone me?”
    â€œOf course. More whisky?”
    Hamish hesitated only a moment. He wanted to stay in her company as long as possible. “Just a small one.”
    â€œSo what drove you into being a policeman?” she asked.
    Hamish looked puzzled. “It’s a good job. I get the station and a bit of land up the back for my sheep. I love Lochdubh.”
    â€œBut didn’t something happen to you in the past that made you want to catch villains?”
    Hamish laughed. “Do you mean, do I have a sinister dark side? No, I am just a lazy copper who loves his life most of the time.”
    â€œAre you married?”
    â€œNo. What about you?”
    â€œI was. I’m divorced now. He turned out to be a drunk and a wife beater. As soon as I got my freedom, I left Poland and went on my travels. I worked in hotels in London for a while and saved money and decided to see more of Britain. I’ll maybe go back to Poland soon. Have you any ideas at all about this murder?”
    Hamish felt he should be discreet. After all, everyone in the village must be considered a suspect. But as he looked into her green eyes, all he wanted to do was prolong the visit as long as possible. So he told her about Liz having been tortured and about the Leighs and about Liz’s phone call and how he did not go immediately because he thought she had been lying.
    â€œThe way I see it,” he said, “is someone tortured her for some reason, maybe to get information out of her. The burns weren’t fresh, so they happened maybe a few days before she was shot. That was when she went to Dr. Williams claiming they were caused by oil spatter.”
    â€œSo why didn’t she phone for help then?” asked Anka.
    â€œMaybe she was too frightened.”
    Anka gave a shiver. “I’ve suddenly realised just how awful it all is. The murderer could be right here. What if it is someone mad who will murder again?”
    â€œI don’t think so. I’d better go back and take a look at the garden and see if there is any sign that someone drove up to the back of the cottage.”
    â€œI’ll come with you,” said Anka, reaching for her jacket.
    Hamish’s conscience told him that he should not be taking a civilian with him, but he told his conscience to get lost.
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    He and Anka ducked under the police tape and made their way round the side of the house to the back. A dark figure was crouched in the garden. Hamish shone his torch and shouted, “Police!”
    In the light, he recognised the forensic expert Christine Dalray.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” asked Hamish.
    â€œGoing over everything again,” she said. “I wanted to check out how he got into the cottage with nobody seeing him.”
    â€œIt was the middle o’ the night, after all,” said Hamish. “But that’s why I am here. Any tyre tracks?”
    â€œThe heather at the back is so springy, it wouldn’t hold anything. There are footprints in the garden but they’re not much use because whoever it was wore something over their footwear like our forensic boots.”
    â€œJust the one person?”
    â€œMaybe more. Who is this?”
    â€œThis is a local, Anka. I was questioning her about the villagers.”
    â€œMight I have a word with you in private, Hamish?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œI’ll leave you,” said Anka quickly.
    Hamish sadly watched her go.
    â€œNow,” said Christine, “what are you doing involving a villager in the investigation?”
    â€œI need someone who knows the people here to help me,” said Hamish defiantly.
    â€œI should report you.”
    â€œYou don’t look the type of lady to do