by Helen Fields
They followed him in single file, Ava first, then Lively. Somehow, making conversation seemed taboo as they walked. The corridors sported wooden panelling and paintings of former masters, which became photographs as they reached a new section of building. Grand glass cases of sports trophies gleamed and their footsteps echoed on the oak flooring. Ava felt as if she had gone back in time. So many British public schools were like this; it was a wonder they hadn’t all failed with centuries of inbreeding.
‘Here you are,’ the headmaster said, presenting a row of metal cabinets. He looked at his watch. ‘There’s no spare staff member to supervise you, and I myself have work to do, but I’m sure Edinburgh’s finest can be trusted.’ Ava recognised his intonation as question and statement in equal measure, and opted for silence in response. ‘You have thirty minutes, then I shall return to fetch you. Should you find that the key opens a locker, please do not touch or disturb any of the contents. I will be able to tell you the name of the student to whom the locker is allocated, and we’ll take the matter from there.’ He stalked off in the direction from which they’d come, leaving Lively staring with crossed arms and raised eyebrows at Ava.
‘Not a word, Sergeant,’ Ava cautioned him. ‘There’s nothing you can be thinking that I haven’t thought myself.’
‘Were you thinking how ironic it is that this school uses a historic Scots clan motto meaning freedom when it embodies almost everything William Wallace stood against?’
Ava paused in the process of shedding her coat and turned to look at Lively. ‘I’m going to have to give you that one. That hadn’t occurred to me. Do I owe you an apology for failing to have spotted your hidden philosophical depths and historical expertise?’
‘Not really. I was actually thinking what a complete bawbag the headmaster is, but I got your attention with the clever stuff, did I not?’ He grinned.
‘God help me,’ Ava muttered. ‘Three hundred lockers. Let’s start at the far end. I’ll try fifty, then you try fifty. Come on.’
She took the key from the plastic bag, holding it in gloved hands as she inserted it into one locker after another. Sometimes it went into the locker but wouldn’t turn, or else it wouldn’t go in at all. Four times it got stuck and they wasted precious minutes jiggling it back out. They were at locker number 278 and losing faith that it would fit one at all when the key slid happily home and turned silently in its lock.
‘Careful not to disturb anything inside,’ Ava said. ‘At this point, we really should have permission to search.’
‘I’m looking, not touching,’ Lively said. ‘Cigarettes, phone charger, sunglasses, scarf …’ He checked up and down the corridor before reaching in a hand and lifting up a textbook. ‘Condoms at the back. Unopened, although you have to admire the constant optimism of teenage boys. A few photos. Nothing groundbreaking.’
Footsteps echoed from a distance. Ava and Lively backed away from the open locker and waited for the headmaster to reach them. He appeared carrying a clipboard.
‘I see you’ve had some success,’ he said. ‘May I have the locker number?’
‘278,’ Ava said.
‘That’ll be one of our sixth formers. The lockers are allocated in order from lowest years to highest.’ He ran one finger down a sheet of paper. ‘Plunkett, Leo. He’s been with us for several years.’
‘Do you have his home address?’ Lively asked.
‘Is that really necessary?’ the headmaster asked.
‘He may be a witness in a very serious assault case which is not a one-off occurrence. We need to speak with Leo tonight. If he has information that might avoid further attacks, we’d like to get it sooner rather than later.’
Fifteen minutes later, they were knocking on the cherry-red front door of a Heriot Row house that stood an impressive five storeys high. Outside, a Maserati sat like a lifestyle price tag. After several minutes, a man opened the front door with a face like thunder.
‘Mr Plunkett, I’m Detective Chief Inspector Ava Turner. I apologise for calling on you in the evening, but I’m afraid it’s important that we speak with your son, Leo.’
‘It’s late,’ Mr Plunkett said.
‘We wouldn’t ask if it weren’t both urgent and important,’ Ava said.
‘Dad?’ a voice queried from further inside the house.
‘Leo, go into my study,’ Mr Plunkett ordered. The boy walked briefly into view as he crossed the hallway behind his father. Ava estimated Leo Plunkett to be five foot eleven and of medium build. The headmaster had told them Leo was seventeen. It was a difficult age for boys, she assumed. The combination of a man’s body and a teenager’s immaturity could be toxic and confusing.
