Written in Bone Read Free

call me Duncan.’
    ‘David Hunter.’
    His handshake was enthusiastic, as though to make up for Fraser’s lack. ‘So you the forensic man?’
    ‘Afraid so.’
    ‘Great! I mean, not great, but…well, you know. Anyway, let’s get out of the rain.’
    The passenger cabin was a glassed-in section below the wheelhouse. Outside it, Fraser was talking heatedly to a bearded man in oilskins. Behind him a tall teenage boy, face rippled with acne, looked on sullenly as Fraser jabbed the air with a finger.
    ‘…waited long enough as it is, and now you’re saying you’re not ready to go?’
    The bearded man stared back impassively. ‘There’s another passenger. We’re not leaving till she’s arrived.’
    Fraser’s already red face had darkened still further. ‘This isn’t a bloody pleasure cruise. We’re already behind schedule, so get that ramp pulled up, OK?’
    The other man’s eyes stared out above the dark beard, giving him the feral look of a wild animal. ‘This is my boat, and I set the schedules. So if you want it pulling up, you’ll have to do it yourself.’
    Fraser drew himself up to assert himself when there was a clattering from the ramp. A diminutive young woman was hurrying up, struggling under the weight of a heavy-looking bag. She wore a bright red, down-filled coat that looked at least two sizes too big for her. A thick woollen hat was pulled down over her ears. With her sandy hair and pointed chin, it gave her an appealing, elfin appearance.
    ‘Hi, gents. Anyone care to give me a hand here?’ she panted.
    Duncan had started forward but the bearded man beat him to it. He grinned at the new arrival, white teeth gleaming in the dark beard as he effortlessly took the bag from her.
    ‘About time you showed up, Maggie. We were about to go without you.’
    ‘Good job you didn’t, or my gran would have killed you.’ She stood with her hands on her hips, regarding them as she caught her breath. ‘Hi, Kevin, how’s it going? Your dad here still working you too hard?’
    The teenager blushed and looked down. ‘Aye.’
    ‘Aye, some things never change. Now you’re eighteen, you’ll have to put in for a pay rise.’
    I saw a spark of interest kindle in her eyes as she looked over the police Range Rover.
    ‘So what’s going on? Something happened I should know about?’
    The bearded man jerked his head dismissively towards us. ‘Try asking them. They won’t tell us anything about it.’
    The young woman’s grin faltered when she saw Fraser. Then she recovered, quickly mustering a smile that now held something like defiance.
    ‘Hello, Sergeant Fraser. This is a surprise. What takes you out to Runa?’
    ‘Police business,’ Fraser said, flatly, and turned away. Whoever the young woman was, he wasn’t pleased to see her.
    The ferry captain and his son busied themselves now the late arrival was on board. There was a motorised whine as the ramp was winched up, and the wooden structure of the boat vibrated as the anchor chain was ratcheted into place. With a last, curious glance in my direction, the young woman went into the wheelhouse.
    Then, with a belch of diesel, the ferry cast off and chugged out of the harbour.
     
    The sea was rough, and what should have been a two-hour crossing took almost three. Once we’d left the protection of Stornoway harbour, the Atlantic lived up to its reputation. It was a turbulent grey plain of angry waves, into which the ferry smacked head on. Each time it would rear up over the crests, then slide sickeningly down the far side before beginning the process again.
    The only shelter was in the cramped passenger cabin, where diesel fumes and burning hot radiators made an uncomfortable combination. Fraser and Duncan sat for the most part in miserable silence. I’d tried to draw out Fraser about the body, but he obviously knew little more than I did.
    ‘Just a meat job,’ he grunted, sweat beading his forehead. ‘Some drunk fell asleep too close to his campfire,