Time for the Dead

by Lin Anderson

  As the wave approached, she felt the strength of it slam her knees against the rock, then the powerful suck as it desperately tried to take her back with it into the swell. Her fingers torn and bleeding, she hung on determinedly until eventually, as the water retreated, she emerged on the other side of the arch, soaked but triumphant.

  ‘Blaze,’ she shouted. ‘Here to me, Blaze.’

  She searched the distance for the small flash of white amongst the shaggy black coat which would signal the dog’s advance, but it never appeared. Plus the barking had stopped. Rhona made her way as swiftly as she could, stumbling over the rocks that scattered the sand.

  According to the map they’d studied in the tent, there was a series of caves this side of the archway, which could be where Seven had taken refuge.

  Rhona came on the first one by chance. Shielded by a covering stone, it would have been easy to miss the small entrance, especially now as the tide was working hard to reclaim it. A flash of her torch picked out a semi-filled hole in the sandy floor, which she may well have stumbled into, had the water been deeper. Floating alongside was a wad of plastic netting.

  Towards the back, the beam rested on the remains of a camp.

  So it looked like Seven had been here. If so, where was she now?

  Rhona waded back out, and continued east along the shore. There was a second gully in this direction, one they’d bypassed on the way along the clifftop because Blaze had shown no interest in it, even though it had looked accessible.

  Was Seven heading there, with Blaze now following her?

  Rhona stepped back into the water to try and get a view of the cliff summit. Were any of the team still up there or had all those who’d followed made their way to the beach? Looking back the way she’d come, she found the promontory now blocked her view of the bay beyond the archway, so she had no idea where Alvis had reached.

  A sudden and piercing human cry was almost immediately followed by the barking of a dog. Not any dog, though.

  It was Blaze. Definitely Blaze.

  Swivelling round, Rhona searched desperately along the line of the breaking waves.

  Then she saw them.

  Two figures in the water, the dog frantically running back and forth along the shore east of where she stood. They appeared to be struggling together, one definitely having the upper hand. Then suddenly there was only one, the other swallowed by the waves. Too tall to be Seven, the remaining figure turned and began wading towards the beach.

  Rhona knew in that moment that the dog was in as much danger as the body left behind in the water, and shouted frantically for Blaze to come to her.

  Blaze ignored her call and, instead, dodging the approaching figure of the man, jumped into the water and began to swim towards the bobbing body of what had to be Seven.

  Rhona ran along the water’s edge, certain that if she didn’t get out there in time, both Seven and her rescuer were liable to be swept away in the insistent swell of the incoming tide.

  But she was wrong.

  She knew from Donald that Blaze was a keen swimmer. She’d also seen him in action in the loch near the plantation. But keeping himself afloat was one thing. Helping Seven stay above the surface of the choppy water was another.

  She drew nearer and, with the aid of the dawning light, saw what the dog was trying to do. He had something in his mouth, likely the hood of Seven’s jacket, and was slowly but surely pulling her body towards the shore.

  As Rhona waded out to meet Blaze, she saw the dancing lights of three torches emerge from beneath the arch and head quickly towards them across the sand.

  Then Donald’s voice resounded across the intervening water.

  ‘Here to me, Blaze. Here to me.’

  The girl was alive.

  The three men had carried her to shore where Rhona had removed her wet clothes and wrapped her in a sleeping bag Donald had given her, and then inside a survival bag. Blaze, having seemingly satisfied himself that Seven was okay, then took off, despite Donald’s instruction to the contrary.

  ‘Blaze doesn’t give up easily,’ Donald said with a shake of his head.

  ‘He reminds me of Chrissy, my other forensic assistant,’ Rhona smiled, her heart lifting because, despite the cold and the wet, Seven was safe.

  Donald, answering a radio call, told her that the helicopter was on its way.

  ‘What about her attacker?’ Rhona said as another call came through.

  ‘Currently climbing the gully. Not sure if he realizes Blaze will be right behind him, with Jamie and Scott at the top awaiting his arrival.’

  ‘I’m sorry I put your dog in danger,’ Rhona said.

