‘Farrell has agreed to let me speak to the guy who says his name is Provan. They’ve checked the warrant card. Guy retired five years ago. What sort of fucking security they got here?’
Susan left Allan sitting alone in the medical room.
‘Has he been seen by a doctor yet?’ she asked a warder.
‘Not that I know of. You want me to get him one?’
‘I’d appreciate it.’
She turned to Healy.
‘Apparently he brought this other guy in as some sort of favour. His real name is Max Kermack; he’s Allan’s boyfriend.’
‘Jesus wept, Susan.’
‘Along with me, Matt, along with me.’
Max Kermack was sitting in an interview room looking fully in control. There was blood on his clothes and some flecks on his face but he didn’t seem to mind.
‘Max, did you kill Peter Harris?’ asked Dornan.
‘Yes.’ Max quietly replied.
‘Did Paul Allan know your intentions when he brought you here?’ asked Healy.
‘No.’
‘Why did you kill him?’
‘He killed my sister.’
Healy and Dornan quickly glanced at each other and then back at Max.
‘Who’s your sister?’
‘Julie Connor.’
‘But your name’s Kermack.’
‘Julie and I were separated as kids, adopted by different families. I went to the Kermacks; good people. Julie went to another family; the Russells. We had never seen each other again for over twenty years, when Julie tracked me down. When Julie got married, she changed her name to Connor but didn’t change it back when she divorced.
‘How did you know Harris killed Julie? There are other suspects; he hasn’t been convicted.’
‘Paul told me.’
‘Paul being?’
‘Paul Allan, your fellow officer.’
‘What else did he tell you about Harris?’
‘Something about him claiming to be her step father but that’s shit.’
Dornan and Healy silently agreed to leave that point.
‘Are you and Allan lovers?’ asked Dornan. Healy inwardly winced.
‘Yes.’
‘You used him.’
‘I saw an opportunity and I took it.’
‘He’s finished in the force, you know. He’ll probably go to prison along with you. Do you know what happens to ex-police in prison Kermack?’ said Healy.
Max Kermack merely shrugged. ‘He’ll survive. Harris didn’t, that’s the main thing.’
‘You ever killed anyone else Max?’
‘No.’
‘We’ll need a DNA sample anyway.’
‘Feel free. I don’t imagine I’ll be going far.’
‘Are you religious, Max?’ Healy asked.
‘Strict atheist. No God to deal with Harris; so I did. Why?’
‘Do you want to see Paul?’ Dornan asked, taking Healy by surprise. They both looked at Kermack.
‘No. Why would I?’
By the time they left the interview room Paul Allan had been seen by a doctor and had been taken to London Road Police Station to wait for his court appearance the next morning. Healy and Dornan sat back in their car trying to make sense of everything that had happened. The carnage of their investigations.
The next day, as expected, Max Kermack was remanded in custody. Paul Allan was given bail but suspended from duty and warned not to go near any police station unless requested to do so for questioning. Healy and Dornan both felt that they had failed in every way. Dornan had failed in leading her team and had at least played a bit part in allowing a young officer to completely ruin his life, never mind his career. Healy’s guilt stemmed from his closed mind on the original investigations with even a rookie like Jill French showing more insight than him. “Maybe it’s time for me to move on after all.” He looked over to Susan Dornan’s office. He knew she was hurting and he wanted to help but knew he was history as far as she was concerned. He just wasn’t quite sure why; what she really knew of him.
***
It always made me smile when I saw Susan’s number come up on my mobile.
‘Is that the most beautiful policewoman in Scotland calling?’
‘Most stressed possibly, but thanks for the thought.’
‘Why stressed?’
Susan quickly told me of the sequence of events surrounding Peter Harris and Paul Allan.
‘My God’ my singularly insignificant response.
‘Can you get a hold of Joe Turner, Ray, and bring him in to Police HQ tomorrow? Matt Healy will handle things our end, I’m going to see if I can salvage anything of Paul Allan’s life.’
‘Yes, of course.’
We exchanged some small talk and then hung up. I called Joe and arranged to meet him outside Pitt Street at two the next day.
‘All good news, Joe, all good.’
I’d live to regret saying that.
***
A few minutes after calling me, the phone rang on Dornan’s desk.
‘Afternoon, Ma’am, it’s a DS Blake from Hamilton here.’
‘Yes.’
‘It’s more of a courtesy call than anything, Ma’am. We have a suicide out this way and we believe there’s a connection to a case you are working on. The deceased is a Mrs Martha Reid.’
The name didn’t register with Dornan at first but all too soon the drawn features of a grieving but composed older lady came into sharp focus in Dornan’s mind.
‘What are the circumstances?’
‘It appears she’s taken some sort of pills. Pretty painful death, I hear, but the poor old soul looks content somehow.’
‘Near a pub called The 4 Pillars?’
‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘Poor woman. Thank you for calling, let me know if anything suspicious turns up but I wouldn’t imagine it will.’
Dornan studied the back of her hand as it sat on the replaced phone. Such a waste. So many lives ruined. She called through to Healy.
