The whumping blades of a helicopter thrummed from somewhere over Kirkhill Forest; a childs happy squealing came from nearby, punctuated by the high-pitched yip of a small dog; the distant bagpipe drone of a lawnmower. Tuneless whistling from the man three houses down as he washed his Range Rover Sport.
Logan opened the gate and marched up the drive. A portico jutted out of the building, making a little rectangle of shade from the sun. He pressed the button on the intercom and classical music sounded deep within the house, followed by a dog barking. Something big, with lots of teeth.
A minute later, Ravels Bolero faded away. Still nothing from the intercom. But the hell-hound sounded like a gun going off, over and over again.
Logan gave the bell another try.
Chalmers wandered up beside him. Maybe theyre out?
Or maybe theyre just- Sodding hell, what now?
Steels ringtone blared out of his pocket. He hauled out his mobile and pointed Chalmers at a sweep of lockblock leading around the side of the house. Try round the back.
She looked up at the house, rubbing her thumb across the tips of her fingers. What if the dog-
If it could get outside, wed be running for our lives with no arse in our trousers by now. Go.
As soon as she was gone, he took the call. Im doing it, OK? Ive just been to the Garfields, and now Im at the Chungs.
Whats happening with that sodding necklacing victim? How come youve no got an ID yet?
He stared up at the pale-blue sky. A plane roared into view, fresh out of Aberdeen Airport, banking around to head south, or east, going somewhere else. Lucky sods. How many things do you think I can actually do at the one time? Im looking for-
What did I tell you about organizing things? Youre no supposed to be running about-
You told me to come out here! You, not me.
A harrumph. Aye, well. . Dont change the subject.
Well get an ID when we get an ID. Now bugger off and let me do my job. He hung up. Chewed on the inside of his cheek for a moment. Maybe telling Steel to bugger off wasnt the best of ideas. He switched the thing off.
Chalmers appeared through the gate again. Stopped by the side of the house, and scraped the sole of her shoe across the kerbing that bordered the path. All locked up round there. The only thing moving in there is an Alsatian the size of a horse. So Mr and Mrs Chung are either hiding under the bed, the dogs eaten them, or theyre out. Then more scraping.
Logan took out a business card and printed a note on the back of it in small careful letters: SORRY WE MISSED YOU. CAN YOU GIVE ME A CALL SO I CAN ARRANGE A TIME TO COME OVER AND DISCUSS ANTHONY? Then stuck it through the letter box.
Chalmers had finished with the kerbing, now she was dragging her shoe across the grass. . Where to?
Logan marched down the drive towards the gates. Nothing else we can do here. Time to call it a night.
Logan slid the viewing hatch open and peered into the cell. Blinked. Then backed off a couple of paces, wafting his hand in front of his nose. The sharp-edged stench of stale alcohol curdled the air, making his eyes water. God, its like a brewery in there. .
The Police Custody and Security Officer wrinkled her nose. He was doing tequila shots when they picked him up. I hear hed downed a whole bottle of Bells on his own first.
Logan stepped up to the hatch again.
The cell wasnt much bigger than a hotel bathroom. The red-brown terrazzo floor was littered with discarded clothing, bright sunlight streaming through the little square panes of glass that made up the window. They cast glowing cubes of light on Reubens naked back, making the tuft of hair between his shoulder blades shine.
He was lying on his side, bum to the door, naked except for a pair of dark-blue pants and a single sock. Snoring. Like a pig from a horror film.
The PCSO shuddered. Took three of us to get him into the recovery position.
He give you any trouble?
Nope: all nice and calm. Told Michelle he loved her, then did the same to Mark. But me? She sighed. Always the bridesmaid. .
Reuben twitched and a deep rattling grunt echoed out into the corridor.
The PCSO shuddered. Took three of us to get him into the recovery position.
He give you any trouble?
Nope: all nice and calm. Told Michelle he loved her, then did the same to Mark. But me? She sighed. Always the bridesmaid. .
Reuben twitched and a deep rattling grunt echoed out into the corridor.
She clacked the hatch closed again. Be still my beating heart.
Logan looked back, along the corridor. Any chance you can stick him in an interview room?
Couldnt even wake him for the Duty Docs examination. That lump of raw sex is dead to the world. Going to have a stinker of a hangover tomorrow morning.
Good.
The nurse looked up from her copy of Immanuel Kants Critique of Pure Reason and smiled. It made little dimples in her plump cheeks. Evening, stranger.
Logan smiled back. Evening, Claire, hows Bills piles?
She stuck out a hand, palm down, fingers spread, then wiggled it from side to side. You know what hes like. Loves a curry, never thinks of the consequences. Men, eh?
Thats why you ladies love us. He pointed down the corridor to the private room at the end. Blinds drawn. She in?
Well, she popped out for a bit of shopping, but shes back now. Why dont you go in and Ill be along in a bit?
