The Superintendent sitting next to her stuck his chest out. It was covered in silver buttons, a row of multi-coloured ribbons above his left pocket: Golden Jubilee medal, Diamond Jubilee, and a Long Service amp; Good Conduct. All of them awarded for nothing braver than just being in the job long enough, but there he was, wearing them with pride. That would be Superintendent Knight, then. He jerked his chin up, the strip-lights flashed off his bald head. The Specialist Crime Division is also pleased to work with Detective Superintendent Jacobsons team.
The Superintendent sitting next to her stuck his chest out. It was covered in silver buttons, a row of multi-coloured ribbons above his left pocket: Golden Jubilee medal, Diamond Jubilee, and a Long Service amp; Good Conduct. All of them awarded for nothing braver than just being in the job long enough, but there he was, wearing them with pride. That would be Superintendent Knight, then. He jerked his chin up, the strip-lights flashed off his bald head. The Specialist Crime Division is also pleased to work with Detective Superintendent Jacobsons team.
Ness knocked on the tabletop, taking control of the briefing again. Next question?
Huntly jabbed the remote at the screen and the volume ticked down until it was barely more than a mumble. Excellent. Thatll put the felis catus amongst the columba palumbus. Deserves a celebratory drink, dont you think, Sheila?
A sigh. Then she reached into the carrier-bag and came out with a bottle of red wine and one of white. Thats an extra fiver each.
Huntly jumped up and produced a half-dozen dusty glasses from behind the bar. Huffed a breath into each, then polished them with his pink tie. Lined them up on the bar.
Sheila handed me a pizza box, the DinoPizzas T-Rex logo speckled dark with grease. Dont worry about the money. Ill get yours off Bear. Now, would you like a glass of wine?
Cant: pills. But thanks. I opened the box. Mushrooms, ham, sweetcorn, and pineapple. Still, it could have been worse.
Huntly clapped his hands. That just means more for us!
Tiny white dots curled into the pub airlock as I stepped outside and thumbed Detective Inspector Dave Morrows number into Alices mobile phone. I pressed the green button and listened to it ring, breath billowing out in a pale grey cloud where it caught the streetlight. Say what you like about prison, at least they keep the place relatively warm
A rough voice crackled out of the earpiece. Slightly breathy and clipped. Alice, this this really isnt a good time.
Shifty, its me. You OK?
A pause. Bloody hell, she actually did it. When did you get out?
Couple of hours ago. Im going to need a favour.
He sniffed. You know Id have done Mrs Kerrigan if I could, right?
I know.
Last thing I need is Andy Inglis coming after me. Specially with the Rubber Heelers on a mission. Otherwise shed be the filling in a shallow-grave buttie
I stepped out into the evening chill, taking a few lumbering steps away from the pub door. Glanced back to make sure no one was listening. Tonight: you, me, gun, her. Better get some petrol and a couple of shovels too.
A pause. Ash, you know Id-
Youre wimping out?
Am I buggery. You know what Andy Inglis is going to do when he finds out youve topped her though, dont you?
Hes not going to find out.
Oh come on. You get out of prison and the very same night she gets shot in the face? How longs that going to take him to work out?
True.
Another couple of paces, looking up at the billboard on the other side of the road with its never-to-be-built retirement home. So I dont hang around afterwards. I kill her, we burn the body, and I get out of Oldcastle. Hop a boat to Norway. You still friends with that fish guy in Fraserburgh?
Passport up to date, is it? Cos I kinda get the feeling the Border Agency will be keeping an eye out for you.
A clunk behind me. I turned and there was Dr Constantine, all bundled up in her padded jacket, a cigarette clamped between her jaws. She sparked it from a lighter, then waved.
I waved back. Pointed at the phone against my ear. Turned away. What about Biro Billy?
A sigh. Ill see what I can do.
Detective Superintendent Jacobson shrugged his way out of his leather jacket. A thin dusting of white flakes clung to the shoulders and the top of his head, melting away in the warmth of the defunct pub. He hung the jacket on the back of a chair. Well?
Huntly swept his arms out, as if he was going to hug him. You were magnificent!
Dont push it, Bernard, youre still in my bad books after this morning.
Oh He dropped his arms.
Any pizza left? Jacobson crossed to the bar, opening and closing the grease-speckled boxes. Crusts, crusts, crusts
Sheila pointed to the stack of chairs and tables in the corner. I hid yours over there, so the human waste-disposal-unit couldnt find it. Itll be cold though.
He pulled out the box, opened it, scooped out a slice and shoved one end in his mouth. Closed his eyes and chewed. Ahh Thats better. They never put on anything decent at press conferences any more. Its all bottled water and horrible coffee. Whats wrong with a plate of sandwiches?
