by Val Penny
“No, probably not,” Tim agreed.
“Long way round for a short cut, Tim,” Colin Reid added.
“Yep. All true,” Tim said. “I had a hunch.”
“DC Myersough was acting on information received,” said Mackay. “DI Wilson, will you explain the significance of the finds?”
“Of course.” Hunter stepped forward. “It looks like Tim may have cracked a triple murder. Of course, there is still work to be done, but it's not bad work for a first month in CID. You okay, Tim?”
“Getting there, Boss. Bruises are a rainbow of colours. But I'll be fine.”
“So,” Hunter went on. “When Jane led officers to Ian Thomson's garages to inspect his cars, the Range Rover that was of particular interest was missing. Right, Jane?”
“Yes, Sir. We had secured the keys late the previous afternoon from Thomson's sister, Edna Hope, but decided to examine the cars the next day when it was light. Or should I say lighter. I really do not like November,” she explained with a smile, gazing out at the low clouds and grey drizzle that made for the dark morning. “Thomson's Porsche was in one garage, but the other garage was empty. We had been told he kept the Porsche in one, and an old, beloved Range Rover in the other.”
“No doubt used in dodgy areas when enforcing debts,” Colin speculated.
Jane went on. “The grieving widow, Edna, and everybody's favourite car dealer, Arjun Mansoor, both assured us they had no knowledge of the car being moved. Edna volunteered we could get information from Mansoor. Mansoor suggested the car must have been stolen.”
Bear laughed. “No thief in their right mind would steal that old boneshaker. It's about a hundred years old! Anyway, only Mansoor and the lovely Edna had keys to the garages, right?”
“Exactly. And you had Edna's set, Jane,” Hunter agreed. “There was no sign of a break-in?”
“No. None, Sir,” Jane confirmed. “Have Edna and Frankie supplied DNA now?”
Hunter looked up at her and nodded.
“I caught up with them at the hospital,” Mel said. “Frankie gazing in wonder at his twins. Edna sniping about her late husband and his floosy.” She sighed. “Poor old Frankie. Nothing really goes right for him, does it? I doubt he has a clue what to do with those babies, and I can't see his mother helping out as the doting grandmother. Especially now.”
There was a general murmur and nodding around the room. Hunter rapped the table with a teaspoon.
“Focus people, focus!” he shouted. “With respect, Mel, Frankie Hope's childcare is not our problem. We deal more with murder than childminding. We need our killer, front and centre.”
Mel blushed and acknowledged her mistake. Bear nudged her and smiled.
“So, DI Wilson, can you confirm the findings at the site of the car?” Mackay prompted.
“Of course,” Hunter continued. “From all the witness statements and descriptions of the cars involved in the murders of Billy Hope and Annie Johnson, we are sure now they were committed by the same car. From the information DC Myerscough received, it seemed likely that it was Ian Thomson's Range Rover.”
Hunter paused and looked around the room. All eyes were upon him. The only sound was the trickle of the coffee machine on the windowledge.
“His car is the right colour, and the registration is close enough to the PS59 JFF that I thought I saw.”
“Need to get your eyes tested, Boss,” Mel joked.
Hunter frowned.
“What about Mary-Ann Johnson?” Mackay asked.
“No witnesses,” Hunter interjected.
“So, when DC Myerscough tracked down Thomson's Range Rover, P559 JIT, he proceeded unaccompanied and with no backup. Indeed, nobody here knew where you were. We will not be doing that again, will we, young Myerscough?”
“No, Sir.” Tim blushed.
“He found the car where his informant said it would be, but he did not call into the station right away, did you?”
“No, Sir. I wanted to make sure I was right. I didn't want to look a fool.”
“Of course not,” Hunter said. “An unarmed, unaccompanied, non-uniformed detective doing battle with an old two-ton Range Rover – what could possibly go wrong?”
Smiles, giggles and blushes spread around the room.
“Eventually, having escaped his motorised foe, Tim called me. George's CSI team went out, as did Sam Hutchens. She ensured that we had a good photographic record.” Hunter turned to the CSI Chief. “Right, George?”
