by G R Jordan
‘Over ten, Inspector.’
Macleod shook his head in disbelief. He could not imagine Jane and himself in such a routine, enjoying others watching. The man was addicted to it, surely. Or was he setting up an elaborate story to get himself off the hook. No alibi. The thought kept ringing out in his head.
‘And now you’ll have to excuse me, Inspector,’ said Smith, producing his mobile and reading a text. ‘My exercise for this afternoon has arrived.’
‘He’s unbelievable,’ said Hope as the man walked off. ‘And what’s with the hand in my face?’
‘You were about to jump all over him, have a go.’
‘He deserved it.’
‘Yes, he did, Hope, but he wanted out of the conversation. And then he came up with the watcher. I really don’t know if he’s being truthful or not.’
‘He lies for his pleasure,’ said Hope. ‘Let’s follow and see where he goes.’
Together they made their way back into town from the castle grounds they had wandered into with Smith. At a discreet distance they watched him turn down a side street and as they passed it, saw him in a passionate clinch with a blonde-haired woman. Stepping across the street, they waited for the couple to appear. When they did Macleod wondered what the woman with him saw in him.
‘She’s no Summer,’ said Hope.
‘I’m not sure the look of the violin matters to him,’ said Macleod. ‘As long as it’s a violin and he’s allowed to play it, I reckon he’d give any instrument a go. Poor woman.’
‘Someone should tell her.’
‘Not yet. What did you make of Declan seeing him? Do you think he went back for more?’
‘Undercover? Well, he wasn’t getting any at home. I’m sure Summer would have been quite a thrill to see in action for a frustrated young husband. But why kill her? We’re missing something.’
Macleod spotted a coffee shop over the road and pointed it out to Hope. ‘I think it’s break time.’
Chapter 18
How does a man like Dickie Smith get away with it? How do so many women fall for a cad like him. A cad and a bounder, that’s the old description. Macleod raised his head as Hope placed a mug of frothy coffee in front of him.
‘I got us two croissants as well. I’m famished,’ she said, sitting opposite, Macleod.
‘I’m sorry about the hand, but he was backing out of saying things, finding an exit. But I could have been more subtle.’
‘At least you don’t call me a filly. He’s damned deceptive though, because when he’s alone with a woman or even women, he’s all charm. Exceptionally smooth and goes right for your weak points.’
‘You’d be better with a blundering fool, like me, or even Allinson.’ It was an involuntary reaction. It had just arrived on his tongue and he had pressed the eject button without thinking. ‘Sorry, should not have thrown his name in.’
‘No, you’re right. At least he’s trying to look after me. Smith’s just a shit. Poor Summer, she really got in a mess. Do you think I’d ever be so dumb?’
‘That’s unfair to ask. But if you were, I’d reckon you’d sort him out afterwards.’
‘String him by the balls!’
The comment was loud, and Macleod saw some of the coffee shop clientele raise their eyes, a few women chuckling, and one man inadvertently closed his legs slightly, feigning a whimper.
‘Hope, a little more discretion, please.’ Rough and ready but a good partner. ‘Why don’t you ring him now though?’
‘Who?’
‘Allinson. You can tell him about stringing men up, that’ll bring him into line.’ Watching her smile, he realised how much she had needed to talk about it. Although uncomfortable, she had needed him, and it felt good to repay her for her kindness when they had first met.
Hope pulled out her mobile and Macleod grabbed his coffee and made to move to another table. A hand shot out and told him to stay. Surely, she would want this to be private. He motioned to go but was again stopped with a hand. Well, I’m not going to eavesdrop.
Macleod rarely texted anyone, preferring to chat but in this case that might be a little distracting and besides, he knew Jane would be at her swimming class. As he let his hands slowly walk over the screen keyboard of his mobile, he allowed himself a moment away, to a beach somewhere hot where Jane was taking Hope’s sunbathing role. Yes, he was okay with it, wasn’t he? Looking down at the message he had written, it seemed a little saucier than he would normally write to Jane. What the heck, she’ll love it.
