by Val Penny
“Could be. Interesting thought.”
“Anyway, when they met in the bar the lighting was low. The hotel probably did that on purpose to make it seem romantic.”
“Yes, it was. Meera commented on it.”
“But when the date, Frederick he called himself, got up to greet her, Eileen remembered thinking that he wasn’t as tall as she had expected, and he had a slight limp.”
“We spotted a dark-haired man with a beard on the CCTV who had a limp. But we couldn’t get a good look at his face. We took a screen shot anyway,” Colin said.
“Tim, who did our ever-vigilant witnesses identify from the mugshots you showed them?”
“Yuhanaa Islam.”
“The MSP?”
“Yes, the MSP. I was playing squash with him that evening.”
“Nor is his heritage white. Okay. Who else?”
“Sir Felix Buchanan.”
“Isn’t he that bloody awful cousin of Lucky’s who was a few years below us at school?” Bear asked.
“Yes, but he was at Fettes.”
“I know. Thank God we didn’t have to put up with him at Merchiston Castle.”
“We had enough idiots of our own, if you remember, Bear.”
“Lovely as it is to reminisce, young Myerscough, could you and Bear bring yourselves back to the present long enough for you to complete the list of suspects?”
“Why is Sir Felix amongst your mugshots? I don’t remember the name,” Hunter said.
“Sorry. That’s true, but I put him in to see if people could distinguish between him and Lucky. They look quite similar.”
“And could they?”
“Apparently not. However, Arjun Mansoor and John Hamilton were identified. Also that old rogue who died in the pile up on the A68 a couple of years ago and, of course, your good self, boss.”
“Well at least DI Wilson was there. Yuhanaa Islam and the dead guy were definitely not, yet there they are on the list,” Mel said. “How did you get on, Neil?”
“I called the jail about Mansoor. He does get out for day release, but has to be back by 5.30pm, so he was behind bars when the attack took place.”
“Yes, but he’s a wily one. I wouldn’t bet against him orchestrating something like that.”
“But why? Did he even know Eileen?”
“No, but his arch enemy’s son dates her sister,” Tim said.
“Would he even know that? Why not go after Jamie or even Linda rather than Eileen? I mean, it’s all a bit one-step removed, isn’t it?” Hunter mused.
“When I phoned the number I had for John Hamilton, I was told he’s moved to North Berwick. He’s working as an estate agent with his brother,” Neil said.
“Frederick told Eileen that he lived in North Berwick,” Mel said.
“He did, but can we put any credence on anything he told the poor girl?” Hunter looked sad. He wasn’t sure he’d ever get over the sight of her on the lift floor. He had seen many horrible things in his life, but her raw, bleeding eye sockets had to be one of the worst. “Anyway, we’ll have to find out which estate agent’s he’s with.”
“I’ve done a phone round, boss. I tracked him down to the one on the High Street, National and Local Homes. Two estate agents named Hamilton work there, Hector and John.”
“Well done, Neil.”
“Might I be the one to interview John, please?”
“Probably not, Colin. He was your partner for too long. It’ll probably be anybody but you. What about this Felix man? Where was he on the night in question?”
“No idea, honestly. He’s Lucky’s cousin and apparently he’s gone AWOL. At least, that’s what Lucky said, and why he needed me to meet him from rehab and take him home. Someone reputable had to be there when the officer came to put his tag on.”
“Someone reputable? I suppose he couldn’t find anybody, and that’s why he asked you,” Bear said. “What with that and the boss being identified as a suspect in our case, we’ve got our work cut out for us this time.”
Chapter Eighteen
Jamie sat sulking on the sofa. His beer was getting warm, and Linda wouldn’t speak to him. He was damned if he was going to crack first and order the pizza for tea.
“Come on Linda, you know I’ve got to do something. We need that place to go up for sale faster than ever now that Eileen’s going to stay with us.”
