“Just like we wanted to,” Mike murmured to himself.
“So we dumped him in the hole and filled it in. We took a bath each, we were both covered in blood and dirt. Gran took the log out to the garden and burnt it. Then she told me to get back to you and Mum, she’d clean up the sitting room.”
They all looked around uneasily, wrapping their arms around themselves.
“Gran gave me the jerry can that Granddad kept to fill up the lawnmower so I could refill the car. Back then it was still possible to turn back the speedometer. I adjusted it so Mum wouldn’t notice the extra mileage. Gran told everyone he’d run off with one of his fancy women and no one questioned it, not even the police.”
“That’s why you spend so much time away,” said Isla. “And why you don’t like being in the cottage?”
Ross’s green eyes flicked to her then back to the floor in shame. “Yes.”
“Gran left the cottage to me because she knew it held too many bad memories for you?”
Another nod.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to burden you with it, I know how happy you are here.”
“These last few days must have been torture for you,” said Mike, feeling a bit guilty for falling out with him because he’d believed Amelia. He couldn’t imagine how Ross had been feeling.
“It’s not been easy but I wasn’t going to let my sister down.”
Isla took his hands and they remained in silence for a few minutes, digesting the shocking news.
“Well, I’d best call DI Stewart,” said Ross, taking out his phone.
Isla snatched it from his hands and tossed it onto the couch. “No you won’t.”
“Isla, I’ve done something terrible. I’ve killed a man, our own granddad.”
“He deserved it after what he did. I will not let you throw your life away for that monster.”
“I’ve lived with this for years, terrified that someone would find him. So many times I thought about telling you, it didn’t seem right that you live in a house with a dead body but I could never work up the courage. When Gran died I thought about coming back, digging him up and moving him but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. In the end, it became easier to leave things as they were and hope you never looked under the cellar floor. I knew you hated it down there and figured you’d just leave it alone.”
“Until I went missing and the police looked down there,” she said. “Actually it creeps me out more that they were looking for me down there. We’re going to keep this to ourselves. No one needs to know, there’s no one to mourn him or ask questions.”
“Apart from DI Stewart. The man’s a ferret. He won’t stop until he finds the truth.”
“Let him keep digging, there’s no evidence to find.”
“I should be punished.”
“Granddad was the one who deserved to be punished and he was. End of story. Put it behind you and move on.”
“Put it behind me? How can I? Every day I see his battered face split open down the middle, the sound the wood made every time it hit him….” He trailed off and buried his face in his hands, sobbing.
Isla and Mike glanced at each other, the shock reflected in each other’s eyes.
“I’m not going to let you be punished for this,” said Isla. “You’ve punished yourself enough all these years. Now here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going back to work and you’ll put this behind you.”
“I can’t leave you now. You need me.”
“I have Mike and I’m afraid that if you stay here you’ll snap and confess. Go back to work, I know it’s the only thing that keeps your mind off it. It’s why you’ve lost yourself in it all these years.”
“Ever since I heard about his body being discovered all I’ve wanted to do is run back to the Namibian desert.”
“Then that’s what you’ll do.”
“I don’t want to leave you,” he said, taking her hand.
“I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me. If Stewart asks I’ll tell him you were recalled by your boss.”
“You’re sure?” said Ross, looking lighter already.
“Yes. I want you to do this Ross, for me.”
He hugged her and kissed the top of her head. “Then I’ll do it.”
“Thank you,” she said, hugging him tighter. She was going to miss him like crazy but she was so afraid of him breaking down and confessing that she’d rather he was far away in the desert.
“And what about you two?” Ross asked them. “Can you stay here now knowing what has happened?”
“No, I can’t,” said Isla, looking to Mike.
“Yeah, it makes me a bit uneasy,” he replied.
“I’ve got an idea. We could demolish the old house and build a new one on the site, one designed to our own specifications with doorways tall enough so you don’t bang your head whenever you walk into a room. I love living on the edge of the loch. Alex is renting out the house he bought for himself and Hannah, we could stay there until it’s ready. This house isn’t a listed building, so hopefully it’ll be okay.”
“You sure honey?”
“Yes, sure. It’s time to let go of the past.”
“I’ll check flight times,” said Ross, taking out his phone.
Isla noted the eagerness in his eyes and she felt so sorry for him. The poor man couldn’t wait to leave. She wondered if, now they knew his secret, he would ever come back again?
CHAPTER 21
Ross left for Glasgow airport the very next day. The journey would be long and arduous, having to change at London then Johannesberg before flying onto Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. He would spend a night in the city before a hard journey into the heart of the desert. It sounded like a nightmare to Mike but Ross was all eagerness, hopping into a taxi at seven o’clock the following morning. Mike feared his absence would upset Isla but on the contrary, she seemed relieved. At least he wouldn’t be able to confess his crime to the police.
