by Val Penny
His aunt looked at him with such a bemused expression that Jane was not sure the woman really knew what was going on. She must be suffering after the loss of her husband.
Jamie started giggling again as Frankie walked into the room.
“What's so funny?” Frankie asked. “Oh Mam, that must have been a bad one! It stinks in here. I'm going to open the window, then I am off to see Annie.”
“Lucky you, getting away from that pong. It's grim!” laughed Jamie.
Jane privately agreed with the lads, but was diplomatic enough not to show it. She also did not want to be sidetracked from getting the information she sought. Edna Hope appeared to ignore the jibes.
“Put the kettle on and get us another cup of tea before you go. There's a good lad, Frankie. Now, how can I help you, Detective?” Edna looked at Jane benignly, as if she were her fairy godmother. Jane doubted that kindliness would last long.
“I wonder if you could help us with a couple of things, Edna.”
“Like what?”
“What did you and Arjun Mansoor discuss at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art on Friday?”
“What are you talking about?” Edna looked as if she were going to deny the meeting had ever taken place.
“I know you were there talking to him. I was there and I saw you. I only need you to confirm the topic of discussion.”
Edna looked from her hands to the window and back to Jane's shoes. Eventually, Edna breathed in deeply.
“I had borrowed Arjun's car when mine broke down. He got back from holiday earlier than I expected and he reported the car as stolen. I had to promise to pay for the repairs, and ask him to retract that statement and confirm the car had been borrowed by a friend.”
“So you are the mystery friend?” Jane said. “Interesting.”
“Uh-huh,” said Mel. “So how did you damage the car?”
“Oh, I bumped it on a bollard in a supermarket car park.”
“That was a very wide bollard. The radiator and the bumper were staved in. Are you sure that's what it was?”
“What else would it be? Stop harassing me. Haven't I suffered enough?”
“Why was it such a secret? Why did Mr Mansoor or you not tell us earlier?”
“I can't speak for Arjun, and I don't think anybody asked me about what happened to his car before.”
Mel glanced at Jane, who spoke softly.
“Do you hold the keys to your brother Ian's private garages over in Orchardhead Lane, Edna?”
“Me? Well, yes. Ian needs me to take care of things for him just now. Thanks to you, lot, really.”
Jane avoided being sidetracked. “So where are the keys?”
“Keys?”
“The keys to Ian Thomson's private garages?”
“Why?”
“We need to inspect the cars kept there.”
“His most special cars? His private cars, not to do with business? Why would you want to see them? It's his smart little sports car and his first-ever new Range Rover. Its old now, but he just loves that car, you know? 'JIT' Janice and Ian Thomson. Closest he could afford to a personalised plate back then.”
“Jamie and Ian Thomson, now, honey,” Jamie boasted as he looked at Mel.
Jane pushed on. “What are the full registration numbers of both cars?”
“Good Lord! I have no idea! Who do you think I am? Memory Woman?”
Mel looked up from her notebook and shrugged at Jane. “Perhaps we could just borrow the keys and go up to Orchardhead Lane to take a look? Does your brother have one garage or two?”
“The two at the far end. I suppose you can take my keys for them. But I must have them back today. And don't you be touching anything.”
Frankie came through with mugs of tea and a bunch of keys. “I heard you talking, you want these?”
“Thank you, Frankie. The car keys here too?”
“Yep.” Frankie glanced at his mother. She was glowering at him. Frankie shrugged. “I'm off to see Annie. I think they may deliver the babies soon and Annie will be gone. Can I talk to you about it all later, Mam?”
“Hmmmm,” his mother mumbled.
“Bye, then.” Frankie closed the front door before anybody could find him something else to do, or try to prevent him.
Jane and Mel were thrilled and surprised to get the garage and car keys with so little discussion. Jane was sure that if Edna had been in charge of getting the keys for them there would have been more argument, but she was grateful for small mercies.
