by Ed James
"Rarity has sent me to Dalhousie," said Cullen. "Feels like a wild goose chase to me."
"How are you feeling?"
Cullen frowned. "I'm not happy. I can't believe I've been demoted but it's something I'm going to have to take on the chin, I suppose."
Sharon nodded. "Try and remember you were never actually promoted, all right? I kept on telling you that."
"Yeah, I know," said Cullen. "I wouldn't listen, would I?" He laughed. "Besides, you got promoted without ever being an ADS."
"I was just lucky," said Sharon.
"And better than me?"
"Did I say that?" said Sharon. "I was just in the right place at the right time. It's a different place now. We're taking an absolute hammering - pensions are being eroded and overtime is much harder to come by. Half of Jim's time will be spent trimming his budget whereas before it was about getting results."
Cullen nodded, seeing the truth in what she said. "I need to play a long game here."
"You do," said Sharon. "I've told you that."
"It took me so long to get out of uniform and my pay didn't change much when I became a DC. It's tough."
"I know, Scott. You need to learn to be a bit more patient, that's all."
Cullen nodded. "What did Turnbull have to say?"
"Are you changing the subject?" said Sharon.
"It's what I do."
Sharon leaned back in the chair. "It's between me and him."
Cullen frowned. "You won't tell me?"
Sharon laughed as she grabbed his hand across the table. "No, you idiot. The vacant DI position is between me and Bill Lamb."
"With you now. Sorry, I'm tired."
"Bill's got four years experience on me as a sergeant, plus he was an Acting DI about three years ago."
"When do you find out?" said Cullen.
"We've got to go through an assessment centre in the next week. Both of us. Then we'll see."
"I take it you didn't tell Jim, then?" said Cullen.
Sharon looked away. "It's nowhere near twelve weeks. Anything could happen."
"So, other than Chantal, who else knows?" said Cullen.
"My mum. That's it."
Cullen smiled. "Right, so your dad, my parents, your sister and half of Edinburgh?"
"She can keep a secret," said Sharon. "It has been known to happen."
"Believe it when I see it," said Cullen.
"We do need to talk about it, Scott."
"I know. I've been thinking about it a lot."
"And?"
"And I just don't know what to think."
"I can have an abortion," said Sharon.
Cullen looked away. "I can't believe we've been so careless."
"You think I've been careless, don't you?" said Sharon.
Cullen reached out across the table and grabbed her hand. "It's not your fault. If anything it's mine. When the dick is hard, the mind is soft and all that."
"If you think it's a fault, then you don't want it, am I right?"
"Look, pregnancy is an STD to me. It terrifies me. Now it's real and in my life, I just don't fucking know what to think."
Sharon glared at him. "I think you should maybe spend the night at your parents."
"If you're chucking me out," said Cullen, "then I'll go cap in hand to Tom, begging for my old room back. He's fed up with the guy who's renting it now, anyway."
Sharon grabbed Cullen's hands. "I'm not chucking you out, Scott." Her eyes intently focused on him. "My flat is our home. Both of us. And Fluffy. And this thing I've got in my body." She rubbed her belly. "What I mean is you should speak to your mum about it. You know how good you thought the counselling was, right? Well, maybe talking to your mum would help?"
Cullen had always been able to share problems with his mother and she was a good listener. After all the shit he'd got up to as a teenager, she was forgiving and hadn't judged him for any of it. "You're probably right. Tom and Rich aren't exactly great listeners."
"I love you, Scott. If I'm going to have kids, it's going to be with you."
"Same here," said Cullen. "I just don't know if I'm ready, that's all."
"Nobody's ever ready at this stage," said Sharon. "They've got seven and a half months to get ready."
CHAPTER 50
Cullen returned to the flat to start packing. He sat on the edge of the bed and yawned.
He'd got into work for six that morning, like an absolute idiot, desperate to solve the Strang case. All those hours of unclaimed overtime he'd worked for free when they could really do with the money.
