A Taste of Ashes (DI Bob Valentine Book 2)

by Tony Black

  ‘You think he made that up about the fight?’

  ‘No. I don’t think he’s got the imagination for that. I think that was instinctual on his part, he just gave us something to get rid of us. There’s more inside that manky little skull of his, though.’

  The sound of the window opening drew the officers’ gaze to Brogan, he was leaning onto the ledge now, said, ‘And I hope you’ll tell your wee pal what I told you as well … I’m playing nice like he said.’

  Valentine nodded once to McCormack then sprung back to Brogan. ‘You just stay right where you are, boyo!’

  The officers started back for the door of the flats.

  40

  Darry Millar was the last person Fin expected to call on Jade’s mobile phone. The messages from Leask had mounted to such a ridiculous level that he’d ditched his previous phone and taken a new number. It had been his intention to let Darry have the new number, eventually, but his first priority had been to Jade. The girl had always had more than her fair share of problems but the situation she now found herself in was as bad as it got. It shouldn’t have happened, not after all he knew about Tulloch.

  ‘Hello, Darry,’ he said.

  ‘You thought it was Jade.’

  ‘I … I did yeah.’

  There was a prolonged silence between them. ‘Why’s my sister got your new number and I haven’t?’

  ‘I was going to give you it, but it’s been a bit crazy of late.’

  ‘I’ve noticed, Fin. You might not think it but there’s a lot I’ve noticed lately.’ Darry’s voice hid an accusation.

  ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

  He didn’t answer the question. ‘Jade’s fine. She’s here, with me.’

  ‘That’s good. I’m glad.’

  ‘Are you?’

  Fin’s voice rose. ‘Of course it’s good. Jesus, if she wasn’t with you she’d be in the same spot as your mum now.’

  ‘You’re talking about my mum now? She’s in some state, I don’t think she’ll ever be making the finals of Mastermind, her brain’s scrambled.’

  The raised voice subsided. ‘I hear she’s in hospital, best place for her I suppose.’

  ‘Better than where Niall is.’

  ‘I suppose.’

  The sound of a ferry’s horn blared in the background. ‘Fin, tell me what happened, I mean in your words.’

  Fin looked out of the guest house window, the passenger boat was docking at Brodick pier. He tried to think what to say to his friend but couldn’t locate the words. He paced the room, looked at the bed, the rucksack, the pile of money.

  ‘Fin, what the hell happened?’

  ‘Well, what did Jade say?’ he sounded coy.

  ‘She hasn’t said much that makes any sense.’

  ‘Well what makes you think I can add to that?’

  ‘She said that Tulloch got what he deserved.’

  Fin lowered himself onto the bed, the room was too warm and the over-complicated pattern on the wallpaper blurred. ‘Did she tell you about …’

  ‘What?’

  ‘About the … Christ, I have no right telling anyone. Ask her, God Almighty, man, this has been hard enough for me, I don’t need this from you too!’

  Darry’s voice came slow and calm. ‘She told me she’s pregnant, if that’s what you mean?’

  ‘It should never have happened.’

  ‘No, it shouldn’t, Fin. You were supposed to be minding her. I was still on tour, I couldn’t get home even if I wanted to. I trusted you, you were my friend and what was it you said, I’ll look out for her, I’ll keep an eye on her.’

  ‘Darry, if you only knew what I’ve been through for her, for you too.’

  A laugh, deep and guttural. ‘My heart bleeds for you, mate.’

  ‘It wasn’t meant to be like this.’

  ‘Oh, no. I bet it wasn’t. I misjudged you, I thought you would never let me down but it turns out I never knew you at all. I’m wondering now what I should read into those stories you told me about what Tulloch did in Helmand.’

  Fin spat, ‘Stories. You think I made that up?’

  ‘How am I to know? Maybe the army knew something the rest of us didn’t when they dumped you both.’

  ‘I can’t believe I’m hearing this. You were there when I spoke out, you saw the mess I was in. Bloody hell, Darry, they flung me out the army for reporting him, for speaking out against what he did. Do you really think I could make that up?’

