In Harm's Way

by Owen Mullen

  * * *

  Upstairs, Doctor Chilolo was waiting. ‘Your sister’s sleeping. For the moment the most important thing is rest. Allow the body to heal. The tests we did when Mackenzie was brought in show no life-threatening injuries. That isn’t to say she’s free and clear. Once she’s fully conscious we’ll begin a new round.’

  ‘But you think she’ll be all right?’

  ‘I’m hopeful, yes.’

  Adele picked up on his reluctance to commit himself. Driven by her fear she said, ‘There something you’re not telling us.’ Her imagination got ahead of her. ‘Brain damage. You think she’s got brain damage, is that it?’

  ‘I’ve seen no evidence to indicate that. I’m suggesting we need to be cautious.’ He spread his arms. ‘The early signs are good. But your sister hasn’t spoken yet. When she does we’ll know more than we do now. I understand your anxiety. I’m saying we need to give her time. And she isn’t the only one who could use some sleep. Go home. Come back this evening. If anything changes we’ll get word to you.’

  Good advice, though not advice Adele was willing to take. ‘No, I prefer to stay. I wouldn’t sleep. How could anybody sleep when she needs us here?’

  It was the reaction the doctor anticipated – he’d seen it more times than he could remember. In the end people did what they wanted and, beyond giving them the benefit of his opinion, there was nothing else he could do. He nodded. ‘Of course, it’s up to you.’

  ‘Can we go back in? I have to be there when she wakes up.’

  ‘Just don’t expect too much, too soon.’

  Adele wasn’t listening. The doctor spoke to Gavin. ‘You understand what I’m saying, don’t you?’

  A look passed between them. Gavin didn’t answer.

  * * *

  One minute Mackenzie’s eyes were closed, the next they were open. And everything Doctor Chilolo had said was forgotten. Adele threw her arms around her sister. This time the tears were tears of joy. Gavin caught hold of her hand and got her to sit down. For a terrible few seconds Mackenzie seemed not to recognise them and Adele’s wild conclusion looked to be real. Then her lips moved and she spoke. ‘Where am I?’

  Adele moved closer. ‘You’re in hospital but you’re going to be all right.’

  The answer seemed to satisfy her and she drifted off to sleep until she woke again and startled them with a question. ‘Where’s Derek?’

  Gavin and Adele looked apprehensively at each other. Which of them was going to tell her?’ Adele lied for both of them. ‘Don’t worry about that. He’ll be here.’

  Without warning, Mackenzie’s features crumbled as the memories flooded in. She panicked, tore the IV drip from the back of her hand and tried to get out of the bed.

  ‘No! No! Noooo!’

  Gavin caught hold of her, so thin under the dressing-gown. ‘It’s okay. It’s okay, sis. We’re here.’

  Two nurses rushed in and took over. One said, ‘Give us a few minutes to settle her down, will you?’

  Adele would’ve argued but her brother led her away. Out in the corridor she told him how close she’d come to killing Melia. ‘It wasn’t some aberration. I knew what I was doing. If it hadn’t been for your detective friend I would have. He stopped me.’

  Gavin held her close. ‘Good thing Andrew was there. I can’t lose you as well. Ever since I saw her in that awful cellar I’ve thought of doing the same.’

  The nurse found them with their arms round each other. ‘She’s calmed down. You can go back in. Please, don’t tell her anything that might upset her. She’s asking about her husband. I wasn’t sure what to say.’

  Gavin wished Monica was here.

  They returned to the room they’d so hurriedly left. Mackenzie was lying on her side, as if she was hiding. Her first question wasn’t about Derek. ‘How did I get here?’

  ‘An ambulance brought you.’

  ‘When?’

  ‘Two days ago.’

  Mackenzie started to shake. ‘Where is he? Where is he?’

  ‘Derek will be here soon.’

  ‘Not Derek.’

  Gavin touched Adele’s hand: this was his responsibility. ‘You’re safe. He can’t hurt you now.’

  She tried to sit up, her voice rising. ‘But I need to know where he is.’

  Her brother put his arms round her.

  ‘How did you find me? Did Derek pay them? I knew he would.’