No matter how many results he managed to get, he was still nowhere near where he wanted to be. Maybe policing wasn't for him any more.
He caught himself and tried to snap out of it, struggling to remember why he'd joined the police in the first place.
When he'd worked in Financial Services, an industry drowning in cash, ambition and promotion, he quickly learnt he wasn't motivated by money. He'd given all that up to do something worthwhile with his life, rather than answering phones or managing people answering phones.
Tom was getting fat and stressed for a job he hated, chasing the money but adding nothing to society. Cullen had taken murderers off the street. That was giving something back.
The baby, if they had it, was going to eat up their time and expendable income. They couldn't bring a child up in a one bedroom flat in the city centre. They'd need to move to the suburbs or into the country and that cost money. He felt ever more pressure pile up on his shoulders.
Working for Rarity was going to be yet another challenge he needed to overcome. She was, at best, a peer. He'd have to work with her and bide his time, making his case for promotion another way.
Fluffy stretched out on the carpet in front of him then climbed up on the bed. He started rearing up and rubbing against Cullen's chin.
"At least someone will miss me."
CHAPTER 51
Cullen parked outside Dalhousie police station, The Invisibles playing on the stereo. He'd driven all that way and he still had no idea what he was going to do there, his mind on other things entirely.
The heater in his car was broken, a repair he couldn't afford. He knew he had to replace the Golf at some point, but all the overtime in the world wouldn't pay for anything barely adequate.
He got his brand new Police Scotland warrant card ready for heading inside. Seeing Detective Constable Scott Cullen again in black and white brought it home. He'd got used to being DS Scott Cullen, the silent A for Acting.
He decided to rise above it all, knowing he could be his own worst enemy. He had enough fire in his belly to prove them all wrong. If either Sharon or Lamb got the final DI position then there would likely be another Acting DS tenure.
Cullen needed to get momentum back in the case - getting stuck in Glasgow had killed it. He got out of the car and walked to the station.
When he was still in uniform, he'd visited the older building before they moved to the outskirts, nearer the rougher housing estates. The shopping centre and supermarket around the new station were fields when he was growing up.
He waved his warrant card at the desk sergeant and signed in, learning there was a DC in the station who could help him. He headed to the office space at the back, past the holding cells. It didn't strike Cullen as being a particularly sensitive design, but making interviewees walk past them might encourage honesty.
He saw a familiar face perched on the corner of a desk, chatting to a female officer. Richard Guthrie.
"Scott Cullen," said Guthrie, walking over and holding his hand out. "I did not expect to see you here today."
Cullen shook hands, unable to avoid grinning. "How you doing?"
Guthrie was an old school friend, though they'd drifted apart at university and beyond. Unbeknownst to each other, they had joined the police at around the same time and rekindled their friendship at Tulliallan police college.
"I'm good," said Guthrie, looking Cullen up and down. "You look
tired, Skinky."
"Been busy, mate. Eighth day in a row. Running a murder case."
Guthrie frowned. "Running it?"
Cullen shrugged. "I was."
"Just got back from my briefing in Dundee," said Guthrie. "Big changes."
"How did the restructure affect you?" said Cullen. "I would've thought you'd be in Dundee MIT?"
"MIT North didn't want me," said Guthrie, failing to mask his disappointment. "I was based in Dundee but I'm now North Division local CID for the rest of my life." He coughed. "What about you?"
"Edinburgh MIT," said Cullen.
"Good for you, mate," said Guthrie. "What brings you back here?"
"James Strang," said Cullen.
"I know the name," said Guthrie, frowning. "Folks still live here?"
"Aye."
"Right," said Guthrie. "I'll ask again, because I always need to with you, what are you doing here?"
"Digging up Strang's life," said Cullen. "He lived in Edinburgh but we've come to a dead end there. There might be something here that kick starts us again."
"Let me know if you need any help," said Guthrie.