‘I’ve just heard; Martha Reid, Kate Turner’s mum, has committed suicide.’
A few moments passed in silence. ‘I’ll be glad when this is all over’ said Healy.
‘I phoned Ray Ford; Turner will be in at two tomorrow.’
‘Right.’
‘You deal with it, Matt. I’m going to go to speak to Kermack and Allan. Try to do what I can for Allan. I’ll take French with me.’
‘OK, leave it to me. I’ll deal with it.’
Susan Dornan then called Rab Brown into the office and told him what she wanted him to do the next day.
Chapter 26
Susan Dornan looked directly into the eyes of Max Kermack. She looked for regret, sorrow, perhaps compassion for Paul Allan; she saw nothing.
‘So Julie Connor was your sister Max?’
‘Yes.’
‘Who were your parents, your blood parents, that is?’
‘My mother was called Anne Chalmers, she died in a fall when Julie and I were babies. I don’t know who my father was, nor do I care.’
‘What was your mother’s married name?’
‘I just told you, I never asked nor cared.’
‘Your DNA doesn’t match Julie Connor’s.’
‘What?’
‘Oh, I think you heard, Max.’
‘Your test is wrong.’
‘No, but then again I didn’t expect a match.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘Julie wasn’t your sister, Max, not your full sister at any rate. She was your half-sister.’
‘Why are you coming out with this crap? I killed Harris, you’ve got me, end of.’
‘Not quite Max. What do you know of your father?’
‘I told you, nothing.’
‘Shall I tell you then?’ Dornan leaned over the desk, got as close to Kermack as she could. ‘Well, you fucking bastard, you have ruined one of my young officer’s lives so now I’m going to ruin yours. Your mother’s
maiden name was Chalmers. Her married name? Harris. Yes. That’s right, Max. Harris, because she was married to Peter Harris; the Peter Harris you have just killed. You killed your own father you fuck. Yes he killed Julie but Julie wasn’t related to him, not really. Not like he was to you. So think on that while you’re lying in prison for the next twenty years.’
‘I don’t believe you. Why are you saying these things?’
‘Because I want you to suffer Kermack. Not for killing Harris, for destroying Paul Allan.’
Dornan walked to the door. She hesitated, spoke over her shoulder.
‘I’m on my way to see Paul now. Is there anything you want me to say to him for you?’
Kermack studied the floor, said nothing.
***
Matt Healy, John Frame, Ivana Jakonowski and Gino Franchetti, the barman from Buchanan Galleries, sat having a coffee in an interview room adjacent to the room Joe Turner and Ray Ford were sitting in. Healy explained that they were running a little behind but that they would get on with things and let them away as soon as possible. Healy and Frame then left the room, unaware of Rab Brown watching them from the observation room.
***
Joe and I were relaxed as we sat in our interview room, waiting to clear up the final issues surrounding his charges. I could tell he would be glad to be putting this nightmare behind him and getting back to Spain. I didn’t think that we would be in contact much after everything that had happened but I had no regrets, and I wouldn’t have met Susan were it not for Joe in a way, every cloud....
The door opened and Matt Healy and John Frame entered. They too seemed relaxed, although Healy avoided eye contact with me.
‘Well, Joe, a bit of a relief for you eh?’
‘You could say that.’
‘Well, just to confirm things. We have established that Peter Harris was in fact Julie Connor’s step-father and he has confessed to her murder. Unfortunately, he too is now deceased but we have no reason to doubt his story and we have informed the PF’s office. So you’re in the clear.’
‘Right, I can go then? I’ll get my passport back?’ Joe asked.
‘Not quite.’
‘What do you mean not quite?’ I said.
‘Mr Harris also told us some other things before his untimely demise, Mr Ford. Joseph Turner I’m arresting you for the murder of Kate Turner and......’ The rest of Healy’s words didn’t register in my mind although I’d heard them often enough.
‘What is this? You told me this was just a formality.’ I managed to blurt out eventually.
‘I didn’t tell you anything, Mr Ford. Your fiancé might have, I didn’t.’
I shot a glance at Joe; his bewilderment complete.
‘Your client here will be processed now; you can see him after that. Just wait here till I inform the duty sergeant.’
Healy left the room and rushed to the other interview room. He ushered Jakonowski and Franchetti out into the corridor. ‘We’ll be passing three men out here in a minute. One will be the other police officer who was in here with me a few minutes ago. Just take a good look at the guy with the fair hair but don’t say anything. OK? Just walk by them.’
Frame already had Joe’s hands cuffed, and behind his back as we left our room. He lead him out the door and along to the charge desk apparently oblivious to my vociferous complaints. I saw Healy, and two other people approaching. I was sweating, confusion swirling around my anger, at these obviously contrived events. I was almost tempted to hit Healy but I decided that calm and apparent indifference was the best course of action under the circumstances. Moments later Joe had been charged and was being lead to a holding cell; all the time just staring at me. After another few moments I found myself outside the station unable to process what had just happened. How do I deal with this? Did Susan know what was being planned? Inside the station the situation was moving from bad to worse - then - terrible.