“Eileen will be in rehab for ages, Jamie Thomson. Don’t you use my sister as an excuse for the nonsense schemes you and your pop came up with.”
“It was just a stupid mouse. Did you hear old Mrs Morrison squeal? It was well funny.”
“No, it wasn’t. The poor soul.”
“Believe me, anybody who hangs around with Arjun Mansoor is not a poor soul. Look, enough of this. Frankie and Donna will be home with the twins soon and it’s our turn to get tea ready. Are you going to phone for pizza, or am I?”
“Hah! I knew you would give in eventually. Let’s get a pepperoni and a veggie supreme.”
“Both with stuffed crusts, right?”
“If you insist.” Linda smiled.
***
Frankie and Donna arrived with the girls at the same time the pizza delivery guy jumped off his bike.
“Ooh, girls, look at that. Uncle Jamie has pizza for tea,” Frankie said.
“Pizza!” The girls giggled and rubbed their tummies in unison.
Their reverie was broken moments later when Mrs Morrison next door screamed loudly and shouted for her husband. The twins burst into tears.
“What a fright I got!” Donna said.
“So did the girls. Look at them. You take them in, and I’ll go to see if the neighbours need any help.” Frankie jumped over the little garden fence and asked Mrs Morrison if there was anything he could do.
“Yes, you can lock up that maniac cousin of yours and throw away the key. I’m sick of him. Can’t wait till we move.”
“What’s happened? What’s Jamie done this time?”
“This morning it was a mouse in my porch and now look.” The woman stood to one side and there was one dead cat lying across her doorstep. “He’s mad. A danger to humanity. Needs locking up.”
“Jamie may be a pain, Mrs Morrison, but I honestly don’t think he’d hurt an animal.”
“Hurt? Hurt? That cat’s dead. Any fool can see that. If you want to help, throw away the cat and then get rid of your obnoxious cousin. I’m phoning the police. I won’t put up with any more of this. Arjun warned us about you lot, but this is worse than I could ever have imagined.”
***
About an hour later, pizza devoured and Jamie and Linda back on speaking terms, Frankie and Donna took the girls up for their bath and story before bedtime. It was then the doorbell rang.
Jamie opened the door to Mel and Bear. “You know she’s only with you until me and Linda split, don’t you, big man?”
“Mel has told me that you think you’re irresistible, Jamie. But this isn’t a social call. We’ve had a complaint from your neighbours.”
“That’ll be the Morrisons next door. You better come in.”
Jamie led them into the living room and waited while Linda muted the TV.
“What’s the old bat saying now?” he asked.
“Your neighbours claim that you placed a live mouse into their porch yesterday and that it gave Mrs Morrison a terrible fright,” Mel said.
“Aw, poor soul got a fright. Well, yes, I did put the mouse in there, but, before you ask, that deed cat was now’t to do with me. No’ my style at all. You know me, Mel. I’m a lover not a fighter.”
“To be honest, I didn’t think it would be you. But just keep your distance, Jamie, and give the Morrisons a wide berth, will you?”
“I can’t promise that, Mel, sorry. They live right next door. Unless they want to move, that is.”
“Take this as a formal warning, Jamie. No more nonsense at the Morrisons’,” Bear said.
Jamie looked at him. “More to the point, have you fou
nd the scumbag that attacked Eileen? That’s more important than a fright with a mouse or a dead cat on the doorstep. That was proper grim.”
“Yes, it was. That’s why I don’t have time to come chasing you about playing pranks on your neighbours.”
“No pranks, Mel. This is business. Now what about it?”
“You know I can’t tell you much, but we do have various suspects and lines of enquiry. Our colleague DC Rachael Anderson has been appointed Eileen’s VSO.”
“What does that mean, VSO?” Linda asked.
“Sorry Linda, Victim Support Officer. Rachael will keep Eileen up to date with our enquiries.”
“Eileen will be going into rehab when she leaves hospital. Will you tell your colleague?”
