The Killing Tide

by Lin Anderson

  He’d thought all that was down to the Met wanting to control anything linked to Go Wild, because it messed with their own investigation. Maybe tonight would prove him wrong.

  He rose from the table.

  ‘Where are you going?’ Rhona said.

  ‘It’s time to pick up this guy and find out who he is.’

  82

  ‘What took you so long?’ Janice said as he slid in beside her.

  ‘I needed to speak to Dr MacLeod about Steven Willis. Turns out she’d just had a conversation with Ava. She and Nadia are in London staying with Firash’s family.’

  ‘God, that’s a relief.’

  ‘Ava had a lot to say about DI Cleverly in particular.’ He gave his partner a quick summary.

  ‘You’re saying Cleverly’s bent? But I thought you said Jack Winters vouched for him?’

  He told her what Ollie had found on the memory stick Mark had left for him.

  ‘Mark believed he was going out to meet a police officer. My bet’s on Mark thinking he was meeting an undercover cop, like Winters. That’s why he didn’t reveal a name.’

  ‘And he met Cleverly instead?’ Janice said.

  He nodded. ‘If we’re right, you’re about to meet Cleverly’s son.’

  ‘It’s almost time,’ Janice said, checking her watch.

  ‘You ready for this?’

  McNab had a sudden fear that he’d put her in danger, when in fact she was the one who’d insisted on it.

  ‘How do I look?’ she said, trying a red-lipped smile.

  McNab couldn’t bear to tell her. ‘Stay safe,’ he said instead.

  As she sashayed away from the car, he found himself holding his breath. Why had he agreed to this? Because she volunteered and she’s a police officer.

  There were two bouncers on the door to the dive she was heading for. The red light above the entrance illuminated her painted face as she talked her way successfully inside.

  A couple of minutes later, her male minders appeared. Seeing the two young cops dressed for a night out clubbing, McNab was reminded of his own age, plus the fact he couldn’t be the one keeping watch on his partner. Something he hated, but as he’d been told, he – unlike a tarted-up Janice – was a well-kent face in Glasgow.

  One of the two undercover officers turned briefly towards his vehicle, indicating they were about to head inside.

  Don’t mess this up, McNab said in his head.

  Now he truly was in the waiting game, when anything and everything could go wrong, and he, on the outside, could do nothing about it but wait.

  His own gear switched on, he spoke to the comms van, parked round the corner and out of sight.

  ‘All good, sir. It’s noisy in there, but we’re picking up DS Clark and the guys okay.’

  He could have gone to sit in the van with them, but he felt compelled to keep his eyes on that door.

  A gang of females were now on approach. High and drunk, they skittered along the pavement on shoes that would never permit them to run from trouble. By the end of the night no doubt some of them would be sitting weeping barefoot on the pavement, their fun turned swiftly to misery.

  Suddenly there was a skirmish at the door when one of the bouncers put his hands on one of the women, only to discover that the pack had claws and weren’t willing to be manhandled.

  McNab’s estimation of the women rose. Maybe they weren’t as out of their heads as he’d imagined.

  The tiff over, the women went inside, leaving the pavement bare again.

  In the sudden silence, time slowly drifted past him and he began to fill the emptiness with small, insignificant details. The rumble of a corporation bus passing in the distance. One of the bouncers lighting up a cigarette and beginning a conversation with his mate.

  It was the car winding its way much too slowly past him, blocking his view of the entrance, that snapped him back to life.

  ‘What’s happening?’ he checked with the van.

  ‘Clark’s at the bar with DC Martin.’

  ‘And Willis?’ McNab said.

  ‘He’s with a guy, dark hair, bearded, mid-twenties. They’re in an alcove, talking. DC Sanders believes that’s our mark, sir.’

  McNab felt his heart rate quicken. The plan was for Willis to introduce Janice to the mark. Let them get acquainted. Janice had been well up for that, but his own gut had rebelled. He hadn’t wanted his partner anywhere near a man who could rape and torture a woman, then set her alight.

  There was a pause, then, ‘Willis is beckoning Clark over, sir.’

