The Innocent and the Dead

by Robert McNeill

  A moment’s hesitation, then: ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Right,’ Mackie said. ‘We’ll expect you at the back door. Please remember to keep both hands where we can see them.’

  Mackie replaced the handset in its cradle and took a two-way radio from the dash. ‘DI Mackie to all units,’ he said. ‘One suspect. He’s confirmed he will exit the rear door with the hostage. I’ve advised him to keep his hands in clear view. Okay to go, but please exercise caution.’

  Mackie nodded to Knox. ‘We’ll give them a minute,’ he said. ‘They’ll radio back when the girl’s free and the kidnapper’s in custody.’

  Knox and Mackie sat in silence for almost two minutes, then Mackie’s radio burst into life. “Four-one to control. Confirm hostage out and safe. One male in custody.”

  * * *

  After the house had undergone a thorough search, Samantha Tavener and Peter Gallagher were taken to Gayfield Square Police Station. Samantha was given a medical examination to assess her health, then after an all-clear she gave a short interview to Mason and Hathaway, after which she was taken to join her father at North Berwick.

  Gallagher hadn’t volunteered his surname, but his identity was discovered when his fingerprints were processed through IDENT1, the national police database.

  After Gallagher was charged and remanded in custody, Knox asked Mason and Hathaway about the interview.

  ‘The medic gave Samantha the all-clear,’ Knox said. ‘How did she appear to you?’

  ‘She looked remarkably well,’ Mason said. ‘She told us Gallagher treated her okay. She wasn’t so complimentary about his mate, though – the Alistair guy.’

  ‘Bill and I are going to interview Gallagher soon,’ Knox said. ‘But I get the feeling he won’t cooperate. Did Samantha tell you anything about his cohort?’

  Mason shook her head. ‘No,’ she said. ‘Apparently her contact with him was limited. On the occasions she did see him, he behaved in a threatening manner. She told us he waved a large knife in her face. Said she feared for her life.’

  Knox said, ‘Did she see him before the kidnapping?’

  ‘She doesn’t think so,’ Mason said. ‘But she did get a good look at him on the cycleway. She could identify him, and he knew that. It worried her.’

  Knox said, ‘He’d threatened to kill her?’

  Hathaway nodded. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘On more than one occasion.’

  Knox shook his head. ‘Okay,’ he said, then nodded to the door. ‘I suppose we better have a word with Gallagher.’

  Mason said, ‘Why do you think the Alistair guy rang Gallagher?’

  ‘I think he always intended a double-cross, to keep the ransom for himself,’ Knox said. ‘When DI Mackie phoned the house, Gallagher thought it was Alistair. He said, “I thought you’d have been here by now.” The earlier call was probably to reassure Gallagher everything had gone to plan. In fact, Alistair was getting ready to skedaddle. I think he’d an idea we might trace the call. Made sure of Gallagher’s arrest while he had Samantha, making him the fall guy.’

  * * *

  Knox’s hunch that Gallagher would be unforthcoming proved true. When he and Fulton took their places in the interview room, the would-be kidnapper sat with his arms folded and his head back, staring at the ceiling.

  Knox switched on the tape-machine and said, ‘Interview with Peter Gallagher in connection with the kidnap of Samantha Tavener on Tuesday 15 May, 2018. Officers present are DI Knox and DS Fulton. Mr Gallagher is represented by his solicitor, Mr Rupert Bryant, also present.’

  Knox cleared his throat and continued, ‘Mr Gallagher, Ms Samantha Tavener identifies you as one of two men who waylaid her on the Innocent cycleway in Holyrood Park on 15 May. Can you tell us the name of your accomplice?’

  Gallagher took his eyes from the ceiling and gave Knox a cursory glance. ‘No comment,’ he said.

  ‘We know his Christian name is Alistair, Mr Gallagher. We’ve a recording of you saying his name when answering the phone. You realise this is a serious charge, and might be more serious if you remain uncooperative?’

  Gallagher scowled and said, ‘No comment.’

  Knox shook his head and tried a third time. ‘Mr Gallagher, has it occurred to you that Alistair’s fled with £100,000, leaving you to face the music? You’re aware you’ve been double-crossed?’

  ‘No comment,’ Gallagher said.

  Knox sighed. ‘Okay, have it your way.’ He looked at his watch and added, ‘Interview terminated at 12.05pm.’