‘What’s this about?’ Mr Plunkett asked.
‘An assault in the city. We just have a couple of questions for your son, in case he saw anything.’ Ava didn’t wait to be asked anything else, walking past the father into the study, where Leo was perched on a sofa, texting. As she introduced herself, Lively and Mr Plunkett followed her in.
‘Leo, have you lost your locker key recently?’ she asked.
He nodded slowly. ‘Yeah, actually. No idea where, though. It must have fallen out of my pocket somewhere. I’ve been meaning to ask for a replacement from the office, but the reality is that I rarely use my locker these days. There’s nothing much in it.’
‘Number 278, is it?’ Lively asked.
Leo Plunkett stared at him as if he had crawled out from under a large and unsightly working-class rock. ‘Is there a problem?’ he asked.
‘Have you been in the Meadows recently?’ Ava asked, keeping her voice light.
‘I go through the Meadows most days, both during the week and at weekends. Is that where my key was found? Makes sense. I probably dropped it while I was taking my phone out of my pocket. How sweet of you both to come round and return it.’ Ava watched the corners of the boy’s mouth curl, and fought the urge to put him in his place. She had grown up with boys like Leo Plunkett. Her parents had assumed she would marry the sort of man the Leverhulme School produced. Luckily, she had decided to attach herself to her career rather than a member of the opposite sex.
‘When were you last in the Meadows?’ Ava asked.
‘Where’s this going?’ the boy’s father interjected.
Ava ignored him. ‘Yesterday?’
‘I must have passed through at lunchtime,’ Leo said. He yawned and stretched. ‘Are we done? I have a fitting for a new suit in the morning before physics, and I don’t want to miss it.’
‘Your key was found in the area where a man was attacked,’ Ava continued, ‘at about the same time as the attack. What were your movements after school yesterday until the evening?’
‘That sounds like more than just a witness question,’ Mr Plunkett said. ‘Leo, you don’t have to answer that.’
‘It’s fine, don’t fuss.’ Leo turned his attention fully onto Ava, keeping his eyes focused on hers and speaking slowly. ‘I finished school. I walked home. I’d also been through the Meadows at lunchtime, around 1 p.m. I had no idea there had been an incident. I do hope no one important has been hurt.’ He smiled. Ava’s mouth went dry as she maintained eye contact with him. Most teenagers would look away, she thought. This boy had a confidence born of a sense of entitlement, and from a lifetime of never being told he was just flesh and blood like everyone else on the planet. Somewhere deep inside Leo Plunkett was the certain knowledge that his cells were comprised of finer atoms. He would learn, Ava thought.
‘The attack was on a homeless man, Paddy Yates,’ Lively said. ‘Would you know anything about it, by any chance?’
‘Homelessness? Not really,’ Leo joked, his eyes still locked on Ava’s.
‘This is ridiculous,’ Plunkett senior chipped in. ‘You claimed this was an urgent matter. There must be hundreds of attacks on homeless people across the country every week. How dare you disturb us and question my son like this? You’re going to have to leave now.’
‘Just before we go,
I don’t suppose you ever met a girl called Zoey Cole?’
‘I’m afraid not,’ Leo smiled. ‘Much as I’d like to have been able to help you.’
‘Or Lorna Shaw?’ Ava continued.
‘What on earth is the relevance of this now?’ Leo’s father growled.
‘It’s an ongoing situation. We’re asking anyone we come into contact with at present. Lorna’s missing. There’s a nationwide attempt to locate her. As Leo goes through the Meadows regularly, it’s possible he might have bumped into her there.’
‘Is she another homeless drug addict then?’ Leo asked politely, raising his eyes with smug innocence.
‘She’s another victim,’ Ava said, keeping her tone equally polite.
Leo stood up and offered Ava his hand. ‘It was lovely to meet you, DCI Turner. Was he very badly hurt, your Mr Yates?’
‘He was, actually,’ Ava said. ‘It’s nice of you to show concern.’
‘I’m only sorry I can’t help with your enquiries,’ Leo said.
His father sighed from the doorway. Ava extracted her hand and left the house, with Lively close behind her. The front door closed with an ill-disguised slam.
