There was a small pause, then Insch blinked. I see where youre coming from. . But if she takes backup then we dont get that sense of deep primordial threat when she finds Issobell Barrouns body.
But-
And she doesnt want Mrs Shepherd finding out, does she? If one of the teams compromised, then everything becomes a lot more dangerous.
A little frown pulled at the fake scar on her face. So what youre saying is: at this point, Rowans the only person Rowan can trust? Shes isolating herself and that emphasizes her core vulnerability. . Its a metaphor for her need to be loved. Yes, I can work with that. . Then Nichole looked over and gifted Logan with a smile. Sorry, Im such a drama queen when it comes to getting the scene right. She hauled off a black leather glove and stuck out her hand. A network of shiny scar tissue traced its way across the skin of her wrist. Nichole Fyfe.
Logan took her hand slightly damp and shook it. DI McRae. I used to work with. . David. Still felt strange using his first name.
Right Logan McRae. Im sure Davids mentioned you. The smile got brighter for a second, then she picked at the fabric of her shirt, pulling it away from her armpits. Sorry, been under the studio lights all day, Im a mess. Anyway, its been great. Im sure Ill see you later. And she was gone, scribbling something down in the margins of her script.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Insch sagged, massaging his forehead with the fingers of one hand. Itll be worth it, itll be worth it. . Deep breath. Whatever happened to just turning up on time and knowing your lines? Now everyones a method-acting nutjob pain in the arse: Whats my motivation, would my character really think that in this situation, whats the emotional heart of the scene. .? Every bloody day.
Another carrot stick disappeared. Then he turned and stalked back down the corridor.
Logan followed him. Seems nice enough to me.
You know we send her a car every morning? With a driver, a punnet of raspberries, and three bottles of Perrier. Has to be Perrier, any other brand and she flies off in a strop. Its fizzy bloody water, not insulin. If she deigns to turn up at all. Four hours we were waiting for her this morning. Four hours.
So fire her.
Insch stopped and stared at him. Dont be stupid. Shes the best thing that ever happened to this film. He pulled out a carrot stick and pointed it at Logan like a magic wand. She was still filming In Death We Trust when we cast her as Rowan. And soon as they stopped shooting, she dragged Morgan off to stay with a coven in the Midwest US so they could learn about witchcraft. She even learned to smoke a pipe for the role. We told her she didnt have to wed fix it in post-production but she did it anyway. Thats how dedicated she is. The wand disappeared between his teeth. Just because Nicholes a nightmare to deal with, it doesnt mean shes not a great actress. Not just good: great.
The fire door clunked shut behind them. Insch squinted in the sunshine as they stepped out onto sticky black tarmac. So I finally managed to persuade Zander it was still possible to make an artistic statement, but hed have to get away from cinerotography to do it. Lets face it: the people watching porn are, by definition, a bunch of wankers. We needed a genre that would appreciate the work we put in.
The car park was bathed in a golden glow, sparking on chrome bumpers and gleaming paintwork. Logan settled back against a BMW. When I searched Agness house I found your missing Dittay book: the one with all the squiggles and sigils in it. And a script.
So we pooled our resources, remortgaged our houses, optioned the rights to Witchfire, and got a stack of investors involved. Meant we could afford proper big-name actors, set designers, cinematographers, costumes. . Weve got the budget to do something really special here.
Why didnt you press charges?
Off in the middle distance, Steel was grumbling into her mobile, kicking a stone about like a sulky teenager.
Insch ran a hand along the wattle of skin under his chin. She never changes, does she?
There must have been a reason.
Go back in time five years and youd have been mad to put money on her running CID. Me: yes. Her: no chance. Youd have more luck betting shed be out on her backside for gross misconduct. Or banged up somewhere. A sigh. Now look at us.
Shes not running CID. . Well, she is, but only till Finnie gets back from Malaga: serial rape, case review.
Not that Im complaining, mind: I love making movies. And Witchfires only the beginning, were already looking about for the next project. A smile stretched his cadaverous features. This is the start of something big, Logan. Aberdeens going to be the film capital of Scotland. Goodbye Hollywood, hello Stoneywood.
So why didnt you press charges?
Insch settled onto the bonnet next to him, the bag of carrot sticks plonked down between them. Because Zander is ruled more by this. . He poked himself in the chest. Than this. . The finger doinked off the side of his forehead a couple of times. We called the police, went round, demanded our property back, and her father gave us this big sob story about how shed tried to kill herself and shes a good kid really and we cant blame her for being mentally ill.
And Zander. .?
Hook, line, and stinker. Didnt want to be responsible for her taking another overdose.