“Thank you for all your help today, Mrs Hope. We will go round to the garage, check the cars and get the keys back to you as soon as possible. I doubt we can get the keys back to you today, though. It is already dark. We will go up to the garages tomorrow and return the keys shortly after that. Will that be all right with you?”
“Oh, yes, dear. Maybe I was being a bit unreasonable. I am all over the place since Billy went. It's horrible, you know. I'm all alone. So sad.”
“Come on, Auntie Eddie. You've got me, an' Frankie, and my dad.” Jamie tried to cheer her up. ”You are not alone. That's for sure.”
“You know what I mean, son,” his aunt replied. “Just take care of the keys and get them back to me when you can. Will you see yourselves out? Me and Jamie aren't fit.”
“Of course, Mrs Hope, Thank you again.” Jane and Mel took their leave.
Back in the car, Mel commented that she had hardly any notes in her book. Still, she and Jane agreed they had done well securing the keys to the additional garages and the cars. As they returned to the station, they also discussed what else could have caused the damage to Arjun's car.
Chapter Forty
Sophie never took a day off work. Today, however, was not just any day. She kept bursting into tears. She cried when she caught sight of the flowers Tim had brought her. She wept when he mentioned her brother. She sobbed when he mentioned the joys of family holidays.
None of that really surprised Tim. She could be emotional. However, when Sophie said she could not go into the office today and asked Tim to call her secretary, he was stunned.
He left for the station worrying about Sophie's poor health and how it might affect their baby.
Tim arrived just before the briefing started. He stood next to Bear.
“You okay?” Bear asked his friend. “My thighs are killing me. That's even after a bath so hot it would take your skin off!”
Tim nodded. “I know what you mean. Coach certainly keeps us fit.”
“How are things?” Bear looked at Tim.
“Yeah, good, but Soph's not great.” He frowned. “Geoffrey brought her home from the office yesterday because she was so ill. It's lucky he was there, but I'm worried about her. And the baby, you know.”
“Course,” Bear said. “Anything you need, Tim.”
Tim nodded his thanks. Hunter called the room to order to begin the briefing, then he asked Tim to explain about their meeting with Mansoor the previous day.
Tim had rarely had to take the floor at a briefing. His palms felt sweaty, his collar tight. His heart thumped. He flushed bright red. Tim gathered his thoughts, and paused before he walked to the front of the room. He took a deep breath and stood tall.
He started explaining what the visit to the showroom had exposed. Before he went back to his desk, there was a shout form the back of the room,
“Hey, Tim! What's happening about your old man? He seemed awful pally with the Arjun Mansoor the night of your party. What was the business they did outside, before I joined them?”
Everybody gasped. The room fell silent. Everybody turned. John Hamilton pushed the last piece of his bacon butty into his mouth and wiped his greasy fingers on his trousers.
“Huh? Just wondered what was going on with Tim's old man. That's not too much to ask, is it? After all, it's the elephant in the room, isn't it?”
Colin thumped the desk. “John, you are such a stupid bastard sometimes.”
“Just shut up!” Bear g
rowled.
“Calm, gents,” Mackay said. “Hamilton, you are not a quick learner. We need to talk again, as I have had a most interesting talk with Sir Peter Myerscough.”
Tim felt his cheeks flush red again. He knew this question was coming. If it were not Hamilton, he expected it might come from the press. Hunter and Mackay said he could expect support from his colleagues on the force, but not all of them, it seemed. Suddenly, his wire had become a dead weight.
“My father is out on bail, awaiting trial, and is innocent until proved guilty, just like everybody else, John. As to any business dealings my father may have had, see me after the briefing and I will give you his telephone number. You must ask him yourself.”
“Well said, DC Myerscough.” Mackay slapped Tim on the shoulder.