Stewart came by later that morning and wasn’t impressed to discover that Ross had gone.
“Why shouldn’t he leave?” said Isla. “He has important work to do.”
“I wanted to talk to him again about his grandfather’s death,” replied the inspector.
“Why?” she said indignantly. “He’s told you everything he knows.”
“Reinterviewing witnesses is standard procedure.”
“Well he wasn’t a witness because he was on holiday with me and Mum at the time, so I don’t see what else you think he can tell you.”
Mike wanted to tell her to stop talking because her protests were making the canny detective suspicious. “Can’t you let sleeping dogs lie?” he asked him. “It’s in the past and Isla’s been through enough.”
“A man has been killed.”
“Twenty years ago.”
“Murder is murder no matter how long ago it was committed.”
“Sorry but we can’t help you,” said Isla, folding her arms across her chest, indicating the conversation was at an end.
“Have you guys totally finished with this house?” Mike asked him.
“Yes. Why?”
“We want to demolish it and build another house on the spot. We’re uncomfortable after Robert’s body was found here.”
“I can understand that and yes, we’ve finished with it so feel free. Where will you go in the meantime?”
“We’re renting a house at Ardnagowan from Alex Shaw.”
“I heard he’s put the house in Strachur up for sale. Phillipa tried to fight it but it’s in his name. She doesn’t have a leg to stand on. He’s filed for divorce too.”
“I don’t blame him,” said Mike. “She’s a mad bitch.”
“Even more so since she was sent to prison on remand. She’s made life very difficult for the staff.”
“It’s such a shame,” said Isla. “She used to be so nice when we were at school.”
“Well, since I’m here I may as well take your
statement again Isla about your grandfather.”
“Must we?” she sighed.
“Sorry, it’s procedure.” He sat on the couch, flipped open his notebook and regarded her expectantly.
She glanced Mike’s way, who nodded encouragingly. He knew Stewart a lot better than she did and was well aware that he wouldn’t leave until he’d got what he wanted.
Isla told him her tale again, which didn’t alter one word, failing to mention seeing Ross leaving. She would die before she betrayed her brother.
Stewart seemed vaguely disappointed when she got to the end of her tale, he knew a member of the family had killed Robert and that if Rhona had been responsible undoubtedly she’d had help, in which case Ross was his prime suspect but it seemed he was out of reach now, he had no cause to detain him in the country.
“Thank you Isla,” he said, putting away his notebook. “When will Ross be back?”
“No idea, he has a lot of work to do. He comes back every few years to visit, sometimes longer.” She stared at him with a challenge in her bright green eyes and Stewart was forced to concede defeat. He would never get to the bottom of this one. He was confident he knew what had happened, that Ross Campbell had killed his grandfather, he was the only one with the physical strength to deliver those powerful blows to his grandfather’s skull and even though he’d been on holiday he hadn’t been far away. It could easily have been done but it seemed he would never find out for sure. Isla was so defiant he was certain she knew something but - despite what most people thought - he did have a heart and he was reluctant to push someone who had been through so much.
“Alright,” he sighed. It wasn’t often he conceded defeat but after learning something of Robert Campbell’s character from the locals he thought it was time his ghost was finally laid to rest. That was a much nicer thought than notions of vengeful spirits. “I think we can finally draw a line under this. Any evidence trail went cold years ago.”
Isla tried not to exhale with relief. “It’s for the best. Everyone’s been through enough.”
“I quite agree.” He got to his feet. “I’ll detain you no longer. How soon will you be moving to Ardnagowan?”
“We’ve got to get planning permission for the work first,” said Isla. “Alex has agreed to hold the house until we get it.”
“That’s very good of him.”
“Well, it’s not as if he needs the money.”
“True. Right, I’ll get out of your hair. The Colonel’s trial has been set for May next year.”
“That’s ages off. I just want it over with.”
“Sorry but these things take time to prepare. He’s pleading guilty, so far anyway. Creeps like him can always change their minds, I feel it only fair to warn you. Amelia’s trial will start in March. She’s fighting the charges so you will need to attend, both of you. The evidence against her is strong so she’s not getting out of it. She’s going to say she was manipulated by the Colonel and that might well get her a sympathy vote from the jury.”
“Even though she nearly killed her own mother?”
“Perhaps but you never can tell with these things.” Seeing how downcast she looked, he thought it prudent to leave before he depressed her even more. “Well, I’ll let you know if there’s any further news. Good luck with the house.”
“Thanks,” said Mike, seeing him to the door. He returned to Isla, who stood at the window with her arms wrapped around herself. “You okay honey?”
