That morning two detectives from Eastern division had come to the flat and questioned him about Max and what had happened at the prison. Allan could tell that their hearts weren’t really up for a determined grilling over his role in what had happened; slightly embarrassed if anything, probably because of the gay issue more than anything else. They had treated him with respect and he was grateful for that. He looked through from the kitchen into the living room at the picture of him and Max on top of the TV; the photo, like the TV, a purveyor of illusion.
An hour after the detectives had left, Susan Dornan had called. She too had been sympathetic and supportive but everyone involved knew Paul Allan was finished. His uncle, the Chief Constable, hadn’t been in touch though; his position in the force outweighing his position in the family. Of no consequence now, Uncle.
Allan’s grip on a scarf that he had given Max Kermack for his birthday tightened. He raised the scarf to his lips; I forgive you Max, my true love. Allan stepped from the kitchen table. He need not have worried; the pulley hook held his weight effortlessly.
***
Susan Dornan and Matt Healy sat in the court waiting for Joe Turner’s case to be called. The PF was opposing bail but everyone knew that it would be granted. Dornan turned to Healy.
‘What did Dorado want, by the way?’
‘Oh, nothing really. A bag had been left behind in the Hotel Samba, the hotel I stayed in, he just wanted to know if it was mine.’
‘Right.’
Dornan looked across the court as Turner was lead into the dock. Five minutes later Turner was granted bail and disappeared from the court the same way he arrived.
‘We need to have him watched 24/7, Susan,’ Healy said.
‘Yes, there’s a lot to consider, Matt. A lot.’
Healy appeared slightly confused by the response but said nothing. Dornan pushed past him murmuring that she would see him back at the station.
***
She caught up with me in the court corridor.
‘Ray.’
I turned, inwardly delighted to see her.
‘Susan.’
‘Ray, I know Healy was out of order but I swear I didn’t know anything about his plans. You have to believe that.’
‘Fine. I have to go down to get Joe through the formalities. See you tonight?’
‘I’d like that.......Ray, Joe was definitely the person with Kate at the hotel.’
‘Doesn’t mean he killed her.’
‘Doesn’t it?’
***
Joe Turner looked over at me as I entered the room as he awaited the formalities of his release. I couldn’t tell what was going through his head but I knew what was going through mine; his lying about being in Scotland, the train ticket I saw with my own eyes, his temper and now the fact he had been identified as being with Kate in her hotel.
‘Here we go again Ray’ Joe said.
‘Looks like it Joe. Don’t worry. I’ll get you the best QC available.’
‘Ray, do me a favour. Phone Martha, tell her what’s happened but let her know I’m innocent.’
My guilt at how my relationship with Joe had deteriorated so much that I hadn’t even phoned him to tell him about Martha hit me harder than words could say. I looked at the floor.
‘Joe, I’ve got something to tell you.’
‘Best OK it with your girlfriend first, eh Ray?’
We stared at each other for what seemed an eternity. Joe turned to the security guard.
‘Know any honest lawyers mate? I need a new brief.’
‘Joe...,’ I said
‘Fuck off Ray. My new lawyer will be in touch for any paperwork you’ve not already handed over to your shag.’
I got up, the weight of my guilt almost buckling my knees, and headed for the door.
‘By the way, Raymondo, once I walk away from this charge, I’ll be seeing you.’
I opened the door and left the room without looking back, or telling him of Martha’s fate.
***
Jack T’Baht opened his desk drawer and slipped his Koran in. He had spent most of the previous night studying it and praying for guidance. Dornan and French entered the room together. French was showing Dornan some feature in a magazine on the latest A List celebrity hunk. As they passed his desk he heard Dornan say “I wouldn’t say no, Jill, would you?” They laughed together like naughty school girls. Whores. He continued to watch French as she reached her desk and sat down. Her hemline slipped half way up her thigh. She crossed her legs as she waited for her PC to boot up. She glanced over at T’Baht and smiled, ‘Morning, Jack.’
T’Baht’s mouth was dry. He murmured a “Morning” in reply then busied himself with paperwork, the hardness between his legs preventing him from concentrating. He looked up as Healy and Frame entered the room. He studied their faces. Did they even have any beliefs? How did they accept their subservience to a woman? Healy motioned as if he were going to Dornan’s office but hesitated when he saw her on the phone, turned and settled at his own desk.
The door to Dornan’s office opened and Dornan came out. T’Baht noticed a difference in her demeanour.
‘Paul Allan has been found dead. Suicide. I’m on my way to McFarlane.’
Jack T’Baht didn’t know how to react to the news. Allan wasn’t a friend as such but he had always been friendly enough. But the prophet was clear; homosexuality means death and death had indeed come to Paul Allan. Allah be praised.
***
My meal that evening with Susan was a subdued affair. Understandably Susan hadn’t wanted to go out so we had just ordered a Chinese carry out and were picking at that while not really watching a film on Channel Four.
‘Why did I send Allan to the prison Ray? What was I thinking?’
