‘They even have a wee control tower,’ Alex said, pointing.
‘Maybe we can send a postcard back home with that on it. That’s the only way I want to see it again,’ Harry said, lugging his holdall.
Alex swung hers and smiled when she saw the two Glasgow detectives.
‘Hello, sir,’ she said to Dunbar. ‘Robbie. You don’t look so good.’
‘What a nightmare,’ Dunbar said. ‘Robbie gives a whole new meaning to bring a bagged lunch. The fucking plane was stinking. Even the wee lassie pathologist who came over with us got the boak. And she cuts people up for a living.’
‘I told you I didn’t like those things,’ Evans complained.
‘I’ve seen bairns have a better time on a plane than you.’ Dunbar looked at Harry. ‘You’re not looking too hot yourself, Harry. Don’t you like the planes either?’
‘I just didn’t get much sleep last night. The flight didn’t bother me.’
Nobody fell for his lie.
‘Right. We’re not long here. The pathologist went to the hotel to dump off her stuff, then the patrol car was going to take her to the scene. The forensics team flew out early this morning before the crack of dawn. I got one of the uniforms to bring us a car and this was what they managed to muster.’ He pointed to the old Mondeo. ‘I’m sure they just bought it from the local scrapyard for us to use.’
‘At least it’s on the ground,’ Harry said.
‘Aye, that’s all it’s got going for it. But they’ve preserved the scene. Forensics have already made a start.’
‘Where’s the hotel?’ Alex asked.
‘In town. We haven’t been there, but reservations were made for us.’ Dunbar looked at the others. ‘Alex, you seem to be the only one who had a good time, so you can drive.’
Alex was looking across the airport out to the sea in the distance. The sun was shining off it, making it look pleasant. Behind them, hills rose up. She wasn’t sure if they could be called mountains or not, but they were relatively high.
Dunbar tossed her the keys and they got into the car. They sat back as Alex started driving.
‘Have you seen much of Chance?’ Harry asked. His son had recently completed basic training for Police Scotland and had requested to work in Glasgow with Dunbar and Evans, rather than in Edinburgh with Harry.
‘Aye, I have,’ said Dunbar. ‘He’s a great lad.’
‘Katie, his friend, would have joined him if it hadn’t been for her mother being disabled,’ Harry said.
‘He’s only an hour’s drive away. It will be good for them. I mean, it’s not as if they were officially dating or anything.’
‘Dating,’ Evans said. ‘Who uses that term nowadays?’
‘Shut your cakehole. For a wee Jessie who’s just been squealing on the wee aeroplane, you would do well not to invoke a ton of slagging while we’re here.’
‘Anyway, I told Chance we’d go out for a pint one night soon,’ Evans said, ignoring Dunbar.
‘Just look after him, Robbie,’ Harry said.
‘Will do, sir. He’s in good hands.’
‘There’re a lot of attractions on the islands,’ Dunbar said. ‘We were given a briefing, which I’ll go over with you. We have a makeshift incident room in the station, which is not too far from here. I haven’t been there yet, but I want to see the scene. We can meet the family first. Get a feel for them.’
‘Sounds like a crappy game show,’ Evans said.
‘Even crappier when you think one of them was murdered. Just keep that in mind.’
‘Aye. Sorry.’
‘Robbie’s upset because his holiday plans were cancelled,’ Dunbar said as they arrived at the hotel. They pulled their luggage out of the boot of the car.
‘Oh no,’ Alex said. ‘Where were you going?’
Evans managed to put on a disgusted, unhappy look. ‘Tenerife. A week away with my girlfriend.’
‘You sure you have a girlfriend?’ Dunbar said. ‘A real woman? Usually at the end of the holiday, you have to deflate her and pop her back in your suitcase.’
‘Bernadette’s real enough,’ Evans replied, making a face that suggested he shouldn’t even have had to explain that.
‘Aye well, if it’s any consolation, my weekend was buggered too. Me and Cathy were going to go down to Largs with her old man. Now it’s just the two of them and Scooby.’
‘Jesus. Even your dug gets a holiday.’
‘Never mind, Robbie,’ Harry said. ‘I’m sure your girlfriend will be happy to wait.’
‘Maybe she’s here with us now,’ Dunbar said. ‘You know, like one of those imaginary friends a kid has.’
‘Can we just get inside, sir?’ Evans said, eager to change the subject, as they looked at the outside of the hotel.
‘The Laoch Lodge,’ Dunbar said, shaking his head. ‘No expense spared. I hope it’s not one of those places you have to bring your own bog roll.’
‘What place have you ever stayed in that you took your own bog roll?’ Harry asked.
‘Well, not bog roll exactly, but the wife and I stayed in a shitty wee private hotel on our honeymoon night and I had to keep putting money in the meter to put the heater on. I kid you not.’
‘Why would you need a heater on your honeymoon night? Forgot your Wee Willie Winkie nightshirt?’ Evans said.
‘Why are your gums flapping? Besides, it was November. But it didn’t look too different from this place. The owner was a miserable bastard. Looked like he laid the fucking eggs in the morning.’
‘I’m sure this place will be different,’ Alex said. ‘It looks quaint.’
‘Quaint, Alex?’ Dunbar said. ‘Is that Gaelic for shitehole?’
The building could have been somebody’s house at one time, but now it was a small hotel. If it had any Michelin stars, they were well hidden.
‘I thought this would be a no-name place,’ Harry said sarcastically, some colour coming back to his cheeks. ‘Mind and tip the concierge.’
They went inside and were met at a desk that served as a reception counter. A man sat behind it, reading a newspaper. He was older, maybe in his sixties.
‘You the polis?’ he said, putting the newspaper down.
‘What gave