‘Lovely family,’ Lively said as he did his coat up. ‘No doubt the boy will be a politician one day. He has all the hallmarks of a fine member of society.’
‘If you’re waiting for me to tell you that he’s very young and you shouldn’t judge him, or that you shouldn’t hold the sins of the father against the son, I won’t. My impression of Leo is that he’s a complete idiot. However, being utterly dislikeable and having a motive to carve up someone’s face are two different things. Leo’s key could have landed on that path in any number of ways.’
Lively walked ahead of her towards the car. ‘Aye,’ he said, as he went. ‘Then again, it’s just possible that little fucker thought it’d be funny to maim one of the proletariat. You looked into his eyes. Tell me you didn’t feel it too.’
Ava couldn’t.
Chapter Fourteen
‘Try this,’ Natasha said, grabbing a free food sample from a vendor and thrusting it towards Ava’s mouth.
‘Wow, how much garlic?’ Ava asked. ‘Seriously, I have to work tomorrow. I’m going to be breathing fumes all over everyone.’
‘It’s your own fault. I’ve been asking you to come to the food festival with me all week. It’s not my fault you left it until nearly closing time on the final day. Why are you suddenly free to see me, anyway?’ Natasha asked, taking a samosa off another plate and nibbling it as they walked.
‘I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight. Too much in my head. What’s your excuse? Presumably there’s no insatiable woman waiting in your bed tonight,’ Ava said, handing over a ten-pound note and getting passed a couple of pints of beer in return. She handed one to Natasha.
‘I’m sworn off relationships for the next six months,’ Natasha said. ‘It’s all too much like hard work. As I get older, I seem to have a lower boredom threshold. Did you know the stands here have said they’ll stay open tonight until either all the food is gone or until everyone’s gone home? Isn’t it fabulous?’
They wandered up the Royal Mile – cordoned off for pedestrians only, Ava was pleased to note – eating as they went and trying not to spill their beer. She should have gone straight home to bed, but it would only have proved frustrating. Sleep didn’t come easily when there were active cases on her desk. She was only allowing herself downtime because procedure was in place to prevent police officers from staying on duty for more than a set number of hours. She could clock in again at 7 a.m. and not before. Spending time with her best friend since childhood at least gave her brain the opportunity to think about something other than missing women and slashed faces for a while. Natasha was irrepressible, and Ava didn’t see her often enough. Linking her arm through her friend’s, she pointed out a cheese stand across the street.
‘Luc would love this,’ Ava said, pulling Natasha in the direction of a mountain of shades of cream and orange.
‘Looks like he does,’ Natasha said. ‘Luc!’
Luc turned his head to see who was calling his name. Natasha dashed forward to give him a warm hug.
‘Hey, you,’ Natasha said. ‘Where the hell have you been hiding? Every time I tell Ava we should go out together, she goes on about how busy you are with cases. I thought it was just an excuse to keep me all to herself – unless you’ve been avoiding me.’
‘I wouldn’t dare,’ Luc smiled. ‘I think Ava’s just worried that if I have any fun it’ll distract me from my caseload.’
‘She’s the one who’s no fun,’ Natasha complained. ‘It took actual threats for me to get her out this evening, and even then she couldn’t make herself available until thirty minutes ago. Where is she?’
Ava concentrated on the conversation she was having with the cheese vendor, comparing a few different products and being shown bottles of wine that were supposed to be complementary. Natasha took her by the hand and pulled her in Luc’s direction.
‘I didn’t know you were coming here this evening,’ Callanach said.
‘Neither did I. You remember how persuasive Natasha can be though,’ said Ava, grinning.
Selina appeared at Callanach’s side, clutching a baguette, wine and paper-wrapped parcels.
‘Natasha,’ Callanach said. ‘This is Selina Vega.’
‘Hi,’ Selina said, holding out a hand to shake Natasha’s. ‘Good to meet you. Luc’s talked about you before. Such a shame we haven’t been able to agree a date for us all to go out together yet.’
‘I guess our jobs are just too unpredictable,’ Ava said. ‘Anyway, you guys are having an evening out. We won’t keep you.’
‘That’s a shame. There are still plenty of stalls open. We could get a drink together now,’ Selina said.