Yeah, well, I suppose you cant blame him for. . Logan dragged out his notebook. Hold on, her dad told us shed slit her wrists.
That was at Christmas. She took an overdose in February: Valentines Day. A nod. Nothing like it for bringing out the suicidal romantics.
The bastards lied to us, again.
Insch cleared his throat, looked down at his huge shoes. I heard about Samantha, and the fire. Im sorry.
Everyone was always sorry.
Logan cricked his neck from side to side. What about you? Hows Miriam and the kids getting on?
Apparently Canadas lovely this time of year. Annas got a boyfriend. Can you believe that? Only eleven and shes got a boyfriend. Havent seen her or Brigit for two years. . Insch chewed on the inside of his sunken cheek for a bit. Miriams getting married in September. Hes called Jeff, owns a restaurant in Vancouver. The word Jeff was pronounced as if it tasted bad.
Sorry.
It is what it is. Insch crunched his way through another carrot. Then stared off into the middle distance. Speaking of arsehole boyfriends: I need you to do me a favour.
Wonderful. Oh aye?
Nichole Fyfe. Her ex has been causing trouble: turning up at her hotel, declaring undying love, having a go at the security team, threatening her driver, throwing his weight around. Wont take You were dumped four years ago as an answer.
So she wants to make a formal complaint?
This is the movies, Logan. The leading lady doesnt make complaints about her ex-boyfriend stalking her, she gets someone else to do it for her. And I dont want the papers getting hold of it.
Logan couldnt keep the laugh in. Your films all over the gossip mags, and the radio, and the TV, and-
Thats not the point. Nichole doesnt want to look like a big-headed diva whos too good for Aberdeen. And I dont want her distracted and not focusing on her job. He shoogled the bag, then held it out. Want one?
So, what: you want me to go lean on him? Read him the riot act? Get him to fall down the stairs a couple of times?
Youd rather wait till he hurts someone? Insch helped himself to some carrots.
Logan closed his eyes for a moment. All these years and Insch was still manipulating him. Im not promising anything, OK?
His names Robbie Whyte, twenty-five, lives in Inverurie with his mum. Insch hauled himself off the car and checked his watch. Times up. Ive got a meeting with Trading Standards in five minutes havent even finished principal photography and some scumbags already flogging counterfeit Witchfire merchandise then its the council historian we use as a witchcraft consultant. Then some arsehole journalist, then a competition winner. . And at some point, Ive got a film to make. Make sure you hand your passes back in at the gate when you leave.
Right.
Insch stalked off a couple of steps, then stopped, with his back still turned. If. . theres anything you need, give me a call and Ill see what I can do.
Lying bastards swore to me there was nothing else we needed to know about Agnes. Logan put his foot down as soon as the cars bonnet was level with the forty-miles-per-hour sign, overtaking the bus in the inside lane. How are we supposed to-
Blah, blah, blah, lifes tough, people lie. Steel cracked open the passenger window, letting in the dual-carriageway roar of Auchmill Road. Get over it. She pulled out a packet of cigar-ettes and jiggled one out. Weird seeing Insch again, isnt it? All thin and bony and floppy like that. .
Were taking a detour. Agnes Garfields mum and dad have got some explaining to do.
Bet if you stuck one of them garage air pumps up his bum you could inflate him like a beach ball. She sparked the cigarette with a Zippo, then clunked one foot up on the dashboard and had a scratch. You know, its just like old times: you, me, Inschy McFattypants. . Except now wed have to call him McSkinnypants. A grin. I know: McFloppypants, hell like that.
Five minutes later they were in deepest darkest Northfield. Logan hauled on the handbrake. The sound of shrieking children came from the other side of the high school wall, interspersed with shouted commands and laughter.
Steel sooked on the last nub of her cigarette, slouched so far down her seat she was nearly in the footwell. You sure about this?
They lied.
Aye, I know that. But what does spanking them for it get you?
What else are they lying about? He climbed out into the warm afternoon and called Chalmers: I need you to run me a quick PNC on Agnes Garfields parents.
It sounded as if she was in the middle of eating something. Give me just a second. . A slurp. Then the clacking of fingers on keyboard. Did you see the results from the lab?
Can we just focus on-
The cannabis was about twenty-one percent THC, which is phenomenally high. And the blister pack of pills we found was Risperidone. Its an atypical antipsychotic might be to counteract the weed?
Can we just focus on-
The cannabis was about twenty-one percent THC, which is phenomenally high. And the blister pack of pills we found was Risperidone. Its an atypical antipsychotic might be to counteract the weed?