by John Carson
‘And you decided working for Oliver Wolf was a better proposition?’
Muckle looked at Harry, and Sparky perked his ears up, ever alert. ‘Relax, boy,’ he said and the dog put his head back down on the carpet.
‘Let me tell you,’ he started to say before Shug could answer. ‘That laddie showed me nothing but respect from the moment I came here, but that fucking clown of an inspector treated me like shite. That kind of bollocks doesn’t bother me, but Wee Shug here is gay. Nothing wrong with that. I couldn’t give two hoots. In fact, he’s one of my best friends. But that numpty inspector called him all sorts of names. And to his face nonetheless. I heard him being homophobic to Shug one day and I got wired into him.’
Shug nodded. ‘Aye, it was getting too much. I mean, I can take a lot of shit, but he was getting relentless. Then Muckle came to me with an offer.’
Muckle nodded. ‘I spoke to Oliver Wolf. Said I could do with another man beside me, somebody I could trust. That man was Shug. Oliver agreed; he’d always liked Shug. And when the inspector complained, I told him to go fuck himself and Shug was on the payroll.’
‘Where’s that inspector now?’
‘Gone. He was emptied out by all accounts. Now it’s Sergeant Turnbull in charge until a new one arrives. Turnbull is an even bigger balloon than the inspector was.’
‘Aye, I’ll second that,’ Shug said. ‘Turnbull is the worst copper I’ve ever seen in uniform, but at least he’s not homophobic.’
‘What are you both going to do now?’ Harry asked, impressed even more with the big man.
‘We’ll find something,’ Muckle said. ‘Might even have to go back to the mainland. As sure as fate, those Wolf offspring will sell the properties they’ve been left and there would be no need for us anymore anyway. The hotel is right next door to this house, but that will go as well.’
‘Right, son, we need to go and talk to our sergeants. We have to get some alibis sorted out.’
‘You think one of those Wolf clan could have murdered their brother?’ Shug asked.
‘In my experience, when it comes to money, some people can’t help themselves,’ Dunbar replied, and Muckle nodded his head in agreement.
‘Just watch that Fenton one,’ Muckle said as they all stood up. Sparky was up in an instant. ‘He’s a fly bastard.’
‘I’ll bear that in mind.’
They went back through to the room where the others were waiting. Dunbar waved Sergeant Turnbull over. ‘Keep an eye on this lot. DCI McNeil and I have to have a meeting with our crew.’
The sergeant made a face like he was about to say something, but thought better of it. ‘Just keep that big bastard and his dug out o’ my way.’
‘Aye, you wouldn’t want him making you look like a wee lassie, would you?’
‘Just remember one thing: we live here. You’ll be back on the mainland soon.’ Turnbull walked away.
‘I swear to God, if he talks to me like that again…’ Dunbar watched the man walk away, then turned back to Evans. ‘Let’s have a meeting in the other room before we head off to the station.’
The four detectives went into the library. Alex and Evans sat on chairs while Dunbar and Harry took the seats they’d just vacated minutes earlier.
‘Right, let’s hear what they had to say for themselves,’ Dunbar said.
Alex had her notebook out. ‘I started with Shona Gibbons and her husband. They were at the hotel the family owns down by the beach. They said that the staff there saw them and would be able to confirm they were there yesterday afternoon. They saw Mr McInsh there, and Shug. Effectively giving them an alibi. They were all doing their own thing before getting together in the evening. Clive didn’t show and he was moody, apparently, so nobody was surprised. They didn’t go looking for him.’
‘Do we know who inherited the lodge where Clive Wolf was found?’ Harry asked.
‘Yes. They were told last night at the meeting. It was Shona. Fenton got the hotel where the memorial is being held, while Clive and Zachary have each been left a house near here. They’ll each have a share in the Wolf family business and split the money. And this house.’
‘Except Clive, obviously,’ Evans said. ‘We need to ask Thomas Deal, the solicitor, what happens to Clive’s share,’ Dunbar said. ‘Who benefits from his death.’