  ‘I don’t know what’s true and what’s false anymore, Fin. All I know is my sister is up the pike, her young life ruined, and my mother is looking at the rest of her life in a padded cell because you brought that bastard to our home.’

  Fin flared, ‘He trailed me home, came looking for me, I never brought him. He was a psychopath, he wanted to make me pay. Jesus, he blamed me for ruining his career, his life.’

  ‘Then why did he ruin mine?’

  ‘I don’t know. Because you were the closest I had to family, because he wanted to see me burn, because he could. Because he was nuts.’ As he stopped screaming into the phone, Fin realised he was brushing away tears.

  ‘That’s not going to help you, crying.’

  ‘Darry, if you knew the things I’d done for you … and Jade.’

  ‘Don’t make me laugh.’

  ‘I mean it. I put my neck on the block to give her a clean break after Tulloch …’

  ‘After Tulloch what?’

  The phone line fell to silence.

  For a moment, Fin stared at the screen willing himself to end the call but something stopped him. Darry needed to know, too. ‘After … he raped her.’

  They’d been friends for a long time, they’d grown up together, joined the army together. His mind was awash with memories of when they were children, the fights, the football, the girls. He returned to the phone, panic rising. ‘I have money, lots of money. I took it for Jade, to y’know, help her get it sorted, you can have it.’

  Darry stalled, the gap between them widening. ‘We don’t want your money.’

  ‘Don’t be stupid, think about what you’re saying.’

  ‘There’s something I need more.’

  ‘What, revenge? Is that it? Well you can’t have it, he’s gone, dead.’

  ‘He might be, but you’re not. Not yet anyway.’

  ‘Darry, talk sense, man, please.’

  ‘I’m perfectly sensible.’

  ‘Come on, stop this …’

  ‘Goodbye, Fin.’

  The line died.

  ‘Darry … Darry …’

  41

  DI Bob Valentine didn’t bother to knock on Kyle Brogan’s door this time, he merely turned the handle and walked in. DS McCormack closed the door behind them as Brogan appeared in the hallway, hands up like he was pleading with them not to shoot. He retreated two steps for every one the detectives took, talking all the while, without any coherence.

  ‘Come on, Bob, I mean you’re all in this together aren’t you?’ he said.

  ‘I’m going to let you sit down and gather your thoughts before I say much more, Brogan.’

  ‘What? I thought we were cool. I thought we’d sorted this out, I don’t get this.’

  McCormack had lost patience with Brogan too. ‘Sit down and shut up. You’ll speak when you’re spoken to and if you don’t say what we want to hear it’ll be the last words you speak this side of a prison wall.’

  Brogan eased himself into the sofa, dislodging the overloaded ashtray as he went. A landslide of cigarette ends fell to the floor. He reached out a hand, tried to stop the ash mountain in progress but his efforts had no effect, he sat back dusting his hands before finally resting his trembling fingers on his knees.

  ‘That’s better, Brogan,’ said McCormack. The suspect’s eyes flitted left and right, he seemed confused by the DS’s change of persona, like he was suddenly without support in the room. Even the flickering television, pitching surreal shadows at the walls, was on the officers’ s
ide.

  ‘Now, what was that you were saying about giving a message to my wee pal … ?’

  ‘Now look Mr Valentine, I’m sorry if I said the wrong thing.’ Brogan’s look spelled out his perplexity.

  Valentine laughed aloud. ‘I bloody well bet you are.’

  ‘I wasn’t trying to be wide with you, just y’know, having a bit of patter.’

  ‘Oh, was that it? I see now. You’ll have to forgive me, because the way I heard you say pass it on to my wee pal, I thought you must be …’ he paused, then roared, ‘assuming I was one of the bent coppers you’re so familiar with.’

  Brogan looked away. His Adam’s apple rode up and down in his thin throat. He appeared to have lost some layers of skin, only an exposed and desperate soul was left.

  ‘I’m not wrong, I see.’ Valentine reached out for Brogan’s vest and raised him from the sofa, his hands were two tight fists pressing on the thin man’s chin.

  ‘You’re hurting my face.’

