Farrell came off the phone, his eyes glittering. He looked manic, thought Mhairi, and she worried that he was going to break down under the strain of the night’s events.
‘That was the coastguard,’ he said. ‘They think they’ve located the boat, pulled up on the shore not far from here. As instructed, they didn’t linger, so that Halliday doesn’t realize we’ve got the drop on his location.’
‘So he’s hiding in the caves then?’ said Mhairi.
‘There’s only one really deep one, apparently, so my money’s on them being in there. We need to move out now,’ said Farrell.
‘Wouldn’t it be safer to wait until first light?’ asked Stirling.
‘Yes, but we’re not going to,’ said Farrell. ‘We don’t know if Lind’s still alive, but I’m not going to sit here in the warm while he’s down there with that nutter. Because of the danger, I’d like to call for volunteers only. We’re going to have to make the descent over the cliffs in the dark, with the help of the two army boys Mhairi was able to rustle up. Anyone who feels unable to do that can wait here with my blessing.’
‘DS Stirling, we’ll need a senior officer to liaise between the various parties,’ he said, giving the older man a respectable out.
‘Bugger that, sir,’ said Stirling. ‘You can count me in for this one. DC Thomson has already been in the firing line today, so I reckon he’s the one who should man the base.’
‘Agreed,’ said Farrell. ‘DC Thomson, you’ve won the respect of every man and woman in the team today, but I’m afraid you have to sit this one out.’
DC Thomson glared at him but shrugged in capitulation. He wasn’t fit enough yet and knew he would only slow them down.
‘Right, that’s settled,’ said Farrell. ‘Radio silence, please.’
They crept over the wiry long grass towards the cliff edge. The two military men had come well equipped and motioned to them to stay back, until they had selected the best place to descend. Mhairi felt sick with nerves. It was a long way down and she had never abseiled before. Well, she was just going to have to bloody suck it up. Anything for the DCI.
Farrell went first. He gave her the thumbs up as he lowered himself backwards over the cliff, then disappeared from sight. Stirling went next. His legs were visibly shaking, which made her feel a bit better.
Soon, she was waved over and strapped into the harness. There was a roaring in her ears as she stepped off into the inky void. Initially she panicked and nearly wrenched her arm from its socket by trying to stop her descent. But then she remembered the instructions and let out the rope, bit by bit, until her legs finally connected with the rocky shore below. Farrell’s strong arms grabbed her and helped her shed the harness. Hopefully, the noise of the waves crashing against the shore would have drowned out any noise they made coming down.
DS Forsyth and two of his men made up the six to advance into the cave. Guns cocked, the firearms team advanced, solid professionals to the core. Mhairi crept forward at Farrell’s heels, her baton held at the ready.
Suddenly, a man ran out of the cave, heading for the boat. He was clutching a sketchpad. The closest member of the firearms team took aim.
‘Stop, Police!’ he yelled. ‘Put your hands in the air!’
Halliday slid to a halt as the moon came out from behind the clouds. His teeth were bared, and his eyes glittered with rage. He looked feral. Crouching low, he attempted to run for a rocky outcrop.
A shot rang out, and Halliday toppled to the ground. He lay there unmoving. Sergeant Forsyth ran over, felt for a pulse and shook his head.
Farrell was already running into the cave with Mhairi and Stirling close behind him. The interior was cavernous, the walls lit with flickering light from a number of storm lanterns.
Mhairi let out a cry of distress. Lind’s body looked lifeless. His eyes were closed and there was blood pooled under his head.
‘John! We’re here buddy, stay with us,’ yelled Farrell running forward to his friend. He felt for a pulse. It was faint, but it was there.
‘He’s alive, but only just,’ he yelled. ‘Hurry!’
The two army boys came running with the spinal board and blankets they’d had strapped to their backs during the descent.
‘They’re going to take him to the neurosurgical unit at Glasgow,’ Farrell shouted over the noise of the approaching chopper. It was unable to land but they managed to winch up Lind successfully. It then turned inland, the sound of the rotor blades receding into the distance.
Silence fell once more, aside from the rhythmical pounding of the waves. Farrell sat down abruptly on a rock, a spent source, as the power drained from his limbs. Mhairi felt light-headed herself. It was almost too much to take in.
Nobody spoke for a few minutes. Feeling her teeth start to chatter with the cold Mhairi approached her boss.
‘What now, sir?’
Farrell looked broken, like he was on the verge of collapse. He didn’t reply.
She nudged him with her toe. He had to snap out of it. He was the senior officer and decisions had to be made.
His head lifted, and his expression sharpened. He was back.
‘McLeod and Stirling need to stay with the body, pending the arrival of SOCO at first light. You can take shelter in the cave, and the army lads can lower down sleeping bags, blankets, and food before they leave. A plastic tent will also be provided, which can be erected over the body to protect it from the worst of the elements.’
‘You’ll be all right?’ he asked, looking at Mhairi.
She didn’t reply, staring past him at Halliday’s boat pulled up on the shoreline.
‘Mhairi?’
‘There’s someone in the boat!’ she shouted, taking off at a run. Farrell spun round and followed her. As they got closer they could see it was Maureen Kerrigan. Although she was bound and gagged, she’d managed to shuffle into an upright position. She was cold and shaking, but otherwise unharmed. They quickly freed her. She clung to Mhairi, sobbing.
‘I saw DCI Lind being taken away. Is he going to be OK?’
‘I don’t know,’ said Mhairi. ‘He looked pretty bad.’
The army officers took Maureen away to winch her up the cliffs to where DC Thomson was waiting. Farrell turned to Mhairi.
‘Are you sure you’ll be OK until morning?’
She stepped up and hugged him.
‘We’ll be fine, sir,’ she said. ‘I’m sure DS Stirling has plenty of war stories to pass the time. Let us know as soon as you hear anything about the DCI.’
‘You got it,’ said Farrell, turning to stride away.