Empty Nets and Promises Read Online Free PDF Page B

surprised?’ said Hoynes. ‘Was he no’ stranded for near a week?’
    â€˜He was that. It was the worst week o’ gales anyone can remember. We managed tae get the lifeboat intae the wee bay at Caribeg and got him hame. He’d been eating limpets, the poor bugger. Near lost the will tae live.’
    â€˜At least it didna fall on his heid,’ said Hamish.
    â€˜No, but he didna miss it by much. Maybe aboot half an hour. He heard the roar as the hillside collapsed, mind. Aye, and the piper, tae.’
    â€˜That’s jeest an auld wife’s tale,’ scoffed Hoynes. ‘It was likely the wind whistling through the eaves o’ that bothy o’ yours.’
    â€˜Indeed it was not,’ said Geordie indignantly. ‘He even named the tune – “The Flooers O’ The Forest”. You can ask him to this day.’
    The three of them stood in silence, contemplating the plight of the stranded man. Their musings were interrupted when the door burst open to reveal two men, rain running off their slate-grey raincoats in rivulets.
    â€˜A pint of your very best, landlord!’ shouted the taller of the two, as they shrugged off their soaking garments. ‘And a drink for the bar, while you’re at it,’ he added, spreading his coat over a radiator.
    Amidst the clamour of orders, Hoynes winked at Hamish. ‘No’ slow wae a dram, right enough. The game’s on, my freens.’
    Watson the Fishery Officer and Marshall, the stony-faced Collector from Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise, sat opposite Sergeant Grant in Kinloch Police Office.
    â€˜My information is that it’s to be today. Whatever they’re up to, that is,’ said Watson. ‘We have to strike while the iron’s hot, Duncan. I know this is difficult for you, under the circumstances, but the law is the law, and I’m sure you’re more than aware of the seriousness of all this.’
    â€˜Difficult – why so?’ queried Marshall.
    â€˜The sergeant here has a personal connection to Mr Hoynes . . . sir,’ replied Watson obsequiously.
    â€˜The fact that I’m just about to marry Sandy Hoynes’ daughter makes absolutely no difference, Mr Watson. If a crime is being committed, my duty is clear. I’ll not flinch from it,’ said Grant.
    â€˜And it better had remain that way, Sergeant,’ replied Marshall. ‘There’s a lot of interest in this case at Customs House in Glasgow. Make no mistake, everyone is taking this smuggling issue very seriously indeed. Careers may depend upon it. I hope I make myself clear?’ He raised his eyebrows for emphasis.
    â€˜You needn’t worry about me,’ replied Watson. ‘I’ve been after Sandy Hoynes for a long time. I’ve never been able to pin anything on him – slippery as an eel – but we’ve got him this time. Dealing in octopuses now, would you believe.’
    â€˜I’m less worried about the creatures of the deep and more about other matters,’ said Marshall.
    Watson stood. ‘I have it on very good authority that Hoynes and his sidekick are meeting with someone today. A plot is on the go. This very afternoon.’
    â€˜They are currently holed up in the Douglas Arms. I have one of my officers making discreet observations, as you requested, Mr Marshall. But I need to know more.’
    â€˜If our information is correct, they are meeting people with access to a plane. We can only assume that this is with a view to transporting Plain British Spirit out of bond, illicitly, to another destination. We already know that this stuff has made its way to Ayrshire.’ Marshall looked the policeman in the eye. ‘This is where it ends.’
    Grant thought for a moment or two. Did he suspect that his prospective father-in-law may not exactly adhere to the rulebook when it came to fishing? Yes. Did he think he was smuggling large quantities of illegal