Ardiana shifted a little in her seat.
‘Is it okay if I tell you later?’ replied Keira. ‘I’m running out of time and if it’s possible to talk to the girl this evening, I’d really like to do that.’
‘Okay. Now we go.’ Pavli slipped the car into first, switched on the blue lights and pulled onto the motorway.
‘I will call for back-up to meet us there, yes?’ asked Pavli. ‘I am thinking maybe Miss Shyri is the one put the nine mil through the windscreen.’
*
Ardiana was relieved to get out of the car. The cop dropped her off on the outskirts of Durrës at a layby that passed for an informal bus stop. A small crowd – a mixture of noisy tourists and stony-faced locals – had gathered waiting for the next bus into town. There was no way of knowing how long it would be, but she was in no hurry.
Ardiana checked her phone – three more messages from Fatjo asking what was going on.
She moved away from the crowd and thumbed in a number. It rang three times, then she hung up and dialled again. This time it was answered.
‘Let me speak to the krye.’
‘The boss is not here. What d’you want?’
‘Don’t dick me around. He asked me to call if I found out anything.’
‘Who is this?’
‘Ardiana Kastrati. Put him on.’
‘Hold on.’
Ardiana heard a brief, muffled exchange then another voice came on the line. She recognised it straight away as belonging to Verbër Vedon, the boss. ‘Where the fuck have you been?’
‘Sitting in the front of a cop car is where I’ve been,’ protested Ardiana. ‘I couldn’t call you.’
‘You got busted?’
‘No. We went to the house.’
‘Did you go in? I told you not to go in.’
‘I didn’t go in. Let me finish. We went to the house and the lawyer lady forced the door open then went inside. She went in, I stayed in the car. There were bugs everywhere and the smell made me want to puke.’
‘Where were you?’
‘In the car, but I got out for a smoke. Even from there you could smell it – like sick and shit. It smelled like a bad death. I don’t even want to talk about it. The lawyer went in and saw bodies. When she was done she went next door to neighbour’s house. Tried to talk to the old lady, lives there, but she didn’t even come to the door. She was in there – no doubt – but she ignored us.’
‘You went to the old lady’s door?’
‘No, I stayed near the car, but this is what I want to tell you. When we left, a girl was parked at the bottom of the hill. The lawyer lady saw her. We turned round, and went back up, but then the girl pulls out a goddamn pistola and starts shooting at us.’
‘Is this why the cops are involved?’
‘No. She drove away . . .’
‘Who?’
‘The girl! But she’s shot our car to shit . . . She drives away and we try to get back to Durrës and get pulled by the cops on the motorway, we’ve got no windscreen or anything.’
‘So you didn’t follow her?’
‘Our car was fucked.’
‘Did she have the kid?’
‘Yes, I think so. There was a child strapped in the back.’
‘He the one the lawyer’s looking for?’
‘Yes.’
‘So where is he now?’
‘This is what I’m calling to tell you. We got her plate.’
‘You got her plate?’
‘So, when we get into the cop car, the lawyer lady asks the cop to run the number – I think maybe they know each other – so he runs it for her.’
‘Babe, are you calling me to tell me you have the girl’s address?’
‘Tirana. First block of flats on the corner of Rruga Sami Frashëri and Bulevard Gjergj Fishta: apartment’s on the third floor. The car – a light green Mercedes – is registered to a female. Surname is Shyri. You need any more?’
‘Ardiana?’
‘Yeah?’
‘This is very good.’
Ardiana found herself smiling.
‘How long ago did they leave you?’
‘I just got out of the car, so like, thirty seconds maybe. I called as soon as I could.’
‘Where are you?’
‘Waiting for a furgon just outside Durrës. Shkallnur.’
‘Are they taking the fifty-six?’
‘I think so, yes.’
‘So they’ll take about forty minutes to get to Tirana . . . how long since the girl with the kid left?’
‘Maybe an hour.’