Logan let himself into the room. Dark. He squinted in the gloom. What, youre a vampire now?
He crossed to the other side and hauled the curtains open. Sunlight streamed in, glittering back from the stainless-steel fixtures. Leaning on the windowsill, he looked down at the little chunk of grass pinned to the ground by thin trees, their green leaves shining in the warm evening. A wee grey shape lumped into view, then hunkered down, eating.
That rabbits back again. And I think hes got a knife. .
Dont be daft. Sam sat up in the bed. She mustve had her hair done since lunchtime, because it was a shocking shade of bright scarlet. The tattoos on her arms poked out from the short sleeves of her Skeleton Bob T-shirt. She threw the covers back, exposing a pair of red shorts and thigh-high black-and-white stripy stockings. You bring me a present?
He stuck a bottle of Lucozade on the bedside cabinet, then followed it up with a copy of Skin Deep CYANIDE GIRLS GONE WILD and a Now NICHOLE SPEAKS: ACTING SAVED ME FROM A LIFE OF CRIME. Then collapsed into the visitors chair, arms and legs hanging loose. God, what a day.
Did you get milk and Marmite?
In the car. He slipped his shoes off and stuck his feet up on the bed. Steels being an absolute. . pain in the neck. Youd think Id get some sympathy for getting punched in the nose, wouldnt you?
Samantha poked his left foot. Youve got a hole in your sock.
But no, all she does is moan and whinge.
Honestly, its like going out with a hobo. Give it a decent burial and buy some new socks. Maybe even, shock horror, in a colour other than black?
He smiled at her. Thought you goths loved black.
Not when it comes to underwear. She bounced a couple of times. Then scooted forward, until she was kneeling on the edge of the bed, looming over him. I want a new tattoo. Something spiky and swirly, with a cat.
Of course, Steels only moaning because the ACCs sandpapering her backside over this necklacing thing. Press are going mental after we caught the guy who killed him.
Speaking of cats, I think we should get one. Well, a kitten.
Logan groaned. Cant we just-
A little fuzzy kitten. Well call it Cthulhu!
Cthulhu? Isnt that a bit-
Shh! Samantha froze. Theyre coming. Then she jumped back into place and wriggled under the sheets. Winked at him. Not a word!
The door opened and Claire stuck her head in. Fancy a cup of tea? She wheeled the trolley in, stacks of cups clinking against each other. Then filled one from a metal teapot the size of her head. Hows herself doing today then?
Logan helped himself to a slosh of milk and a Jammy Dodger. Wants another tattoo. And apparently we need to get a cat.
Thats a lovely idea. Be company for you while shes in here. Dont know about the tattoo though. . She looked down at him, her eyes softening around the edges. Go on, take another biscuit, I wont tell anyone.
He did custard cream dunking it in his tea as she lumbered the trolley out of the room. Then the door clunked shut behind her.
Its OK, shes gone.
Samantha sat back up again. Dont get me wrong, Claires OK, but if I have to sit through one more discourse on the philosophical nature of being, or her husbands piles, Im going to scream.
Play nice with the nurses, they can put spiders in your mouth while you sleep, and then where will you be? He ate his biscuit. Drank his lukewarm tea.
Samantha picked up the copy of Now, flipping through its glossy pages. Im serious about that cat, by the way.
I think Rennies going to quit.
Thought his wife was planning on turning into a baby factory. Hows that going to work if hes got no job?
Steel drew a knob in his notebook. Keeps riding him about finding those shoplifting tramps.
Hmmm?
You know what shes like. Pick, nag, poke, sarcastic comment, arse-related threat. .
Yeah. .
Its a bit of cheese, bacon, and vodka. That doesnt need a detective sergeant, that needs a uniform PC whos done something stupid and needs taught a lesson.
Oh, for Gods sake.
What? Frown. He looked up she had her face buried in the copy of Now. Are you even listening?
She peered at him over the top of her magazine, then turned it around, showing off the centre spread: a big photo of Nichole Fyfe in jeans and an oversized white shirt, laughing, with His Majestys Theatre in the background: COMING HOME TO ABERDEEN ~ MY SECRET SHAME AT TROUBLED TEENAGE YEARS. Samantha gave the thing a shake. If you hire a publicist to tell the whole sodding world about it, its not a bloody secret!
Oh, Im sorry. I didnt realize I was boring you.
Anything to get their face in the gossip mags. Oh look at me, Im special and clever! Listen to some crap I made up to make myself sound interesting this week! Talk about me! I dont exist otherwise!
He wiggled his toe through the hole in his sock. Then why do you keep buying the things?
Secret my pale tattooed backside. She probably thinks well read this rubbish and go, Gosh, shes such an inspirational figure! If she can go from a delinquent with a criminal record to a multimillionaire film star, maybe I can too! When really shes just boasting about how much better she is than the rest of us. I tell you, its-