“No problem.” Bear smiled.
“But you may never find him.”
“We have to,” Mel said. “This man has not only attacked you sister, but we believe he was involved in two murders as well. We’ll catch this monster and put him away for good.”
Chapter Nineteen
Neil slowed down, and Nadia checked the numbers on the doors. When they found the right estate agent’s office there was nowhere convenient to park, so they spent the next five minutes touring the side streets of North Berwick looking for a likely space.
“Stop, Neil. There’s one.”
“It’s too small. I’ll never get in there.”
“Then shift, because I will.”
She wriggled over to the driver’s seat so fast that Neil hardly had time to get out of the car. He tried to help by guiding her in, but his actions were superfluous.
“I had heard rumours about your parking skills, but that was amazing.”
“It was a bit of a tight squeeze, but I did it.”
“How do we get out again?”
“That’s your problem, you wanted to drive. Now let’s go and have a chat with the Hamiltons.”
Nadia showed her ID to the young woman behind the reception desk and asked if they could speak to John and Hector Hamilton. The girl informed them that Hector was out seeing a client, but that John was in.
She lifted the phone and rang through to John. Nadia noticed it took the man a long time to get from his office behind a wall to greet them. Maybe he’s emptying his bowels, she thought uncharitably.
As John led them through to his office, Nadia noted that the man had put on even more weight since the last time she had seen him. She wondered if he’d given up the drugs and his appetite had increased. She and Neil stood by the seats opposite John, and she introduced them both and showed him their ID.
“Colin not coming to see me then? That’s a relief. He always was a boring old stickler for the rules.”
“Yes, he still is,” Neil said.
Nadia had decided to lead the questioning, and asked Neil to make notes of John’s replies.
She noticed that the room was cool but John was sweating.
“Are you ill?” she asked.
“No, why?”
“You seem to be sweating, and it’s not hot in here. I wondered if you were ill or abusing drugs again. If you’re not sick, it must be the latter.”
“Ha-ha, very funny. I just get nervous when the police roll into my office and try to frame me.”
“I’ll not frame you. It wouldn’t be a pretty picture. Relax, Mr Hamilton,” Nadia said. She sat on the chair nearest her and indicated that John and Neil should sit too, then she began to ask John about his where he was living now.
John confirmed he had moved from Tranent to North Berwick since a vacancy had come up in the company where his brother worked, and he had put John forward for the post. John had secured the job after an interview with one of the directors of the business.
He told them he was living with his brother in his flat in a converted Georgian villa. Property prices were much higher in North Berwick than Tranent, but he hoped to get his own place sooner rather than later.
He showed them a picture of his brother. Like John, he had dark hair, but Hector also sported a big black bushy beard.
“Where was the photo taken?” Neil asked. “That looks like a grand building in the background.”
“It’s just outside my brother’s place. It must have been a fine house before the developers got hold of it and sub-divided it into flats. We live in this part here.” John pointed to the first floor and drew a circle with his finger around two windows. “There are six two-bedroomed flats in what was once a home for one family. Amazing thought, isn’t it?”
Nadia wanted to move their questions on from property. That was not the point of their visit today. In answer to her questions, John confirmed he did use dating websites, but that he had never used the one that Eileen enrolled with, and he had never heard of Eileen Maguire.
“Anyway,” he said, “I’m going out with Katy now.”
“Who’s Katy?” Nadia asked.
“The woman we spoke to when you arrived. She’s a bit young for you, isn’t she?” Neil said.
“Since when was that a matter for a police enquiry? But no, that’s Gemma our new receptionist. Katy’s an agent like me, and she’s out showing a house right now.”
Neil shrugged, and Nadia started asking more questions.
John stated that he had not been in Edinburgh on the date of the attack. He remembered this because his brother had been out, and he and Katy had had the flat to themselves. It had been a wild night of passion.