‘Go home: don’t do any work tonight, no clients. I’m going to give you a bonus, so no work. Go home, take a break, open a bottle of wine and keep your legs closed.’
Ardiana didn’t find Vedon’s comment funny, but she laughed anyway.
‘What should I tell Fatjo? He’s left me a hundred messages.’
‘Don’t worry about that fat dumb-fuck, I’ll talk to him.’
‘Should I call him at least? I feel bad, like I’ve gone behind his back.’
‘Call him and tell him I said you’re to have the night off. If he starts bitchin’ about it, tell him to give me a call.’
‘Okay.’
‘Ardiana?’
‘Yeah?’
‘You think the cop would recognise you again?’
‘Not without my make-up! I’ve got my eyes on and enough foundation to build a house. You think I should go back to being a brunette just in case?’
‘Redhead . . . I always like the redhead look.’
‘Sure.’
‘Ardiana?’
‘Yeah?’
‘You done good.’
Fourteen
It was after six when Pavli’s police car turned off of Bulevard Gjergj Fishta into the car park of the ten-storey apartment block. An ambulance blocked the main entrance to the building, but Keira’s eyes were on the two police cars, skewed alongside. ‘These your back-up?’
Pavli looked puzzled. ‘This has nothing to do with me.’
It was clear that the ambulance had only just arrived. Its doors flew open and a team of medics clambered out, heading off at speed into the building.
A shock of adrenaline hit Keira the moment she spotted the blue flashing lights. She scanned the rest of the parked cars for the light green Mercedes, hoping that it wasn’t there, but spotted it two cars behind where they had just parked.
‘Wait in the car till I find out what is going on,’ said Pavli, clipping his sidearm to his utility belt and climbing out. He approached another officer who was standing at the rear of the ambulance and started talking. She waited until they both had their backs to her then slipped out of the police car and ducked between the parked vehicles until she reached the Mercedes.
Keira laid the palm of her hand on the bonnet. It was hot.
She tried the door handle and was surprised to find that the door opened.
Sliding into the driving seat, she looked around. The passenger footwell was a mess of sweet wrappers and cigarette butts. A child seat, covered in stains and stale crumbs, was strapped into place in the back. The faint odour of cigarette smoke and sour perfume filled the air. The scent was familiar, but Keira couldn’t remember its name.
She had no idea what she was hoping to find, but there was nothing of any interest here.
Keira climbed out and stood for a moment taking in her surroundings.
The perimeter of the parking area was marked by a low wall on top of which sat a line of head-height metal railings. Beyond the railings, traffic rumbled up and down the busy road to the sound of car horns and the distant wail of sirens. On the far side of the stream of traffic crowds of pedestrians and holidaymakers made their way along the packed pavement past cafés, bars and restaurants.
Just as she was about to head back to the police car Keira noticed a figure standing stock still amongst the crowd: a young woman with a child next to her, holding her hand. At first she thought they were wait
ing for a break in the traffic then Keira realised that the young woman was staring across at her.
The distance made it difficult to make out her features.
Keira couldn’t be sure, but the little boy standing beside her was enough to convince her that it was Lule.
A hand clamped Keira’s shoulder.
‘I told you to wait in the car. This is a crime scene now,’ said Pavli. ‘You must not go wandering off or you end up being the suspect. There’s a body in the apartment.’
‘A body?’
‘Yes.’
‘A girl?’
‘A young woman.’
‘Is she still alive?’
‘No.’
Keira stared back at Pavli. ‘Shit.’
‘Someone got here before us.’
Keira glanced across the street, but the two figures had disappeared. Maybe it wasn’t them. Maybe it was just a woman and her son crossing the street. A thought struck Keira, but Pavli got there before she could ask the question. ‘There’s no sign of the boy.’
‘It must have just happened,’ said Keira. ‘This is the car. Feel the bonnet: the engine is still hot – not even cooled a little. She can’t have been here for very long, so it must have happened recently.’
‘Go sit in the police car,’ said Pavli as he turned and started back towards the entrance of the apartment block.
