by Todd, Ian
Silence.
“Bit, that wid suggest that Connor wisnae working oan his lonesome and that there must’ve been an accomplice, John,” Silas hid yelped in excitement, efter gieing his foreheid a slap, drawing the attention ae Alex McCann, Celtic’s midfielder and his young love-sick bit-ae-stuff, Jeremy Thompson, Rangers’ recent signing fae Man United, who wur eating jist across fae them. “Or, Robert Connor is innocent ae the crime that he’s been convicted ae?” he continued.
“Who knows? We’ll probably never find that oot, unless the basturt or basturts who wur responsible fur the disappearance ae Ann Broon, come forward and confess whit really happened tae her.”
“Bit, Robert Conner wis a loner, John? Why wid a well-known loner hiv an accomplice?”
“Good lord, ye’re no seriously suggesting that Robert Connor could be innocent, Silas?” The QC hid asked him, his voice lowered tae practically a whisper.
“Bit a body wis never found, John,” Silas hid reminded him, trying no tae sound defensive.
“A body wis never found, bit it didnae stoap ten fine wummin and two good men unanimously deciding that he wis their man, later tae be confirmed by three High Court appeal judges.”
“A man…a boy, that everywan and his dug hid taken an instant dislike tae as soon as they clapped eyes oan him. Ye said so yersel.”
“Aw, come oan, Silas.”
“So, ye wurnae surprised at the verdict then?”
“Some ye win, some ye lose, that’s ma motto in life. Jist as long as the bills get squared up at the end ae the week and Ah kin move oan tae represent some other guilty innocent in another juicy wee trial, Ah’m Mr Happy. Put it this way, Ah never lost any sleep o’er the verdict, if that’s whit ye’re getting at,” John hid admitted, laying doon his cutlery oan the plate noisily and lifting up his napkin tae gie they pudgy, blood-stained lips ae his a wee dab. “Pudding?”
“Bit the evidence? The forensics? Surely a good QC wid’ve demoli…er, challenged that vigorously?”
“Ye’ve no listened tae a thing Ah’ve jist said, hiv ye? A hair, matching wan fae the lassie’s pillow at hame wis found in the back ae his auld plasterer’s van, in amongst his dust sheets, buckets and tools. The forensic boys, literally pulled that van apart, so they did…”
“And only came up wae a single strand ae hair?” Silas hid scoffed dismissively.
“Ask yersel this, Silas. Why wid a sweet, decent, innocent wee lassie like Ann Broon voluntarily get intae the back ae a manky plasterer’s van, belonging tae somewan as creepy as Robert Conner? That wis the question The Crown kept asking the jury. They wur only asking oot loud whit everywan else in that courtroom wis thinking…including yours truly. There wis a key witness who swore he’d been stalking her, following her aboot, turning up at aw times ae the day and night o’er a considerable period ae time. That witness, whit wis his name noo?” The QC hid wondered oot loud, clicking they art nouveau diamond-encrusted ringed fingers ae his, tae help jog his memory. “Philips! That’s him…Ernie Philips…Connor’s labourer and driver. He claimed that Connor wid regularly instruct him tae take a wee detour first thing in the morning or last thing in the efternoon, if they wur oot and aboot, when the school bus wis oan the go, carrying the school kids back fae Stirling High tae Cambusbarron. The reason? Because he wanted tae see whit Ann Broon wis up tae…that’s why. That’s where the stalking element came intae it.”
“Robert Connor sacked Ernie Philips the same day that he passed his driving test. The only reason Philips wis employed by Connor in the first place wis because he could drive. Ernie Philips wis a bitter, disgruntled ex-employee, wae a grudge, John.”
“And the strand ae hair in the back ae the van? How did that come tae be there, then, Silas?” The QC hid asked, eyebrows lifted, watching his friend closely.
“Robert Connor and Ann Broon wur messing aboot the day before, in front ae The Bruce Church, efter she missed the school bus. Witnesses saw them arseing aboot. Despite The Crown trying their best, it wis never proven that he’d been trying tae coerce or even pull her in tae the van. That’s how the dust fae his dungarees came tae be oan the sleeve and shoulder ae her school uniform…the sleeve that wid’ve been covered in Ann Broon’s hair,” Silas hid suggested, leaving that supposition hinging in the air.