  ‘Get used to it, the place you’re going will make a sore face your best mate, you’ll be begging for it just to get a break from having your arse split in two. Now I’m not messing here, Brogan, I’ve already told you this is a double murder investigation and I will run you in for it if you don’t give me whatever it is you’re holding, starting with the name of my wee pal on the force.’

  ‘I can’t … I told you everything I know.’

  ‘That bullshit about the punch-up round the back of the Meat Hangers? How much bloody use is that going to be to me? I already have Tulloch and Finnie on my radar and I know why they were booted out the army so that amounts to squat all in my book.’

  ‘Mr Valentine, you don’t understand, this is bigger than me, I’d be on your books too if I say any more. I shouldn’t even know what I do.’

  The DI drew back a fist, he seemed ready to use it but McCormack stepped in, grabbing his arm. ‘Let me take him down, sir. He might see sense in the cells.’

  Valentine threw Brogan onto the sofa and stepped away, running his fingers through his hair like it might calm him down.

  McCormack spoke: ‘I’m guessing you had a visit from us after the Meat Hangers was stood over?’

  ‘Aye. You know that.’

  ‘I’m guessing it was one of Eddy Harris’s team that came to see you?’

  Valentine burst in. ‘We bloody know who it was, we just need to hear him say it.’

  ‘Aye and you’ve said that, what’s in it for me, though?’ said Brogan. ‘I mean, if I stick my neck out you need to make it worth my while.’

  ‘Am I hearing this? Are you seriously going on the make, here?’ said Valentine. ‘Because if you are, Brogan, I’ll add that to the list of things I’m going to throw at you.’

  ‘I’m saying, it’s not easy, I’m in a position here …’

  ‘He’s scared, sir.’

  ‘He should be. But not of Norrie Leask or Eddy Harris, their days are over. Brogan, when I walk out that door, you’re walking in front of me with your hands cuffed behind your back. Now, believe it or not, that’s the facts. You’re going down with all the rest of them, whether I decide to play up or play down your involvement is entirely up to you. You have one card, you’re holding it, are you going to play it or are you going away for something like thirty years with the big boys.’

  ‘I’m not one of the big boys, Mr Valentine.’

  ‘I know that, Brogan, you’re a scrote. A bottom feeder. A recidivist of low intelligence and lower character but if you run with the big dogs you’re going to get some bloody big fleas. Now this is your last chance, Brogan, get onside with me and spare your mangy arse, or keep running with the pack that put you here.’

  He stared at the television, his eyes widening and moistening. The options as Valentine had presented them appeared to have had an effect. Brogan slumped further into the sofa, his shoulders drooping towards the floor making his thin frame seem more rounded than it was. His breathing slowed, his thin lips and fragile mouth started to twitch at first, and then formed words. ‘It was Eddy Harris. I’ll make a statement if you want.’

  Valentine caught McCormack smiling. He walked towards Brogan. ‘When did he call?’

  ‘I don’t know, last week, after the break in some time.’

  ‘You sound like he’s a familiar face.’

  ‘He’s been around the club for years.’ Brogan found a spark of energy, sat upright. ‘I hope this is going in my favour.’

  ‘Of course,’ said Valentine. ‘What do you mean Harris was around the club for years?’

  ‘I don’t know …’

  ‘Come on, Brogan, you’ve only just started talking, don’t ruin it for yourself.’

  ‘I mean, I only know what I hear. Harris was always about the club, there’d been a bit of bother with dealers in the early days but Leask got them seen to by Harris. Leask had his own dealers who paid him a kickback, they were looked after by Harris and the others got punted.’

  ‘So Eddy Harris was on Leask’s payroll?’

  ‘That’s what they say. I mean, I’m sure he was, but not just for the stuff with the dealers. He was around a lot, too much, in the end. It was like Eddy had invested in the club or something, I don’t know, he was in taking free drinks all the time and larging it up in the VIP suite. I don’t know any more than that, I really don’t, but I bet if you do some digging around you’ll find more.’

  ‘One last thing, Brogan, the night of the fight with Tulloch and Fin, was Eddy Harris around then?’

  ‘Aye, I think he was. Yeah, I remember seeing him. I’m pretty sure he went upstairs with Leask and the others when the fight got stopped. But why do you ask?’