“All I could think about was coming home,” she said, keeping her gaze on the window. “Now all I can think about is leaving and knocking the bloody place down.”
“You’re certain you want to rebuild on this land? We could find somewhere else.”
“I’m sure. It’s the land I’ve always loved, not the house.”
“Despite what happened at the end of the jetty?”
“The Colonel’s not driving me away. There’s always been something magical here, something special I’ve never felt anywhere else.” She turned to look at him. “I realise I’m being so selfish. Are you happy staying here knowing what you now know? Can this still be a home to you?”
He cupped her face in his hands. “My home is wherever you are. If you’re happy to stay here, so am I.”
They kissed, gently at first. Nothing intimate apart from kissing had happened between them since her return and he was not going to push her into anything but he found her so lovely it was difficult for him to keep his urges to himself. His lips went to her neck and he went rock hard at her moan of pleasure.
He lifted his head to regard her hopefully. “Do you think you’re ready…”
“Sorry, not yet Mike.”
“Okay.” He gave her one last kiss before releasing her. “I’m just going upstairs to take a cold shower,” he said, making her giggle.
Planning permission was given for the cottage to be knocked down and a three bedroom home with garage, attic space and an office for Mike to be built in its place. A cellar wasn’t included in the plans. The local council was anxious that the cottage didn’t become a beacon for ghouls and crime buffs, so they were quick to agree. As work commenced they rented the house from Alex at Ardnagowan, which was a big, sprawling bungalow.
Mike was forced to watch Isla slip into a quiet depression. She retreated into herself, became introverted, shunning all company except his own. Even the loyal Phoebe and Jake were turned away at the door. Mike encouraged her to play her violin but for the first time in her life she rejected music, missing the Mozart’s Jupiter concert that she’d been practicing so hard for. Neither did she bother to listen to her beloved classical music.
On top of that Isla had developed claustrophobia, which surprised neither of them. She couldn’t bear going into the cupboard under the stairs or into the small shed in the garden. In her sleep she was forced to relive over and over again what it had been like being awake and conscious of the fact that she’d been walled up alive. She would scream and writhe in her sleep and Mike was forced to shake her awake when her breathing became laboured. This meant that she couldn’t get a decent night’s sleep, which became another drain on her energy.
Christmas came and went pretty much unnoticed. Isla continued to see the counsellor once a week, dutifully answering the questions he asked her but she sounded detached and faraway. In bed she loved to be held, kissed and stroked but still she shied away from making love. It was as though when she was separated from her beloved loch the life began to drain out of her. They made frequent visits to the building site and to Mike’s relief work progressed quickly but she continued to slip away from him, becoming more distant.
“I don’t think we should get married,” she told him.
This statement came out of the blue one morning when she was curled up on the couch with a book and he was at the table by the window, working on his laptop.
Mike was so shocked he whipped round to face her and almost knocked his computer onto the floor. He managed to catch it before it fell, replaced it on the table and went to sit next to her.
“What’s brought this on?” he said.
“You deserve more than what I can give you,” she replied.
“You already give me so much just by being you.”
“But I’m not me anymore. The Colonel saw to that.”
“No he didn’t. You’re bound to be depressed for a while but give it time and you’ll start to feel better.”
“You are such a lovely man and you saved my life twice. You deserve better than this.”
“W…what are you saying?”
“I think we should take a break.”
The pain was more than he could bear. “No, you need me Isla and I am not going to leave you.”
“I don’t want you staying with me out of pity.”
“I’m not. I’m staying with you because I love you.”
“You loved the Isla I was. I’m not her.”
“Yes you are. My feelings haven’t changed, they could never chan
ge for you.”
“I’m so sorry,” she said, touching his face, a single tear spilling down her cheek. “But this is for the best. We can sell the house when it’s finished, you’ll get the money back you’ve put into it.”
“I don’t give a shit about the money. I only care about you.”
“I only care about you too, which is why I’m doing this.”
Mike shot to his feet and began pacing the room. “No Isla. No fucking way.”
“It’s for the best. Everything around me is just so grey, it feels like all the colour’s been sucked out of my life. I don’t want to drag you down with me.”
“You’re depressed, which isn’t surprising after what you’ve been through. Do you honestly think sending me away is going to help?”
“It’ll help you.”
Mike knelt before her, tears shining in his eyes. He took her hands. “I love you so much and this is hurting me honey.” He let the tears fall and kissed her fingertips one by one. “Don’t send me away, please. I can help you get better, I promise.”
“I don’t want you to go,” she said, starting to cry. “But I can see what I’m doing to you is dragging you down.”
“If it would make you feel better we don’t have to get married right away. People stay engaged for years. If it’s putting pressure on you we can put it on the back burner.”
The Loch Page 32
