The Shipbuilder’s Daughter

by Emma Fraser

  In many ways Lochboisdale was like Lochmaddy. It had a harbour as well as a hotel and a couple of stores. The police station was on the main road. If it hadn’t been for blue lamp on the front wall of the single-storey house, Margaret would never have known that’s what it was. From the outside it looked like any other croft house.

  She hoped Inspector MacLeod would be there and not out doing whatever police inspectors on the island did. If he was, she would wait. The hire car was returning to collect her at two, which gave her just under an hour.

  The front desk was no more than a hole that had been cut out from one of the walls with the addition of a counter top. It was manned by a police sergeant who looked up with a mixture of irritation and curiosity when she entered. Clearly he wasn’t used to having his day disrupted. She couldn’t be sure whether he was pleased or annoyed by the break in his routine.

  ‘Hello. What can I do for you? I haven’t seen you before. Are you a tourist?’ He pronounced the word more like towrist.

  ‘I’m Dr Murdoch. I work in the practice in Lochmaddy. I’ve come to see Inspector MacLeod.’

  ‘Have you, now? May I ask what it’s about?’

  ‘No. I’m afraid it’s private.’

  ‘Private. I’m sorry, Miss, I mean Doctor, but I’ll need more than that if I’m to disturb the inspector. He’s a very busy man.’

  ‘And I’m a busy woman.’ She glanced around at the empty station. ‘I can’t imagine that the inspector is run off his feet.’

  ‘You’d be surprised.’

  She would. ‘Would you mind letting him know that I’m here to see him. I’m assuming he is in the building?’

  ‘Now then, Miss. I wouldn’t like to say.’

  Margaret was tempted to lean over, take him by the scruff of the neck and shake him. She’d already had one difficult encounter that day and was in no mood for another. ‘Just let him know I’m here.’

  ‘Very well,’ the sergeant said.

  At that moment a door opened and the inspector himself walked into the room. ‘Sergeant Connor, would you type this report for me? Oh, Dr Murdoch, what brings you here?’

  ‘Could I have a word?’ She glanced at the sergeant. ‘In private.’

  ‘Of course. Come into my office.’ He smiled suddenly. ‘Although “office” is too grand a word for it. Sergeant, please bring two cups of tea.’

  ‘Before or after I type the report, Sir?’

  ‘Before. Thank you. Two missing cows and a holed boat can wait for an hour or so. This way, Doctor.’

  He was correct about office being too grand a word for his room. It was little bigger than a large cupboard, with only just enough space for a desk, a filing cabinet and two chairs. He was, she noted, a tidy man or else he hadn’t been joking about the missing cows and there really wasn’t much to keep him busy. She wasn’t surprised. The islanders struck her as a very law-abiding group. As Dolina had said, no one ever locked their doors – even at night.

  He waited until she was seated before he spoke. ‘I’m assuming you’ve come to see me about the mother and baby,’ he said. ‘Unless,’ and he looked almost hopeful, ‘you have another crime to report?’

  Her heart gave a nervous jolt.

  ‘I have found the mother,’ she admitted, ‘but I don’t consider what my patient did to be a crime. Whatever the law says.’

  ‘I can assure you, Dr Murdoch, that it is a crime. Sad though it is, she will have to answer for her actions. In the meantime I shall call off the search.’

  ‘Dr Alan said that he’d let Constable Watt know.’

  The inspector leaned back in his chair and studied her through half-closed eyes. ‘I’m sure you haven’t come all this way just to continue the argument we had in Lochmaddy.’

  Surreptitiously, she wiped her damp hands on the front of her skirt.

  ‘In a way I have. You said that if there were extenuating circumstances, that might help my patient’s case. What if there’s more to how she got pregnant than she’s willing to admit?’

  ‘Perhaps you should elaborate.’

  Sergeant Connor appeared with a tray of tea, which he laid on the table. ‘Wife didn’t give me any baking this morning, so there’s nothing to go with it,’ he said sounding genuinely regretful.

  ‘Tea on its own will do just fine.’ Inspector MacLeod smiled at Margaret again. ‘I don’t know about you, but I’ll be twice the size I was by the time I leave here. The locals seem determined to fatten me up.’ He held up the milk jug. ‘Milk?’

  ‘Yes please.’

  He poured the tea with the air of a man who was used to seeing to himself and passed her a cup and saucer, before pouring his own. The china cup looked ridiculously small and fragile in his hands.

  ‘Please continue, Dr Murdoch. You said there were extenuating circumstances. What might those be?’

  Margaret hesitated, unsure of how to start. ‘The woman you are looking for has a medical condition that can affect sufferers in different ways and to different degrees. In her case, it has interfered with the function of her right arm and leg. It doesn’t stop her from walking, just gives her a noticeable gait. The moment anyone saw her they would know there was something wrong with her. In addition, and more importantly, her brain has been affected. She probably has the mental age of a child of around twelve. It would be easy for someone to take advantage of her. And that’s exactly what appears to have happened.’