"I could do with an extra pair of hands, especially someone who hasn't forced everything about this town out of their head," said Cullen.
"Shouldn't be any problems getting approval," said Guthrie, smiling. "We're all part of one big family now."
"Aren't you busy?" said Cullen.
"Wish I was. It's slim pickings here. I'm the only DC in Dal. My DS is in Dundee and I hardly ever see her. I'm bloody quiet. I keep praying for a murder."
"Don't say that," said Cullen, laughing hard.
"Yeah, you're right," said Guthrie. He rubbed his hands together. "Come on, then."
He led him back to his desk, covered in boxes of files, an Aberdeen mug, some empty burger wrappers, three half-empty Coke bottles and a neglected-looking computer.
"Bring me up to speed on this case, then," said Guthrie.
Cullen pulled over a seat and took Guthrie through the case so far, his earlier enthusiasm diminishing as he went.
"It's not a lot to go on, is it?" said Guthrie.
"No," said Cullen. "I'm kind of at a loss as to what to do. The only thing I can think is to speak to his parents and see if we get any leads there."
Guthrie nodded again. "How long you here for?"
"I don't know," said Cullen. "Might be a couple of days, might not."
"Staying with the olds?"
"I hate that," said Cullen. "You sound like someone off Neighbours."
Guthrie laughed.
"I'll be back at chateau Cullen. They don't know it, yet. My room is always made up and they're not away on holiday for once."
"I'll need to clear the decks this afternoon," said Guthrie. "Got a court appearance in Arbroath in an hour then a load of admin to catch up on."
"Tomorrow, then?"
"Aye," said Guthrie. "If you're still around."
Cullen looked around the deserted office. "Any danger I could get a desk?"
"I'll have to speak to the sergeant," said Guthrie, his face stern.
Rage built up in Cullen's gut. "But there's nobody here."
Guthrie laughed. "Should see your face, Skinky."
Cullen's anger dissipated. "Right," he said, shaking his head. "You bastard."
"Fancy a pint tonight?" said Guthrie.
Cullen nodded, but knew he'd eventually regret it.
CHAPTER 52
Cullen pulled up outside the Strang's house, spotting the same car in the drive.
He sat behind the wheel for a bit, thinking through his plan of attack. There must be nuggets that didn't seem obvious when Strang disappeared but which meant something in the context of a murder.
He was back in the world of shoe leather, a doer rather than a leader. It was for him to chase down every single lead, rather than the officers working for him. Having help from Guthrie would be useful, adding a bit of local knowledge to the investigation.
He walked up the drive and knocked on the front door. Eventually, it opened.
Norma Strang screwed her eyes up at him. "Have you found my son's killer?"
Cullen shook his head. "Not yet, I'm afraid."
"Oh."
"I need to ask some further questions about your son," said Cullen.
"Well, you'd better come in then, Sergeant."
Cullen didn't correct her.
She led him into the living room. The mantelpiece was now filled with cards, a perverse inversion of Christmas.
"My husband is sorting out the arrangements at the funeral director's office," said Norma.
"I'm sorry to miss him."
"Have you got anything to report?"
"Nothing much, I'm afraid," said Cullen. "It would be very useful if you could provide us with any other people we could speak to about your son."
"People who could have caused James harm?" said Norma. "I told you already."
"No," said Cullen, "people who can give us some background."
She looked hurt. "We've not given you enough already?"
"We can't overlook any avenue in a case like this," said Cullen. "Did James have any brothers or sisters?"
"He's got a sister, Audrey," said Norma. "You're from Dalhousie, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"What year did you finish school?" said Norma.
"Two thousand and one."
"Did you do sixth year?" said Norma.
Cullen nodded. "I did."
Norma did some mental arithmetic. "You'll have been in the same year as my Audrey."
Despite how antiquated the name now seemed, there were a couple in his year alone. He couldn't remember Audrey Strang. "Can I have her address and phone number?"