“There wis absolutely nae evidence that she wis sexually active or attracted tae anywan at school or hung aboot wae anywan ae the opposite sex ootside, or even in the village ae Cambusbarron, where she lived. Her pal swore that baith her and Ann Broon wur still virgins, so she did. Christ, Silas, the whole ae the court, including the packed public benches, alang wae aw the wummin and the two men oan the jury, aw burst intae tears when that wee pal ae hers, Margaret Dunn, broke doon in hysterics efter pointing across the courtroom at the accused in the dock, telling everywan that fourteen-year-auld Ann Broon wis absolutely terrified ae Robert Conner. Christ, the prosecution didnae even need tae turn up. It wis aw done and dusted efter that wee dramatic performance, so it wis. Did ye know that Teddy Taylor successfully used it tae get a vote oan bringing back hanging in The Commons, so he did?” Hector hid reminded him, waving across the waiter, as he pointed tae the empty red wine bottle oan the table.
“Aye, well, that’s as may be, John, bit that disnae mean tae say Robert Connor murdered Ann Broon, beyond reasonable doubt, dis it?”
Silence.
“And the tapes? How dae Ah go aboot getting a copy ae them then?”
“Ye’re still no taking in anything that Ah’ve been saying, Silas, ur ye?” The QC hid challenged him, smiling grimly. “They tapes ur in the possession ae Britain’s Internal Secret Services…MI5. They’re gone furever, so they ur. Admit the existence ae they tapes and ye expose the fact that the leader ae the NUM in Scotland wis being illegally bugged,” The QC hid reminded him, nodding tae the waiter jist tae put the wine oan the table.
“Bit, this is the murder ae a fourteen-year-auld schoolgirl, fur God’s sake!” he’d hissed under his breath.
“Silas…”
“There must be some way tae access them. How aboot yer pal…this superintendent wan?”
“He’s Special Branch, Silas. They’re the wans that assist the intelligence services…the boys who dae the judiciary legwork that allows the intelligence boys tae remain in the shadows. The only way somewan like you could ever get a whiff ae they tapes wid be tae make such a big song and dance aboot their existence through the media, that they might be forced tae admit tae their existence, bit even then…” The QC hid said, shrugging they shoulders ae his, “Ye’re entering dangerous waters there, Silas. Is it really worth aw the buckets ae grief that’ll come yer way? Why put yersel through aw this fur somewan like Robert Connor? Believe you me, he’s the man behind the disappearance ae Ann Broon, so he is. Ae that, Ah hiv absolutely nae doubt.”
Silas looked oot at the grim, industrial scenery, as the cooling towers ae Ravenscraig Steel Mill in Carluke appeared oan the horizon. He watched them in the distance race towards him before disappearing, as the raindrops loudly battered aff the windaes, clinging oan precariously tae the glass oan the ootside fur a second or two, before being obliterated, leaving a wet ragged trail wae the force ae the slipstream, before another wan took its place and repeated the performance. The fact that somewan, doon in Cardiff, hid deliberately phoned in, informing the authorities that they’d spotted Ann Broon sightseeing wae an aulder man at Cardiff Castle, still didnae let Robert Conner aff the hook. Conner could’ve been working wae somewan else…a partner in crime in the disappearance…who’d consciously raised doubts aboot whether the lassie wis still alive, thus raising doubts aboot Conner’s conviction. Inspector Barron’s officers hid found nae Welsh connections in either Robert Connor’s or his parent’s backgrounds. Whit John Howdy, The QC, couldnae come up wae, wis whit hid become ae the caller wae the rasping Rod Stewart, gravelly voice? Wur there other phone calls? Why hid they stoapped aw ae a sudden efter the 17th November 1972? Why hid the calls no continued? It
wis aw very dark and mysterious. He wis well aware that anything tae dae wae the intelligence services meant trouble wae a capital T. Maist solicitors that he knew kept well away fae the Loyalist and Republican cases that hid started tae crop up regularly in the West ae Scotland. It wis jist too specialist and time-consuming, wae aw the ducking and diving ae the intelligence services, deliberately muddying the water in the background, tae get involved. Some cases hid taken years and they still wurnae concluded. MI5 wur well-known fur fighting tooth-and-nail tae stay in the shadows, using the Official Secrets Act as a club and smokescreen. The fact that a young lassie hid been murdered and that they might know the identity ae the killer widnae cause any consternation tae the likes ae them. Silas wisnae too sure how he felt aboot his journey doon tae Dumfries tae meet Robert Connor. Oan the wan haun, he felt a sense ae elation, he supposed, as it confirmed whit he’d always believed, regarding Jimmy Baxter’s innocence, bit oan the other haun, he felt dispirited. John Howdy hid been spot-on aboot Robert Connor. He came across as a right cunning basturt. He looked doon at his notes. According tae Robert Connor, he’d been put intae solitary confinement fur some unexplained demeanour, that he couldnae quite recall, the year before. It hid been during the time he wis locked up, that he’d listened in tae a conversation between other inmates who’d been talking