Free The Storm Without by Tony Black

landlady, Mrs Kerr, still upright in her tabard, drew me a look as I passed over the cash. 'What?' I said.
    'New lady friend, is it?'
    I tilted my head, twisted down the corner of my mouth. 'Please …'
    A blatant change of subject. 'Will you be joining us for dinner this evening, Mr Michie?'
    'I don't think so … not this evening.'
    Then, back on track. 'Oh, dining out are we?' A smile. Eyes over my shoulder towards Lyn. 'With erm …'
    I took my change, turned away. 'Thank you.'
    Lyn was tapping her foot to a new track on the radio as I arrived. It seemed a shame to break her groove, but I needed privacy. 'Look, would you mind if we took these upstairs?'
    She lapsed into mock indignation. 'Douglas Michie … what kind of girl do you take me for?'
    I held out my hand. 'My kind.'
    'Well, in that case.'
    As we left the drawing room, Mrs Kerr maintained her posture at the bar, glancing insouciantly as we passed. I thought to myself: you're as well hung for a sheep as a lamb.
    Lyn managed a laugh at the picture on my bedroom wall. 'Oh, my God … I never thought I'd see that again.'
    'Oh yeah, the Lassie dog.'
    She giggled again, touched the side of her mouth. 'This place is in a time warp.' She turned to face me. 'Do they have the green lady picture … and those Spanish orphan kids anywhere?'
    I shook my head. 'Erm, no.'
    'Are you sure?'
    'Well, I haven't seen them.'
    'Maybe you should take a look.'
    I pulled out the only chair, motioned Lyn to sit. 'I've had better things to do.'
    She took the hint, lowered herself in the creaking upholstery and started to sip at her Diet Coke. For a moment, she looked almost guilt-ridden. It was as if she had suddenly recalled the fate Glenn faced and her recent levity felled her. 'Well, you better tell me what you've been doing.'
    I knew she wouldn't like to hear it, but I had to come clean. After all, I never said I wasn't going to see Kirsty's parents. 'I visited the Donalds.'
    'Oh …'
    I had expected more of a reaction. 'They're good people.'
    Nodded. 'I told you that.'
    'They don't hate Glenn, you know …'
    Her eyes stared out to sea. 'No?'
    I laid it out for her. Relayed the highlights of my visit, what we'd discussed. How they appeared. 'I think they had their doubts about Glenn. I mean, they had pretty high expectations for Kirsty, and Glenn …'
    'Was hardly marriage material.'
    I held my words in check. Changed tack. 'I think I convinced them that there could be more to their daughter's death than the police are letting on.'
    Lyn returned her gaze to me. Her brow tightened. 'What do you mean?'
    I took a sip of my Talisker, lowered the glass. The ice crackled a little. 'The other night, I followed up on a hunch and let's just say it brought some focus to the investigation.'
    She twisted in her seat, leaned forward. 'Go on.'
    'I spoke to a contact I have on the force. I can't tell you what he said because that would place you and him in danger if it ever got out. But I think I'm onto something.'
    Lyn put down her glass, stood up. She was inches from me as she spoke. 'Onto what?'
    I looked away. I didn't know how wise it was to let her know what I knew.
    Lyn reached out, grabbed my arm. 'Onto what, Doug?'
    Our eyes locked. 'I was given a file.'
    'A file, what kind of file?'
    'A dossier … it was compiled by someone who'd been looking into some unusual goings on down at the Port of Ayr.'
    Lyn scrunched her 'brows. 'I don't understand.'
    'I didn't either, at first, but I looked through the file and I spotted a face that I recognised.'
    'Who?'
    She started to shiver before me. I held her hands in mine. 'It doesn't matter who. If the pieces of the puzzle click into place you'll find out in good time. There'll be no way of keeping it quiet … right now, the less you know the better.'
    'But, I need to know, Doug. They have my son, I need to know …'
    I tightened my grip. 'Lyn, if I'm right, this runs deep. Trust me, I have to keep you in the dark, for your own safety.'
    'Oh, Doug …'