***
Healy had led the witnesses into yet another interview room. He didn’t invite them to sit, or sit himself. Rab Brown’s entering of the room at his back barely curtailing his excitement.
‘Well, Ivana, was that the man you saw at the hotel with the woman who was murdered?’
‘Yes, I’m sure it is.’
‘Gino, what about you, do you think that’s who you saw having a coffee with Sandra Graham on the day she was murdered?’
‘I no sure, maybe...’
‘Come on, Gino, either it is or it isn’t?’
Franchetti looked from Healy to Frame to Ivana. He shrugged his shoulders.
‘Sorry, I no sure. Sorry, I go home now.’
Healy told Brown to make sure Ivana and Franchetti got home OK. He phoned Dornan.
‘Good news Susan. Positive ID on Turner for being at the hotel with Kate Turner. I’ve got him in custody.’
‘Oh, I know Matt. Ray just phoned me. I’m on my way in; we need to have a serious chat.’
***
Susan Dornan stormed into the squad room, the ear-ringing she had just had from Ray Ford still reverberating in her head. Healy was surprised when she walked straight past his desk and summoned Rab Brown into her office.
Brown remained standing as Dornan slammed a file down onto the floor from her desk.
‘Well?’
‘An obvious stitch up but I was in the room when Healy questioned the witnesses. There was no collusion or intimidation Ma’am, the girl picked Turner out OK. The barman wasn’t sure but I think it’s more a case with him not wanting involved than him not recognising Turner. If he was called back in and put under the slightest pressure then I think he would pick out Turner too.’
‘You definitely don’t think either Healy or Frame could have pressured them in any way?’
‘To be honest, no; it’s definitely Turner, ma’am. At least for his wife’s killing. He must have followed her out to the Clyde Valley; maybe saw her having sex with Harris, maybe not. Either way he loses it and tops her. The Azrael thing might be more difficult to prove but we can concentrate on placing him at each scene now.’
‘OK Rab, thanks. Send Healy in.’
Healy walked in, his hand raised in apology. He sat down uninvited.
‘I know what you’re going to say, Susan, and I’m sorry if you think I’ve side stepped your authority but you must admit we needed something to give these investigations impetus, and now we’ve got it.’
‘You honestly think Ray Ford won’t challenge the ID’s?’
‘He can’t. There hasn’t been a formal ID done, nothing to challenge. Of course, Turner’s Q.C. might bring it up at the trial but it’s a minor point.’
‘You think he’s Azrael?’
‘You bet he is.’
‘There’s absolutely nothing to connect him to the Azrael crimes.’
‘Maybe not yet but there will be and I’m going to find it.’
‘No. I want you to concentrate solely on the Kate Turner killing. Go over everything and make the case there, you’ve seemed certain from day one so see it through. I want Brown, French and the others to concentrate on the two other women. Eastern Division have been given the Harris killing under the circumstances so we can forget that for the moment.’
‘But....’
‘That’s all Matt. Oh, and by the way, bring up my relationship with Ray Ford again, especially in front of a suspect, and you are out of here for good.
Healy had barely left the room when the phone rang on Dornan’s desk.
‘Dornan.’
‘Inspector, it’s Alistair Dorado here, from Spain.’
Dornan’s heart sank. ‘Yes, Alistair, what can I do for you?’
‘Well it’s a little awkward, I’m afraid. The friends of the dead girl have told us of their movements on the night of the killing and it seems that they got talking to an older man in one of the bars, a Scottish man. That’s how they got talking. It seems he was keen to take one of the girls for something to eat but she was not so keen to go. The man apparently
got quite annoyed at this and stormed off.’
‘I’m not sure I follow.’
‘Well it’s just that the man’s description seemed familiar to me but I couldn’t understand why. But now, as you say over there, the pound has dropped. I think the man may have been Matt.’
‘Penny.’
‘What?’
‘The penny has dropped. So you want to speak to Matt Healy?’
‘Yes, but with your permission, of course.’
‘I’ll get him to call you right away.’
Dornan took a note of the number, walked out to Healy’s desk and told him to call Dorado. She went back to her room and pretended to do paperwork; whilst never really taking her eyes off Healy.
***
That evening Azrael sat waiting for guidance from the Lord. He didn’t like uncertainty and confusion. Didn’t like when it was unclear what he had to do. Didn’t like it when people plotted against him but he knew the Lord would not abandon him. He thought of his mother. He listened to the music; he read the holy book; he sought the light.
Chapter 27
Paul Allan stood looking at the ceiling of the kitchen of his Dennistoun tenement flat. His mind was focused as he stood there motionless. He was resolute but smiled inwardly to himself that even the smallest of things can come into your mind even in times of crises. Just how old will this flat be? When would the hooks for the old washing pulley system have been put in? Max had told him that the cornicing was original: “couldn’t get anyone to do workmanship like that these days, Paul, never in a million years mate.”
The Initial Blow Page 25