Hunter glowered at Hamilton. “John, and everybody else,“ he glanced around the room, “you all know that a case will be brought against our former Chief Constable, Sir Peter Myerscough MSP. Tim is his son but is in no way involved in the case being compiled against his father. However, and let me be absolutely clear, under no circumstances will any cheap shots or snide comments in Tim's direction be tolerated. He is an integral member of our team and will be given any and all support he wants or needs. Anybody in this room, on or off duty, who ignores this order will be disciplined. Also, enquiries have been made about an allegation relating to a member of our team. DCI Mackay has been investigating that.”
“Hear, hear.”
“Quite right.”
“Of course.”
It was Hamilton's turn to blush. “Just a joke, Boss,” he said.
“Then keep them funny, in future,” Hunter replied.
“As the issue of my father has reared its head, can I say something, please, Boss?” Tim asked.
Hunter nodded.
“First, can I thank John for bringing this matter up. It is the elephant in the room. I should also thank you guys for all the support I have had. Second, my dad has not yet been found guilty of anything, although it is fair to say both he and I expect that he may well be. In the meantime, he has resigned as Justice Secretary at Holyrood and as an MSP. He is fully co-operating with the Serious Crime Division. He has fallen short of the standards expected of him; he knows that. So do I.” Tim did not know what more he wanted to say. “So, just thanks to those who have been there for me.”
“Okay,” Hunter said. “That's fine, Tim. Now, Colin, let's move to you. What did you and John find at the showroom?”
Colin Reid just stood at his desk to speak to his colleagues. He told them what he and John had learned during their examination of the registration books at Mansoor's place. He mentioned a few cars on the books that might be those used in one or more of the crimes. He also revealed that they had learned about the extra cars and garages that Ian Thomson had.
At this point Hunter called on Jane to take over.
Jane came to the front of the room. She said nothing, just held up the garage and car keys that she and Mel had got from Edna. A cheer went up around the room.
“Tim, you go with Jane and Mel this morning. Samantha Hutchens will meet you at the garages.” Hunter nodded at Tim, gave out the rest of the duties, then said, “John, you and I will talk.”
Cries reverberated around the room.
“Oooh, John.”
“Naughty step.”
“Anyone else who does not have enough to do: wait and I will speak with you too.”The room emptied at Hunter's veiled threat, and Tim caught his eye to nod his thanks. Then Tim left with Jane and Mel to open Ian Thomson's garages.
***
John Hamilton was uncomfortable when he followed DCI Allan Mackay and DI Hunter Wilson into Hunter's office. All three men stood as Mackay looked at the DC seriously.
“John, Sir Peter Myerscough has, under pressure, identified you as the officer to whom he gave cocaine at a recent social event you both attended.”
“You're not taking the word of that old bastard? With respect, Sir.”
“As it happens, the old bastard's word corroborates observations by other guests at the party,” Mackay said. “John, you are relieved of your duties, on full pay, pending further investigations.”
“Sir, really.”
“I must have your badge and ID now,” Hunter said. “You will be notified of matters as they progress, and the contents of your desk and locker will be sent on to you. I will see you out of the station now.”
John and Hunter walked silently to the door.
***
Jane brought the squad car to a halt on Orchardhead Road. Sam Hutchens was already there. Tim greeted her with a warm smile. They walked up the short uneven road to the end, pulling on their blue plastic gloves as they went. Additional stray fingerprints would not be considered helpful by the CSIs.
They could hear a gaggle of voices. Lots of small children giggled and chattered as they played in the garden of a small private nursery over the wall. Carers supervised the excitement.
“It seems a bit cold for the kids to be outside,” Mel commented.
“It is probably better to let them run off their energy outside for a little while when it is dry than to have them closed up inside all day,” Tim said.
One of the children let out a loud angry shout. The fun of playtime quickly turned to tears. Tim grimaced at Mel. Then he heard a carer bustle outside, check that nothing was seriously wrong, before gathering the children in with promises of cocoa. Happy children's chatter resumed. Tim and Mel smiled at each other.
Jane moved towards the first of Ian Thomson's garages. She unlocked it and rolled the door up to reveal a beautiful, shiny red Porsche. She whistled.
“Wow, nice!” said Tim.
