Chapters 10-12 Summary

Hunter, still extremely sore, returns to his hotel. He discusses the case with the grumpy Fraser and is then harassed in the bar by the hulking and inebriated ex-fisherman Guthrie. The tension is eased as other locals, including Maggie, enter. Throughout this sequence, Hunter's identity as an urban outsider, and its effect on this insular community, becomes more apparent as a complication to the investigation. Maggie reveals to Hunter that she had written a story exposing a drunken assault by Fraser on a female suspect. This explains the permanent rift between them.

As chapter 11 begins, an epic storm has reached the Hebrides which will delay for days the arrival of the SOC team and hinder later communication. Hunter and Jenny reconcile briefly over the phone but then the line goes dead. Then Hunter, yet again, sees a girl in a nightgown...