Logan could see the beads of sweat starting to form on the mans forehead. The silence drew out and the beads joined up, trickling down the side of Watts face. I He cleared his throat. I dont know what youre talking about.
We know. The inspectors voice was soft, almost sorrowful.
I His eyes darted towards the door, then back to the sheepskin. But, I
Come on, dont make me do this the hard way.
He buried his head in his hands and started to cry. I didnt mean to!
Logan threw Steel a questioning look, but she just shrugged. Whatever the guy was confessing to was news to her. Why dont you tell us all about it, Iain? asked Logan, Youll feel better if you can tell someone.
Slowly, Watt stood, biting his bottom lip, tears and snot dribbling down his face, mixing with the sweat. His round shoulders shivered as he led them through into the kitchen, snivelling, I didnt mean to, I didnt over and over again. And Logan began to seriously worry about whatever it was Watt had done.
The hunched man reached for a kitchen drawer, but Logan got there first, clamping his hand down over Watts. Just in case it was full of knives. Tell you what, he said, keeping his voice low and calm, why dont you let me get that for you? You just stand back Good. Logan pulled a pair of latex gloves from his jacket pocket and snapped them on, before easing the drawer open. Inside was a flashlight, a packet of AAA batteries and a pair of blood-soaked womens underwear. The kind Laura Shand was supposed to have been wearing when Rob Macintyre raped her. The kind Macintyre was supposed to have taken as a trophy.
DI Steel said what they both were thinking: Oh fuck.
7
The car park was in shadow, the February sun hidden behind the grey and black bulk of FHQ. Dark and cold. This is going to be a nightmare, said Steel, when Logan came out to tell her Watt was processed and ready for interview. She sighed, letting loose a pall of cigarette smoke. Tell you, Insch is going to blow a fucking gasket Still, she straightened up and flicked the last inch of her fag under the Chief Constables BMW, no really our problem right now. She sniffed thoughtfully, then told Logan to go dig up everything they had on Laura Shand: interview transcripts, medical reports, the lot. She wanted to read up on Watts victim before they interviewed him.
Which was why Logan ended up outside DI Inschs incident room. According to the records department, the inspector had the files signed out working on the prosecution case and trying to pin everything on Rob Macintyre. Taking a deep breath, Logan marched in.
It was one of the biggest incident rooms in the place, but it was virtually empty, just a couple of admin officers packing the remnants of Operation Sweetmeat away into brown cardboard filing boxes, clearing the place out for the next major enquiry. And there, perched on the edge of a groaning desk, was DI Insch. He was massive: a big fat man with a shiny bald head and hands the size of shovels, his suit stretched to bursting point. He looked like an angry pink caterpillar about to outgrow its skin, as he shovelled chocolate-covered raisins into his mouth.
Logan cleared his throat and said, Excuse me, sir, I need to borrow the Laura Shand file.
Insch stopped chewing and swung a baleful eye in Logans direction. Oh aye? his voice a deep, bass growl, Why?
Oh God, here we go Er, weve arrested someone who claims to have attacked her. Logan added a sir, for good measure.
The inspector levered himself off the desk and scowled. Dont be stupid, Macintyre attacked her.
Yes, well Think fast! This guys probably lying; we just need to make sure. You know, to prove he had nothing to do with it which he cant have if it was Macintyre Starting to ramble. So, if I could just have the file, sir, Ill get out of your DONT SAY HAIR! Way.
Who is it?
Logan could feel his fixed grin starting to slip. Iain Watt, hes just a flasher. Its probably nothing He watched as DI Inschs eyes contracted to little black coals in his angry, piggy face.
It better be. But he handed the file over anyway.
Somehow Logan got the feeling it would be pushing his luck to ask if the inspector knew what Professional Standards had done to Jackie.
Six thirty-eight and interview room number five smelt of fear and stale sweat. Iain Watt sat on the other side of the scarred table, his white SOC suit making scrunching noises every time he moved. He fidgeted and fiddled while he told Logan and DI Steel about his time in therapy and how Dr Goulding thought hed been making excellent progress Not looking at the clear plastic evidence pouch sitting on the table in front of him. The one with Laura Shands knickers in it: pink with grey pigs, stained with dark brown dried blood.
If youre making such bloody good progress, how come you had these in your kitchen drawer? asked Steel, poking the evidence bag.
I Watt hung his head. I used to see her walking sometimes. In Seaton Park I He cleared his throat. Can I have a glass of water?
No. Now tell us about her.
Silence.
