A Cornish Ransom: The Loveday Mysteries, #8

By Rena George

A man's body is pulled from the river in Inverness as the cathedral bells ring in a new year.
The last thing Loveday and Sam want is for a murder to spoil their holiday in Scotland. But fate takes a hand. The man is Cornish, and events pursue them back to Cornwall where a major search is taking place to find a prominent missing businessman.
When Sam realises the two could be connected, he and Loveday are plunged into a mystery that grows more complicated by the hour.
The riddle deepens when suspicion grows over a previous death initially thought to have been an accident.
If you like a fast action murder mystery that will keep you guessing till the end you'll love A Cornish Ransom. Buy it now!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rena George
• Release date: Jun 13, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393057840

Book preview

Chapter One

‘I didn’t expect to see dolphins at this time of year,’ Sam said, his face lighting up as another sleek dark shape broke the surface of the water and made an acrobatic arch before plunging back into the firth.

Loveday laughed. ‘I don’t imagine the dolphins know it’s Hogmanay.’ She had been watching him. It was good to see him smiling, however fleetingly. She knew how difficult this time of year always was for him, but more so this Christmas because his children weren’t even in the country. Sam’s ex-wife, Victoria, and her new partner, Gavin, had taken Jack and Maddie skiing in Austria. They would all love it of course, although she doubted if the actual skiing experience would be any better than what they could have enjoyed on the snowy slopes above Aviemore.

A ripple of excitement went through the little group of dolphin watchers that had collected around them on the gravel beach at Chanonry Point on the Black Isle as another pair of dolphins emerged in unison from the choppy firth.

‘How did you find this place? It’s amazing,’ Sam said, training his binoculars on the spot where the dolphins had emerged for a split second and then quickly disappeared back into the dark water.

Loveday tossed him an amused look. ‘Our pub isn’t called the Dolphin Inn for nothing. The whole coast here is known for these sightings. Although this beach is probably the best viewpoint.’

She glanced along the array of long lenses, all trained on the water, as the watchers poised their cameras to get the best shots of the wildlife spectacle.

One of the group, a man in a red woolly hat and scarf, lowered his camera and came to stand with them. ‘We’re lucky seeing them at this time of day,’ he said, his eyes still on the moving water. ‘The best time to come out here is when the tide is on the turn. The dolphins follow the salmon.’

He turned to Loveday. ‘Didn’t I see you both in the pub last night? You’re the barmaid.’

‘Temporary barmaid,’ Loveday corrected him. ‘I was only helping out because they were so busy. It’s my parents’ pub.’

His eyes lingered on her for a second longer than she felt was comfortable before he allowed his eyes to travel to Sam. ‘I haven’t seen you here before.’

‘We’re on holiday,’ Sam said.

The man turned his attention back to Loveday. ‘You too?’

She nodded, looking back out across the water. She couldn’t explain why she was reluctant to encourage conversation with the stranger. The thought he might have been watching her in the bar the previous night made her uneasy.

‘What about you?’ Sam asked. ‘Do you live locally?’ He nodded out across the firth. ‘You seem to know a lot about the wildlife here…for a Cornishman.’

Loveday didn’t miss the flash of suspicion in the man’s wary grey eyes. She could see Sam had noted it too.

‘Your accent,’ Sam said. ‘I’m guessing not far from Redruth.’

The man’s face slowly relaxed. ‘You too?’

Sam nodded.

The stranger turned his attention back on Loveday. ‘You don’t sound Cornish.’

‘Only half. I was born three miles from here,’ she said.

There was a movement out in the waves and the man lifted his camera again. Sam did the same. All around them shutters clicked as a single dolphin rose from the murky depths and made a spectacularly elegant arch before plunging back into the water. No one moved their eyes from the spot, willing the creature to reappear, but it didn’t.

‘That was Marcos,’ the man said. ‘Did you notice the scar across his back?’

‘You recognized it?’ Loveday couldn’t hide her surprise.

‘I know them all. People think all dolphins are the same, but they’re not. They have personalities, just like us.’

Loveday and Sam exchanged a look.

‘But there must be scores of dolphins out there,’ she said. ‘Are you saying you can recognize each one?’

‘There’s over a hundred actually, and yes, I probably do know each one. I’ve given them all names. It helps to keep track of them as they travel around the coast. I’m told the research I do is invaluable to the conservation people who run the Dolphin Trust.’ He nodded along the coast to where Loveday remembered there was a dolphin visitors’ centre. ‘A lot of the photos exhibited there were taken by me.’