‘Maybe Shona, since she’s his twin.’
‘What about the other alibis? Like Deal himself and his assistant?’ Harry asked.
‘They were at the hotel as well,’ Evans answered.
‘Basically, all the Wolf family have an alibi?’ Harry said.
‘No. Fenton and Zach have hee-haw alibi. Out and about. That’s all they’ve got,’ Evans said.
‘Do they all live here on the island?’ Harry asked.
Alex shook her head. ‘No. Only Clive did. He lived in this house. We don’t know why he went up to the lodge. Shona doesn’t know why. Her brother was strange. But no, the others live in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Fenton and Zachary live in Glasgow. Shona and Brian live in Edinburgh.’
‘What about Deal?’ Dunbar asked. ‘East or west?’
‘East. Oliver Wolf had a small flat in Edinburgh.’
‘That’s good enough for a start,’ Dunbar said. ‘I think we should get them down to the station. Give them a formal interview there.’
They stood up and left the room again, going back to the living room where the rest of them were.
‘Where’re Fenton and Zach?’ Dunbar asked.
‘They left,’ Thomas Deal said. The solicitor was looking tired and years beyond his age.
‘Where did they go?’
‘They said they still had things to do to prepare for the memorial service tomorrow. Apparently, it’s still going ahead.’
‘We need to ask you a few questions,’ Harry said. He noted that Muckle, Shug and the dog were gone.
‘Any time. But could we do it later? I need a nap. I didn’t want to come here again, but there was a provision in Oliver’s will that I couldn’t refuse.’
‘We’d like to get it done now, if you don’t mind. Time is getting away from us.’
The old solicitor sighed. ‘If you insist.’
‘We’d like to do this down at the police station,’ Dunbar said.
‘As long as they have the kettle on. But I think I heard Fenton saying something about them going to the fairground. It’s not far from the hotel. On the other side of the island.’
Harry nodded to Alex and she and Evans left.
‘Our lift just went,’ Dunbar said in a low voice.
‘We’ll commandeer a patrol car.’
‘Why don’t you use one of Oliver’s cars? He actually left me two, a Range Rover and a BMW Five Series. They’re only a year old, both clean and have a full tank. Missy and I are driving them back to the mainland. On Sunday, after Saturday’s memorial bash. Tomorrow’s Saturday, isn’t it? I forget what day of the week it is sometimes. But yes, we’ll be driving them back. Well, only one, as we have our own car. But you can use the BMW if you like? My knees aren’t what they used to be, so it would be easier for me to get into the Range Rover. That would be okay, wouldn’t it, Missy?’
‘It would, yes,’ Missy said, appearing by his side as if by magic.
‘Fenton wanted us to fly over, but I told him, no thanks. So we drove. I didn’t know about the cars being left to me. That was added in. Quite nice of him really. However, it leaves me with a predicament: there’re only two of us and three cars. I need to find a driver before we go.’
‘I need to find a lift eventually. We flew over and there’s no way I’m flying back,’ Harry said.
‘Good. You can drive one of the cars back. How about the BMW? It rides like a dream. Use it while you’re here. To be honest, I’ll sell it when we get home. Not quite my style. I’m more of a Jag man myself.’
‘I’m sorry, Mr Deal, that wouldn’t be appropriate,’ Harry said.
‘I understand. Anyway, we’ll meet you at the police
station. But be prepared for a long visit. I have quite the tale to tell. Murdo Wolf did not lead a dull life.’
‘You knew him well, then?’ Dunbar said.
Deal chuckled. ‘Knew him well? I should say so.’
They watched the old man leave.
Nine
‘Come on, Brian, for God’s sake. Make a bloody effort.’
‘You might not have noticed, but these shoes aren’t built for hiking. Neither am I, come to think of it.’
‘Fat bastard,’ she said in a lower voice.
‘What did you say?’
‘You heard.’ She broke out of the woods, ahead of her husband, and he lost sight of her for a moment. God, she could be a real fucking pain at times. Still, he was focused on the end result. That was all that mattered.