‘Don’t be silly. There was nothing wrong in what you did. How were you supposed to know what he was going to do? Silly lad.’
‘He was the Chief Constable’s nephew you know. McFarlane’s in a sweat about that more than anything else, the arsehole.’
‘And you?’
‘Oh I don’t care about any of that shit. To be honest, I’m thinking of quitting after these investigations are wound up.’
‘Really? What would you do?’
‘Why live off you, of course!’
I looked at Susan; despite the forced smile I could see the sadness in her eyes. I leaned over and kissed her forehead.
‘Do you know what I think?’
‘What?’
‘We should set a date.’
Susan looked at me with those eyes that would melt my soul forever.
‘I love you’ she said.
‘Ditto, so what do you say we start the ball rolling on the wedding of the century?’
‘Why not?’
Making love with Susan was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. I wasn’t perhaps the most experienced of lovers but I always remembered a discussion I had had with my father back in my late teens when he had simply said: “Son, it’s called making love for a reason. If love isn’t involved it’s merely rutting. Animals rut, a man makes love.” The conversation was awkward at the time but I had never forgotten his words but since meeting Susan I now knew what they meant.
***
Azrael usually slept well but the night moon was still in the sky as he looked out at the empty street, only a lonesome fox disturbing the stillness. He turned over in his mind how best to complete the new task the Lord had given him. There was no doubt in his mind that he would obey His command but for the first time he could remember he had doubt in his mind. He was not questioning the burden the Lord had given him but the signs were vague, somehow disturbing. His attention turned to a stray kitten making its way along the edge of the pavement. A sudden blur of orange, a brief squeal and the fox had his meal. His family would live another day. The innocent kitten had served a purpose. Azrael had his sign; an innocent’s death could serve the greater good. He returned to bed, embraced the warmth and fell asleep immedia
tely.
Chapter 28
The morning sun shone through the windows of the squad room and enveloped the assembled officers there but no amount of sun could pierce the pervading darkness. Susan Dornan received a nod from McFarlane and slowly stood and addressed the group.
‘One thing I’ve learned in this job is that there is never only one victim when someone is murdered. The ripples of despondency that fan out from the initial crime touch so many other lives and the consequences of that contact can never be fathomed. Tragically for us, one of our own has now been drawn into this latest web of despair. Our moments of despair are no doubt still to come but not now people, not now. Now more than ever we have to conclude these investigations and at least make some sense of the madness. I’m not going to go over every point of every investigation but I’ll outline our new position on things and we will follow an agreed strategy to the letter from now on.
Joe Turner, husband of Kate Turner our first victim, has now been charged for killing his wife. We are satisfied that, despite first appearances, he did not kill the second victim, Julie Connor. He may or may not be the serial killer calling himself Azrael who it would appear is responsible for several other murders since the Connor killing. He has, unorthodoxically, been positively identified as being with his wife at the “Cathedral House Hotel” although he himself flew in separately the day before, and to Edinburgh, for reasons, we are assuming, of trying to form some sort of alibi. He then flew back out, again from Edinburgh, after the murder. I have spoken to Chief Superintendent McFarlane about what I want to do about Turner and he has agreed overtime etc to have him put under surveillance. Matt, I want you and DC Parker to cover Turner. I also want surveillance on Ivana Jakonowski. Jack, I want you and Golding on that. Her surveillance is for protection purposes, if Turner is Azrael then he won’t think twice about going after her. Jill, I want you acting as a co-ordinator and making sure you know what’s going on at all times. Everybody else has to concentrate on the other two killings especially on trying to link them to Turner. OK, any questions?’
‘Any other suspects for Azrael if it’s not Turner Susan?’ asked McFarlane.
‘Yes sir. We’re working on that separately.’
‘Right. Good. OK let’s get on with it then.’ McFarlane strode out of the office.
‘Rab, Jill, can you both come into my office please?’
Brown and French sat on the chairs offered to them but Dornan remained standing.
‘Rab, Jill I want you to monitor Healy. I know it’s a horrible assignment but women are dying and now, indirectly maybe, one of my officers is dead. If Healy is shown to be in the clear then no-one will be happier than me, please believe me on that, but this has all got to come to an end. Are you both OK with that?’
‘Yes, Ma’am’ both replied in unison.
French seemed subdued. ‘Everything all right, Jill?’
‘Yes, it’s just....’
‘Well, what? Out with it.’
‘It sounds silly but when I got home last night I could swear someone had been in my flat. No damage or anything like that....just a feeling.’
‘Anything out of place, stolen?’ asked Brown.
‘No, that’s the thing, nothing. Maybe....’
‘What?’ Dornan asked.
‘My knickers drawer seemed slightly disturbed but that could just be my imagination. I was a bit on edge by bed time.’
‘Anything else seem odd recently?’
‘Nothing tangible, but you know how you sometimes get the feeling someone’s watching you. I’ve felt that a couple of times recently.’