He put his mobile away as Hope finished her call. ‘So, did I do all right?’ she asked.
‘I didn’t listen, genuinely, I didn’t listen.’ But I’m not telling you where I was.
‘Contact made. He sounded down, very down but I think he’s lifted a bit. I wonder if he—’
Macleod’s mobile rang. They both recognised it as the priority call from Stewart. The siren sound that Hope had programmed in much to his annoyance, as if he hadn’t heard enough blue light tones in his lifetime.
‘Stewart, what’s the crisis?’
‘Katie Macaulay is on her way to the hospital. She collapsed walking to Irvine’s. Declan Macaulay is in town, at the leisure centre. Can you grab him, sir? We’re struggling to reach him. The staff at the centre can’t find him.’
‘What’s wrong with her, Stewart?’
‘Unknown, but she is delicate at the moment.’
‘How do you mean?’
‘I don’t know for definite, but, as I said before, I reckon she’s pregnant, early stages. The silky hair, the disappearing to the toilet, unwellness but yet having great skin. She’s pregnant, sir, trust me.’
‘We’re on our way,’ said Macleod and closed the call. ‘Hope, drop me at the hospital and then go and find Declan Macaulay—should be at the leisure centre. Katie Macaulay is being rushed to the hospital.’
‘Is it serious?’
‘Stewart reckons she’s pregnant,’ said Macleod in a whisper.
‘I missed that one,’ said Hope, ‘but then I’ve never been pregnant myself.’
Hope raced to the till and asked for two disposable cups before returning and filling up them up with the remains of their drinks. Macleod looked at her in feigned horror. ‘It’s bloody good coffee, Seoras.’
Macleod sat in the car holding the cups as Hope drove the short distance to the hospital. Stepping from the car, he ran into A&E and approached the window where a woman in a light uniform sat looking at a computer screen.
‘Detective Inspector Macleod, I’m looking for a Katie Macaulay, just come in, or maybe on her way. I need to know how she is. We are getting her husband as we speak.’
The woman nodded at him and then looked incredulously at his coffee cup. She’s probably thinking we do it different on the mainland. Embarrassed, Macleod downed the remnants of his coffee and tried hard not to show how hot it still was.
‘Please wait over there,’ said the woman, ‘I’ll make enquiries.’
Macleod tossed his cup into a bin and took a seat amongst a small group of people who had clearly been listening to his conversation at the reception window. This was Lewis and he could feel the stares even though when he looked up, no one spoke or caught his eye.
There was nothing to do but wait.
Hope stepped out of the car and made her way to the sports centre reception. A small, blonde-haired woman dressed in a polo shirt welcomed her and then once Hope had identified herself, gave a long spiel about all the places they had looked. The man was not here.
‘Does anyone here know him by sight?’ asked Hope. Apparently not. Deciding to have a quick tour, Hope made her way to the cafeteria where she could see the swimming pool. The local aquarobics class was in full swing at one end, with an average age of over fifty by the look of it. Good for them, if I’m still going at that age, I’ll be delighted. Of course, he could be in the health suite, but she’d check the rest of the building first.
Opening the door of the main hall, she saw it
was empty and continued to the fitness gym. There were several occupants, all running or lifting weights, but none were Declan Macaulay. The health suite it would have to be.
Walking through the swimming pool changing area, Hope approached a lifeguard and showed her credentials. After slipping on some blue shoe coverings, she entered the health suite, which consisted of a small Jacuzzi, a steam room and a sauna. The air was thick with bubbling, drowning out the excited hello from an elderly man sat on one of the plastic chairs. He seemed quite taken with her, but she scanned the room. In the turmoil of the Jacuzzi, she saw a mop of hair she recognised. Getting closer, she saw a smiling face that was clearly somewhere else enjoying something or someone. It seemed cruel to wake him.
‘Declan! Declan! Katie has collapsed, she’s in hospital.’
The eyes flipped open and the face became anxious, lines appearing across the forehead in a rush. Declan stood up, half soaking Hope, and bounded from the bubbles to grab his hanging towel.