He was well aware of the view from up here. They could look down on the building site that they had going. Luxury homes for sale. Luxury apartments. It had been a long time coming for sure, but the potential was here. A luxury marina was next. Yes, the current marina was okay, but when you started to get people with money coming to the island, they’d want certain luxuries, and Brian Gibbons was going to give those to them.
Of course, the other members of the family would be pissed off when they found out that Old Man Oliver had invested in the projects, but he had been a good businessman, like his father before him.
Brian stopped and looked down at the houses below them. Shona was staring off into space. Maybe she was thinking about her brother, or her grandfather. Brian couldn’t give a flying fuck about either of them. The bottom line for him was getting this project finished. And when they could finally sell the house where Clive had been found, that would mean more houses to build. The land there was fabulous, with views down to the loch.
And Brian stood to make a killing.
He slipped and fell to one knee. ‘Fuck’s sake. Look at my fucking trousers.’
Shona turned to look at him, undisguised contempt all over her face. ‘I told you to wear proper gear, like me.’
‘And look like a fucking tree hugger or something?’
He could hear the music from the fairground in the distance below, round the other side of the hill, as he got closer to Shona. He bent over for a second as the stitch in his side flared up. He took some deep breaths. ‘Jesus, I’m knackered.’
She did her head-shaking thing again, the one she reserved for when he was pished or when he’d left the toilet seat up again. Cats might be able to swim, she had explained one time in her most condescending voice, but they don’t like to swim in the toilet.
‘Profanity and blasphemy. You’re doing well today.’
Here we go. Little Miss Uppity. Shona could be the perfect stuck-up bitch when she felt like it, but Brian had seen beneath the veneer. He stood up straight. ‘I am. I’m absolutely fucked,’ he said, just to push some more buttons.
‘Oh, nonsense. My grandfather used to walk up the hill every day from the house. He said that’s why he lived a good, wholesome life.’
There was something in her eyes; resentment. Yes, she liked the high life his building empire had brought, but the twenty-year age gap was starting to peel away at their short marriage. He thought she might be trying to kill him.
She ignored him and turned back to the lodge.
‘It has so much charm,’ she said.
‘I’ll have them put that on my tombstone.’
‘Shona’s starting to get a little bit ticked-off, darling. Shona hasn’t had her meds today, and Shona will be most displeased if her husband doesn’t shut his biscuit chute and come look.’
‘I know exactly what the view is like.’ He knew Shona was hurting inside. The fact that she refused to talk about her twin brother’s murder was one thing, but not wanting to talk about the discovery of her grandfather was even more disconcerting.
‘Listen, I’m here if you want to talk about it. It might do you a world of good,’ he said.
‘Really? Good for me? To talk about my brother being murdered and knowing the killer is still here with us? How do I know it wasn’t you?’
Shona’s eyes were wide now, her breathing getting faster.
‘Oh, come on, love, don’t be talking like that.’
‘You fucking keep away from me.’ Now she was pointing a finger at him. Fight or flight.
‘Shona, I think it’s time we got back to the house. Maybe get the doctor to give you something.’ He took a step towards her.
‘Fenton said you were just using me. He knows all about you. He told me to stay beside other people. That you’re dangerous. I told him not to be so stupid, but he pointed some things out. Like that place down there.’
Brian looked down at the new construction. ‘The houses? That was all planned yonks ago. Your father was excited about it. He gave it the go-ahead. How can you say I had planned this all by myself? Like I was trying to do something underhanded? Come on, come here. We’ll go back.’
‘Yes, my father planned this, but then he died. Two days before Christmas, just like my grandfather. Thirty-four years apart. Next Christmas the houses will be ready. Thirty-five years to the day since my grandfather went missing. Nice little fucking anniversary, isn’t it? Fenton pointed that out.’