  Gavin kissed her forehead and pulled the bedclothes round her. ‘It’s over. It’s really over. I’ll tell you everything when you’re well. Right now you need to rest.’

  * * *

  But rest would have to wait because Derek appeared and rushed to his wife’s side. He dropped to his knees and took her hand. ‘Thank God. Thank God you’re okay. I’ve been worried sick.’

  Seeing him was too much. Mackenzie broke down. She tried to speak and couldn’t. He put a finger to her lips then folded his arms around her, whispering words only she could hear. Gavin and Adele gave them time to themselves and went to the café. Later Derek joined them, visibly more relaxed than when he arrived.

  ‘They’ve given her a sedative. She’s sleeping.’

  Adele reached out to him. ‘She’s been through so much. She’ll be fine now she’s got you.’

  The men didn’t comment; they understood only too well what Mackenzie had gone through. Derek said, ‘As long as I live I’ll never let her out of my sight. Thanks for being here when she woke up. I was frantic she’d be alone. That would’ve been terrible.’

  Gavin had last seen his brother-in-law in the back of a police car in the Lowther Hills and remembered his gaunt, bone-white face: shock had made a ghost of him.

  ‘What happened with the police?’

  Derek wiped something from his eye. ‘They charged me. I’ve just come from court.’

  Adele was outraged. ‘Charged you? What with?’

  ‘Murder.’

  She exploded. ‘That’s ridiculous!’

  He shook his head. ‘It’s not as bad as it sounds. Apparently it’s how they do things in Scotland. But a man died, that’s the bottom line. Nothing will change it. I’ve been released on bail. I’m free. For the moment. Where it goes next is up to the procurator fiscal.’

  ‘But after what he did to Mackenzie…’

  Derek spoke softly. ‘It’s not about that at this stage. The police have a job to do.’

  ‘But it’s crazy.’

  ‘Have to admit it certainly feels like it but that’s the way it works.’

  Gavin said, ‘The guy, what about him? Do they know who he is…was?’

  Derek paused. ‘His name was Melia. Joe Melia. Apparently, he worked for Crawford Cars.’

  The news shocked Adele. ‘What?’

  Gavin cut across his sister. ‘Apparently? What does that mean? Did you know him?’

  He shook his head. ‘Be easier to understand if I did. Don’t recall a bloody thing about him.’

  ‘Sorry, I’m not getting this. He worked for you yet you didn’t know him?’

  For a moment the Derek of old surfaced. ‘A lot of people work for me. People come and go all the time in my business. He was in the showroom at Motherwell. The manager discovered he was running a scam and sacked him. Abducting Mackenzie was his way of hitting back.’

  ‘So he was a stranger?’

  ‘A stranger with a grudge.’

  ‘What does your lawyer say?’

  ‘What you’d expect. Reckons the fiscal won’t go ahead. And even if he does, we have a strong case.’

  ‘What about you?’

  ‘Haven’t given it a thought. All that matters is Mackenzie.’ He looked from Gavin to Adele and back and tried to put the last twenty-four hours into words. ‘Still can’t believe any of this is real, except it is. In the cells… not knowing…you’ve no idea…the worst night of my life. Appearing in court this afternoon was almost a relief.’

  Gavin said, ‘I’ll be giving a statement later.’

  Derek n
odded. ‘Just tell them what you saw.’

  ‘I’m not sure what I saw.’

  ‘Then that’s what you have to say. The truth is the best defence.’

  Day Sixteen

  Doctor Chilolo had a progress chart tucked under his arm and seemed almost pleased to see the police officers again. ‘In an ideal world I’d ask you to leave it a little longer. That said, Mrs Crawford’s a good deal better than she was and, as we agreed yesterday, we all have our jobs to do. Follow me.’

  Behind his back DS Geddes raised an eyebrow at the constable and PC Lawson almost laughed. Maybe DI Taylor had known what he was doing when he’d handed this part of the investigation over to his sergeant.

  The doctor smiled. The day before he hadn’t been so welcoming, keeping them waiting outside his office. The delay was entirely intentional. When it came to the best interests of his patients, Chilolo could be a difficult man. He intended to refuse the them permission to interview Mackenzie Crawford for at least another twenty-four hours, and nothing or no one would change his mind.