The car park was a sudden flurry of activity. As Keira made her way back to the police car she saw uniformed officers running into the building, weapons drawn. Minutes later the whole area was swarming with cops as two support units drew up, sirens blaring, and blocked the entrance to the car park; the road outside too. More armed men poured into the building and started to search each apartment floor by floor. A steady stream of figures began to appear until eventually the car park was transformed into a sea of displaced residents.
Keira heard the rear passenger door open and felt the suspension spring a little as someone climbed into the back.
‘Don’t turn. You turn and I will blow your fucking head all over the windscreen.’
Keira felt a circle of cold steel press hard into the back of her neck. She lifted her gaze to the rear-view mirror and saw Lule staring back at her.
‘Poison.’
‘What are you saying?’
‘Poison. I smelled it in your car earlier. It’s the name of the perfume you’re wearing.’
‘Why is there ambulance?’
‘There’s a body inside. They think it’s you.’
The girl cursed in Albanian then asked, ‘Who are you, lady? What is you want from me? You see out there the chaos? You have brought this to me. Why you have done this?’
Keira made to answer, but the girl cut her off by pressing the barrel more firmly into her neck.
‘I have a grave already is dug for you. You understand. If I see you again is where I put you. This is the last time I say this.’
‘Where is the boy?’
‘There is no boy.’
‘I want to help Ermir.’
‘Who is Ermir?’
Keira knew Lule was throwing her a line and pressed on. ‘I know what happened. I know you are looking after him, I want to help.’
‘Leave us alone, lady, okay? We don’t want help. All we want is to be left alone.’
‘I knew Kaltrina. I know what happened to her family. I’m here to try and make things better for Ermir . . . and for you.’
‘Stop using that name, he is not that name any more. This is what helps him. He must not be known by that name. Is not safe for him. You are dangerous to him, lady. You think you are helping, but you have brought only trouble with you. Tell Kaltrina I am sorry for what happened to her parents. If I’d known what they would do I would not have run away.’
‘Run away from where, Lule? I don’t understand.’
‘Tell Kaltrina I am keep the boy safe until she returns. This is my besa.’
‘Lule, please, Kaltrina’s . . .’
Suddenly Pavli knocked on the window. As she wound it down he picked up straight away on the expression on Keira’s face. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you jump. The building is searched from top to bottom. Is safe, but you are right. This has only just happened. Medics are going back in to recover the body. You think you maybe recognise the girl, if she is the one that shot at you?’
‘You want me to come look?’
‘You don’t have to, but it would help. They have made bad mess of her, so say no if you don’t want to see. There is some confusion. The neighbours are saying Shyri is the name of the girl who is owning the flat, but there is another girl – with a son – who is sharing. The body, her face is so bad they don’t know which one it is.’
‘Do I have to come in? Can I wait until they bring her down and look then?’
‘Sure, but only if you are up to it. I understand if you don’t want to be involved.’
‘I’m already involved, but I have to get on that plane tomorrow. If I take a look, I can’t be written up as a witness. Nothing formal.’
‘Nothing formal,’ agreed Pavli. ‘You can just look, then someone will take you straight back to hotel. There are new travel documents for you to sign also, but I will meet you at the airport with them tomorrow and make sure with my own hand that you get on the flight. My friend at the embassy has made things happen quickly, but you will need to be there early.’
‘We can’t sort it out tonight?’
‘I have now to stay here. It’s okay for you to identify the girl?’
‘I’ll come over when they bring her out.’
‘Okay. This will help us, thank you. I was hoping tonight we could share a bottle of rakia, but I’m cursed like you, I think.’
Keira stared after Pavli as he walked back to the building and disappeared inside.
Lule’s voice came from the floor behind. ‘Why are you hanging with the cops?’
‘He’s trying to help.’
‘Cops in Albania are either corrupt or stupid, and if they are not corrupt it’s because they are too stupid. You should be careful. If you want to help, tell them it’s me on the gurney. If they think I am dead this will buy more time for me to get away from Tirana.’