  ‘I’m asking the questions, don’t get above yourself.’ Valentine nodded to McCormack. ‘Get the bracelets on him, we need to get back to the station and sort this out.’

  McCormack cuffed Brogan and sat him back on the sofa. Valentine was standing before the television, poised to switch it off as she approached. ‘Sir, you don’t really think Eddy’s involved in this murder malarkey?

  ‘Don’t I?’

  ‘Come on, he’s just a bit flash, just a bent copper.’

  ‘Sylvia, throughout this case the one thing I’ve consistently heard is he’s just … he’s just a scrote, he’s just a squaddie, he’s just a local hood. Let me tell you, there’s something bigger than all of them going on here, it’s gotten out of hand and made them all greater than the sum of their parts. Eddy Harris is involved, I don’t know how but I will find out and when I do I’ll hang him out to dry.’

  Valentine reached forward to switch off the television.

  ‘Hang on,’ said McCormack.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Look, there on the news. It’s the chief super.’

  CS Marion Martin stood on the steps of King Street station with Major Rutherford and DI Eddy Harris. There was a sprinkling of uniform and some of the murder squad behind her, in front of her was a sheet of white paper which she prepared to read from, and the television cameras.

  CS Martin spoke: ‘Following the results of forensic testing today a woman has been arrested in relation to the murder of James Tulloch in his Ayrshire home. A report has been sent to the procurator fiscal detailing the evidence against Sandra Millar who is currently remanded in custody.’

  ‘Am I hearing right? We’ve put Sandra Millar on a murder charge.’

  Martin continued reading from her script a little while longer but the words became meaningless to Valentine. When she finished she dismissed the cameras with a brief ‘no more questions’ and was ushered inside by a fawning Major Rutherford.

  ‘We’ve been screwed, Sylvia,’ said Valentine. ‘Bloody seriously screwed, and by our own side, too.’

  42

  As Valentine and McCormack arrived at King Street station the television staff were packing cameras into vans, winding up cables and collapsing tripods. Newspaper reporters called in their stories by phone whilst a few stray members of the public
hovered about. It was an event for Ayr, if not one the town could be proud of.

  Desk sergeant Jim Prentice looked up as Valentine entered the front foyer. ‘Christ almighty, Bob, leave it on its hinges, eh!’ he roared. ‘Why are you barging in here leaving Incredible Hulk shapes in the door?’

  Before he had a chance to respond DS McCormack arrived with Kyle Brogan in handcuffs, she presented him at the front desk and asked Jim to book him in.

  ‘And what have you been up to this time, Brogan? Depriving toddlers of their lollipops again?’

  ‘It’s a stitch-up. I’ve done nowt.’

  Valentine intervened, put an end to the speculation. ‘Accessary to robbery, for now. If he pisses me off any more you can up it to accessory to murder.’

  Brogan shook his head and kicked at the counter, his temper rising with his imminent confinement. ‘You said you’d look after me.’

  The desk sergeant spluttered a laugh. ‘I hope you got that in writing, Brogan. Bob’s got a tendency to let his mouth run away from him sometimes.’

  ‘No he’s right, Jim. I said I’d look after him, so will you put a cup of that dishwater we call tea in the cell with him.’

  ‘You bastard!’ yelled Brogan, but Valentine and McCormack had already moved off.

  As the heavy fire door to the stairs clanged behind them Valentine imagined Jim cursing him once again, it was strange how proprietorial desk sergeants became towards the station, a form of institutionalisation no doubt. Days spent scribbling in a ledger and relaying the chief super’s demands to officers she was too lazy to contact herself was no way to spend your life.

  Climbing the stairs, the DI was certain he was about to put his job on the line. So what might his next role be? It might not even be on the force. Right now, that appealed to him.

  ‘Slow down, sir,’ said McCormack. ‘You’ll be too out of puff to speak your mind at this rate.’

  ‘You’re kidding aren’t you? Dino’s office could be on the top of Ben Nevis, I’d still be spewing by the time I got there.’ He continued to pound the stairs, the slap of shoe-leather on the hard surface echoing loudly around him.