  The Tanzanian doctor had trained in the USA, but there was only one place he wanted to work. As a committed hill-walker, Scotland was an easy choice. In two years he’d managed to climb seventy-four ‘Munros’, the Scottish mountains higher than three thousand feet. Modest compared with Kilimanjaro, a challenge nevertheless. Before he moved to another country, Chilolo was determined to ‘bag’ all two hundred and eighty-two of them. The previous weekend he’d added Ben Hope, the most northerly Munro, to his list. Number seventy-five. After that, imposing his will on a couple of police officers was easy.

  The officers sat down and came to the point. Geddes introduced himself and PC Lawson.

  ‘We’re anxious to speak to Mrs Crawford. We believe she may have important information regarding a serious crime.’

  Chilolo had rested his arms on his desk. ‘I’m afraid that won’t be possible, not today. She’s been through an ordeal. She needs time to recover. Questioning her at this stage will set her back. I can’t allow it.’

  Geddes jaw tightened. ‘I appreciate your position and ask you to appreciate ours. We’re looking at murder. Your patient is crucial to our enquiries.’

  Chilolo wasn’t persuaded. ‘Is she a suspect?’ He knew the answer. ‘A witness? Then I can’t agree. tomorrow we’ll see how she is. Come back then but I’m not making any promises.’

  Walking towards their car they were tight-lipped. Andrew Geddes started the engine and pulled away. He tried to sound unfazed. ‘A good man to have on your side, isn’t he? Can’t say I blame him. Mackenzie Crawford was unconscious during the fight. Don’t expect her to have much to say.’ He glanced across at the young policewoman. ‘But you never know.’

  * * *

  Now, a day later, outside the ACCU, Chilolo stopped to let the corridor clear before he spoke, the apparent good humour of earlier gone, his expression warning them to listen because he was serious.

  ‘Let’s establish the ground rules. As you are aware, this woman is the victim of serious physical and sexual assault. However well she may seem to be, let me assure you she’s fragile and will need professional counselling. Apart from her injuries the psychological trauma has been devastating.’

  DS Geddes bristled. He’d conducted interviews like this hundreds of times and didn’t appreciate being lectured. ‘We respect what Mrs Crawford’s been through.’ He gestured to his young colleague. ‘That’s why PC Lawson is here. And, of course, we’ll take it slowly. Upsetting her is the last thing on our minds, believe me, Doctor.’

  Chilolo drew himself to his full height, towering over them, unimpressed by Geddes’ speech. ‘If you distress her in any way I’ll report you to your superior. I’m giving you ten minutes. Not a minute longer. If you haven’t got what you need by then we’ll be seeing each other again. But it won’t be today. Is that understood?’

  He led them to a private room in the corner of the ACCU where Mackenzie was propped-up on pillows, nervously playing with the edge of the sheet. The last time Geddes had seen her was when the ambulancemen stretchered her out of the house in the Lowther Hills. She looked better, but how difficult was that?

  The doctor explained who the visitors were and why they were here. On his way to the door he reserved his final words for the senior officer. ‘Ten minutes. No longer.’

  Geddes had no doubt he meant it.

  They sat down on opposite sides of the bed and Andrew Geddes introduced them. ‘This is Constable Emily Lawson and I’m Detective Sergeant Geddes. We’d like to ask you a few questions. Think you’re up to it?’

  Mackenzie nodded, uncertainly. ‘I’ll try. But first I need to know: where is he?’

  She meant her abuser. The doctor’s warning came back to the detective. He chose his words carefully. ‘Don’t worry, we’ve got him.’

  ‘He has to pay. He has to pay for what he did to me.’

  Lawson leaned forward to reassure her. ‘He will. I promise you he will.’

  Geddes said, ‘We understand some of what happened. Tell us about it from the beginning. There’s no rush.’

  That wasn’t true.

  Mackenzie Crawford’s refusal to be a victim gave her the strength to tell her story, beginning with the first time she’d seen the stalker in the supermarket. Speaking so softly they had to strain to hear, she described the incidents in Buchanan Street and the day she’d run from him, faltering only when she came to the abduction and what had come after.