"Certainly."
Cullen scribbled the mobile number down. "What about any friends?"
"There's Paul McKay," said Norma. "That's all I can think."
Cullen didn't recognise the name. "Anyone else?"
Norma stared into space, drumming her fingers on the edge of the sofa. "There was another laddie. What was his name?"
Cullen gave her time.
She clicked her fingers. "That's it. Mark Andrews."
Cullen wrote it down. "No more?"
Norma shook her head. "I'm afraid not. I know both those laddies' parents, just enough to speak to in the Tesco. I think they both work in Dundee."
Cullen was relieved he didn't have to go to London or similar.
CHAPTER 53
Cullen drove to Dundee and now sat on a designer chair in the reception of Indignity Design, the video game company Mark Andrews worked at. Cullen thought working in computer games must beat the shit out of the police. The place had the feel of money, glass and chrome everywhere and a healthy buzz among the staff.
He'd returned to Dalhousie police station first, to search for McKay and Andrews. He quickly discovered rural stations in Angus didn't quite have the level of IT systems he was used to. He eventually got current phone numbers and addresses for both, though he'd only managed to get hold of Andrews, leaving a few missed calls and voicemails for McKay.
Cullen had never been one for computer games aside from his annual addiction to Football Manager, a game he deemed career threatening in its addictiveness. He could lose himself in it for days at a time. One of the best things about moving out of Tom's flat was getting away from the cycle of 'just one more game' at three in the morning. Sharon wouldn't tolerate it and last year's edition was still in its shrink-wrap.
Cullen recognised some Indignity games from posters on the wall, mainly from adverts on Sky Sports. Dawn of Heroes was a role-playing game, the sort of thing played by the kids at school Cullen took the piss out of. War Games was one of those shooting games that seemed popular these days - killing people with guns, killing buildings with tanks. Indignity itself was their biggest, which involved playing as a gangster, killing people, stealing cars, selling drugs and doing God knows what else, all from the comfort of your o
wn sofa.
A man approached Cullen, wearing a t-shirt, jeans and big NHS glasses, his hair gelled back like a gangster in a Scorsese film. He walked in a strange manner, his skinny shoulders raised up and his body practically immobile apart from the long legs. Despite the hairstyle, all Cullen could think was dweeb.
"DC Cullen?"
Cullen got to his feet and offered a hand, limply accepted. "Mr Andrews?"
Andrews nodded. "Come through to my pod."
If it involved pods, Cullen thought working in the company wouldn't be much fun after all.
Andrews' pod turned out to be his office, a circular room etched in glass. The single wall was occupied with stills from films such as Pulp Fiction, Goodfellas, The Lord of the Rings and Die Hard.
Cullen sat on a bar stool while Andrews kneeled on a strange seat behind a glass desk, a custom-built PC with a monstrous monitor occupying most of the space.
Andrews folded his arms, his leg jigging up and down. "Speaking to a real life police officer is very exciting."
Cullen took an immediate dislike to him. Whatever he thought about computer games, he couldn't approve of glorifying the sort of shit he dealt with on a daily basis. "I believe you were acquainted with one James Strang from Dalhousie."
"Jimi." Andrews shook his head slightly and smiled. "I don't know him that well any more, I'm afraid."
"What happened?"
"We were good friends at school but you know how it is," said Andrews. "We just drifted apart during uni. We saw each other a fair amount in the first couple of years but it became more sporadic after that. I haven't seen him in a long while, come to think of it. We mostly just emailed each other."
Cullen nodded. "He's been murdered."
Andrews' eyes bulged, his childlike excitement disappearing. "My god. When?"
"We think it was approximately nineteen months ago," said Cullen. "The body was only recently discovered in Edinburgh. Have you any idea what could have happened to him?"
"No idea at all," said Andrews. "As I said, I haven't seen him in years."
"Did the police speak to you at the time of his disappearance?"