“You got your eye on something like that for next year?” Mel asked with a wink.
“Cheeky!” he replied. “Do you honestly think Sophie would let me get away with this?”
“Not a chance!” laughed Mel.
“I do plan to talk her into something a bit bigger than the 500, probably a hybrid, though.”
“I am sorry to interrupt,” Jane said sarcastically. “Could I impose on either of you two to give me just a little of your invaluable time, so we can do our job?”
“Sorry, Sarge.” Mel mumbled.
“Of course.” Tim looked a bit sheepish.
“Sam, photograph the Porsche, will you?”
“Sure.”
“Why?” asked Mel. “It's obviously not the car or number plate we are looking for.”
“True,” Jane said. “But we have permission to be here, and it is Ian Thomson's car, so let's get as much detail about it as we can, when we can. I want CSIs to check this as well as the Range Rover we know about. That all right with you, Mel?”
“I only asked, Sarge,” Mel said huffily. She followed Jane over to watch her unlock the door of the second garage.
Jane blew on her fingers. “Bloody cold, isn't it? These keys are freezing. Do you think those kids would share their cocoa? My hands are getting stiff.”
She cupped her hands in front of her mouth and blew on them again, the momentary warmth replaced almost immediately by her breath condensing onto her blue plastic gloves. She held her hands under her arms before unlocking the second door and rolling it up, revealing that the garage was empty.
“Fuck!” Jane shouted.
“What? Fuck! Tim, come and look at this!” Mel called out.
“We're almost finished,” Tim said. “Just give us a minute.”
“No, now!” Jane shouted.
Tim marched smartly across towards his colleagues. He spotted the empty space in the other garage. “Look at those tracks! The car has been moved! We've been duped! Shall I call the boss, Sarge?”
Samantha Hutchens gasped. “Where is it?”
Jane frowned. She stared at the tyre tracks on the frosty mud. They disappeared soon after the car reached the tarmac.
“Tim, you call DI Hunter. Let's go back to see Edna, shall we Mel? You wait here wit
h Sam, Tim. The boss can take you back over to the station when he gets here.”
“My guess is we will be going via Mansoor's garage,” Tim commented. He turned back to watch Sam finish photographing the Porsche and the inside of the empty garage next to it. “I hope the boss doesn't take too long. It's perishing here!”
Chapter Forty-One
“The doctor needs to see you, Mr Hope.” The nurse looked at Frankie seriously.
“What's up?” He sounded as vulnerable as Annie looked.
“The doctor will tell you. Miss Johnson's father has been asked to come over today too. We will wait for him. As soon as Mr Johnson is here, the consultant, Mr Castle, will come and speak to you both.”
Frankie sat down beside Annie and picked up her hand.
“Annie, I don't think Mr Castle coming to speak to me is a good thing,” Frankie said. “I like sitting alone with you. I can talk to you properly.” He kissed her head and then her lips. “Annie, my wee darling. I love you so much, and I will do my best by the babies. Always. I'll even try not to squeeze my spots. But don't hold me to the last bit.”
***
If Annie could have laughed, she would have. She felt the warmth of his hand on hers.
Tears trickled from Annie's eyes and dampened the pillow beneath her ears. It made the pillow soggy and her ears itchy. Frankie wiped her eyes. It did not help her ears, but he did his best. He said he always would. She could ask no more.
***
Frankie sat quietly beside her. He watched her breathing though the mask and patted her belly. He noticed that the girls were still.
He drew his fingers gently down the veins in her hands. Those beautiful hands: even more slender than they had been. Frankie let her go to take his jacket off.
“The hospital is always far too hot, pet.” He stood for a minute and decided to take off his jumper too. “It's bloody freezing outside, Annie,” he told her. “So I got all me layers on and now I'm roasting like a stuffed turkey in here!”
When Joe walked into the room, it was quiet. He was surprised to see Frankie sitting there. The stench of his coat entered with him. He sat down beside the lad. They both sat, deep in thought; staring silently at Annie.