They pulled the body from the slow flowing waters. They, that would be Lothian and Borders finest, had arrived quickly. A senior detective was interviewing the two doctors.
"So you found the body?" he asked.
"Couldn't very well miss it." Lachie replied.
"You are who?" the DCI, questioned looking at Dr Mallard.
"I am Dr Mallard Chief ME to NCIS, Washington DC, and you Sir are?" he returned the question.
"Detective Chief Inspector James." The DCI answered, "And your friend?"
"I Sir, am Dr Lauchlan McLauchlan, a General Practitioner from Caithness. So you see we are not mere tourists. My element colleague is on his way to Stockbridge to meet with a certain law firm to ascertain some information regarding a relative, I might add distant, to his mother, who I may add was once related to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle." Lachie added.
"You mother was related, Dr Mallard, to the great writer?" the officer now asked.
"It would appear very distantly, but I was on my way to see a member of the firm, and the walk along the water is so more interesting." Ducky concluded.
"I take it the body will be taken to the city morgue, or are you talking the New Royal Infirmary?" Lachie asked.
"It will be the cow-gate." The detective replied.
"Good, so Donald you got and see your lawyer, I am off to pull a few strings and see if the ME needs assistants." As Lachie turned and strode off along the pathway.
-oOo-
Donald had had a very tiring meeting with the lawyers. It turned out that what was indeed a substantial legacy, was infact going to be split. He would however receive approximately £10.000, which the lawyer hoped would be fine.
"Oh yes," Dr Mallard had replied. The lawyer had also given him a key to a strong box which was held at the Royal Bank of Scotland's main bank in St Andrews Square. Ducky thanked the solicitor and went outside to call Lachie.
He listened, and hailed a black taxi that was passing. It took him to the mortuary.
-oOo-
"Ducky, the pathologist says, that it is going to be this afternoon before he will be preforming. But I have had a nose about so to speak and what a change from our day. Gary says we can assist if we would like. And I Donald would be delighted, unless you have a better idea?" Lachie roared.
"Lachie, I think we should have some luncheon and I will relate my morning. Now tell me does Bannermans sound fine for you?" he now enquired.
So it was after a hearty meal of steak pie and a couple of halfs' of Guinness, the two made their way back to the morgue.
Gary Preston greeted them.
"Gentlemen I hope you will not be squeamish." He laughed.
"Gary, as ME to NCIS, it may come as a surprise to you, that nothing surprises me anymore. As we go about our business, I will relate to you tales that you will have only, in your wildest dreams or nightmares thought of." Dr Mallard now replied. Lauchlin shook his head and looked at Gary.
-oOo-
"So murder…" DCI James announced, looking at the three doctors.
"Most definitely, the gash on the cranium, blunt force trauma to the left side of the head, but the gash on the right, indicted that the skin was torn open, when and where it came into contact with something." Ducky now replied.
"And do any of you Doctors have the slightest idea what that might have been?" the inspector now asked.
"Not being a police officer, but looking into the gash, we did find some Charales. Which," now looking at the Dectective, "Pondweed, freshwater algae in the division of Charophyta. They may be called stonewortsbecause the plants can become encrusted in lime after some time. The stem is actually a central stalk consisting of giant…" Dr Mallard continued
"In English Dr." DCI James questioned.
"The body was killed elsewhere and thrown into the Water of Leith, probably from the Dean Bridge." Lachie added.
"But we do know he was East European," Dr Preston added, or should that be continued., "He has his blood group tattooed on his torso, and he was allergic to peanuts, he had the marks of an anaphylactic pen…"
"Which, he couldn't have used. Someone knew he was allergic to nuts." Ducky finished.
"So murder?"
The three Doctors nodded their heads.
"But Inspector do we have a name for our body. I do hate not being able to call him by his name." Ducky now asked.
"You guys seem to know more than me but yes Lithuanian by the name of Aleksandras Plytnykas. From, the capital, Vilnius. He arrived, four weeks ago, to work in the fish farm industry, over on the West Coast, Islay to be precise. He was spending some time here in Edinburgh before moving through. " The Detective replied now heading for the door.
"So, what now Donald? It is late and we should be getting back. You can relate to me what the lawyer had to say." Lachie now thundered as they scrubbed down.
-oOo-
Back at the hotel, the two men sat at the bar savouring one of several malts.
"So Donald, what have you inherited?"
"Lachie, about ten thousand pounds, and a strong box, which, is held, in St Andrews Square, Royal Bank. I will need to call and make an appointment first thing tomorrow." Ducky replied.
-oOo-
The next morning was another lovely last spring day. Funny, how the month of May was sometimes warmer and brighter than June and July. The two men, after breakfast had made their way over the Dean Bridge, and briefly looked over to where they had found the body.
"Do you think the Detective would relish a hand Donald?" Lachie enquired.
"I very much doubt it. I'm sure they have a very good force here. But Lachie, as they approached the bank, "Either go and annoy the Concierge, in Harvey Nichols, or go for a pint in yonder hostelry." Pointing to The Dome.
"Very well my friend I will. But don't be too long, you know how I love to regale tales of old to the tourists." Lauchlin replied waving a hand at his friend. Who continued along George Street to the Bank.
After about an hour, Ducky entered the Dome and found Lachie in full flow, surrounded by several American tourists, "Donald I was just telling our cousins from across the pond of our discovery yesterday. They say they saw it on the news, but are so interested, in your relationship with a true life organiasation."
"Lachie, I would say that it is a work, confidentiality, but if you would care to buy me a pint, I will show you what I have."
"Delighted, my friend. Barman, a pint of your finest ale for my element doctor." He shouted at the barman who glared at Lachie, "Come there is a table over there." As he strode over, carrying his own drinks. Duks paid the barman, apologised and went to join his friend.
"So Donald what is so, of interest?" Lachie now enquired.
"This" as Ducky produced a bottle of whisky from his briefcase.
"Ardbeg Corryvreckan. Wow. Now that is a collectors' piece. Any message, to go with it? Or do we just enjoy?" Lachie oozed.
"The letter, which was attached, says.
Follow the heart. Follow the tide.
Follow the cauldron of the plaid.
So I think we should go to Islay. Not only may we be able to see where our body was going to work, but we could enjoy a few days round the distilleries." Dr Mallard now enquired.
"Who knows Donald we might find some reason why our Lithuanian was murdered." Lachie concluded.
"Quite." as Ducky downed the last of his beer, and rose to leave, "But I think we should tell the detective of our intentions."