CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Farrell was due to meet Clare at the new Italian restaurant in less than an hour. He’d never make it back to Kelton and back in again now. He’d have to shower and change at the station. Who could he scrounge a shirt from? It would have to be Lind as he was around his build. Farrell took the stairs to Lind’s office three at a time he felt so pumped up on adrenalin. Lind wasn’t there so Farrell made a beeline for his cupboard, which fortunately yielded an immaculately laundered cream linen shirt with a ruby silk tie. He also made off with his friend’s expensive aftershave. Needs must.
As he passed Lind’s desk he scrutinized a picture of the family taken in happier times. Laura looked radiant with her arms round the boys. He picked up the photo to look at it more closely and felt a prickle of unease. He had assumed that the twins weren’t identical as they had different hairstyles and weren’t dressed alike. Looking at this image of them he was no longer completely sure. What were their names again? Luke and … Hugh? That was it. He sighed with relief. Well, there was no apostle called Hugh, so even if his theory of victim selection was correct, the twins should be fine. Still, better safe than sorry. He dialled Lind and reached his answerphone.
‘John, Hi, I’ve just realized our abductor may be targeting identical twins with the same names as the apostles. Your boys should be fine, as one of them is called Hugh, but it might be an idea to keep a closer eye on them than usual, just in case. They’re not even identical, right?’
As Farrell hung up he felt his misgivings return but he was already running late. He would ring Lind again in the morning. He set off for the restaurant.
Farrell watched Clare make her way across the crowded restaurant to his table, causing more than a few heads to turn. She was dressed in a simple red silk dress which set off her long chestnut locks to perfection. Farrell wondered what she could possibly see in him. He greeted her warmly with a kiss, happy to be in her company. He wasn’t going to blow it this time. Being with Lind and Laura had made him realize that he craved a settled family life. It was time to stop clinging onto the tattered remnants of his life as a priest. Sitting down, he noticed that she was looking a little subdued.
‘What’s up?’ he asked, reaching for her hand.
‘I’m so sorry I doubted you. Did Lind tell you I’d been in …?’
‘No, as it happens, but I can hardly blame you. I was starting to doubt myself.’
‘Even so, I should have been straight with you and not run off behind your back. An identical twin, how crazy is that?’
‘You don’t have to tell me. Anyway, apology accepted. Let’s move on.’
‘Why are you smiling like that?’ Clare asked.
‘Just happy to be here,’ he said. For once his guard was down and it felt good.
As they ordered from the extensive menu Farrell felt his mouth watering in anticipation. Normally someone who ate to live rather than lived to eat he ordered the biggest steak on the menu with all the trimmings. No wonder he was starving. Since he came back to Dumfries he had practically been living on the emaciated offerings provided by the staff canteen. For too long he had let his job rule his life and it was time to reclaim some ground. Further throwing caution to the wind he ordered an expensive bottle of red wine. As the rich ruby liquid swirled round his mouth like velvet he felt himself relax into a depth of contentment that he hadn’t felt for some time.
‘So then,’ Clare said. ‘I’ll bet you were a right goody-goody at school. Priest in training and all that?’
‘Not as good as you might think. I used to bunk off school with John Lind and his now wife, Laura. We’d cycle off to Mabie Forest with a bottle of cheap cider, sure that we were living on the edge.’
‘It must have been good hooking up with your old friends when you came back to the town. And they got married too?’
‘Yes,’ said Farrell. How to change the subject? He became aware that Clare was looking at him with a question in her eyes. ‘They belong together,’ he said quickly and moved on. ‘What about you? Have you ever been married? Had children? Done jail time?’
He wanted to know every last thing about this woman.
‘Yes, No, and Not yet,’ she smiled, but not before he had noticed the tightening around her mouth when he mentioned children.
‘Divorced?’
‘No. Widowed.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘It was a few years ago. I got through it.’
Farrell cast about with increasing desperation for a safe topic but she got there ahead of him.