tae each other fae their respective cells. Wan ae the inmates, who’d jist arrived in the punishment cell-block, Johnboy Taylor, hid asked another inmate, Tony Gucci, whether Silas’s client, Jimmy Baxter, hid been involved in the bank robbery fur which Taylor hid been convicted. Here noo, fur the first time, wis clear evidence that his client, James Gordon Baxter, hid been telling the truth when he’d said that he wisnae involved in the robbery that hid resulted in two serving polis officers being shot at close range wae a sawn-aff shotgun. Connor hid informed Silas that he wis prepared tae sign a sworn statement, in the presence ae witnesses, repeating whit he’d heard. Silas hidnae been surprised tae learn that there wis a condition attached tae the offer. Connor hid asked if Silas, or another partner fae his firm, wid represent and support him in his endeavours tae gain a retrial against the conviction ae murdering the fourteen-year-auld Stirlingshire schoolgirl, Ann Broon. The other prisoners in the punishment block at that time, other than Taylor and Gucci, hid been Samuel Smith, Taylor’s co-accused in the bank robbery and a Patrick McCabe and William Johnston, baith convicted and serving three years alang wae Gucci fur extorting money fae a third generation Chinese family. Silas hidnae been surprised tae learn the names ae the other youths in the punishment block. Those same youths hid no only been making a bit ae a name fur themsels within the criminal fraternity in the north ae the city o’er the past few years, being the nucleus ae whit some people referred tae as The Mankys, bit they’d been creating a stir within criminal defence circles as well. Whit hid surprised and shocked Silas though, hid been learning that it wis no only his client that wis being declared innocent, bit that Taylor wis as well…if Connor wis tae be believed, that is. Silas hid promised nothing and hid made nae commitments either way. He’d informed Connor that he wid need time tae consider whit hid been divulged, bit irrespective ae that, he’d urged Connor tae look tae his ain conscience and tae consider voluntarily making a statement in good faith. He’d reminded him that if he wis as innocent as he claimed, then he’d understaun how his client, Jimmy Baxter, must be feeling. Connor’s response hid aptly reflected whit John Howdy and the rest ae the good people, in Glesga’s High Court back in January 1973, hid thought ae him.
“Mr Abraham, Ah couldnae gie a monkey’s shit aboot how yer client must be feeling. Ah’m coming forward wae this information because it gies me a chance tae prove ma innocence and tae get hame tae that poor wee ma ae mine. As far as Ah kin make oot, this is ma only hope ae getting me away fae ma tormentors in here,” he’d snarled.
Silas slipped his notes back intae his briefcase. The tenements and new multi-storeys ae the Gorbals oan the south side ae the city, wur awready appearing through the windaes oan baith sides ae the train, as passengers roond aboot him started hauling doon their luggage fae the racks above their heids. He’d be arriving in Central Station in the next few minutes. He’d get the notes ae the interview transcribed. Tomorrow, he’d arrange tae meet up wae Graham Portoy. The naming ae Johnboy Taylor, alang wae Jimmy Baxter, if and when Robert Connor ever signed a statement, could hiv life-changing implications fur baith ae their clients.
“Good evening. My name is John Turney and these are the news headlines in Scotland tonight.
Well-known Glasgow businessman, Mr John McCaffrey, owner of Honest John’s Kitchen Essentials, one of Glasgow’s most successful independent stores, acknowledged today that he was the luckiest man alive after an unknown gunman discharged two shots from a handgun at point blank range outside his store on Dumbarton Road, last night as he was locking up. Holding up his bright yellow checked trademark jacket and poking his fingers through the two bullet holes, Mr McCaffrey laughed off suggestions by the media that it was an assassination attempt by underworld gangsters trying to muscle into the lucrative domestic appliance market. Mr McCaffrey said that there were easier ways to get a discount at his Dumbarton Road store…just ask most of the housewives in Glasgow …
Police on the south side of the city have uncovered half a ton of cannabis resin in a flat in Harley Street, Cessnock, in a raid in the early hours of this morning. Two people, believed to be a husband and wife, were arrested and taken to Central HQ where they are expected to appear in court tomorrow…
A sack, containing seven pups, was fished out of the Clyde this morning by a passer-by on his way to work. It’s thought that the pups had been dumped in the river a few minutes before they were rescued. Although two had already drowned, five survived. A spokesman for the RSPCA said he was disappointed that this practice of disposing of unwanted animals still existed in Glasgow in this day and age…”
Chapter Thirty Three