  McNab reminded himself it was what they wanted. Despite this, he felt his chest tighten, knowing he should be in there with her.

  ‘What’s happening?’ he demanded.

  ‘Talking, sir, just talking. And laughing.’

  ‘Fuck’s sake,’ McNab said. ‘Do we still have eyes on Willis?’

  A moment’s silence, then a slightly worried voice, ‘Currently in the Gents. Sanders checking.’

  Which meant only one pair of eyes on Clark and the mark. McNab’s guts twisted. Two minders weren’t enough. They should have had another one inside. He should be in there.

  As he made to exit the car, intent on bringing this sting to completion, his mobile rang. Glancing at the screen, he saw Jack Winters’s name come up.

  What a fucking time to call. He hesitated before pressing the dismiss button. Whatever Winters had to say, it could wait until he got Janice out of there.

  Suddenly the worried voice was back in his ear. ‘Sir, Willis is no longer in view. I repeat, we have lost Willis.’

  McNab cursed under his breath.

  So Willis was making a run for it, but not, it seemed, via the front door.

  Reconnaissance had indicated the back exit from the club led onto a narrow alley with only one way out, and that was directly across from where he had chosen to park.

  He got back on the comms. ‘Tell them to stay with Clark. Repeat, stay with Clark. I’m coming in.’

  McNab jumped out of the vehicle and, walking casually, crossed the road as though he was bound for the entrance before ducking into the side alley. Narrow, a stone wall forming the outside, only a corner light broke the darkness.

  Breaking into a run, he reached the corner and made the ninety-degree turn to find Willis leaning against the wall next to the fire exit, apparently having a leisurely fag.

  McNab hesitated. It didn’t look as though Willis had any intention of running.

  Spotting McNab’s figure under the light, Willis nodded, evidently unfazed by his sudden arrival, maybe even pleased by his appearance. ‘Evening, DS McNab.’

  McNab’s brain was racing. What the hell was going on here? Even as he tried to work the scenario out, a voice in his ear demanded to be told what to do.

  ‘Get DS Clark out and arrest the mark. I have Willis. Repeat, I have Willis.’

  As he completed his command, he realized a figure had emerged alongside Willis.

  Yards away now, McNab stopped in his tracks when he saw who it was. Only a psycho fucker would have put themselves in this position, he thought.

  So that makes two of us.

  The earpiece had gone silent, no doubt because his orders were being carried out, but the man before him wouldn’t have come alone, which meant the likelihood was that the team inside was already outnumbered.

  ‘Told you he was too clever for you,’ Willis said, his eyes shining with glee.

  Hugo had sidestepped Willis and was walking towards McNab. He was fully clothed this time, no tanned torso gleaming with sweat, but the expression on his face was the one McNab remembered.

  Even in the poor light, McNab could smell the eagerness to kill.

  He could stand and fight, or he could flee.

  As he fought himself over which to choose, he thought of his partner inside, hardly recognizable in those clothes, painted up like he’d never seen her before.

  Without help she would likely pay the price for his mess.

&nbs
p; The boss’s words rang in his ears. If some other mad bastard challenges you to a fight . . . get out of there, and fast, Sergeant.

  His retreat through the alley was twice as fast as his entry, his intention being to get inside the front door by whatever means and make sure Janice was okay. Behind him he heard his opponent roar his fury as he swiftly followed.

  McNab exited seconds ahead, crashing into what he thought would be Hugo’s rearguard.

  Lucky for him, it wasn’t. Pushed to one side, he watched, gasping for breath, as Hugo ran into a roadblock of waiting officers, backed up by a couple of police vans.

  Standing next to his own vehicle, the door hanging open, was the boss.

  ‘Clark?’ McNab said, still fighting for breath.

  ‘Fine, and we have our mark. And Willis too.’

  ‘I fucked up, sir. Judgement on how we dealt with this—’

  DI Wilson held up his hand to stop him. ‘You missed a call from DI Winters?’

  McNab looked at his mobile, still lying on the passenger seat where he’d cast it as he’d taken off.