  * * *

  When Knox arrived back at his desk, Hathaway came over. ‘About the McCormack case, boss,’ he said. ‘You just got a call from Alex Turley. He asked you to ring when you got back to the office.’

  Knox nodded, then picked up the phone and called the Cowgate Mortuary.

  A few moments later, the pathologist answered: ‘Turley.’

  ‘Afternoon, Alex,’ Knox said. ‘You wanted a word?’

  ‘Aye, Jack,’ Turley said. ‘It’s about the girl found in Figgate Park.’

  ‘Patti McCormack?’

  ‘Yes,’ Turley said. ‘I found something unusual.’

  ‘Unusual?’

  ‘Aye,’ Turley said. ‘There’s a number of weals – scars – on her buttocks.’

  ‘Do they look recent?’ Knox said.

  ‘No,’ Turley said. ‘From a brief examination of the scar tissue, I’d say she’s had them for quite some time. From the pattern of weals, I’d say she was beaten more than once.’

  ‘Strange,’ Knox said. ‘The McCormacks – that’s her foster parents – made no mention of them.’

  ‘What year did they foster her?’ Turley asked.

  ‘2013,’ Knox said.

  ‘Hmm,’ Turley said. ‘She would have been fourteen years old then. I’m sure the beatings took place when she was younger. If I had to make a guess, I’d say when she was eleven or twelve.’

  ‘Uh-huh,’ Knox said. ‘That would explain why the McCormacks never mentioned it. She most likely hid it from them.’

  ‘This sort of physical harm might suggest abuse in other areas. Your inquiries haven’t turned up such a possibility?’

  ‘As a matter of fact, they have,’ Knox replied. ‘DI Murray discovered that Patti frequently visited a website for abused teens. She also posted messages seeking advice.’

  ‘There’s your answer, Jack,’ Turley said. ‘Who was she with before the McCormacks?’

  Knox said, ‘The Allanbreck Home at Fairmilehead, under the care of a man called Connelly.’

  Chapter Fourteen

  When Knox replaced the receiver, he glanced up and saw Warburton approach. ‘Can I have a word, Jack?’ the DCI said.

  Knox stood and followed Warburton to his office where his boss indicated a chair in front of his desk. Warburton walked around and sat opposite, then nodded to his phone. ‘I’ve just taken a call from the Chief Constable,’ he said. ‘He’s received an official complaint about my handling of the Tavener kidnap case.’

  Knox was taken aback. ‘Tavener complained?’

  Warburton nodded. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘He blames me for going over his head in authorising his bank to put a trace in with the money. He says his daughter could have been spared the trauma of spending Friday night in the kidnapper’s custody. That Gallagher would have freed her if the tracker hadn’t been there.’

  Knox shook his head. ‘Doesn’t Tavener realise it was the only way we could establish where his daughter was being held?’

  Warburton waved his hands in a gesture of exasperation. ‘He’s had a member of his legal team onto us in the last half hour. It’s been discovered that this Alistair chap had no intention of sharing the ransom with his accomplice. The feeling is the outcome would have been the same if the money had been handed over yesterday.’

  ‘But that’s not necessarily true, sir,’ Knox said. ‘It was the DirectFone trace that discovered where Samantha was being held. That wouldn’t have happened yesterday. The kidnapper would
have had no reason to use Samantha’s phone.’

  ‘I’m afraid Tavener’s lawyer doesn’t agree, Jack. His view is that Gallagher’s accomplice intended to use her mobile once he had the cash. We would have carried out a trace and the outcome would have been the same.’

  ‘But surely no one can say that with any degree of certainty, sir? The fact is that Samantha’s safe and back at home. Isn’t that the important thing?’

  Warburton waved to the phone. ‘I thought so, too, Jack,’ he said. ‘Until five minutes ago, that is.’

  ‘I’m sorry, sir,’ Knox said. ‘It’s my fault. I persuaded you the tracker was a good idea.’

  The DCI shook his head. ‘I’m not blaming you, Jack,’ he said. ‘I believed as you did it was our best course of action, given the circumstances.’ Warburton sighed. ‘The only reason I’m telling you is that it’s likely HQ will have public relations people breathing down our necks in the next few days.’ Warburton shrugged his shoulders. ‘Par for the course, I expect. How’s the McCormack case coming along?’