‘Right. Well if anything else spooks you then contact me right away. OK work out between yourselves how you want to work things and report back to me as often as necessary.’
Once Brown and French had left the office Matt Healy entered. ‘A quick word Susan?’
‘OK.’
‘Why am I working with a rookie; why not John Frame?’
‘I want Frame doing something else.’
‘What?’
Dornan stared at Healy. ‘Anything else?’
‘Yeah there is as a matter of fact. Who are the other suspects in the Azrael killings? News to me that there are any.’
‘Well, there are. I’ve got other people working on that.’
‘Two separate squads are we now?’
‘No, but some things are on a need to know basis Matt. Don’t you agree? For example, I’m sure there are things about your goings-on that I’m not aware of.’
Healy looked hard at Dornan. ‘What happened to us, Susan? We were good together, in every way, but now? It’s that Ford isn’t it? He’s poisoned you against me, hasn’t he?’
‘It’s nothing to do with Ford. We should never have gotten together Matt. My fault, but it’s in the past. I’ve moved on, you should do the same. Look, you’ve always had Turner down for killing his wife and you were right. Go out now and make the case water tight.’
Healy shook his head but didn’t speak again before leaving the office. Dornan picked up her phone and dialled the long number she had made a copy of. The phone at the other end gave a shrill ring.
‘Hola, Inspector Dorado por favor.’
***
Joe Turner sat in his Partick bedsit reading his bible. But he was distracted and put the leather bound book down on the cheap, pine coffee table. He took his wallet out and looked at the sepia photo of his mother.
‘Well, mum, not even the good book can get me out of this.’
He sat and thought over recent months. He knew within himself he hadn’t killed Kate probably. Yes, he had come over in the hope of catching her out as he knew she had distanced herself from him. Yes, he had followed her from the store at Celtic Park; as that was the only place he knew for definite she was going to be at some point. Yes, he had followed her and that Whistle Test cunt out to the Clyde Valley but the pub was too remote to watch without being seen and it didn’t have bedrooms so he didn’t think any shagging would be going on there. So he had waited in the car park of a near-by garden centre, watching the road back into Glasgow but after a few hours realised they must have taken a different road back. The black outs were the issue. Once he realised he had lost track of Kate, he had gone into a bar and that was the last he could remember. That bastarding traitor, Ford, was right about one thing though, neither the cops nor the courts would wear that explanation. He went to put his wallet back in his pocket and felt something else in the pocket. He fished the business cards he had had printed out and smiled: wonder if they worked?
***
‘Cyprus,’ I said to Susan.
‘Cyprus?’
‘Yes.’
‘What about it?’
‘For the wedding. Looked up the net. Alesium Hotel, Paphos. Looks great and they do wedding packages. What do you say?’
‘Well...I was thinking more of a Scottish wedding.’
‘Wear tartan then.’
‘Ha ha.’
‘Think about it then. At least I’m on the case.’
‘True, true. Ray, can I ask you something? In confidence, of course.’
‘Of course.’
‘What do you think of Matt Healy?’
‘Dinosaur, work wise and human race wise. Why?’
‘Nothing, just a problem at work.’
‘He seems to hate me as well for some reason.’
‘What makes you say that?’
‘Well he doesn’t speak to me, more growls at me. Seems to have gotten worse since you let it slip about us.’
‘I didn’t let it slip actually…….. but you might be right.’
‘He wasn’t after you himself, was he? Upset his macho image.’
‘No, no.’
‘Anyway, Susan, I’ve got to go. Need to make lots of money to pay for this wedding.’
In some ways I felt sorry for Susan. Preparing and looking forward to her wedding should be a high point in her life but I knew that her work was getting her d
own and she was taking Allan’s death really badly. Even before she mentioned it I had also noticed that things between her and Healy had deteriorated beyond repair. I toyed with the idea of phoning him; trying to calm the waters but decided to wait till the next time we actually met up. Maybe even invite him to the wedding.
***
Jill French contacted Healy first. ‘Evening, Matt. You in place OK for Turner?’
‘Just drawing up now,’ replied Healy.
‘Jack. You in place for Ivana?’
T’Baht’s throat had contracted on him hearing French’s voice. He began to stutter, a small bead of sweat appearing on his forehead. ‘In place.’ He opened his glove compartment, his Koran was there but he left it where it was and pulled out the pair of lace trimmed knickers he had taken from French’s flat. He unzipped his trousers and pushed the knickers in beside his erection; his eyes closed.
French changed frequency and spoke to Rab Brown. ‘You OK, Rab?’
‘Fine, bit of a break from the twins to be honest. One thing though. After he parked up, Matt went into an Off Sales. I thought at first he was going for fags before I remembered he didn’t smoke. I’m pretty sure he bought a bottle of something and he’s had a swig of it already.’
‘Could be Coke, Irn Bru, whatever.’
‘Could be.’
***
After a few moments T’Baht opened his eyes. In the meantime, Ivana Jakonowski had left work and was already on her bus home.
Chapter 29
The Initial Blow Page 26