‘I’ll take you there, just get dressed.’
‘But what’s up with her? Why has she collapsed?’
‘I don’t know, just get dressed and I’ll get you to the hospital.’
The man tore off and Hope looked down at her blouse and trousers. The top was sticking to her and her trousers gave the impression she had peed herself. Grabbing a towel, she rubbed herself down and caught the stare of the old man.
‘You can use my towel, love, it’s fine.’
‘Thanks,’ said Hope but she got the feeling he was enjoying her distress. She didn’t mind the blouse being wet but looking like she had an accident was bothering her. Still there was no time to sort it.
Macleod was not a fan of hospitals. You had to wait until a doctor or nurse said you could see someone, then you had to obey their instructions on how to interview the patient, try not to upset them, or be allowed only five minutes due to their condition. It was the opposite to the station where he was the boss, dictating plans and strategies. There was a lack of good coffee in the waiting area as well. There was a lack of any drinks, really, and to go to the canteen meant he would be out of touch and miss it when it happened, whatever it was, probably just a drab report from an overworked doctor.
Stepping outside for some air, Macleod picked up his mobile and called DC Stewart. It was more out of boredom than anything else.
‘Stewart, do we know if Katie Macaulay has a mother or father on the island? It’s just I was thinking that if her husband is unaware she’s pregnant, she might have told someone else. Perhaps a girlfriend but maybe her mother if it’s her first. From talking to Jim Calderwood, Declan was certainly not in the loop.’
‘I’ve got none listed but I’ll get on to it right away. How is she?’
‘Unknown,’ sighed Macleod. ‘I’m just hanging here while the doctors do their thing. McGrath’s gone after Declan.’
‘I can send some files to your mobile if you need them, sir.’
Cheeky monkey. She’s making a point as she’s probably rushed off her feet co-ordinating things at the hall. I bet those glasses are being pushed back up that nose as we speak. Macleod chortled to himself. Hope would never have punched along those lines.
‘No thank you, Constable, there’s plenty to get on with down here. Find me parents or close friends, please.’ There was a swift ‘Aye, sir’ and then the mobile went silent.
‘Detective Macleod,’ shouted a voice from inside the A&E waiting room. Striding back in and waving his hand to grab the doctor’s attention, Macleod followed him to a quiet corner of the room.
‘Mrs Macaulay has collapsed from fatigue. It’s related to her present condition and I don’t think she has been taking great care of herself,’ said the tall man. ‘However, it’s nothing that few days in bed and some fluids won’t fix but given her situation we are going to keep her in for a while. Just observing to make sure no harm comes.’
‘And what is her situation?’
The doctor started and withdrew slightly before leaning in like he was passing trade secrets at an open conference room. ‘You’re telling me you are not aware. Is anyone?’
‘I’m not aware although I have my suspicions. I’m also running an investigation into the murder of two people and Mrs Macaulay is one of an array of suspects so I would take kindly to any information regarding her circumstances that you can give me.’
The doctor nodded. ‘That maybe explains some of the fatigue. She’s pregnant, Detective, from her notes it’s four months, although to look at her, you can’t see an obvious bump. That’s not unusual but she would start to show soon, if that helps you.’
‘So, she could keep the truth hidden for a while still?’
‘Not much longer if everything is average. However, women have given birth and not realised they were pregnant, so everything is relative, but in Mrs Macaulay’s case, I’d expect her to be showing any time soon. I also think she has been suffering from morning sickness. She’s very dehydrated.’
Macleod wondered how Declan had missed all this, especially if she was vomiting every morning but then again, he would be a first-time father and Macleod had seen people miss a gunman walking into a shop with the weapon held out in front, so nothing was that surprising.
‘Thank you Doctor, and a word of warning to your staff; I don’t believe the husband knows she’s pregnant.’
‘Ah. Well, that will make it interesting.’
‘Can I see Mrs Macaulay?’ asked Macleod.
‘Sorry, you’ll need to give it an hour or two if it’s not urgent. She’s asleep at the moment and I am inclined to let her sleep.’