  ‘Don’t be. I know Blaze and he can do that all by himself,’ he said. ‘I’ll go wait for Search and Rescue. There’s a spot further along they can hover, then they’ll get you and the girl out of here.’

  Seven’s eyes opened. Confused at first, they gradually cleared and immediately fastened on Rhona.

  ‘Where’s Blaze?’ she demanded. ‘He saved my life.’

  ‘Blaze is fine and about to apprehend your attacker along with Skye and Lochaber Mountain Rescue.’

  A wash of emotion crossed her face, from remembered horror to relief.

  ‘There was a dog in Afghanistan,’ Rhona said. ‘Called Rex?’

  ‘You know about that?’

  ‘I went into your tent in the plantation.’ Rhona paused. ‘I’m sorry for messing with your things, but I wanted – no, needed – to know where you’d gone.’

  ‘And you found Rex’s tag?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And the other stuff? The burka mesh and the remains of the necklace?’

  Rhona expected Seven to be angry at the violation of her privacy, but instead she seemed relieved, as though finding the mementos of Afghanistan released her from them in some way.

  ‘You came back to the plantation looking for me?’

  Rhona nodded. ‘With Blaze. He got your scent and we followed it to the road. Archie said you’d taken the Glendale bus. Blaze picked up your scent again, leading us here.’

  Seven shook her head in amazement.

  ‘Why would you do that? Why would you look for me?’

  Rhona wasn’t sure what to say. How could she explain that she saw her troubled self in the girl? So she spoke in certainties instead, explaining about the scene in the woods behind A.C.E Target Sports.

  ‘Blaze led me to the clearing. He knew, as did I, that something bad had happened there. The way he sought to protect you suggested . . .’ Rhona halted.

  ‘That what happened there might have involved me,’ Seven finished for her.

  ‘What’s your real name?’ Rhona said.

  ‘Lexi. My name is Lexi. Private Lexi Forbes.’

  ‘And the man who tried to drown you?’

  ‘Corporal Jack Dempsey. My superior officer.’ She halted there as though the memory was too much. ‘Did you find Ben and Charlie?’ she asked quickly.

  ‘Not yet, but we did find Private Peter Galbraith’s body,’ Rhona said.

  Lexi’s face crumpled. ‘They took him into the hills. That’s all they told me. He didn’t die there. But I expect you know that?’ There were tears in her eyes.

  ‘Where did he die?’ Rhona asked quietly.

  ‘In the woods, that night.’ She looked horror-stricken at the memory. ‘I thought he was Corporal Dempsey and hit out at him. I didn’t kill him. Corporal Dempsey did. I know that now.’

  ‘And Ben and Charlie? Where are they?’

  ‘Jack said we were going to meet them.’

  ‘Did he say where?’

  Lexi shook her head. ‘I think he was lying anyway.’ She collapsed back, coughing, her breathing suddenly sounding laboured.

  Rhona, fearful there was still water in her lungs, motioned to Donald.

  ‘Any word on the chopper?’

  ‘They’re on their way. Is she okay?’ he added, seeing Rhona’s concerned expression.

  ‘Her breathi
ng’s not good and she’s coughing.’

  He nodded, knowing the dangers of secondary drowning. ‘We’ll get her to the hospital in Portree. Did she tell you anything?’

  Rhona nodded. ‘But I get the impression there’s much more to come.’

  81

  ‘Detective Sergeant. You’re wanted upstairs.’

  McNab’s eyes sprang open to the sight of the police cell he’d spent the night in. Or at least a few hours of the night.

  He swung his feet to the ground and sat upright.

  ‘What is it?’ he managed, attempting to force his brain back into action.

  ‘They’re bringing in the prisoner. The helicopter just landed.’

  He’d grabbed a couple of hours’ sleep after receiving the news that Rhona had been picked up, together with the girl they called Seven and the leader of the medics group, Corporal Jack Dempsey.

  Knowing Rhona was safe had been the most important part of the message for him, but he had to admit the initial unravelling of what had been happening on Skye had played a big part in the pleasure he’d taken from the news.

  Stretching, he took himself off to the coffee machine and two double espressos later presented himself, rumpled but otherwise awake, in the boss’s office. Despite the early hour, DI Wilson looked fresh, or perhaps his expression was simply enhanced by the news of the latest arrest.