Huntly poured red wine into a tie-polished glass. Speaking of the press conference He cleared his throat. Was Donald there?
Sitting back in her seat, Sheila groaned. Not this again.
He stiffened. Theres no need to be like that.
She put on a posh plummy accent. Was Donald there? Did he ask about me? Did he look like hed been crying? Has he put on weight? Is he seeing someone?
Theres no need to be homophobic.
Im not homophobic, Im grown-men-acting-like-jilted-teenage-girls-ophobic. And you still owe me seventeen pounds sixty-three.
Jacobson took the glass of red and wolfed half of it down in one go. Donald wasnt there. Superintendent Knights put him in charge of finding out which of Ashs ex-colleagues tipped off the press about the Inside Man killing Claire Young.
Bet that went down well. Some tosser, from another division, investigating Oldcastle CID for misconduct? Theyd have closed ranks so fast you could hear the sonic boom in Dundee.
The rest of Jacobsons wine disappeared down his throat. He held the glass out for Huntly to refill. I had a chat with a couple of guys from uniform. Seems Claire set off for work at seven fifteen on Thursday night, and never turned up. Her flatmates reported her missing Friday afternoon when she didnt come home. The geniuses at Oldcastle Division only took it seriously when Claires body turned up yesterday morning. He took a sip, swooshing the red back and forth through his teeth, then nodded in my direction. Thats going to look great when the papers find out.
I crossed my arms, staring at him. Why me?
Why you, what?
If Oldcastle CIDs full of corrupt morons, why am I here?
He smiled. Now thats an excellent question.
But he didnt bloody answer it.
7
We stopped off at the twenty-four hour Tesco in Logansferry, Alice scurrying away into the aisles to buy breakfast supplies while I headed for the electronics bit. One dirt-cheap mobile handset and three pay-as-you-go sim cards. All paid for out of the hundred-quid sub Id got from Jacobson.
On the other side of the checkouts I dumped the phones packaging in the bin and tore open the cardboard and plastic entombing one of the sim cards. Popped it in. Clicked the cover back on. Powered it up and punched in Shiftys number.
On the other side of the checkouts I dumped the phones packaging in the bin and tore open the cardboard and plastic entombing one of the sim cards. Popped it in. Clicked the cover back on. Powered it up and punched in Shiftys number.
Listened to it ring as I limped out into the car park.
The snow hadnt come to anything more than a thin crust of ice on the windscreens and a sheen of water on the salted tarmac.
A suspicious-sounding voice came on the line. Hello? Who is this?
How you getting on with that gun?
Gods sake, Ash, Im on it, OK? Give us a chance not like I can just waltz down to the nearest ASDA and pick one up, is it?
Were going to need a car too. Something flammable.
Silence.
Shifty? Hello? Only just bought the damn phone and already it was-
What do you think Ive been doing while youve been sodding about with your new mates? Got us a Mondeo. One careful owner, whos got no idea its missing.
Ah Sorry. Its I rubbed a hand across my chin, making the stubble scratch. Been a while, you know?
This isnt my first rodeo, Ash. Well be fine. Trust me.
Alice struggled half a dozen carrier-bags from the back seat of the tiny red Suzuki four-by-four. The thing had a big dent in the passenger-side door and looked more like a kids drawing of a car than an actual real-life vehicle. Drove much the same way too. Shed parked it beneath one of the three working streetlights, between a rusty white transit and a sagging Volvo. Mmmnnnffffnngh? She nodded at the Suzuki, the keys dangling from the leather fob gripped in her teeth.
Yeah, no problem. I got the last of the shopping, and the bin-bag theyd given me when I left prison, then took the keys from between her teeth and plipped the locks.
Thanks. Her breath streamed out in a thin line of mist. Were just there. She nodded towards a front door two-thirds of the way down the terrace.
I shifted the bags from one hand to the other. Leaned on my cane.
Ladburn Street had probably been attractive once a cobbled road lined with tall trees and cast-iron railings. A sweeping row of proud sandstone homes with porticoes and bay windows
Now the trees were blackened stumps, surrounded by litter and vitrified dog shit. The houses all converted into flats.
Three buildings on this side were boarded up; four on the other, their gardens thick with weeds. Rock music belted out of somewhere down the row, a screaming argument a few doors up. Sandstone turned the colour of old blood. Railings blistered with rust.
Alice shifted from foot to foot. I know its disappointing, I mean lets be honest its not far off being a slum, but it was cheap and its pretty anonymous and we cant stay with Aunty Jan because theyre having all the wiring ripped out and-
Its fine.
Her nose was going red. Im sorry, I know Kingsmeaths not great, but its only temporary and I didnt think youd want to stay in the hotel with Professor Huntly, and Bear, and Dr Constantine, and Dr Docherty, and-