Nadia swallowed hard. She asked John if he had ever dined at the Pompadour Restaurant at the Waldorf Astoria.
His bitter laughter was loud and long. “Darling, I have never even had a glass of water in The Caledonian Hotel, as it was. And believe me, contrary to popular opinion, the commissions in this game are not so great that I anticipate changing the habits of a lifetime soon.”
Nadia snapped that she was not his darling and that she and DC Larkin would require to follow up this interview by speaking to John’s brother and girlfriend. She handed him her card and marched out of the room and back to the car without a backward glance.
She completely forgot she had planned to have some amusement watching Neil extract the car from the parking space and jumped into the driver’s seat, but she noticed that Neil had just got his seatbelt fastened before she extricated the vehicle and drove in silence back to the station.
Chapter Twenty
Tim knocked on Hunter’s door. “Got a minute boss?”
“Always got time for a hard-working member of the team, and even for you, young Myerscough. Help yourself to a decent coffee.”
“That’s the real reason I came in.”
“I know, but sing for your supper by telling me about Lord Lachlan Buchanan, why don’t you? I have a darts match at The Persevere Bar tonight and I could do with some good news before I go.”
Tim poured himself a full mug of the excellent coffee Hunter kept brewing in his room. The smell permeated the whole floor, but few were invited to partake of the nectar.
“Thanks. That would be a treat.” He held up his mug. “I picked up Lucky from rehab yesterday, and there was a pretty little nurse at reception. We got on well.”
“Cut the romancing and get to the main course.”
Tim smiled. “She explained to me that, as the patients get towards the end of their rehabilitation, they are encouraged to go out into the village. The CCTV on the grounds is extensive, but outwith that, they are not watched. There are a few shops in the village and a couple of little cafes where they can begin to mix in the outside world.”
“Hmm. Do we know where Lord Buchanan was on the evening Eileen was attacked?”
“Each patient who leaves the grounds has to sign out, say where they’re going, and sign back in again.”
“Okay.”
“Jessie, that’s the nurse, told me that Lucky has taken up riding again but also taken up running. He’s training for a marathon.”
“Is this the same Lord Buchanan?”
“That’s what I thought,
but apparently so. Jessie told me Lucky prefers to run after dinner when the temperature drops, so he was out training the evening Eileen was attacked.”
“But we only have his word for that.”
“That’s what he wrote in the book.”
“Not good enough, Tim. Arrange for a uniform to pick him up and we’ll question him here.”
“He’s on the tag. He’ll have to be home by seven thirty.”
“He won’t be late. I thought he had that parasite cousin of his living with him too. Why were you roped into picking up Lucky?”
“Felix is away. He fancies himself as an internationally renowned DJ and does gigs in Europe when he can.”
“Does he now? Get Lord Buchanan in here.”
***
Hunter wandered through to the incident room. “You busy, Bear?”
“Always. How can I help?”
“Arjun Mansoor was one of the faces identified by our witnesses, I want you and Neil to take a run over to Saughton and have a chat with him. And make sure with the prison officers that there’s no way he could have been outside the walls, check his visitors. You know the drill.”
“Can I have a word with you, boss?” Rachael asked.
“Is everything okay with Eileen?”
“Yes, it’s not that. There’s something I need to ask you.”
“That sounds ominous. You better come through to my office.”
***
Bear and Neil spoke to the prison officers and secured a look at the list of Arjun’s recent visitors. It wasn’t a long list.
“That’s interesting. One of Mansoor’s visitors was Mr Morrison,” Bear said.
“Who the hell is Mr Morrison?”
“He and his wife live next door to Frankie Hope and Jamie Thomson. It’s Jamie’s girlfriend’s sister who got attacked.”
“Hello, big man. What brings you to this illustrious residence?”
Bear recognised the voice. “Hi, Jamie.”
“We’ve just been interviewing Arjun Mansoor and checking his whereabouts the day of the attack,” Neil said.