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headquarters and demanded to see Daviot.
    â€œHave you an appointment?” asked Helen.
    â€œI have not, but this is of the utmost importance,” said Dick.
    Helen disappeared into the inner office. She returned after a few moments and said curtly, “You’re to go in.”
    â€œWhat is it?” demanded Daviot when Dick stood meekly in front of his desk.
    â€œJust this,” said Dick, and handed over Hetty Dunstable’s statement.
    â€œThis is dreadful,” he said.
    â€œNow, that is why I brought it to you,” said Dick. “You’ll be anxious to get some damage limitation.”
    â€œDamage limitation?”
    â€œWouldn’t it be awful, sir, if it got out to the press that Hamish Macbeth was suspended from duty due to the spite of one woman? It would also have to come out that Cyril Sessions lost his life while he was spying on Hamish for Mr. Blair.”
    Â Â 
    Hamish was on the road back to Lochdubh to confess to Jimmy about that slip of paper when his mobile rang. He pulled into the side of the road to answer it.
    It was Daviot. “There has been a grave misunderstanding, Macbeth. You are back on duty. That is all. You are to say nothing of Mr. Blair’s connection to Sessions until the matter is cleared up.”
    â€œYes, sir,” said Hamish. “What…?”
    But Daviot had rung off.
    Hamish’s phone rang again. It was Mr. Patel, Lochdubh’s shopkeeper. “Hamish, there are a couple o’ scientists from Strathbane University. They’ve heard you’ve got a wild cat and since the beasties are that rare, they want to take Sonsie away for DNA tests. We all said it was nothing but a big black cat and they’ll be back tomorrow. You’d better dye the cat black. I’ve got the right hair dye in the shop. It won’t hurt the beast.”
    Hamish thanked him, but after he had rung off, he cursed the interfering scientists.
    When he got to the police station, it was to find that Dick had already collected the dye. “You’re going to have to do it yourself, Hamish,” he said. “I doubt if Sonsie would let anyone else near.”
    â€œThis is a right mess,” said Hamish. “I should have guessed that something like this would happen sooner or later. Wild cats, they say, are nearly extinct. They’d chust love to get their hands on one. I cannae see poor Sonsie allowing even me to dye her fur. Get her up to the Tommel Castle Hotel tomorrow. Angela Brodie’s got a big black cat. I’ll borrow that. I’ll pay you for the dye.”
    â€œLeave it. I might use it myself,” said Dick. “Grey hair is awfy ageing.”
    Hamish eyed him narrowly. “Oh, aye? And who is she?”
    Dick blushed. “There’s no one. I just thought I’d look better.”
    â€œSuit yourself. So how did you get on with Hetty?”
    â€œI got her to sign a statement saying she had lied to get back at you and I took it to Daviot.”
    â€œThanks. I owe you a lot.”
    The kitchen door opened, and Jimmy walked in. “I got a call that you’re no longer suspended,” he said. “Got any whisky?”
    Hamish took a bottle and glass down from a cupboard. “I’ve got a bit of news for you, Jimmy. Have a drink first.”
    Jimmy poured himself a hefty measure, took a swallow, and then asked, “What have you been up to?”
    Hamish told him about the phone number and his visit to Murdo Bentley. “I tried to phone you,” he lied. “But you must have been in a black area. It didn’t seem that important because it was just a wee bit o’ paper Archie Maclean found on his boat. It could have come from a tourist.”
    â€œSheep Street,” said Jimmy. “I’ll check up. I cannae remember anything to do wi’ drugs in Sheep Street. I’ll look into that.”
    â€œDo you think some drug gang might have decided to murder