  Now she had his full attention.

  ‘You do see that you have to tell me more.’

  Margaret sighed. ‘She told me that she was out on the croft when a man struck up a conversation with her. She’s pretty certain he wasn’t a local, she thought it might be someone from the mainland over for the fishing or shooting.’

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘As I said, he stopped to talk to her. Despite her handicaps she is a very beautiful young woman. More importantly, she’s very trusting. Why shouldn’t she be? All the locals know her and her father.’

  ‘Did this man attack her?’

  ‘That’s my understanding. All she would say was that he did something to her she didn’t like. “Put his thing in her thing” was how she put it. She told him to stop but he wouldn’t listen. Afterwards he told her that if she said anything to anyone, he’d find her or her father and put a bullet in one or both of them.’

  ‘If she’s telling the truth that counts as rape. Does her attacker have a name?’

  ‘He only gave her a first name – Richard. And we can’t be sure he gave her the right one. The problem is that she refuses to repeat the story she told me to anyone else. Neither do I think she’d be willing or able to point him out, even if she was brought face to face with him again. She’s clearly terrified that he’ll come back and carry out his threats – so terrified she took her baby to me and left him on my doorstep. I get the impression she thought if she could give the baby to someone else, she could forget the attack ever happened. And if she had kept the child, she probably knew her father wouldn’t rest until he knew who the father was. He’s very protective of her, as you can imagine.’

  ‘If she was attacked then the person who did it needs to be apprehended and charged.’

  Margaret leaned forward. ‘But it would be her word against his. Furthermore, I don’t think she would be able to testify in court. In fact, I’m absolutely positive she wouldn’t be able to, even if she were willing.’

  ‘You don’t think she’s making all this up, to protect someone else – the real father of her child, for example?’

  ‘No, I don’t think she’s capable of doing that.’

  ‘You do realise this means you have no option but to tell me who she is?’

  ‘That’s why I’m here. I’ll give you her name on condition you don’t interview her. I simply want you to tell the Procurator Fiscal to drop the case.’

  His eyebrows shot up. ‘You want a great deal, Dr Murdoch.’

  ‘All I really want is to protect my patient.’ She brushed
away the uneasy realisation that that wasn’t completely true. But, she reminded herself, if her own interests had been paramount she wouldn’t be here at all. Besides, everything she’d told the inspector about Kirsty’s reluctance to repeat her story and her vulnerability to withstand questioning was true. If Kirsty had been able, and willing, to name her attacker that would be an altogether different scenario.

  ‘She’s been through enough. I will promise you, if I ever find out who the man is who attacked her, I will tell you.’ And, whatever the cost to herself, she would. ‘The only help I can give you is that, going by the baby’s gestation, the attack probably happened in the spring – some time in February. If this man was a visitor to North Uist he probably stayed in one of the shooting lodges or hotels. It’s not a busy time of year, so I imagine there will be a limited number of names in the registers.’

  ‘Then I shall check them. However, if we find someone who fits the bill, we will have to interview your patient.’

  ‘I understand. As long as I can be with her when you do.’ If she were still here. If not, she knew Effie or Sophie would stand in her place.

  When the inspector added nothing more, she continued, ‘It’s my understanding that there’s a good chance of finding someone on the island who’ll take the baby in permanently. Someone who will give him a loving home. If someone can be found, I’d like you to leave the child here, rather than sending him to a children’s home on the mainland.’

  ‘Let me get this straight. You want me to ask the Procurator Fiscal not to bring charges against this woman. You don’t want me to interview her. And you wish the child to remain on the island.’

  ‘Exactly.’

  He thought for a long moment. ‘I have your word that the child’s mother cannot be held responsible for her actions?’

  ‘You do.’ She held her breath. This was when he might ask her to make a statement to that effect.

  ‘And that if you discover anything that might lead to the identity of the man who raped her, you will tell me.’

  ‘I promise.’

  ‘Very well, Dr Murdoch. I shall do as you ask.’

  ‘You will?’ She’d never imagined it would be this easy.

  ‘As long as we are agreed on my conditions?’

  She nodded.

  ‘And the woman’s name?’

  Still Margaret hesitated. But she had to trust the inspector. And as Dr Alan had said it was only a matter of time before everyone knew. The clincher, of course, was that charges couldn’t be dropped unless they had a name.

  So she told him.

  Chapter 38

  Margaret had just come to the end of surgery when Dolina told her that Dr Alan wanted to see her in the front room. As each day sped by with no further word from either Alasdair or Firth she became increasingly anxious. There had to be good news – and soon.

  Dr Alan wasn’t alone. Sophie and her husband were there with him. Her stomach flipped. Had something happened to one of her children?

  ‘Ah, Margaret! Come in, come in!’ When Dr Alan beamed at her, she relaxed. He wouldn’t look like that if he had bad news for her.