  ‘I want you and DS Clark to question Dempsey.’

  ‘DS Clark’s here?’ McNab said, surprised but pleased that his partner was back.

  ‘She came in with the suspect,’ the boss said. ‘You’ll hear this from DS Clark but in a conversation with Private Lexi Forbes, Rhona was told that Private Galbraith died in the woods and was taken up to the hill to cover that, just as Rhona suspected.’

  So all the time they’d been questioning her state of mind, Rhona had been right that it was all connected.

  ‘How did he die?’ McNab said.

  ‘The girl said it was an accident and it was her fault.’

  ‘Is the girl here too?’

  ‘She’s been transferred to the Queen Elizabeth hospital to be monitored after the attempted drowning. We’ll have her in once she’s been given the all clear.’ DI Wilson went on, ‘If Corporal Dempsey is the lead player in all of this, then he may know the identity of the Sandman.’

  McNab nodded.

  ‘However, I suspect your time with Corporal Dempsey will be limited, Detective Sergeant.’

  ‘How so, sir?’ McNab said, genuinely puzzled.

  ‘Sergeant MacDonald followed protocol and informed the MOD that Corporal Dempsey had been arrested in Portree after a suspected attempt on a fellow soldier’s life.’

  McNab swore under his breath, knowing the MOD would be all over this now like a rash.

  ‘His quick transfer here was in the hope that we might get a statement before the MOD come for him. So get what you can before that happens, Detective Sergeant.’

  McNab stood unseen behind the glass and observed the man Seven had referred to as the Scorpion. A call to Rhona as he awaited the arrival of the prisoner had furnished him with considerable detail on this man’s activities, both here and in Afghanistan.

  If what Seven – McNab mentally corrected himself – what Lexi had told Rhona was true, it was obvious why Corporal Dempsey had believed her to be a risk to both his smuggling enterprise and his freedom. Hence his attempt on her life.

  ‘She wouldn’t talk about her captivity in Afghanistan, but something terrible happened there that changed everything for her, and in particular how she viewed her commanding officer.’

  Rhona had ground to a halt then, her voice heavy with emotion, and McNab suspected that if anyone could have any inkling about what it felt like to be held against their will, it was Rhona.

  McNab had changed the subject at that point, asking about the two remaining soldiers.

  ‘Lexi said they would have carried out Dempsey’s orders, left the island and reported for duty.’

  ‘The burnt-out jeep?’

  ‘I would suspect so,’ Rhona had said. ‘Lexi didn’t know the details.’

  ‘So the MOD will have them by now?’ McNab had sworn under his breath.

  Rhona repeated what the boss had just said. ‘They’ll come for Dempsey and Lexi too. It’s only a matter of time.’

  Dempsey didn’t look up as McNab and Janice entered and introduced themselves, but waited until they’d taken their seats opposite him at the table. McNab took time to study the face more closely now. The stillness, the direct eye engagement, the almost bored attitude suggested they were unlikely to be offered anything of interest from Corporal Dempsey. He was right.

  ‘You are required to inform the MOD of my arrest.’

  McNab shrugged his shoulders as though he didn’t give a damn about such niceties and asked a question instead. ‘What do you know of the Sandman?’

  ‘The Sandman?’ Dempsey repeated, a smirk playing the corners of his mouth.

  ‘The Scorpion and the Sandman.’ McNab feigned surprise. ‘Looks like you’re the one who got stung. And you a soldier, too.’ McNab sat back, arms folded, and smiled. ‘Now a woman, that’s a much easier target, don’t you think? Fuck them and kill them. Easy-peasy.’

  Dempsey’s face darkened and McNab wondered for a moment if he’d hit home, so he took another shot.

  ‘Seven told us what you did to her in Afghanistan. MOD will really like to hear that story.’

  ‘She’s a fucking liar. I got her out of that hellhole. I got them all out.’

  ‘Oh, we know how that worked and we don’t care. That’s the MOD’s concern now. We just want what you want. To fuck the Sandman.’

  Dempsey was definitely considering this, the muscles of his face rippling with undisguised wrath.

