Empty Nets and Promises Read Online Free PDF Page A

good a day as any,’ said Hoynes.
    â€˜A good day for what?’ enquired Peter, sensing there was something afoot.
    â€˜Och, ne’er you mind. Jeest you keep your nose in that jotter. And while you’re at it, you can leave oot any mention o’ that octopus. I’m sure me and Keacheran can dae a wee sale on the side wae that creature,’ said Hoynes, rubbing his hands.
    â€˜A sale on the side? What’s that when it’s at home?’
    â€˜That’s fae the advanced course they’ll likely no’ teach you at college, Peter. Time enough for you tae learn that. Whoot do you say, Hamish?’
    â€˜As the bard would say himsel’, there are more things in heaven, earth and fishing boats than are dreamt o’ in your philosophy,’ replied Hamish sagely.
    â€˜My, but was he no’ a clever one, thon Shakespeare. Though I’d nae idea he’d been at the fishing,’ said Hoynes with a wink.
    As his crewmates laughed to themselves, Peter carefully jotted down the word ‘octopus’ at the back of his jotter, alongside the date and time.
    Duncan and Maggie were strolling along Kinloch’s esplanade. It had been a hot day at the police office, with the narrow gaps under the crumbling old sash windows letting in little of the scant breeze. The evening was mercifully cooler, and Duncan was enjoying being out in the fresh air, the waft of Maggie’s perfume adding a pleasing note to the tang of the sea.
    â€˜Not long now, love,’ he said, glancing at his intended.
    â€˜No,’ said Maggie. ‘Just the show of presents to get through. And then there’s your stag night . . .’
    â€˜A few drinks with your father, Hamish and some of the boys – I wouldn’t exactly call it a stag night, Maggie.’
    She stopped and looked up at him, holding both of his hands in hers. ‘You don’t know what they’re like, Duncan. It’s a kind of tradition here – amongst the fishermen – when one of their own gets hitched. Oh, they have a bit of a carry-on, all together.’
    â€˜I’m not one of their own, though. Don’t worry, they’ll not get up to any high jinks with me.’ He smiled reassuringly.
    â€˜That’s what they all say.’ Maggie was chewing her lip. ‘They shaved off Norrie Maclean’s eyebrows. He looked like something out of a waxworks on his wedding day. And big Tommy McMichael nearly missed his big day altogether.’
    â€˜How?’
    â€˜They tied him to a lamppost – he was there all night, and it set off his pleurisy. He looked like a ghost in front of the minister. They had to have oxygen on standby. Poor wee Sheena was bawling all through the service.’
    â€˜Maggie, trust me. Nothing like that’s going to happen to me. I’m more than a match for your father and his cronies. In any case, there’ll be a squad of my men there, so relax.’
    She looked away. Across the loch the throaty putter of the Gardiner diesel engine heralded the arrival of her father’s boat as it made its way into harbour. ‘There’s the old bugger there,’ she said.
    â€˜Oh aye. And trailing some gulls – they must have a decent catch for once.’
    â€˜They’re up to something, Duncan.’ She grabbed his hands again. ‘Something to do with a plane. I wouldn’t be surprised if you ended up on Islay, or maybe even darkest Africa. That lot are capable of anything!’
    â€˜What do you mean, a plane?’
    â€˜Just that. I heard Hamish and my father on Saturday night. They were plotting something, no doubt about it. I know them better than you, remember.’
    â€˜I’m sure it’s nothing,’ said Duncan. Then he remembered his conversation with Semple. ‘Surely they’re not sending the stuff out by plane,’ he said out loud before realising it.
    â€˜What are you on about?’
    â€˜Nothing,