Empty Nets and Promises by Denzil Meyrick Page B

died.’
    â€˜Are you worried aboot oor freen wae the eight legs, skipper?’
    â€˜Wait,’ said Hoynes, relief in his voice. ‘Is that no’ oor Duncan?’
    â€˜Aye, but look who he’s wae,’ groaned Hamish in dismay.
    Sure enough, Duncan Grant, Iain Watson the Fishery Officer, and a smartly-dressed man whom neither of them knew were out of the Land Rover and making their way to the front door.
    â€˜Turning into quite a party,’ quipped Ralph. ‘The more the merrier, I say.’
    â€˜Gie me another gulp o’ that whisky, Hamish. I don’t like the look o’ this at all,’ said Hoynes as three businesslike knocks sounded at the door.
    â€˜Sandy, Hamish, Geordie, open up!’ shouted Grant. ‘We need to have a word with you.’
    â€˜Och, I knew fine I should have got that light fixed on the motor. I’ve been meaning tae dae it for ages,’ moaned Geordie.
    â€˜They widna come all this way tae pull you up aboot a tail-light, Geordie. Oor Duncan’s straight as a dye, but even he’s no’ that keen,’ said Hoynes.
    â€˜An’ how wid he bring Watson wae him?’ said Hamish.
    â€˜I’d better open the door,’ said Geordie. ‘We’ll soon find oot.’
    â€˜Just stay here for a minute, Beth,’ said Maggie. ‘Look, they’re all away into the cottage now. My poor Duncan all unsuspecting, likely, not realising he’s about to be spirited out of the country to bugger knows where.’
    â€˜And there’s thon snake, Watson,’ said her mother. ‘Your faither won’t be happy at the sight o’ him hoving intae view. The Piper’s Pass was fair busy the night, an’ no mistake.’
    The women looked on as the door closed behind the three new arrivals. ‘I canna think Iain Watson wid be part o’ any caper,’ said Beth. ‘I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile – that poor wife o’ his has got a terrible life. She must be fair miserable sitting in that cottage while he plots tae bring doon another decent fisherman trying tae make a living.’
    â€˜Well, one thing’s for sure,’ said Marjorie. ‘We’ll not learn anything sitting away back here. We’ll park up behind these whin bushes, Beth. Then we can sneak over and surprise them before they get a chance to overpower my Duncan.’
    â€˜Overpower’s a wee bit strong, dear. This is your faither and Hamish we’re talking aboot. The last thing they overpowered wiz a fish or two – aye, an’ no’ that recently, neither.’ Marjorie pursed her lips.
    â€˜And forbye that, we’ll get drenched,’ declared Beth.
    â€˜It’s all for the greater good. Come on. It’s taken me long enough to find a husband. I’ll be damned if he’s whisked off to the Levant before I get a ring on his finger.’
    â€˜Och, jeest your faither a’ o’er,’ said Marjorie.
    â€˜Where the hell’s the Levant?’ asked Beth as, pulling her raincoat over her head, Maggie jumped out of the Land Rover and into the rain.

11
    â€˜Well, well, a pretty parcel of rogues here,’ said Watson, a look of triumph on his face.
    â€˜You there!’ shouted Marshall. ‘Put that bottle down – it’s evidence from now on.’
    â€˜You what, mate?’ slurred Ralph, taking the lemonade bottle from his lips. ‘I paid for this fair and square. If you want some, go and buy your own.’
    Marshall reached into the pocket of his coat and removed an ID card. ‘Alistair Marshall, Senior Collector, Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise. That spirit you’re drinking is stolen – from both the distillery and the Revenue. You, all of you, are breaking the law, and I’ll make sure you’ll pay for your crimes.’
    â€˜For goodness sake, son, whoot’s this all aboot?’ remonstrated