In the Cage Where Your Saviours Hide
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DARIAN IS ONE of a rare group of people who couldn’t legitimately complain about the way they were treated by Challaid Police. They questioned him politely, diligently took down all the details from the recorded interview and didn’t accuse him of anything. The process was professional and respectful. It seemed as though they were eager to get as much muck on DI Folan Corey as possible, and make some of it stick. They didn’t seem confident.
The same questions, over and over, followed by the same uncomfortable answers. There was no way of telling the story that didn’t make him seem like a little boy, led with ease by the wily Maeve Campbell, and he had to keep repeating the tale. He blushed more than once as he told them every damned thing that had happened, but he didn’t hold back a bad word of what had been said or a grim detail of what had been done. They seemed less interested in Maeve killing Moses, that had been settled and they had no punishment to give a dead woman. Their interest was Corey, and what his role had been.
Darian didn’t know how long he was questioned for, but it must have been hours. He walked out into the corridor when they were done, Sholto still sitting there waiting for him, several paper cups that had contained weak coffee at his feet. They shook hands, but Darian paused before he thanked his boss, looking towards the voices that were drifting down the corridor.
At the other end, just outside another interview room, was a gaggle of people. There was some laughing and joking among the group. It was MacDuff he noticed first, standing on the edge of the circle looking tired and annoyed, like a teenager waiting for a lift from a parent who hadn’t turned up yet. The female detective who had arrested Randle Cummins, DC Lovell, was there, and DC Kenyon who had taken Corey away from Sgàil Drive, and presumably at least one lawyer, and in the middle of them all was DI Folan Corey, the star of the show, relaxed and happy.
Darian stood and stared until Corey noticed him and there was eye contact. Corey gave his slyest grin, said something to the people he was with and made his way along the corridor alone. Sholto sighed loudly, but Darian stood his ground.
Corey said, ‘I hope they weren’t too hard on you, young master Ross, but it might be the only way you’ll learn.’
‘No harder on me than they would have been on you.’
‘Me? Oh no, they’ve nothing to be hard on me for. I was a cop working with a former colleague to try to catch a killer. I’ve suffered a devastating loss. You’re the one that was rolling around on top of a murderer; I would think they’ll have a few questions for you about that, even if they haven’t fired them at you yet. And you, Sholto, running an unregistered detective agency and working a case on behalf of a killer. Dear oh dear, that won’t go down at all well. No, I worry about the pair of you, I really do. What future is there in this city for two men like you?’
He smiled and walked away down the corridor, back to the group at the other end. Darian could see that none of it was bluff. His word against Darian’s and that was a duel he could win with a blindfold on.
Darian said quietly, ‘He’s going to get away with it.’
Sholto said, ‘He’s probably not going to prison, which is where he belongs. But he won’t go unpunished, there are too many people who want rid of him and will see this as their best chance. That pal of yours from Whisper Hill, Vinny, he brought a lot of colleagues with him. They want Corey’s head on a stick, but they’ll settle for pushing him out of the force and defanging him. Don’t underestimate them; there are still some cops with actual talent and a will to point it in the right direction in this city. He thinks he’s so smart, but the problem with always being a step ahead is that it tends to leave a lot of people standing behind you. Corey’s been helping criminals stay prison-free for a long time and it’s been annoying them, but Ash Lucas was one of the last straws. A violent sexual offender and Corey walked him out of the station like he was a VIP. They didn’t like that at all up at Dockside station. He might get away with his freedom, but he won’t get away with his job.’
It was a small victory for decency, as decency’s victories usually are. Darian said, ‘He’s going to come after you and me, try to shut down the office.’
Sholto laughed and put his arm around Darian’s shoulder as he led him towards the front door of the station. ‘I’m not worried about that guy. We have more friends in the police than he does, and we have some powerful backers now as well. How about that, us with influential friends. Kotkell would have made sure we had a tremendous reputation at Sutherland if this had broken his way, but as it turns out his successor will have a lot to thank us for and I’ll be sure to point that out in a firm but politely worded letter that hints at what we know about the bank’s business. And now that I’ve got the evidence for Murdoch Shipping taking illegal deliveries we’ll have another hulking bodyguard in Glendan. Having some corporate bullies in our corner might not be the most noble way to keep our heads above water, but it’s better than drowning.’
They stepped out into the cold at half past three in the morning. It was dark and the streets were empty. They got into Sholto’s car and he drove them back to the scene so Darian could pick up the Skoda. They stood together on the pavement near the lamppost that marked the spot and they were silent for almost a full minute.
Sholto said, ‘You sure you don’t need a lift home?’
‘No, I’ll be fine. I’ll see you at Cage Street tomorrow.’
Sholto understood that he’d done his bit and Darian now wanted to be left alone. What he really wanted, as Sholto drove away, was to lie down on the pavement and go to sleep. He was tempted to go to Misgearan and find amnesia there, but even drinking was too much effort so he drove home instead.
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About Malcolm Mackay
MALCOLM MACKAY was born in Stornoway on Scotland’s Isle of Lewis. His Glasgow Trilogy has been nominated and shortlisted for several international prizes, including the Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original and the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger award. His second novel, How a Gunman Says Goodbye, won the Deanston Scottish Crime Book of the Year Award. Mackay still lives in Stornoway.
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This is an Apollo book, first published in the UK by Head of Zeus in 2018
Copyright © Malcolm Mackay, 2018
The moral right of Malcolm Mackay to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
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A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN (HB): 9781786697097
ISBN (TPB): 9781786697103
ISBN (E): 9781786697080
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