  ‘There’s a couple of reasons to suggest the victim suffered abuse, sir,’ Knox said. ‘DI Murray checked her laptop. It reveals she visited a website for the victims of sexual abuse. He also found strands of wool on her blouse which he thinks came from a glove. We’re checking Figgate Park to see if we can find anything that matches.’

  Warburton said, ‘Gloves may have been used in the strangulation?’

  ‘A possibility, sir, yes,’ Knox said. ‘For the moment, though, I’m going to concentrate on our evidence of abuse. Alex Turley just rang from the City Mortuary. He found scars on the victim’s buttocks.’

  Warburton shook his head. ‘When did this occur, does he know?’

  ‘He reckons when Patti was eleven or twelve, before she was fostered.’

  ‘Mmm,’ Warburton said. ‘She was in the care of the Allanbreck Home then?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  ‘You’ve interviewed the superintendent?’

  ‘Yes, sir. A Mr Gavin Connelly. I intend paying him another visit to discuss this new evidence.’

  Warburton nodded. ‘Good. Keep me up to speed, Jack.’

  * * *

  When Knox and Fulton arrived at the Allanbreck Home forty-five minutes later, they were greeted by the woman they’d seen the previous day.

  ‘Yes?’ she said.

  ‘We’d like to speak to Mr Connelly, please,’ Knox said.

  ‘Is he expecting you?’

  Connelly suddenly appeared at her back. ‘It’s okay, Maggie, I’m here,’ he said.

  The woman shook her head and moved off in the direction of the stairs.

  ‘You’ll have to excuse Maggie,’ Connelly said. ‘She’s not much of a people person.’

  He ushered the detectives into his office and said, ‘I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.’

  ‘Some new information regarding Patti has come to hand,’ Knox said, ‘which we’d like to ask you about.’

  ‘New information?’ Connelly said.

  Knox nodded. ‘We believe Patti suffered abuse while she was here at Allanbreck.’

  Connelly’s brow furrowed. ‘Really? What kind of abuse?’

  Knox looked Connelly directly in the eye. ‘The autopsy indicates she was severely beaten on more than one occasion when she was eleven or twelve. We’ve also reason to believe she was subjected to sexual abuse.’ He paused, then added, ‘I’d like to ask about the beatings first – do you know anything about these?’

  Connelly suddenly appeared flustered. ‘N– no, I don’t.’

  ‘You told us yesterday you took the post of superintendent in 2010,’ Knox said. ‘Patti would have been eleven years old then?’

  ‘Yes,’ Connelly said. ‘I came here in August of 2010.’

  Knox changed tack. ‘How often do the children in your care receive medical examinations?’ he asked.

  ‘You mean if they become ill?’

  ‘No, not just if they’re ill,’ Knox said. ‘I mean general health assessments.’

  Connelly shook his head. ‘If any of the children are ill we call a doctor or, if they’re able, we take them to a surgery in Colinton Mains Road.’

  Knox said, ‘So there are no routine medical examinations?’

  Connolly waved to the door. ‘You met our housekeeper Maggie Ledbetter. She’s also a state-registered nurse. She takes care of minor ailments.’

  ‘But no checks are carried out on a regular basis?’ Fulton asked.

  Connelly shook his head. ‘No.’

  ‘You do keep records of the children in your care?’ Knox said.

  Connelly motioned to a filing cabinet. ‘Of course,’ he said. ‘You saw me take out a file on Adrian Black yesterday.’

  Knox nodded. ‘So, if a child becomes ill or has received an injury, it would be on record?’

  ‘Yes,’ Connelly said.

  Knox indicated the cabinet. ‘Will you take a look at Patti McCormack’s folder?’

  Connelly said, ‘Sure,’ then rose and went to the cabinet. He opened and closed the second drawer, then said, ‘I forgot, the file we want is under her birth name, Butler.’ He went to the top drawer, riffled through a number of folders, and found the one he was looking for. ‘Here we are, Butler.’

  He returned to his desk and opened the file, then began leafing through the pages. ‘“Medical Notes,” he said, then studied the papers for a few moments and continued, ‘Six-in-one jab, pneumococcal jab, rotavirus jab, children’s flu jab, four-in-one pre-school booster.’ He shook his head. ‘No, the only visit to a doctor was when she was eight – tonsillitis. She had a tonsillectomy the same year, 2007.’