Despite herself, Loveday was impressed. If this man had still been based in Cornwall she would definitely be interviewing him for an article in Cornish Folk magazine.

She might be the editor, and increasingly involved in the admin side of things, but she would never give up her writing, or the thrill of finding interesting people to interview. Maybe her gut feeling about this man had been wrong, and she’d been imagining the way he was looking at her.

‘How long have you lived up here?’ Sam asked.

The man looked away and Loveday saw him frown. ‘Off and on for the last ten years,’ he said.

They both nodded, waiting for him to go on.

‘I’m not going back to Cornwall, not this time. I have a place over at Merkinch. It’s not much, only a run-down flat near the harbour, but it does me.’

Out on the water, sheets of snow were beginning to move up the firth. Loveday frowned into the icy wind and shivered, as Sam reached over to pull up her collar.

He looked down at her and smiled. ‘Come on you. We should get back before you freeze to death.’

Loveday drew her fleecy jacket tighter around herself. ‘What about the dolphins?’

‘I’m not worried about the dolphins. There are a couple of big glasses of rum waiting to warm us up back at the pub.’

‘You can’t drink rum.’ Loveday looked shocked. ‘You’re in the Highlands now, Inspector. It’s whisky we drink up here.’

Sam grinned down at her. ‘Just checking you were paying attention.’

She gave him a thump on the shoulder and noticed the man in the red hat and scarf had turned sharply away. But he hadn’t been quick enough for her not to notice the flicker of alarm in the sharp grey eyes. Had the suggestion Sam was a police officer been uncomfortable for him? Her feeling of suspicion about this person was returning.

As they said their goodbyes and turned to walk away, he called after them. ‘I might look in at your pub again tonight. Will you be there?’

‘I should think the whole village will be there for the bells,’ Loveday said. ‘No one celebrates New Year’s Eve like the Dolphin Inn.’

Chapter Two

‘I ’m getting the impression this is going to be a big boozy night,’ Sam groaned as they got into the black four-wheel drive vehicle he’d rented for the week.

‘Man up, DI Kitto.’ Loveday gave him a teasing prod. ‘No one has to get drunk if they don’t want to.’

‘D’you want to?’

‘Want to what?’

‘Get drunk of course. Pay attention, Loveday.’

Loveday blew into her hands and rubbed them together, trying to get the circulation going after having been out on the exposed headland. ‘I was thinking about our new friend back there. I don’t really fancy getting stuck with him all evening.’

Sam gave her a surprised look. ‘You’re not usually this antisocial. He looked like a lonely old boy.’

‘More like a lecherous old boy,’ Loveday said, a shiver running down her back. ‘Didn’t you catch how he was looking at me?’

‘Your imagination is working overtime again, my darling.’ He started the engine and the vehicle’s tyres made a crunching sound on the ice as they drove slowly back along the narrow road.

‘Not this time.’ She pulled a face. ‘I know how he was looking at me, Sam, and it made my blood creep.’

He frowned, turning. ‘You should have said something back there.’

‘What would have been the point? He didn’t actually do anything wrong. I just don’t want him spoiling tonight’s celebrations.’

‘I promise you that won’t happen,’ Sam said.

She put her head on his shoulder. ‘Thank you for coming to Scotland with me.’

‘You don’t need to thank me,’ he said. ‘I’m having a great time.’

‘You were really impressed by those dolphins, weren’t you?’ She was looking up at him, amused at how the side of his mouth had twitched into a smile.

He nodded. ‘It’s quite a spectacle. We should squeeze in another visit before we go back to Cornwall.’

‘I’m feeling guilty now for dragging you away.’

‘Well don’t. It wasn’t all gallantry on my part. It was more than a touch draughty out on that beach. You’re not the only one who was having their butt frozen off.’

Loveday laughed, but she’d had a sudden thought. ‘If you really are all that interested in the dolphins, then there is something we can do, if you’re up for it.’

‘I’m listening.’

‘There used to be the Dolphin Visitor Centre just along the road from here. We could call in before going back to the pub.’

‘Why not,’ he said. ‘Only a week in the Highlands and already I’m getting the wildlife bug.’