George Reinbold nodded.
“What did you find?”
Mr Reinbold stood up. “Initially, we did not find very much. It was quite disappointing, really. Mind you, there's sod-all detail we can examine in the dark.” The old man smiled. “Back at the lab we had a better time.” He took a sharp breath and leaned more heavily on his stick.
Meera suggested quietly that he sit down again to explain the rest of his team's findings. George Reinbold nodded in agreement and sat down.
“All in all, we discovered a fingerprint on the underside of the handle of the passenger side that belonged to Frankie Hope.”
Everyone nodded.
“At first, there appeared to be no DNA belonging the driver on the driver's side of car. But young DC Myerscough had noticed that the driver was without shoes, so we found DNA on the pedals.”
Hunter smiled. “Clever,” he said.
“We found the DNA of Mansoor's chief mechanic behind the driving mirror, like he had adjusted it. We also found his chief mechanic's DNA on the handbrake too. But this could have been at any time. This guy takes care of the whole fleet of cars that Mansoor is responsible for.” Reinbold looked around. “The most interesting evidence we found related to your victims. I cross-referenced our findings with the evidence Dr Sharma found during the post mortems. There is no doubt this car was involved in the murders of Billy Hope – witnessed by DI Wilson – and of Annie Johnson. There is no such evidence relating to the death of Mary-Ann Johnson. It would appear a different vehicle was used in that murder. Now that DC Myerscough has been able to identify the murderer, and we know this person drive without shoes, we are going to re-examine Mansoor's car that DS Renwick and DC Hamilton witnessed in a damaged condition. We are going to see if we can trace DNA on the pedals of that car too. I always thought it was odd that they seemed to have been polished clean.”
“We will question Mansoor and Edna separately too,” Hunter added. “One of them will crack.”
The detectives in the room were silent. Some progress at last.
“In the meantime,” Hunter continued, “the driver has been charged with the attack on DC Myerscough and has been bailed. After this briefing I will go and interview Edna Hope. Do you want to join me, Tim?”
“Yes, please!”
***
At the end of the briefing, Tim followed Mackay and Hunter into Mackay's office. All three of them looked solemn. Mackay broke the silence.
“Tim, the Procurator Fiscal has decided not to pursue the drugs case against your father. Jamie Thomson was wearing gloves during the housebreaking, and there is insufficient evidence that the cocaine belonged to your father.”
“Or to Jamie,” Hunter interjected.
“The drugs have been confiscated and destroyed, but beyond that, no action will be taken.”
“That is good news. But unexpected,” Tim said. He guessed his father had called in a favour, but held his own counsel.
“It's not all good news, Tim,” Hunter added.
Mackay nodded solemnly. “I have spoken to the insurance company. They will not drop their case. Unfortunately, the company records show a pattern of dishonesty on your father's account over many years.”
“It would probably never have come to light if the claim he made this time hadn't been so large,” Tim said as he sat down. “I suspect my mother's death led to drugs, and drugs to bribery, and bribery to blackmail that resulted in Dad's money troubles.” He held his head in his hands. “Fuck! Should I resign, Boss? I don't want to caus
e any trouble here.” He stared at Mackay.
“No, lad. You haven't done any wrong. Have you?”
Tim smiled and shook his head.
“You need to be aware that the papers will give you and your father a roasting and you will be all the gossip in the force, for a while. Can you cope with that?” Mackay asked.
Tim shrugged. “No choice. Will he do time?”
“Probably three to four years,” Hunter answered.
“Bugger! Okay, does he know yet?”
“Your father asked us to talk it through with you.”
Tim nodded, stood up, pulled his shoulders back and returned to his desk.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Hunter and Tim left to go to the Hope residence. Tim smiled. It would be good to be able to tell Edna that they knew who had killed her husband.
They pulled up outside the semi-detached house. It was garishly lit, and two enormous silver deer seemed to graze on the tiny front lawn. Tim was disgusted by the gaudy decorations, but ignored them and the rain. He held the gate open to allow Hunter to stride up the path and ring the doorbell.
“Come in!” Edna shouted from inside.
