Питер Мэй - I'll Keep You Safe

His eyes opened wide. ‘But I thought...’

She nodded. ‘I know. Me, too.’

He stood up. ‘You really are?’

‘Yes.’ And she felt his arms around her, pulling her close and holding her tight in a way she had thought he never would again. And it felt like life had given them a second chance.

My grateful thanks for their help in my researches for this book to: Margaret Ann Macleod, Brand Development Director, Harris Tweed Hebrides, for her knowledge of weaving, and her insights into growing up on the Isle of Lewis in the Eighties and Nineties; Brian Wilson, Chairman, Harris Tweed Hebrides, for allowing me access to the mill; Mark Hogarth, Creative Director, Harris Tweed Hebrides, for his introduction to Première Vision in Paris; Iain Finlay Macleod, Breanish Tweed, for his insights into building a successful weaving enterprise; Annie Macdonald, Carloway Mill, for rescuing the mill and allowing me access to it; Simon Scott, Factor, Grimersta Lodge, and his team for taking me round the lodge and explaining the workings of the estate; Anna Murray and Donna Morrison, for their observations and anecdotes on island life; Derek Murray, for his tales of gate-stealing, and who took me out across the moor on a foul day to introduce me to the delights of Cuishader, Bilascleiter and Taigh ’an Fiosaich, which became such important locations in the book; the entire team at Comunn Eachdraidh Nis (Ness Historical Society) for their help and friendship, and access to historical and geographical information about Ness; Alasdair Macrae, funeral director, Stornoway, for his invaluable insights into island funeral customs; Derek Macleod, weaver, Carloway, for taking the risk of letting me try out his loom; George Murray, retired police officer, for advice on island policing; Dr Steve Campman, Medical Examiner, San Diego, California, USA, for his advice on forensics and pathology; Tatiana Lebedev, Russian fashion designer, for allowing me access to her Paris workshop and boutique; and a special word for Professor Joe Cummins, emeritus in genetics at the University of Western Ontario, Canada, who provided scientific advice on many of my books over the last twenty years. It was Joe who inspired me to write Coffin Road in defence of the bees. Sadly Joe passed away last year. RIP.

Peter May January 2018