‘Ewan?’ Heather’s voice filled the car. It was good to hear.
‘You need to get out of Ratagan,’ he said.
‘What?’
‘They know you’re at Ava’s sister’s. They’re on their way.’
‘The police?’
‘The other guys.’
The traffic on the A9 was shit as always. The overtaking lanes were no use in his shitty Honda so he was stuck in the slow lane with the supermarket trucks and low-loaders full of logged trees. He imagined the black SUVs way ahead, lights flashing, almost at Ratagan.
‘We’re not there,’ Heather said. ‘Ava realised something was wrong when her mother called.’
Ewan was always one step behind and he didn’t like it. But he was relieved they were OK. ‘Where are you?’
He sensed hesitation. He hit an open patch of road, cars zipping out to overtake. Around him were the low edges of the Cairngorms, a river rippling over a stony bed to his left. Big sky everywhere. The Highlands were full of space and he wasn’t used to it.
‘If you don’t want to tell me, I get it,’ he said. He was an outsider, didn’t have the connection that the rest of them had. But he cared about them, especially Heather. ‘As long as you’re safe.’
He heard some muffled chat, another woman’s voice.
‘We’re at Urquhart Castle.’
Ewan frowned. ‘The tourist trap? Aren’t you supposed to be hiding?’
‘The van broke down, we had to stop.’
‘Are you OK?’
‘We’re fine, someone is coming to help.’
‘Like a garage?’
‘Kind of.’
‘What about Sandy?’
More silence. He wondered what he would do in their shoes, realised he didn’t have a clue.
‘We’ll look after them,’ Heather said.
The road narrowed and a BMW swerved in front of him. This road was a death trap, had been for decades. His pulse quickened.
‘These guys after you,’ he said. ‘The main one is called Fellowes and he has three guys with him, armed.’
‘What?’
‘They’re very keen on finding Sandy. As long as you’re with that thing you’re in danger. Maybe you should give Sandy up.’
‘No.’
‘OK, but let me help you, please.’
His phone beeped, incoming call from Nina.
‘Shit, I’ve got another call from my police contact. I should get it, could be important.’
Heather cleared her throat. ‘I’ll call you once we know where we are with the van.’
He wanted to say more but didn’t know how. He answered Nina’s call.
‘Where the fuck are you?’ she said, but with a laid-back lilt in her voice.
Ewan turned off at Dalwhinnie. The new road would be slower and more windy but quieter too. He wondered how far ahead Fellowes was.
‘I’m at home.’ He tried to keep his voice flat.
‘No, you’re not,’ Nina said, ‘because I’ve just rung your doorbell.’
‘Why are you at my place?’
‘Because you’re a person of interest in a murder investigation, in case you’d forgotten.’
‘Come on, Nina, you know I’m not a murderer.’
‘Don’t fucking Nina me. You might not be a murderer but you’re not innocent in all this either.’
‘Why are you really at my flat?’
She sighed. Ewan wondered how many times he’d made a woman sigh in frustration over the years. Didn’t bear thinking about.
‘I came to warn you, a wee chat off the record.’
‘About Fellowes?’
‘You have no idea what you’re dealing with.’
‘You said that already.’
‘I know a little more now.’
‘He told you?’
The road stretched across a wide flood plain, hills in the distance, scraggy fir trees on the roadside. He imagined the blacked-out SUVs pummelling through the quiet.
‘Not exactly. I did some digging.’
‘And?’
‘These are the big guys, Ewan. MI5 or similar.’
‘OK.’
‘You don’t sound surprised.’
‘I’m shocked.’
A small laugh came down the line. ‘Domestic terrorism? What the fuck are you mixed up in?’
He thought about what he’d seen. ‘It’s not terrorism.’
‘Then what? These clowns only get involved if there’s a threat to national security.’
Ewan thought about Heather and the others wandering around a castle on the banks of Loch Ness.
‘This isn’t a security threat.’
‘Then what’s going on? I tried a friend of mine with security services. Pretty chatty when it suits him. Clammed up when I mentioned Fellowes. I got the impression this is a different league, like Fellowes is on some lunatic fringe of the organisation.’
‘OK.’
‘My point is, he doesn’t sound like the most accountable guy. A wee bit rogue, like yourself.’
‘Kindred spirits, then.’
‘Except he’s running around with a small gang of armed men.’
Ewan swallowed.
‘Sounds like you’re in the car,’ Nina said. ‘Following your story.’ This was dripping in sarcasm, a hint of affection too.
‘No, just heading to the shops.’
‘If you know where your friends are, you should tell me. Now.’
Ewan slowed the car then overtook a tractor pulling a trailer of hay.
‘It’s better if we find them before Fellowes, trust me,’ Nina said.
‘But you can’t guarantee their safety.’
‘I can try.’
‘I saw how that prick railroaded you in the interview room, Nina.’
That was cruel and he regretted it.
‘Well, nice talking to you.’
‘I’m sorry, Nina, it’s just…’
‘What?’
‘I can’t explain right now. You wouldn’t believe me anyway.’
Nina sighed. ‘OK. But if you meet Fellowes and his pals, don’t say I didn’t warn you.’
She hung up and Ewan felt alone in the sudden silence.