‘Fenton’s doing very well out of your father’s death, though, isn’t he? He gets a house and a cut of the business. He’ll make money from the houses down there because your father invested. Don’t you see how backward his thinking is? I know everybody’s emotions are running high, but don’t let your thinking get warped.’ He reached a hand out for her, but she just took two steps away from him.
‘Clive never trusted you, did you know that?’
‘What are you saying?’ Brian asked.
‘He told me he wanted to show me something. He knew something nobody else did. He overheard somebody talking about where my grandfather was hidden.’
‘That doesn’t make sense.’
‘You knew too, didn’t you?’
Brian took another step towards her, holding out a hand for her to take. She took another step away from him.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ he said, his eyes piercing into hers. The sun was above, bouncing off the sea in the distance. Music from the carnival floated up to them on the hillside. They couldn’t see it, but it could be heard.
‘Clive made a will. He was paranoid after my dad died. Clive said he was murdered, just like Grandfather. How he knew Grandfather was murdered, I don’t know. But he made a will, leaving everything to me if he should die. We all knew what property we were getting, but it was my father’s wish that we only got the keys to the properties at the memorial. Clive said there was method in his madness. He told me not to trust you. You and my brothers. Now I hate you all. I’m going to talk to the police.’
‘Oh, yeah?’ Brian said. ‘And tell them what then?’ He was starting to get pissed-off with her now.
‘Wouldn’t you like to know?’
‘I would, yes.’ He was sweating now and he took a cotton hanky out of a back pocket and wiped his forehead.
‘Look at you,’ Shona said, her lip curling in disgust.
‘Why did you marry me if I disgust you?’
‘You were a friend of my father’s. The boys would tease me about being left on the shelf. My first marriage didn’t work out. I was lonely. Foolish too, obviously. You were rich, though, or so I thought. Fuck knows I wasn’t attracted to you physically. Little did I know you were mortgaged up to the hilt. You’re all fucking piss and wind. But guess what? This charade is over. We’re getting a divorce. I don’t need you now.’
‘This is insane, Shona. I love you.’ He didn’t want to sound like he was pleading, but it started to come out like that.
‘Oh, fuck off. I don’t love you. Never have. I can’t believe it at times. All my friends said I could do better. Marry somebody younger, they said. I should have listened.’
‘You’re being irrational,’ Brian said, his brea
th coming in rasps.
‘Jesus, you sound like you’re going to pop your fucking clogs. I hope you do. Old bastard.’
She turned and started walking in the opposite direction from him, back towards their car, and then she felt, rather than heard, him gaining on her. Maybe it was the thumping of his feet on the hard, dry ground or his laboured breathing, but whatever it was, it made her turn round. And the big, steaming hulk of her husband was catching up. Probably because they were heading downhill now. It had to be. The bastard would die if they were going uphill.
She let out a yelp, just for a second, then she composed herself. It was thatmomenthere a woman who was about to be attacked could go in one of two directions: panic and die, or fight and run.
Shona was running. The fight might be avoided. Of course she felt the fear inside. She’d never seen her husband like this before, but the look on his face wasn’t an invitation to have tea.
She was on a direct path down to the building site. The houses would have views of the hill on one side and the new marina on the other, when it was completed.
This was a well-worn path she was on. She’d known it was here as she’d climbed here many times when growing up. Old Huff and Puff knew fuck all about this island, except where to spend money.
Her father’s money!
Bastard.
Although they had come up this way, sometimes when you went somewhere, it looked completely different in reverse. She hoped Brian would get confused and lost.
She kept on running. Aware that Brian could trip and fall and come barrelling down the hill on top of her, she risked a quick look over her shoulder.
He was lagging behind, and the coronary that had his name on it looked like it was coming to collect. His face was beetroot, his arms flailing about like he was about to go head over arse down the hill.
She rounded a corner and was out of his sight. A few minutes later, when she looked back, he was nowhere to be seen. Running wasn’t Brian’s thing. Hopefully, he had given up, realising if he followed her down here, he would have further to walk home. He’d probably turned and gone back, so he could make it down the other side and call for somebody to pick him up.