‘I don’t want you to get away from Tirana. I want to help you and Ermir.’
Keira glanced over her shoulder as she heard the rear passenger door click open. ‘Wait Lule, go to Hotel Shkop, room 415. I’m leaving tomorrow – flying back to Glasgow. We need to talk. Kaltrina’s dead . . .’
The area behind the passenger seat was already empty, a lingering hint of Poison the only evidence that the girl had been there at all.
Keira jumped out, her eyes searching between the rows of parked cars. She scanned the crowd of residents jostling impatiently in the car park, but the girl was gone.
*
Pavli was beckoning to Keira from the tailgate of the ambulance, where two porters were waiting to load the gurney.
As she approached one of the medics pulled the sheet from the corpse, revealing the badly beaten face of a young woman. Blood seeped from the fresh wounds and her eyes stared lifelessly into the growing darkness.
Keira muttered ‘I’m sorry,’ under her breath to the girl lying on the gurney then nodded to Pavli. ‘It’s difficult to be certain, but I’m pretty sure it’s the girl who shot at us. Her name is Lule.’
Fifteen
Xhon Variboba was working the concierge station when Keira exited the lift into the lobby of the hotel. Half an hour under the shower and a change of clothes later she was ready for a beer and something to fill the empty feeling in her stomach. It was a relief to see Xhon’s friendly face.
‘Were you on the desk when I got back? I didn’t see you.’
‘Just started my shift. I’ll finish in time to wave you off to the airport.’
‘You on all night?’
‘Yes, is so,’ replied John with no hint that he was bothered by the prospect. ‘You’re back early.’
‘Did
n’t realise I was on a clock.’
‘My son has never been good at closing the deal. He’s chickened out of asking you to go for a drink. He’s not supposed to be working tonight: took the night off. I told him he’s never going to find a woman until he eases back on the cop thing. I thought you two would be out till late. You were with him, yes?’
‘Yes.’
‘And he didn’t mention the drink thing?’
‘He dumped me for girl in Tirana.’
‘She a looker too?’
‘Maybe once. Right now she’s staring at the roof of an ambulance headed for the morgue.’
‘What’d she do?’
‘Nothing to deserve what happened to her. They broke her nose and beat her till she stopped breathing. Pavli was the first senior officer on the scene. I don’t think he had much choice whether to stay or go.’
‘So, if it wasn’t for this other woman you’d be interested?’
‘In going for a drink maybe: but that’s all.’
‘Did you see the body?’
‘I saw what was left of her face; that was enough.’
‘You still hungry after seeing that? You want me to arrange some food and a cold beer?’
‘Yes please, and bring ten straws just in case. One for each beer.’
Xhon liked that. ‘Go join your friend outside and I’ll see to it. I didn’t realise you were in the hotel or I’d have called up to your room. I told her you wouldn’t be back for a while.’
‘What friend?’
‘The young woman.’
‘Ardiana?’
‘Didn’t give a name, but she said she’d wait. Tried to order some food on your room. I told her no, but got her a beer and some bar snacks ’cause she was looking kinda anxious. Told her it was up to her if she wanted to stick around, but if a resident needed the table she’d have to move . . . Beer’s on my tab.’
‘Where’s she sitting?’
‘First she was at a table by the pool, then she moved to hotel loungers down on the beach.’
*
The patio area seemed surprisingly busy, then Keira remembered it was Saturday night. Tea lights in the centre of each table lit the faces of the diners with a warm glow and strings of fairy lights hung overhead helped soften the mood. Most of the tables were occupied by couples. Keira scanned their faces as she snaked between them, then headed down the steps and out through the metal gates towards the beach. A roped-off rectangle, lit by hanging lanterns, marked out the perimeter of the Hotel Shkop’s residents-only beach. Beyond this area where the sand sloped down to meet the water’s edge sat three neat rows of loungers. The steady hum of conversation and low-volume muzak was replaced by the crash of waves rolling in along the shoreline as Keira made her way towards them.
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