It wis inevitable that paths that wance travelled in the opposite direction oan the ootside wid end up crossing at some stage in a wee place like Dumfries. Snappy and Stu Mackay becoming good pals, despite Snappy threatening tae shoot him in the heid oan the night Simon wasted Tibbs McPherson, wis a case in point, bit there wur other examples popping up regularly. Efter studying the make-up ae the groupings in the dining hall, clocking who aw sat thegither or hung aboot wae each other at recreation, Johnboy hid coonted nineteen distinct teams. While the majority ae the YOs who ran aboot oan the ootside continued that association efter they wur jailed, some ae them naturally drifted thegither if they came fae the same or adjoining areas, even if there wis sometimes bad blood between them back hame. Maist ae the incarcerated Glesga YOs belonged tae various gangs and nine times oot ae ten ended up in the jail efter being convicted ae stabbing each other during gang fights o’er invisible boundaries back in the toon. There wur other wee teams that wur mair geographic, like The Abdees, whose common denominator wis that they came fae Aberdeen. There wis a couple ae social groups consisting ae first time offenders and who didnae naturally identify wae the gang members bit who seemed tae drift thegither through natural selection. Another wee group who stood oot like a sore thumb wur the druggie boys, wae wan YO in particular, who Tony hid become quite friendly wae. Dockland Sammy wis the only wan ae the druggie boys that hidnae been caught selling drugs tae their customers in hoosing estate pubs or oan some street corner. He wis daeing five years fur shipping a quarter ae a ton ae hash intae Scotland fae North Africa. Sammy wid sit and talk aboot his exploits tae The Mankys, explaining how it aw worked. He wis always oan the lookoot tae develop partnerships fur when he wis eventually released. Everywan knew fine well that Dockland Sammy hid deliberately targeted them. It wis clear, right fae the start, that he wis trying tae suss oot whether The Mankys wur in a position tae bankroll him in some ae his future enterprises. The other positive thing in his favour wis that he wis actually quite likeable.
“Ah’m telling ye, Tony, it’s true whit they
say, things go fucking better wae coke. It’s less bulky, easily concealed and the return makes hash seem like pin money, so it dis. Coke’s the future and the wans who ur in there first, will be the wans who’ll be in control in the future when the demand explodes, which it will. You mark ma words.”
The druggie boys aw looked like hippies, even withoot the flared troosers and platform shoes which hid been replaced by the blue striped shirts and grey woollen jail uniforms. Also, in amongst this colourful eclectic make-up, wis a few wee band ae desperadoes, whose main purpose in life hid been determined, well before they wur oot ae their shitey nappies, tae steal anything that hidnae been nailed doon. A wee assorted mix ae The Groucho boys fae Carntyne, alang wae a couple ae their pals fae Garthamlock wur wan group in particular, as wis a crowd fae Barlanark who hid a similar outlook oan life tae The Mankys and Carntyne crowd. The Mankys hid known maist ae them since Larchgrove and Thistle Park days and hid bumped intae them at wan time or another oan route through remand homes, approved schools and borstal. Oan the ootside, The Mankys always hid their ears tae the ground, ready tae pick up any wee interesting ditties ae whit the competition wur up tae, oot ae interest, even though their paths rarely crossed. The main motivating factor that these wee teams hid in common wis the intoxicating whiff ae money. Nothing else mattered in life tae them. Ootside, everywan ae them spent their entire waking life running doon the next few sheckles like desperate junkies. If anything or anywan stood in their path, they wur run o’er withoot a backward glance. Within Dumfries, The Mankys wur friendly enough wae everywan, bit there wis always a slight hesitation oan either side in getting too close tae the Carntyne, Garthamlock or Barlanark boys and vice versa. Tony liked tae think The Mankys wur five steps aheid ae anywan else due tae the connection wae Pat Molloy and Wan-bob Broon. Another surprising path that hid eventually crossed tae The Mankys’ side ae the street wis that ae the priest, Father Leonard. The priest and Fanny Flaw wid always say hello if they bumped intae the YOs oan their travels alang the corridors or while they wur being escorted across tae and fae the workshoaps. No matter how much ye ignored them, they’d still hit ye wae a cheery ‘Hello’ if they passed ye. It wis obviously part ae some strategy tae con YOs intae speaking tae them at some stage in their sentence. Tony and Snappy always felt affronted if they heard anywan sticking up fur the priest or the social worker, especially if they thought anywan wis trying tae convince other YOs that they wur okay. As yet, Fanny hidnae plucked up the courage tae plap that arse ae hers doon oan a seat at The Mankys’ table, despite Pat threatening tae invite her across, as a noise-up tae the rest ae the table. The first time that Father Leonard arrived oan the scene wae a tray ae food in they big hauns ae his, everywan hid averted their eyes in an effort no tae be seen tae be encouraging or welcoming him. There hid been a definite hesitation, oan baith sides, until Johnboy hid scraped the legs ae his chair tae wan side tae gie the priest room tae plap that tray ae his doon oan the Formica-topped table. When the priest hid turned roond tae blag an empty chair fae another table, four sets ae disbelieving, accusing eyes, hid bored intae Johnboy’s.