‘Well, don’t speak too soon.’ She grinned. ‘You haven’t been on a wild haggis hunt yet.’

‘I’ll stick to the dolphins, thank you.’

‘In that case,’ she said, ‘you’d better turn off at the next junction. As I remember, the centre is just the other side of the main road.’

Sam followed her instructions and drew up in front of a Tourist Information Centre. Loveday gazed all around and her brow creased. ‘Well, the dolphin place used to here,’ she said. ‘Where’s it gone?’

‘They might know.’ Sam nodded towards the Tourist Information Centre. ‘Shall we go in and ask?’

Apart from a young woman behind a reception desk the place looked deserted. The woman looked up, flashing them a bright smile.

‘We weren’t sure you would be open on Hogmanay,’ Loveday said, glancing around her for any brochures about local dolphins.

‘We still have tourists at this time of year, but today has been quiet right enough,’ the woman said. There was a charming Highland lilt to her voice. ‘Was there something in particular you wanted to know about?’

Loveday nodded. ‘We were actually looking for the Dolphin Visitor Centre that used to be here.’

The woman pulled a face. ‘Aye it did, but it shut down a couple of years ago. Not enough funds to keep it going sadly. There is a caravan just along the road though, but it’s not very well signposted. It’s run by volunteers, nothing official, but they call themselves the Dolphin Trust, and they’re very enthusiastic. You’ll find all the material you want along there. If they’re open that is.’

‘Not to worry,’ Sam said. ‘It was just a thought. We only wanted to pick up a few brochures.’

‘There’s a selection of leaflets and photographs over there.’ The woman indicated the display Loveday had already spotted.

Sam’s eyes were on a couple of black and white photographs on the wall showing dolphins performing spectacular leaps from the water.

‘Who took these?’ he asked, sliding a look to Loveday. But she was already staring at the photos.

‘An amateur photographer. I believe he supplies a lot of pictures to the caravan. He’s in here all the time, trying to persuade us to display more of his work. His pictures aren’t bad, but we’re not here to promote this man’s business, even if he does know about dolphins.’

‘We met someone over at Chanonry Point earlier today,’ Loveday said. ‘He told us his photographs were on display at the Dolphin Centre.’

‘He probably meant the caravan,’ the woman said.

Loveday touched her head. ‘Red woolly hat, middle aged, unshaven?’

The receptionist curled up her nose. ‘Aye, that sounds like him all right. We should have some of his business cards here.’ She rifled through the brochures on the desk and picked up a small white card, handing it to Sam as if it was something unpleasant. ‘This is him. You can take it if you like.’

He reached out for the card and glanced at it, before handing it to Loveday.

‘You don’t actually know him then?’ the woman said quietly, as Sam headed across the room to collect what literature he could find on the dolphins.

Loveday shook her head. ‘He was down at the point taking pictures when we were there and came over to speak to us.’ She shot the woman a questioning look. ‘Why do you ask?’

The woman looked around her, as though checking she could not be overheard. Even though there was no one else around, she lowered her voice. ‘I shouldn’t be saying this, but well…just watch him, that’s all I’m saying.’

‘What do you mean, watch him?’

‘If you’ve met him you must know what I’m talking about. I’ve seen how he is with young women, how he looks at them. He leers. He’s done the same with me. I’m not saying he’s dangerous, but just keep your wits about you if you’re going to contact him.’

Loveday’s eyes went across the room to see if Sam had heard the conversation. He didn’t appear to have done, but she knew that he had. He was flapping the literature he’d found and smiling at the receptionist. ‘OK if we take these?’

‘Of course,’ she said, returning his smile. ‘That’s why we’re here. Take what you want. I hope they help.’

Sam had collected as many different leaflets as he could find, before he and Loveday smiled their thanks and left.

Back in the car Loveday was thoughtful as she looked down at the business card. It was a cheap homemade effort done on a computer.

Thomas Nankivel – Specialist wildlife photographer. There was a mobile number.

‘I suppose you heard all that?’ she said.

‘Of course, but she didn’t offer any evidence that the man had done anything wrong.’

‘Maybe not,’ Loveday said. ‘But I knew exactly what she meant. The man gave me the creeps, Sam.’

Her gaze went back to the card.

‘D’you think he’s our dolphin man?’ Loveday asked.

Sam checked the card again as he started the engine. ‘With a name like Nankivel, I’d say it’s a definite maybe.’