The detectives entered. Tim wrinkled his nose. The smell of cigarettes and stale pizza now outranked the leather of the new suite. It was not an improvement. Edna had clearly not yet hired a new cleaner to replace Mary-Ann. Tim thought she really should.
Edna sat in a large, black reclining chair. A pasty face with a lardy body dressed in canary yellow. Clearly out of mourning, but not a good look.
“Detectives,” she said without emotion, without rising.
“The boys not here?” Tim asked.
“No. Jamie is getting his cast off today. Frankie's twins are coming home. So lovely,” she said without sincerity. “Jamie will help Frankie bring them home when he is discharged. Such a good boy.”
“Indeed. Any problems with the twins? Their parents being so closely related?” Hunter asked.
“Not that we know. The biological distance in their relationship is similar to Frankie and Annie being full cousins, so the girls should be fine, but they will be monitored. Filthy slut that Mary-Ann was. Just as well she's dead. Nobody wanted her around. Lovely babies though, of course.”
“Edna, we know who murdered Billy,” Hunter said.
“At last, closure! Who did such a wicked thing? How I miss my man.”
“Closure indeed, Edna. He must have made you really angry to want to kill him.”
“Ridiculous!” Edna shouted.
“But you did kill him, didn't you, Edna? You mowed him down in a busy public place. It’s just a miracle you didn’t hurt anybody else.”
“I did not!”
“You did. And in your brother's eyes, perhaps you did even worse than that when you damaged Ian's favourite car. What we need to know is: when and how did you kill Mary-Ann? That must be how you damaged Mansoor's car. Isn't it? No wonder he was angry with you.”
“I did not.”
“Oh, you did it, Edna. I just don't know why you used a car to finish her off. You are certainly big and strong enough to have dragged that wee woman to her grave.”
Edna sat shaking her head. “No, no, no.”
“Edna, come clean. You'll feel better,” Hunter said softly.
Edna burst into tears.
“That bitch!” she screamed. “I borrowed Arjun's car to transport my garden Christmas decorations.”
“Why Arjun's car?”
“They were too big for mine. It was a surprise for Billy and Frankie, and Arjun can get his car cleaned easily at the showroom.”
Hunter nodded. “Go on.”
“On my way home I saw her. Running along the pavement, but when she crossed right in front of me, the devil took hold of me. I got her!” Edna smiled. “Arjun's always got a shovel in the boot, so I just bloody buried her. If my fucking nephew hadn't gone and robbed that toff, nobody would have found her yet.”
“Probably true,” commented Hunter. “Why did you do it, Edna?”
“Billy told me about their affair and Annie. Fucking bastard. So I got him good.” She looked at Hunter. “Pity you were there. I was worried you might have seen me. You'd have been a difficult witness. If you'd paid attention, that is. ”
“Thanks, I think.” Hunter said. ”And Billy was far too good a friend to Mary-Ann Johnson, wasn't he?” Hunter continued. “Made a fool of you for sixteen years. You never knew about Annie until she was pregnant by Frankie, did you? That was enough to infuriate anybody.”
“I'm nobody's fool!” Edna shouted.
“Of course not, Edna,” Tim said. “But you did kill Billy.”
“And Mary-Ann and Annie,” Hunter added.
“And you tried to kill me. I saw you,” Tim said.
“You must be mad. Do you think I am a murderer?”
“I don't think, I know.”
“You have no proof. “
“Oh, but I do, Edna,” Hunter said. “Let me explain. Ian's Range Rover was used in two of the three murders. You admit you used Arjun Mansoor's car to injure Mary-Ann Johnson and dispose of her, as a result of which she died without regaining consciousness.”
“Nonsense!” Edna shouted. “It was all Arjun's idea!”
“No. Arjun Mansoor has certainly broken the law, importing drugs, but these murders do not lie at his door,” Hunter said solemnly. “We found hairs from Annie in the glue of the new windscreen. There were also traces under the rear number plate. Because the driver reversed over her. That makes it murder, Edna. Mansoor was on holiday when Mary-Ann was killed. He reported his car stolen on his return. After you met him at the Gallery of Modern Art he dropped that charge. My sergeant saw you both there. You had to tell Mansoor what you had done in order to persuade him to drop the charges. We have charged him with drug dealing, which he has admitted to, but when he thought he was in the frame for murder, he dropped you right in it. His statement confirms your confession.”