‘Do you ever go running?’
‘All the time. This honed physique didn’t happen all by itself,’ he said mock seriously but was pleased to notice she sent an appreciative glance his way.
‘I’m registered for the London marathon,’ she said. ‘Amateur.’
After that they both laughed and relaxed, the conversation becoming easier and more natural. The food was so good that he felt in danger of popping a button. He should cook more. He was pleased to see that Clare ate with gusto. It worried him when women treated food as an enemy.
After Farrell had paid the bill they left the restaurant. He wanted Clare so much he could hardly think straight. She turned towards him and raised her lips up to his.
‘Come back with me,’ she said, eyes huge in her shadowy face.
Farrell didn’t need to be asked twice. It was only a five-minute walk to Clare’s riverside apartment but it felt like an eternity. As soon as they were inside, Clare led him through to the lounge, kissing him with an urgency that matched his own. She kicked off her high heels and sank gracefully onto a sofa piled high with cream suede cushions, her scarlet dress fanning out around her. Farrell sank down beside her and enfolded her in his arms, breathing in her heady scent. Before he surrendered himself completely he switched off his mobile. What difference could a few minutes make?
Sunshine flooded the room as Farrell slowly woke up. For a split second he felt confused by the strange bed and unfamiliar surroundings, then it all came back to him. Slowly, so as not to wake her, he turned his head on the pillow. The duvet had slipped from her in the night and as he took in the sight of her sleeping he felt a pang of tenderness. He waited for guilt to pierce his happy bubble. Nothing.
A few minutes later, tucking into warm croissants, fresh orange, and coffee, Farrell felt a slow burning contentment nourish his soul. He wasn’t due at work for over an hour. His mobile? Where was it? He had forgotten to switch it back on.
Suddenly they both jumped as there was a loud banging at the door.
‘Police, open up!’
Farrell strode to the door and flung it open. Byers, Stirling, and McLeod were standing outside, their expressions stony.
‘What the blazes—?’ began Farrell.
‘It’s the twins, Sir,’ interrupted Mhairi. ‘DCI Lind’s twins. He’s got them.’
Farrell blanched. He glanced back at Clare, whose eyes were wide with shock. Then he picked up his jacket and ran out the door.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
Farrell exited the car before it had stopped moving and sprinted up the stairs to the MCA room, his whole body charged with adrenalin. As the door swung open, his eyes sought out Lind, who was barking out orders with a ferocity Farrell had never heard before. The other occupants in the room were hunched over computer terminals. The tension in the room was palpable.
Lind spun round at the intrusion. Normally immaculately presented, he looked like a tramp. His shirt was stained and his face was covered with a film of grease. A rank odour emanated from him.
‘Where the fuck were you last night?’ he yelled at Farrell, oblivious to the presence of the junior officers, who were clearly wishing themselves a million miles away.
‘I was off duty, John,’ replied Farrell. ‘If I’d known, I would’ve been here in a flash, you know that.’
‘You’re in the middle of a murder investigation and you switch your bloody mobile off? Christ, I hope she wa
s worth it.’
Farrell remained silent, biting his tongue. Now wasn’t the time and it certainly wasn’t the place. Anyway, Lind couldn’t make him feel any worse than he did already.
One of the other men turned round and addressed Farrell.
‘Sir, I fed the names of the twelve apostles into our twin database and only two other matches came up. One was a set of twins out in Georgetown and one was … DCI Lind’s twins. We’ve relocated the family in Georgetown but by the time we got to DCI Lind’s house, we were too late …’
‘Great theory, Farrell,’ spat Lind. ‘Pity you didn’t see fit to share it with me before you clocked off last night.’
‘I left you a voicemail,’ said Farrell.
‘I was in a meeting,’ snapped Lind. ‘By the time I got out it was too late.’
‘I didn’t know your twins were identical. They looked so different from each other.’