Chapter Three

Delicious meaty smells were emanating from the kitchen when Loveday and Sam got back to the pub. Her mother was up to her elbows in flour.

‘The Hogmanay steak pie,’ Heather explained. ‘I hope you two are saving your appetites.’

‘Smells amazing,’ Loveday said, wrinkling her nose. ‘I can’t wait to taste it.’

‘You can count me in too,’ Sam said. ‘I’ve heard all about this famous steak pie.’

Heather Ross’s cheeks flushed an even deeper colour. ‘What time are you two planning to set off for the ceilidh?’ she asked, wiping the back of her wrist over her brow and leaving a trail of flour.

‘The music starts at 8.30 and the park should be filling by then,’ Loveday said. ‘We were thinking of getting there by 11 and staying for the bells, and then the fireworks. We should be back here at the pub by about 1.30.’

‘The party will still be going on here, won’t it?’ Sam quirked an eyebrow.

‘Only an Englishman could ask that.’ Loveday shook her head, smiling at him. ‘It’s Hogmanay, Sam. No self-respecting Highlander will be in bed before 5.30.’

‘Just asking,’ Sam said, throwing up his hands in a gesture of defence. ‘We don’t want to miss out on anything.’

‘I promise that won’t happen,’ Loveday said. Turning to her mother she asked, ‘When do you want me in the bar tonight, Mum?’

‘We’ll play it by ear. We’re bound to be busy, but your brothers will be doing their bit, and then there’s our part-timer, Janet. She’s agreed to come in and do a shift behind the bar.’

‘Count me in too,’ Sam said.

Loveday’s mouth fell open. ‘I didn’t know you had bar work experience?’

‘Only on the other side.’ Sam grinned. ‘But it can’t be that difficult.’

‘A piece of cake.’ Heather smiled. ‘And thanks for the offer. We might need to take you up on it.’

‘In that case I won’t bother even staying in,’ Loveday said.

‘I might need your help in the kitchen,’ her mother chipped in. ‘You don’t get off so lightly.’

‘All hands to the pump, then.’ Sam laughed, as Loveday rolled her eyes.

---

The pub regulars began to drift in as soon as the bar opened later in the evening. They weren’t changing the habit of a lifetime, not even for Hogmanay, Heather remarked to her husband, Duncan, when he passed through the kitchen on his way to the cellar to check the barrels.

‘And thank the Lord for that,’ Duncan said, giving her a peck on the cheek as he passed.

He had drafted a sketchy work schedule for them all to run the bar when they got busy, as they almost certainly would.

‘What about this meal tonight? We won’t all be able to sit down at the same time,’ Duncan Ross said, when he emerged from the cellar.

‘I know. We’ll have to go with it,’ Heather replied. ‘It won’t exactly be a formal sit-down meal. I want everyone to get some good solid food inside them before the bells.’

‘Seems a shame we can’t treat your steak pie with the reverence it deserves,’ Duncan said.

‘So long as everyone sits down and eats at some time between 9 and 10 then I’ll be quite happy,’ Heather said.

Judging by the raucous noise already coming from the bar it seemed to Loveday that half the village had turned out to have a pre-bells dram at the Dolphin Inn, but then her dad had announced the first drink would be on the house.

She couldn’t help wondering if their dolphin man, as she now thought of the stranger from Redruth, was out there amongst the locals. The thought of spending the evening wondering if he was watching her was not filling Loveday with joy. The man had made her feel distinctly uncomfortable, but she had decided there was no point going on about it to Sam. Perhaps his first comment that she was the victim of an over-active imagination had been right. It wasn’t important. They would probably never see the man again. These few days when she and Sam could be alone together were precious to both of them, and she had no intention of allowing a stranger to spoil it.

Once she’d finished setting the table she poked her head round the bar door to where Sam and her brothers, Hugh and Brodie, were working the optics like frantic dairymaids tending a herd of thirsty Highland cows in their milking parlour. The place was going like a fair.

‘I can step in for a while if one of you would like a break,’ she offered.

‘You can take over here, if you like,’ Hugh said. ‘I’m gasping for a pint.’

‘No problem,’ Loveday said, squeezing in beside Sam.

‘How’re you doing?’ she said out of the side of her mouth, as she stepped up to serve the next customer.

‘Yeah, great,’ he said, but she could tell he was the teeniest bit stressed.

Over the next