  ‘No record of any medical attention in 2010 or 2011?’ Knox asked.

  Connelly shook his head. ‘No.’

  ‘She must’ve been lashed with something like a whip,’ Fulton said. ‘Injuries which would have required bandaging. No mention of anything like that?’

  Connelly shook his head. ‘No, nothing.’

  Knox pointed to the folder and said, ‘Who’s responsible for updating that file?’

  ‘The superintendent is,’ Connelly said.

  ‘That means you are?’ Knox said.

  ‘Yes,’ Connelly said.

  Knox said, ‘If a child has a minor accident that doesn’t require a doctor – a cut knee, say, or a sprained wrist, who would attend to it?’

  ‘Mrs Ledbetter would,’ Connelly said. ‘Like I said, she’s a state-registered nurse.’

  Knox nodded. ‘And are all such ailments entered into the file?’

  ‘Yes,’ Connelly said.

  ‘Who’s responsible for making a record of that sort of thing?’

  ‘I am,’ Connelly said.

  ‘Does Mrs Ledbetter report everything of that nature to you?’

  ‘She’s supposed to, yes.’

  Knox said, ‘Is it possible there have been occasions when she’s forgotten to tell you if she’s treated a child?’

  Connelly shrugged. ‘I suppose so.’

  ‘Could you call her in, please?’

  Connelly rose. ‘She’s probably upstairs,’ he said. ‘I’ll go and get her.’

  When he left the room, Knox reached over the desk and picked up Patti McCormack’s file. He found the page Connelly had been looking at, then turned to Fulton. ‘The tonsillectomy’s the last entry,’ he said.

  Fulton shook his head. ‘Unusual for a kid to go from eight to fourteen without seeing a doctor.’

  Knox nodded. ‘My thoughts exactly.’

  At that moment, they heard footsteps in the corridor and Knox returned the folder to the desk.

  The door opened and Connelly entered accompanied by Mrs Ledbetter. Knox and Fulton rose, then Connelly took a chair from the other side of the room and placed it near his desk. ‘Maggie, this is Detective Inspector Knox and Detective Sergeant Fulton,’ he said. ‘They’d like to ask you a couple of questions.’

  The housekeeper sat down, then Knox said, ‘M
rs Ledbetter, could you tell us how long you’ve been at Allanbreck?’

  ‘Since 1993 – no, February 1994,’ she said. ‘I remember because it was my forty-fifth birthday.’

  ‘Uh-huh,’ Knox said. ‘Mr Connelly tells us you’re a state-registered nurse?’

  Ledbetter said, ‘Yes, the post was advertised for a housekeeper who had nursing experience. My previous job was at an old people’s home.’

  ‘I see,’ Knox said. ‘In the course of the last twenty-four years, you’ll have looked after many children. You remember most of them?’

  Ledbetter shook her head. ‘I think it must run into hundreds,’ she said, then nodded, ‘but yes, many of them.’

  ‘We’re making inquiries about–’

  ‘I know, Patti McCormack,’ Ledbetter interrupted. She shook her head. ‘I heard about her murder.’

  ‘You remember her?’ Knox asked.

  Ledbetter nodded. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘She was fostered more than four years ago.’

  ‘Do you recall when she came to Allanbreck?’

  ‘I do,’ Ledbetter said. ‘She was a troubled child. Very awkward in the beginning. She could be difficult.’

  Knox said, ‘We’re making inquiries about a series of beatings she received when she was eleven or twelve. Do you recall treating any such injuries?’

  ‘Beatings?’ Ledbetter said.

  ‘Yes,’ Knox said. ‘To her buttocks, specifically.’

  Ledbetter shifted in her chair, then shook her head. ‘I don’t recall treating her for anything like that,’ she said.

  ‘The injuries were quite severe,’ Knox said. ‘It wouldn’t have been something you’d forget.’

  Ledbetter shook her head again. ‘I can only repeat what I said a moment ago,’ she said. ‘I don’t recall treating Patti for any such injuries.’

  ‘Isn’t it possible this happened after she left us?’ Connelly said, then added, ‘I told you about the argument between her and Adrian Black. Couldn’t he have had something to do with it?’

  Knox shook his head. ‘No, our pathologist was quite specific about when they occurred. He’s a specialist in his field, it’s not something he’d get wrong.’

  Connelly shrugged. ‘Well, I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I don’t see how we can help you further.’