  McNab laid it on a little thicker. ‘If we don’t, then he gets what you lose. All of it. And guess what? The Sandman wins the war.’

  McNab rose at this point and nodded at Janice to follow.

  ‘Wait,’ Dempsey called as they reached the door. ‘I’ll give you the bastard.’

  82

  ‘So you’re both coming to the wedding party?’ Jamie said for the second time.

  ‘Assuming your groom is alive after the stag do at A.C.E Target Sports.’ Chrissy pulled a face. ‘Too soon for that joke, d’you think?’ she added, looking to Rhona.

  Rhona apologized to Jamie. ‘Gallows humour,’ she said, ‘but hey, you know all about that in your line of work.’

  ‘I certainly do,’ Jamie agreed. ‘But if you’re definitely up for it, it’ll be at the Gathering Place, the big old building on the hill above the harbour. And of course you’re welcome to stay over at my place afterwards.’

  ‘I’ve got my B&B booked, thank you,’ said Chrissy, as though he’d been addressing her. ‘Plus we need to be back at Donald’s after, because of the new arrival.’

  ‘What new arrival?’ Rhona demanded.

  ‘Ah. Just you wait and see,’ Chrissy said with a smile.

  ‘Now that I’ve given a full statement to Lee, I’m going to head for the cottage,’ Rhona told Jamie. ‘But I’ll be back in time for the party tomorrow. Have fun tonight and stay safe.’

  ‘You bet,’ Jamie said with a grin.

  ‘And can I still use the jeep?’

  ‘For as long as you need it.’

  Chrissy’s elbow in her ribs showed that she too had spotted the smitten look he’d given Rhona.

  As soon as Jamie had gone, Chrissy gave Rhona the full force of her thoughts on the matter.

  ‘You’ve made a conquest there, Dr MacLeod. And he’s pretty tasty. DS Clark definitely thought so.’

  ‘Jamie is a good friend, that’s all. And you’re one to talk about being smitten,’ Rhona admonished her.

  At this, Chrissy’s face fell a little. ‘It was good while it lasted,’ she said.

  ‘And it’s not going to last any longer, you and Donald?’

  ‘Long-distance relationships rare
ly do.’ Chrissy gave Rhona a pointed look, which she read as When are you going home?

  Rhona didn’t want to be quizzed on Sean or on whether she was going home. Not yet, anyway.

  ‘I think I’ll be back,’ Chrissy said. ‘But we’ll just have to wait and see. Anyway, I intend enjoying my last couple of days before I head back to Glasgow. As should you.’

  Rhona, non-committal, indicated she was heading off now, and would see Chrissy tomorrow.

  For once, Chrissy let her have the last word.

  The forecast was for settled weather over the next few days. It seemed the gods had decided that Skye needed a respite from the storm, both physical and emotional, that had raged over it for the previous week.

  As she headed towards Sligachan, the view of the Cuillin, still snow-topped, its image like something from a fairy tale, brought a gasp of wonder. No matter the number of times Rhona viewed these hills, or from where she caught their outline, each image seemed unique in colour and light.

  But now, for a while at least, whenever she saw the Cuillin she would think of the scree slope at An Dorus and the body of Private Pete Galbraith, or Sugarboy as his friend Lexi called him.

  They’d talked a great deal during the wait for the helicopter, then later when Lexi had been admitted to Portree hospital, waiting for her transfer to the Queen Elizabeth. Rhona thought she knew most of the story by now and had written a full statement of everything the girl had said during those hours and given it to Lee.

  The incident that had started it all, the child with the hidden grenade. Lexi’s failure to search him resulting in the death of two of the team – Mitch and Gordo, she’d called them, breaking down in tears.

  A description of their capture had followed. About the conditions of her imprisonment she said very little until, prompted by Rhona, she revealed the truth about Dempsey’s actions during her incarceration. At that point Rhona’s horror must have shown on her face, because Lexi had drawn away from her, retreating into herself again.

  One thing that had been obvious was Seven’s tortured mental state. It was as though as Lexi she was one person, but becoming Seven had made her another. Or maybe the connotations of that nickname had an even darker side than Rhona could imagine.