  Geddes noted the chronology and waited until she was finished. So far she’d done well. ‘I have to ask, had you met him before?’

  Her voice faded. ‘Never.’

  He clarified the point. ‘So he was a stranger?’

  She answered with a nod.

  An instinct prompted the policeman. ‘Did you ever attend social functions connected to your husband’s business?’

  The question puzzled her. ‘The first year after we were married we went to the Christmas party. I think Derek wanted to show me off. After that he went by himself.’

  The DS moved to the events in the basement and marked the change in her but pressed on. Retelling the days in captivity was almost too much and she became agitated. Lawson used her initiative and held Mackenzie’s hand until she calmed down and was able to continue.

  It was a harrowing tale.

  His years on the force didn’t help Geddes come any nearer to understanding how resentment could drive someone to do what had been done to Mackenzie Crawford. It seemed Joseph Melia’s sacking had taken him close to insanity. What he’d done was the work of a madman.

  Doctor Chilolo appeared at the door, his hands in the pockets of his white coat. He made a show of checking his watch but Mackenzie interrupted before he could begin.

  ‘I have to do this. Don’t stop it.’

  ‘They’ll come back tomorrow.’

  She was insistent. ‘No, no. Today.’

  ‘As your doctor, I – ’

  ‘Today.’

  Chilolo shrugged and signalled for them to continue. At the side of the bed, Lawson’s eyes filled with tears. The courage this woman was showing moved her. She caught hold of herself before Geddes noticed the lapse and focused on the notes she was taking. The DS wasn’t immune, just better at hiding it. He said, ‘A couple more questions and we’ll leave you alone. The balaclava: why do you think he wore it? You’d already seen him?’

  Mackenzie shuddered. ‘To frighten me. To scare me. And it worked.’

  The officers stood. The interview was almost over. Mackenzie Crawford had been impressive; brave and convincing. Yet something about her statement didn’t ring true. Her claim to have never met the stalker didn’t gel with her outburst at the party or Derek Crawford’s statement.

  Had there been an affair? Had it gone wrong? And was this the result?

  ‘At your sister’s birthday party you claimed he was your lover. Why?’

  ‘I heard them all talking about me and knew they didn’t believe
he was real. So I lashed out. It was stupid.’ Her voice faltered. ‘Maybe none of this would’ve happened if I hadn’t said it.’

  Geddes would have preferred to leave it there but couldn’t. ‘So who was the man you were meeting?’

  Behind the bruising, Mackenzie was confused. ‘Man? What man?’

  ‘When you went out at night your husband saw you get into a car.’

  Her expression softened with the memory. ‘You mean, Alec? He was taking me to an AA meeting. Helping me to get sober.’

  The detective hadn’t seen that coming. In the car he switched on the ignition and drove away. They’d just interviewed the most misunderstood woman in Scotland. He kept his eyes on the road and spoke to the constable in the passenger seat. ‘You okay, Lawson, because I’m not. If Joe Melia wasn’t already dead I’d kill the bastard myself.’

  Day Fifty-Six

  Gavin Darroch was in a good mood. The progress meeting he’d just come out of on a redevelopment project south of the river had gone well. He was satisfied the talented young guns who worked for him were on their way to delivering a design which matched the remit and was, at the same time, aesthetically pleasing. The public/private partnership committee members more often than not wasted time squabbling among themselves vying for power, struggling to agree on anything. Gavin was confident they would approve what he’d be presenting to them at the end of the month.

  His mobile rang. Mackenzie. Immediately, he felt himself tense. It had been over a week since he’d visited his sister, taking Monica and Alice with him and phoning ahead as Derek asked, rather than dropping in unannounced.

  Mackenzie had looked better, there was no doubt about that. The bruising had disappeared, she had colour in her cheeks and put on weight. But beyond the usual greetings, she hadn’t had much to say. Derek did the talking for both of them, more vociferous than they’d known him, filling the gaps in the conversation whenever they appeared. Gavin may not have noticed how often he answered for Mackenzie, Monica certainly did. Given what his wife had been through, his over-protectiveness wasn’t difficult to relate to.