  ‘He’d already called me to warn us that they’d had a tip-off Hugo Radcliff was headed for Glasgow. It didn’t take much to wonder if word had got through to Radcliff about all of this.’

  ‘Willis had a direct line to him after all?’ McNab said.

  ‘Maybe Willis thought Hugo was a better bet to save him, or else he just wanted to give him a prize. That prize being you. I’ve a feeling Willis will be keener to talk now.’

  ‘What about our mark?’ McNab said.

  ‘The suspect’s name is, we believe, Joe Hill. As for who fathered him, that’s yet to be established.’

  ‘Are the Met talking to Cleverly?’ McNab demanded.

  ‘According to DI Winters, he’s gone missing.’

  ‘Some bastard tipped him off,’ McNab said angrily, then apologized for swearing.

  DI Wilson dismissed his apology. ‘Exactly what I was thinking myself, Sergeant.’

  ‘So what now?’

  ‘You go home and get some well-earned sleep, and we discuss this further tomorrow.’

  ‘Not before I speak to my partner, sir,’ said McNab, seeing the painted version of Janice emerge from the crowd and come towards him.

  83

  Janice handed Rhona her phone.

  ‘This is what I looked like last night,’ she said. ‘You should have seen McNab’s face when he got into the car and saw me.’

  ‘Who did your make-up? Those lips, and the eyebrows!’ Rhona said, both impressed and slightly horrified at the same time.

  ‘Paula. An ace job, don’t you think? It’s surprising how getting tarted up changes your mindset. It’s a bit like when I was in uniform. Somehow wearing it made me braver.’

  ‘Is McNab in yet?’ Rhona said, indicating his empty desk.

  ‘He was here when I arrived. Not sure he got much, if any, sleep. He’s in with the boss. A confab before the meeting. You all set?’

  Rhona nodded.

  ‘Okay, shall we go in together?’

  The atmosphere in the room had changed dramatically since she’d last been here. Getting a result always had that effect. Like winning the lottery, it lifted everyone’s spirits.

  Rhona had already had a brief résumé from Chrissy about what had gone down last night. Her forensic assistant had been agog with it over their joint breakfast.

  Once she’d told Rhona her version, Rhona had been able to fill her in on Ava’s phone call and McNab’s visit.

  Chrissy had given her a knowing look at that point.

  ‘What?’ Rhona had remonstrated with her.

  ‘Nothing . . . just that when he’s worried about something, you’re always his first port of call.’

  Maybe in the past, she’d insisted, when McNab was playing the maverick game, but less so now that he’d been partnered with Janice.

  ‘Aye, right,’ had been Chrissy’s closing retort.

  That riposte sprang to mind as McNab climbed on stage to a round of applause and made a point of checking out the audience until his gaze found her, which resulted in a smile.

  ‘He told me you gave him a hard time about Ava,’ Janice said. ‘Looks like you’re forgiven.’

  ‘McNab infuriates me most of the time,’ Rhona said.

  ‘You and me both.’ Janice gave a wry smile. ‘But I also know he always has my back.’

  And mine, Rhona thought.

  Calling them to order, Bill said, ‘As you are no doubt aware, last night’s operation was a success. We now have three suspects in custody. Hugo Radcliff, known to most of you by DS McNab’s nickname of the posh fucker . . .’ He paused as the laughter erupted, then, silencing it, continued. ‘As you may also recall, this is the man who knocked out DS McNab earlier in this case. What you might not know is that he tried to do it again last night. Fortunately, on this occasion, the detective sergeant took my advice and ran away to fight another day.’

  More laughter as Bill gave McNab a pat on the back. The highest of praise indeed.

  ‘On a more serious note, our prime suspect, Radcliff, is being held in connection with the murder of the recently identified Damian Lloyd and Penny Addington on board the MV Orlova. His motive for that is still to be determined. He could simply enjoy killing. He may have been paid to do it. Or it was done as a warning. We cannot ignore the fact that Damian Lloyd’s father is a cabinet minister and that Go Wild has links to powerful people.