  She took a seat and waited for him to explain why he needed to see her. Sophie’s normally cheerful expression was tight and anxious. She was holding hands with her husband.

  ‘Now, Sophie and George have something they wanted to talk over with both of us.’

  Margaret smiled in Sophie’s direction and waited for Dr Alan to continue.

  ‘As you know they have been caring for Kirsty’s child since we found him.’

  ‘Yes.’ Had they had enough? Did this mean the child was going to be sent away after all?

  ‘I’ve had word from the Procurator Fiscal. They’ve decided not to bring charges against Kirsty,’ Dr Alan continued, looking pleased.

  ‘Thank goodness.’

  ‘However, it is on condition that the child is not returned to her.’

  ‘Poor Kirsty. I know she doesn’t want to keep him, but I think she’d like to see him sometimes.’

  ‘In addition, they’ve agreed to leave Ruaridh on the island, if suitable adoptive parents can be found for him. We all agree there’s too many in children’s homes as it is.’

  ‘We want to keep him,’ Sophie said quietly.

  ‘I think it’s a perfect solution,’ Dr Alan said, smiling broadly.

  ‘Are you sure, Sophie? George? It’s a big decision,’ Margaret asked.

  ‘George and I have talked about it. It’s not a decision we came to lightly. We haven’t been blessed with our own children…’ she took her husband’s hand, ‘until now.’

  The minister cleared his throat. ‘Sophie loves the wee lad.’ He looked at his wife. ‘I’ve taken to him quite a bit too.’

  Sophie nudged him in the ribs. ‘Taken to him? Away with you! You’re as besotted with him as I am.’ She turned back to Margaret. ‘Normally George, as her minister, and I as the minister’s wife would have gone together to broach the subject of adoption with Kirsty, but it wouldn’t be right if we are the ones who want him. We don’t want her to feel forced into anything.’

  ‘You’d like me to talk to her?’

  ‘Yes. We think that would be best,’ Dr Alan said.

  ‘If she agrees we’ll go and see her and her father ourselves,’ Sophie said. ‘To tell them that we’ll be happy for Kirsty to see Ruaridh whenever she wants and to reassure her that he’ll want for nothing.’

  ‘And if she doesn’t agree?’ It had to be said.

  Sophie’s grip on her husband’s hand tightened.

  ‘We’ve prayed that she will,’ her husband replied, looking into his wife’s eyes. ‘But if she doesn’t, we’ll have to accept that God has different plans for him – and for us.’

  It was irregular, but the alternative was a children’s home for Ruaridh and she had no doubt that Kirsty wouldn’t want that. The Linklaters would make excellent parents and Kirsty would still be able to see her son from time to time.

  Margaret stood. ‘I’ll go and see her this afternoon. I’ll let you know what she says as soon as I return.’

  Margaret had expected Alec to be out fishing, but it was he who opened the door to her knock. The strain of the past weeks was clearly etched on his face. He stepped aside, wordlessly inviting her in. Margaret put her medical bag down on the kitchen table.

  ‘Is Kirsty in, Alec?’ Margaret asked.

  He nodded. ‘Aye. In the sitting room, putting on a fire. I’ll call her for you.’

  Margaret put a hand on his arm. ‘In a minute.’ She nodded towards the table against the wall. ‘Why don’t we sit down?’

  The lines on his brow deepened but he did what she requested. He sighed and rubbed a hand through his hair. ‘Every knock on the door, I expect the police to be outside to arrest my daughter.’ He looked up at Margaret.

  ‘That’s partly why I’m here. The police have Kirsty’s name – I had to give it to them – but the Procurator Fiscal isn’t going to press charges against your daughter, so no one will be coming to arrest her —’

  ‘Thank God.’

  ‘However,’ Margaret made sure she had his attention before she carried on, ‘there is something else I need to discuss with her. It’s about her son. You probably know we’re calling him Ruaridh.’

  ‘It’s a fine name.’ Alec shifted in his seat. ‘I’ve thought about the child – my grandson – night and day. Kirsty and I will manage to take care of him. It won’t be easy but…’

  ‘That won’t be possible, I’m afraid,’ Margaret said gently. ‘One of the conditions about dropping the charges against Kirsty is that Ruaridh is not returned to her. The court has the power to place the child in an orphanage unless suitable adoptive parents can be found. I’m so sorry, Alec.’

  His face darkened. ‘How can they just take a child from his mother? Who gives them the right?’

  ‘Unfortunately, Kirsty gave them the right when she left Ruaridh on my doorstep. I know she did it not just because
she was frightened but because she knew she couldn’t look after him, and she told me the last time I saw her that she doesn’t want him back.’

  ‘She doesn’t realise what she’s giving up.’

  ‘However, there is an alternative solution – if Kirsty’s agreeable, that is.’

  ‘Hello.’

  Neither of them had heard Kirsty enter the kitchen, but now she stood in the doorway, her good hand twisting the folds of her dress.