Darren McInnes (52) Exposing Children to Harm/Danger or Neglect, Possessing Indecent Images of Children, Theft by Housebreaking, Serious Assault
No, thats not what Im saying. McInnes brushed his long, greasy yellow-grey hair from his face and tied it in a loose ponytail. He pursed his lips, the folds around his grey eyes deepening behind thick glasses. Im saying I had nothing to do with them.
At least he looked like a paedophile. Baker could have passed for a swimming pool attendant, but there was no mistaking Darren McInnes.
McInnes shifted in his seat, Rennie copying his every move. Can I smoke? He pulled out a tin of tobacco.
Logan shook his head. Theres a hundred and fifty pound fine for smoking in the hotel, Mr McInnes. Where were you last week: Wednesday night, Thursday morning?
Bloody government. I should be able to smoke if I want to, theyre my bloody lungs.
Logan banged on the arm of his chair, making the lanky man flinch.
Where were you?
I dont know. I was at home. Probably. Watching TV. Maybe I had a couple of beers, its not illegal is it?
How well do you know Alison and Jenny McGregor?
Weve been over this. I dont, OK? Yes, I was aware of them, but I dont follow all that reality television shite. Whatever happened to the good old days, eh? When they used to make decent drama and comedy and documentaries? Now its all about sticking a bunch of nobodies on the box and raking the cash in with dodgy telephone scams. Makes you sick. He produced the tobacco tin again, popped it open and pulled out a packet of Rizla papers.
I said no smoking.
McInnes looked up at Logan. Im not smoking, Im rolling, OK? That still allowed in Nazi Britain?
McInnes looked up at Logan. Im not smoking, Im rolling, OK? That still allowed in Nazi Britain?
Rennie pulled a pen from his pocket and fiddled with it. And you never watched Alison and Jenny on the TV, at all?
Oh, I heard them on the radio. Everywhere you go, theyre on the radio, singing that bloody awful song. They didnt even write it. Cover versions, thats all people can do these days.
Logan stood and walked around until he was standing directly behind McInnes. Looming. Up close he smelled of unwashed hair and stale cigarettes. Do you know anyone whos selling a little girl?
Ah. The lanky man pulled a sheet of translucent paper from the little packet, then dug into a pouch of tobacco. Well, sometimes one hears certain rumours. Internet chat rooms, news groups, that kind of thing.
Anyone talking about Jenny McGregor?
He fiddled a line of thin brown curls down the middle of the paper, then ran a pale yellow tongue along one edge. Celebrity child like that Hmm It would give things an extra kick, wouldnt it? Knowing everyones out there, looking for her, but shes all yours. And you can do anything you want McInnes rolled the cigarette into a tight cylinder and pinched the excess tobacco from the ends. Can you imagine what shed be worth on the open market? He cleared his throat. If she wasnt dead.
Logan stared at him. You tell me.
McInnes popped the newly formed cigarette in the tin and produced another rolling paper. I really wouldnt know. And before you ask: Jenny isnt my type. He smiled, showing off a set of uneven brown teeth. Far too old.
Sarah Cooper (35) Lewd and Libidinous Practices and Behaviour, Abduction, Attempted Murder
Such an awful thing to happen. Sarah Cooper leaned forward in her seat, exposing a cavernous expanse of freckled cleavage, blue silk blouse stretched tight across her swollen belly and massive breasts. Her pork-sausage fingers traced a circle on her short black skirt, the nails as scarlet as her lips. I can only imagine what poor Alison must be going through
Rennie did his mirror thing again. Can you tell us where you were last Wednesday night, Thursday morning?
She blushed, looked away. Pink cheeks clashing with her Irn-Bru-orange hair. To lose a child like that
Logan checked his watch. Half-eleven already and theyd only seen four people on the list. If the other teams were going at this rate it was going to take at least another three days to get through everyone on the Sex Offenders Register. Assuming DI Ingram and the Diddymen could track them all down. And it was getting hot in here, making his arm itch beneath the wadding. You didnt answer Constable Rennies question, Ms Cooper. Where were you the night Alison and Jenny were snatched?
Not that she could have had anything to do with it. Her backside was far too large to fit in an SOC suit. Hell, it barely fitted in her seat: if she got up too quickly, shed be wearing the thing as a bum warmer.
I was with a friend. She shifted her buttocks, making the chair creak.
Logan smiled at her. Whom?
I dont see how thats any business of-
Its OK, Sarah, Rennie shifted in his seat, arranging himself in a perfect reflection, we just need to eliminate you from our enquiries. You want to help us catch whoever hurt Jenny, dont you?
The blush deepened. I I read all about them, you know. When OK! did that big spread on them: Alison and Jenny at home. Such a cramped little house for such a huge talent.