The loud stomp of a man running into the waiting came from over Macleod’s shoulder and he heard a cry from Hope telling whoever it was to wait. Turning around, Macleod saw Declan Macaulay start to rap at the window of the reception like he was going to break it down.
‘Mr Macaulay, this way please. I have your wife’s doctor with me. And calm down, she’s fine.’
The man raced over to the doctor who put out his hands in an effort to keep Declan Macaulay at a distance. ‘We need to go to a private room, sir; would you follow me? Detective, if you would come with me.
Macleod called Hope through as well and the doctor took them through to a small examination room where Macleod stood and listened to the whole diagnosis from the doctor again. Hope’s eyes widened as the pregnancy was confirmed.
‘How the hell is she pregnant?’ asked Declan, his voice starting to quiver. ‘We haven’t done anything for three months.’
‘She’s about four months pregnant, sir,’ confirmed the doctor.
‘Yes, but we haven’t done anything that would cause this, she’s only played with me. Been over a year since we went the whole way. Who’s is it? Who’s been playing around with my wife?’
He glared at Macleod who felt he was letting down the great institution of policeman by not having a solution when the public had demanded one. ‘Calm down, Mr Macaulay. It’s something I want to know too. Does your wife have any relatives on the island she’s close to? Her mother or father?’
‘Katie has no father, just like the poor bastard inside her. I knew something was up. I told Jim something was up. Is it that Dickie Smith? He’s a smug bugger, always flirting. Can’t keep his dick to himself.’
‘Where’s her mother?’ asked Hope.
‘Down in Lochs. I haven’t seen her since our wedding. Katie and she are not close. And it appears I’m not that close to Katie either.’
‘You have an address?’ Macaulay nodded and pulled out his mobile, tapped it a few times before showing the screen to the red-haired detective.
‘I want to see my wife,’ said Macaulay.
‘I told the detective she’s sleeping, and I need her to rest and take in some fluids. When she’s in a better state I will let you speak to her. For now, calm down. I realise this is a shock.’
Macleod nodded at the doctor and indicated he wished to speak outside. After watching Declan Macaula
y for a few moments, the doctor stepped outside of the room followed by Macleod.
‘I’m going to try and find her mother, hopefully she might come in and give the girl someone other than an irate husband. DC McGrath will stay with Macaulay for the next hour or so. Thanks for your help, Doctor.’ Macleod extended a hand which the doctor shook.
After collecting Macaulay and convincing him that the best place to wait was the canteen, Macleod bought two coffees and placed them on the table where Hope and Macaulay were sitting. Eyeing the mugs suspiciously, Hope stood and took Macleod by the shoulder.
‘Baby-sitting? You are putting me on babysitting?’
‘Only while I shoot over to Lochs. I won’t be more than two hours. I’ll try and get the mother to come back over.’
‘Cheers, babysitting.’
‘Look,’ said Macleod, his hands open in a conciliatory gesture, ‘if it kicks off you are the one who can handle it. Just make sure to pick up anything he mutters. He looked genuinely surprised, but it could be an act. And I’ll be back soon.’
‘Bet Stewart wouldn’t get babysitting. She’d frighten you with those glasses.’
Macleod raised his eyebrows and turned on his heel to leave. What’s with everyone giving me jip when they’ve been given tasks. I need to crack down on them. But he wouldn’t, he knew he loved it too much.
Chapter 19
The road to Lochs was a twenty-minute drive and Macleod found it hard to concentrate on the road. Despite the blue sky reflecting in the patches of water that appeared over every curve of the road, Macleod found himself wondering who could have killed Bubba.
Bubba was playing around and now Katie Macaulay is pregnant. If we say he’s at fault, why kill Summer as well. Was she just with him, an unfortunate victim? That doesn’t make sense as she was stripped and dumped in her own Jacuzzi, a place she cheated on Bubba with Dickie Smith. Or is someone trying to make it look like more than it is. Was the affair an inconvenience for Smith and she was going to blow the whistle? He likes to be discreet.