‘It was Laura that always insisted on making them look different. She wanted them to be seen as individuals in their own right, not just as twins, like some novelty act.’
‘But I thought one of them was called Hugh? There are no apostles with that name.’
‘His name is Matthew,’ said Lind, with a catch in his voice. ‘Molly couldn’t pronounce it and shortened it to “Hew” and the name just stuck.’
It was obvious to Farrell that Lind was on the verge of collapse and should not be working. It was equally obvious that he was determined to stay. Farrell deliberated for a moment then had a brainwave.
‘Where’s DI Moore?’ he asked.
‘With Laura,’ Lind answered with a combative gleam in his eyes. Farrell gave up. It was beyond him.
‘If you’re intending to stay, Sir, can I suggest we step into your office so you can bring me up to speed? Everyone in here has a job to do and is hell-bent on getting your boys returned. That right?’
Vigorous nods from everyone. Lind looked round at them and his face sagged. He was starting to get in the way and he knew it. They walked in silence to Lind’s room, picking up a couple of coffees en route. Everywhere they went they were subjected to covert glances, people shying away from them as though misery was contagious. Lind didn’t even notice, so caught up was he in his own private Hell.
As soon as the door closed behind them Farrell turned to his old friend.
‘I’m sorry I wasn’t around when you needed me. I’m here now and I’m going to make sure that I nail the bastard this time. You’ll get your boys back. I won’t rest until they’re safe. You have my word on that.’
‘I’m sorry I blew up at you,’ said Lind.
‘I could kick myself, John, I really could. I should have come over; I should have —’
‘Stop,’ said Lind. ‘This won’t get my sons back. I need your help, Frank.’
‘Right,’ said Farrell, pulling himself together. ‘You’re right. Take me through it from the beginning. Firstly, how did he get hold of the kids in the first place?’
Lind emitted a harsh guttural sound.
‘I was working last night. Around seven o’clock you arrived at the house and told Laura I’d sent you to pick up the twins and take them to a place of safety.’
‘Me?’
‘The spitting image, according to Laura. She did say the voice sounded a bit different but he kept coughing into a handkerchief, told her he had a cold.’
Farrell sucked in his breath. Better to get it out of the way.
‘Did you ever wonder if it actually was me?’ he asked.
Lind looked at him.
‘If I thought that for one minute, you’d be dead already,’ he replied. ‘Just as well for once in your sorry life you decide to get it together and actually get laid.’
‘What did he tell her?’
‘He told her the twins were at risk of being snatched because of their names being the same as the apostles.’
‘But I only came up with that before clocking off yesterday,’ said Farrell.
‘This bastard has been one step ahead of us for some time. It makes you wonder,’ said Lind.
‘If he can pass for me sufficiently well to fool Laura then maybe he’s been able to access the station. He might even have planted the odd bug here and there.’
‘I’ll get the surveillance team on to that,’ said Lind.
‘How’s Laura?’
‘Out of her mind with worry,’ said Lind. ‘Maybe you could …?’
‘I’m going to pop round later this morning, go over every detail with her, make sure nothing has been missed.’
Farrell took his leave and sprang into action, determined to leave no stone unturned. He put a team of officers on determining possible locations from the Ordnance Survey map and liaising with Council departments. A local Church of Scotland minister was hauled in to advise on any disused churches and halls that might have been utilized by the killer. Traces were set up on incoming calls to CMS and Farrell’s home and mobile numbers, as well as Lind’s. SOCOs had been round to Lind’s house last night but had found no prints other than those belonging to the usual occupants. It seemed likely that the handkerchief used by the killer to muffle his voice had had a dual purpose.
Farrell knew that he was going to have to be at the top of his game to find the killer before one of the twins disappeared for good. Failure wasn’t an option.
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
An hour later Farrell walked up the driveway of the Linds’ family home. He didn’t know how he was going to face Laura. If he hadn’t spent the night with Clare, then he might have followed up on his hunch last night and the twins might still be safe.