Edna looked horrified. She said nothing.
Hunter stared into her eyes. “You have motive for all three.”
“That is just not true!”
“Oh, but it is, Edna,” Tim added. “Mary-Ann cheated with your husband.”
“Yes, but—”
“Annie was Billy's child. Not only that, but she seduced your Frankie. Was carrying his twins.”
“But I—”
“Billy. Billy was worst of all. He cheated on you with Mary-Ann. Hired her to work in your house and never told you about the affair, or about Annie.”
“Witnesses sat with the police artist,” Tim commented. “The mistake we made was assuming we were looking for a man. When we knew it was Ian's car, we looked at the drawings again. They may not be framed, but you're in the pictures, Edna.”
“Poor old Billy, my fucking arse. Or Mary-Ann's fucking arse more like. How would you feel?” She looked at Tim. “As soon as he found out Frankie was going to be a father, he told me the whole story. He even seemed to enjoy it.”
As Hunter and Tim took Edna to the car, a taxi drew up. Frankie and Jamie got out, each carrying a carrycot holding one of the twins. Kylie and Dannii were Frankie's pride and joy, his future.
“All right, Mum?” Frankie shouted across.
“I might be some time, son,” Edna replied.
“You got that right.” Hunter smiled as he made sure she did not bump her head getting into the squad car.
Epilogue
Edinburgh, February 2013
“I know it's twee,” Rachael chimed in defensively. “But I love her, and I want her to be my wife, and I asked her on February 14. So there!”
Jane smiled and showed off her ring to anybody who would look at it.
“It is really beautiful, Jane,” Mel said. “Have you set a date?”
“Probably this year if we can arrange it. No more definite than that yet.” Jane could not help grinning and holding up her hand to look at the beautiful cluster of diamonds.
&nbs
p; Tim walked in carrying a parcel in each hand. The room fell silent. Everybody suddenly found something really interesting to look at on the floor. On their desk. Anything rather than look at him.
Bear walked in behind Tim. He slapped his friend on the shoulder and looked around as if everything were normal.
“Has anyone seen Tim's new car?” he asked. “Well seeing as he's a trust fund kid, he's only gone and bought himself a BMW hybrid active 5! It's down there in the car park. Dwarfs the DI's old Toyota.”
The silence broke and everybody moved to the window to look at the impressive machine, chattering and shoving like a bunch of school children at playtime.
“Wow, Timmy boy. That blue one there’s yours? I've seen it in Car Magazine. It's over seventy grand!” Colin exclaimed.
“Yes. But I have a rule – no smoking or eating in my car!”
“Too right!” Mel answered with a laugh. “Ooh, you can take me for a ride any time.”
“What did you say, Mel?” Bear joked.
“Not that way!”
“Tim can also claim to be the only DC in Scotland with a housekeeper and a butler!” Bear exclaimed.
“So you kept on your dad's house and staff?” Jane asked.
“They hadn't done anything wrong. And they've been with us since Ailsa and I were children.”
“I am sorry for you about what happened with your dad,” Jane said. “How long did he get?”
“Three years. He pleaded as early as possible and it's a first offence. Still, it's not going to be any fun for him. It'll be all over the papers tomorrow.” Tim paused. “So will I.”
“There will be another announcement in the papers tomorrow. Show him your ring, Janey,” Rachael called out.
“Congratulations girls! When's the engagement party?” Tim kissed first Jane then Rachael gently on the cheek.
“This is really apt. I didn't know, but I brought you a present, Jane. In light of your happy news, please accept these as an engagement present to you both.” Tim handed a parcel to each woman.
Jane opened hers more quickly, and pulled the first Peploe painting out of its paper. It was one of those that Jane had seen in the airing cupboard. Rachael opened the other parcel, looked briefly at the other painting and handed it to Jane.