  ‘Joe Hill is our suspect in the death of fire victim Charlotte Weiner, and Steven Willis as an accomplice in that murder. Exactly what happened that night is still unclear. Willis admits to sexually assaulting Charlotte and handling the bag and the credit cards inside, but not to raping her or killing her. Hill denies ever being there. However, the semen sample retrieved from Charlotte is his. Only recently we also discovered the missing petrol can. It had been dumped nearby and a motorist had picked it up and put it in his boot. It too held Hill’s fingerprints. Well done, DS Neville, on discovering that evidence.

  ‘We think Charlotte was cut loose and taken down by Hill in the storm, together with the bag, and set alight. Why was Olivia Newton Richardson’s bag used? We can only assume it was to make us think she was the victim. Perhaps she needed to disappear? Something which is still to be determined. We think Hill’s motive for raping and killing Charlotte was that he wanted to, and used Go Wild to allow him to do that.’

  He paused there for a moment to allow them to digest all of that.

  ‘The sting designed to capture Joe Hill, which resulted in our success, was the work of DS Clark, who volunteered to be the guinea pig, used as bait for Hill, with Steven Willis as the go-between.’

  At this point it was Janice who got the round of applause.

  ‘We also have to thank investigative reporter Ava Clouston, who discovered material collected by her dead colleague, Mark Sylvester, which pointed to the probability that DI Cleverly was working on his own behalf, rather than the Metropolitan Police, when he visited us recently.

  ‘DI Jack Winters, who had been deeply embedded in Go Wild, initially vouched for DS Cleverly to DS McNab, then, after listening to Ava, acted on that knowledge.

  ‘Much of this was made possible by all of your in-depth work on Go Wild, and I fear we have only just scratched the surface of what this company has been involved in worldwide. It has been used by powerful people who will do whatever it takes to stop us from bringing those involved to justice. And, by Hugo Radcliff’s demeanour when he was brought in last night, he expects to be back out on bail almost immediately. What he doesn’t know is that we retrieved the video of the killings and that our key witness is alive and well, despite apparent plans to add her life to the ones already taken.’

  He turned their attention to the screen.

  ‘DI Winters asked if he might join us today to speak to you all.’

  The figure visible now on the main screen was sitting up in a hospital bed, his face stitched, his body st
ill heavily bandaged.

  ‘I wanted to thank you all personally, firstly for sending DS McNab down to spy on us. He is, as you all must know, a regular pain in the neck. He is also the most dogged officer I’ve ever had the pleasure, or misfortune, to work with. We’d offer him a job with the Met, but we know he’d just laugh at us.

  ‘Your forensic identification of Willis, and then the opportunity you gave him to make contact with Joe Hill, led him to head higher up the ladder. Radcliff hates being outsmarted by a cop. McNab’s escape, followed by his rescue of me, rankled. Especially because I – an inside witness to what has been going on in Go Wild – survived. So he grabbed the chance to come to Glasgow, something we luckily got wind of. The rest, as you know, is history. As for DI Cleverly, we are still currently trying to locate him.’

  Winters waited for the negative response on that to recede before he spoke again.

  ‘I’d just like to finish by assuring you that the Met are fully committed to cooperation with Police Scotland on the continuing investigation, and we are also in touch with both Interpol and the FBI.

  ‘This is a long road we have to travel, but your investigation on both the fire death and the MV Orlova have produced the first results we all needed and wanted to see.’

  McNab’s face throughout Jack Winters’s speech told its own tale. Whatever the two men had endured together in captivity, Rhona thought, would never be spoken about, unless it was to one another.

  As the boss dismissed the team, he reminded McNab that he had a backlog of reports to write and that he was expecting them on his desk by the end of the day.

  It didn’t wipe the smile off McNab’s face.

  ‘Can I get a decent coffee first?’ he suggested to Janice. ‘I could bring you back a cake?’ When her expression didn’t change, he added, ‘They have rather good doughnuts, which are a big hit with Ollie?’

  Rhona watched as he accompanied this request with his signature smile. Surprisingly, it seemed to work on Janice.