Then, I thought about it for ages
More silence.
Ill bet you bloody did.
No! Dr Gouldings been telling me how I have to make contact with women, try to forge a meaningful relationship. Change the way I think about them. Not just you know He took a deep shuddering breath. I just wanted to say hello to her. Thats all. Just hello, maybe, nice day, isnt it? and maybe shed say hello back and it would be nice and wed be having a conversation and it would be all right and Watts eyes slid across the blood-spattered material. He licked his lips. And I thought about it for weeks. How Dr Goulding said I had to make the first move. And I practised in front of the mirror and it was all perfect
Another pause, broken only by the metallic whirr of the tapes going round in the recording unit audio and video, immortalizing the moment for posterity. Logan leaned forward in his seat. But it didnt go to plan, did it, Iain?
Watt shook his head. I said, hello, nice day isnt it? and she didnt say anything. She just kept walking. Like I wasnt even there
Steel sighed. So you attacked her.
No! No, I thought maybe she misheard. Maybe I had my fly down by accident, you know? Accidentally? He looked from Steel to Logan, searching for understanding. But, but I hadnt she didnt like me. She didnt want to talk to me. Id reached out, just like Dr Goulding said I should
Steel tried again. So then you attacked her.
No. I went home and had beans on toast. Then I read the paper. And they were saying about this guy who goes after women with a knife and how he how he has sex with them. Sex And I thought I I went out and waited for her She wouldnt even say hello
Shite. Could he no have just been making it up? DI Steel stood, smoking by the open window in her office. Outside, the sun was setting: gilding the granite spines of Marischal College with sparkling light, deep blue shadows creeping in around the edges, ready to smother it all.
Ive called Laura Shand, said Logan, from the other side of the desk. Shes going to come in and make a formal ID. He tried to look nonchalant. Are you going to tell DI Insch?
What, that weve buggered his case? Steel sighed, then examined the glowing tip of her cigarette. I should probably give these things up. Then again she took a long, deep drag. Fuck it. She pulled out her mobile and fiddled with the buttons, before holding it to her ear. Insch? Yeah, its me Steel Uh huh, I told him to get the files Uh huh No. Watts copped for it. Macintyre didnt rape Laura Hello? Insch? She pursed her lips and blew a kiss at her phone, before switching the thing off and sticking it back in her pocket. He hung up.
Oh Logan could see what was coming, and didnt want to be anywhere near when it did. Er, Inspector, if you dont need me, I think Id better- A loud bang from somewhere down the corridor outside Steels office, like someone slamming a door. You know, he stood, inching his way towards the exit, I should go get an ID book made up and- Too late.
The door burst open: DI Insch, looking very, very angry, his face swollen and red. He poked a fat finger at DI Steel. What the hell do you think youre playing at!
She sighed, took one last puff on her cigarette and threw it out of the window. My job, OK? I dont like it any more than-
You had no right interviewing-
Watt confessed. His story matches Laura Shands-
HES LYING! Little white flecks of spit flew in the evening light.
Oh grow the fuck up. Steel slumped into her tatty office chair. And close the bloody door: you want the rest of the station to hear you acting like an arsehole?
It took an obvious effort, but DI Insch, still scarlet and trembling with rage, stepped into the small office and closed the door behind him. Trapping Logan inside. Did it ever occur to you, said Insch, through gritted teeth, that your flashers just confessing for the attention! Hes an exhibitionist, remember?
Then how come everything matches? Eh? Steel leant forward and waved Laura Shands file at him. Not just one or two things, everything! He had her bloody panties in a kitchen drawer!
Oh, really? Well thats convenient, isnt it? You get an arrest and my whole case gets screwed. You cast doubt on Laura Shands rape and-
We didnt do it on sodding purpose! I was just fishing trying out the old we know youve been naughty bit and he fell for it. Could have been anything, flashing, stolen radios-
We didnt do it on sodding purpose! I was just fishing trying out the old we know youve been naughty bit and he fell for it. Could have been anything, flashing, stolen radios-
The Shand MO was identical!
Steel threw her hands in the air. He read about it in the papers: man plus knife plus woman equals sex. Emphasizing each and every word: He had her knickers in his kitchen! He raped her!
He Insch scowled. He must have seen it happen. He watched Macintyre rape her, and then he took the knickers. Something to remind himself-
Give it up. Steel sighed and ran a tired hand across her wrinkly face. Pulling it out of shape. For Christs sake: Macintyre might have raped the others, but he didnt do Laura.