‘I was just heading home actually,’ Ava said. ‘I’m on enforced time off, so I really should use some of it to sleep.’
‘We should put something in the diary, though,’ Natasha said. ‘Surely we can find a weekend soon for a meal?’
‘Tell me about it. I’ve been trying to get Luc to agree to a weekend away to do some scuba diving. You’d think I was asking him to donate a kidney!’ Selina laughed.
‘It’s difficult, never knowing what’s going to come up at work. I feel bad committing myself to something and then having to cancel,’ Luc said quietly.
‘Of course you should get away for a weekend,’ Ava said. ‘There’s nothing MIT can’t handle without you for forty-eight hours. You have to prioritise your social life. It’s important to get some balance. Let me know the dates and I’ll make sure I’ve got cover for you.’ She checked her watch. ‘It’s nearly 1 a.m. Sorry, Natasha, but even food can’t keep me awake any longer. We should go.’
They said their goodbyes to Luc and Selina, and went their separate ways. Ava began counting in her head.
‘I’ll pay your mortgage for the next year if you tell me that woman is bisexual,’ Natasha said.
‘Nine,’ Ava said.
‘Is that a code for something I’m not aware of?’ Natasha asked.
‘That’s the number of seconds you managed to wait before talking about her.’ Ava grinned. ‘And I get it, she’s gorgeous. She’s also a doctor, Spanish and seems genuinely nice. I’m afraid I have no information about her sexual preferences though.’
‘Forget it. I didn’t get any vibes. Given how hard she was clutching Luc’s tricep, I’m guessing she’s firmly in the hetero team. What a waste. Did you see her legs?’
‘Believe it or not, I wasn’t looking. You coming back to mine for coffee?’
‘I thought you needed some sleep,’ Natasha said.
‘Don’t think I’ll get any, to be honest. I just wanted to let those two get on with their evening without feeling obliged to chat to us,’ Ava said. ‘Let’s find a cab.’
‘That’s it?’ Natasha asked.
‘What’s it?’ Ava replied.
‘That’s
the only reason you refused a chance to go for a drink with a good friend of yours and his new girlfriend?’ Natasha persisted.
‘I’m also his boss now, so it’s kind of awkward. We haven’t really socialised since my promotion. I feel as if I need to give him some space from me, too. It’s hard maintaining authority at work and then confiding in each other when we’re off duty.’
‘Wow,’ Natasha said, stopping in her tracks. ‘Did you just hear yourself? I’d be genuinely worried about you if that wasn’t obviously such a massive lie.’
Ava turned in the street, hands on hips, glaring. ‘That’s ridiculous. Why would I be lying? You have no idea what it’s like trying to care for the people in my command at the same time as having to maintain discipline. I can’t be all things at once. There has to be a line somewhere.’
‘Even with Luc?’ Natasha asked.
‘Especially with Luc,’ Ava said.
Natasha smiled. ‘Now that was an honest answer, at least. So do you like Selina?’
‘I haven’t spent more than a few seconds with her, to be honest. She and Luc are obviously well suited though. They have the European thing and the outdoor sports thing in common.’
‘And the being crazy good-looking thing. I for one wouldn’t mind having her legs wrapped around me,’ Natasha said.
‘Please can we not make this about sex?’
‘One of us should think about it every now and then. When did you last get any?’
‘Natasha, give it up. My life is complicated. I’m just not designed for relationships,’ Ava said.
‘So have a fling. It doesn’t have to be long term. You need a bit of fun in your life. None of those dead bodies is going to keep you warm at night,’ Natasha said.
‘That’s disrespectful, Tasha. I’m in the middle of a murder case like nothing you can imagine and another girl is missing. Fuck, why do I let myself get drawn into this with you?’ Ava picked up the pace, marching away down the Royal Mile, looking for a cab.
‘Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I was making a point and I did it badly. Ava, would you stop? I care about you,’ Natasha said, jogging to overtake Ava and stand in her path. ‘I know you better than anyone and I can see you’re lonely. Who do you talk to when your day is shit? Who holds you when the pain of the work you do gets too much? You’re only human, and you have a breaking point. Luc’s got your back, and I know how much he cares about you. You can’t tell me it’s wrong to socialise with the person who best understands how hard your life is.’