Ringing the doorbell he braced himself. However, it was DI Moore who answered the door; her calm demeanour no doubt exactly what Laura needed right now.
‘She’s in the kitchen,’ said DI Moore. ‘Take it easy, she’s only just holding it together.’
Farrell nodded his acquiescence and made his way through the house. He stood in the doorway to the kitchen. Laura was slumped at the kitchen table, an expression of undiluted agony on her fine-boned face. Farrell longed to comfort her by folding her in his arms, but didn’t want to overstep the mark. He cleared his throat before speaking.
Laura jerked upright as though someone had slapped her. As she saw Farrell framed by the doorway she sprang up from the chair with such violence her chair overturned with a crash. Her lips drew back from her teeth in a snarl.
‘You bastard!’ she screamed. ‘What have you done with them?’
Before Farrell could react she launched herself at him, flailing with her arms and managing to rake his cheek with her fingernails before he managed to pinion her arms to her side. He stared at her in consternation.
‘Laura, it’s me, Frank. You do know that I had nothing to do with the abduction of the boys? It was someone pretending to be me.’
She pulled away from him and sat back down at the table, her expression still hostile. DI Moore stuck her head round the door to see what all the commotion was about, but he signalled to her to leave them be and she silently slipped away again.
‘I don’t know what to think,’ Laura shouted. ‘How can I trust my own judgement any more? I believed it was you last night, not some monster intent on abducting my kids.’
‘It wasn’t your fault,’ Farrell said. ‘He’s my identical twin. No wonder you were fooled.’
‘Bollocks,’ she yelled. ‘You haven’t got a twin. I think I’d have remembered.’
Quickly, he gave her the main facts of what he had uncovered. Her expression started to soften but then hardened again.
‘Why wouldn’t John have said anything?’
‘Only the immediate investigative team know. We couldn’t risk it getting out into the public domain. Not at this stage.’
‘Even if all this crap is true, how do I know it’s really you this time and not that maniac back to mess with my head?’
Farrell thought hard. He had to win her trust and fast. Time was running out.
‘I know that you have a mole on your left hip bone and that you lost your virginity on 30 September 1975 at about ten o’clock, to a young fool who didn’t deserve you,’ he said.
Laura’s face flamed, and she ran into his arms. Behind him DI Moore suddenly cleared her throat, making them both jump. How much had she heard, wondered Farrell? He led Laura over to the table, sat her down then pulled out the chair opposite, taking out his notebook.
‘I don’t understand. Why didn’t John tell me any of this? He’s not normally so secretive.’
‘He probably didn’t want to worry you. After everything you’ve been through recently.’
‘So, if I hadn’t been such a self-absorbed cow he might have told me and I would never have handed my kids over to that nutter?’
‘Laura, that’s not what I meant …’
‘If anything happens to them, I will never forgive myself. Never.’
‘I know this is the last thing you feel like doing right now,’ Farrell said, ‘but we’ve got very little time and I need to know every tiny detail you can remember.’
Slowly and painstakingly, he took her through the events of the preceding night. She admitted that a few things had seemed a bit off. His voice had sounded a bit different and his eyes were the same but very cold.
‘Did you notice any tattoos?’
‘None that I could see.’
‘Could you see his forearms? He’s supposed to have a Gemini tattoo there?’
‘Yes, but I don’t recall any tattoo. Mind you, I doubt I would have noticed one way or the other.’
‘He really looked so like me you couldn’t tell us apart?’
‘I’d only met you once since you were back. He was so convincing. I can’t believe I handed my poor boys into the hands of that monster. Promise me you’ll catch him before he hurts them. Promise me!’
His empty promises ringing in his ears Farrell tore back to the station and tracked down the SOCO team that had attended in the early hours of the morning. Despite the fact that they should have been off duty hours ago they were still hard at it. These crimes had everyone on edge at the best of times but now the lives of DCI Lind’s kids were at stake. It was personal.
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