We need a name, Ms Cooper. And an address.
I dont She ran a hand across her neck, sweat glistened in the crevasse between her breasts.
Where were you?
Come on Sarah, you can tell us.
Another wipe of cleavage. Can I have a glass of water or something, its very hot in here.
Might as well get it off your chest.
Her eyes flickered across the room. The door, the window, the bathroom. I I was babysitting. Both hands clenched in her lap. A friend of a friend asked if I could watch her little boys. I didnt touch them, if thats what youre thinking. I didnt do anything. I just watched them. Nothing happened.
Lee Hamilton (32) Rape, Possession of an Offensive Weapon What the fuck would I want with a wee girl? The mother, maybe, but fucks sake, the kid was only six!
Duncan McLean (46) Indecent Assault, Attempted Rape, Possession with Intent to Supply
would never touch someone like that. I mean, theyre female. How disgusting would that be?
Logan hung his jacket on the hook in the bathroom, took off his tie, then unbuttoned his shirt. The wadding taped to the top of his left arm almost glowed, it was so white. He peeled back a corner and grimaced. Skin was still all red and inflamed so much for it wont hurt a bit.
He dug a little tube of antibacterial gel from his jacket pocket, squeezed some into his palm and smoothed it on. Trying not to wince. At least it didnt look-
A knock at the door.
Sarge? It was Rennie. Next ones here.
Alastair McMillan (42) Indecent Assault, Possession of Indecent Images, Theft
I want to dedicate this to my husband John; youll always be our hero I mean, who was she trying to kid? Like rainbows and puppies come out of her arse instead of shite like the rest of us. Sniff.
Alastair McMillan leant forward, and tapped a dirty, chewed fingernail against Logans knee. She fucking deserves everything shes got coming to her, know what I mean?
Ross Kelley (19) Indecent Assault
You have very pretty eyes, Constable
Shona Wallace (26) Taking and Distributing Illegal Images of Children, Lewd and Libidinous Practices and Behaviour, Attempt to Pervert the Course of Justice
shouldnt really be surprised, should we? There are some very sick people out there. Shona Wallace flicked a strand of bleached blonde hair out of her eyes. She shrugged, bony shoulders rising and falling beneath her LITTLE MISS NAUGHTY T-shirt. I mean, its like, you know, you stand up and do anything in this country and the weirdoes just latch onto you, dont they?
She smiled, her weak chin disappearing into the pale skin of her neck. The kind of girl-next-door you didnt want living anywhere near you. Oh: do you remember that woman? What was her name, you know, like, she was this big ugly heifer and she was saying all these horrible things about Alison? In the papers and that?
Rennie nodded. Vicious Vikki?
Yeah, thats right. God, what a cow. Jealousy, thats all it is. Me I thought Alison and Jenny were the best thing on Britains Next Big Star. I mean, like, they really were, you know: stars. The series is going to be totally crap without them.
She scooted forward in her seat, until her knees were nearly touching Rennies, blue eyes wide, a heavy layer of mascara making them look even bigger. Whats her house really like inside? Is it cool? I bet its cool. Bet they hid away all the really cool stuff when they got the cameramen round, you know, for the OK! magazine shoot, yeah? Shes like on the radio all the time, shes got to have, I dont know, a jacuzzi and diamonds and champagne and that?
Bloody awful, thats how its going. Logan slumped into one of the chairs arranged around the long meeting table. Whats happening about lunch?
Right on cue, PC Guthrie backed into the room, carrying a cardboard box. The smell of fresh baking oozed out to fill the room. Get them while theyre hot.
Steel sniffed. You took your time.
The box went on the table. Fourteen steak, six mince, four macaroni, four cheese and onion pasties, and a dozen sausage rolls.
Wheres my change?
And about a million packets of tomato sauce. Guthrie dug a hand into his pocket and produced a mound of coins. They rattled on the tabletop.
The interview team swarmed around the box, pulling out grease-spotted paper bags, checking the contents, and passing on anything they didnt fancy.
Logan rubbed his fingertips against his eyelids, trying to massage the grit away. Lots of rumours about Jenny being available for a price, but no one knows whos selling. Or theyre not saying.
Rennie appeared with a pair of paper bags, the green-and-gold Chalmers of Bucksburn logo going slightly transparent. Macaroni pie, or cheese and onion pasty?
Cheese and onion. He took the proffered bag and scrunched it down around the golden flaky pastry like a makeshift napkin. I mean, what are we supposed to do? No ones going to stick their hand up and admit to kidnapping and murder, are they?
Steel shrugged, then took a dainty bite out of her pie and chewed. Early days, Laz. Got a lot more perverts to get through.
Yeah, and at the rate were going itll take us three and a half days, minimum.