Ice Cold Blood

by David W. Millar

  The reference to her brother and Lysette reminded Euan of the sibling rivalry that had always existed between Ellie and Eamon. Something simmered away beneath the surface, although as far as Euan could see Eamon was keen to patch things up. And they had all eventually met in Edinburgh for dinner, Lysette happy to talk about his and Ellie’s trip to Paris and the business venture. Eamon’s French was improving so he was able to join in the conversation, maybe trying too hard with his accent, which had Ellie mimicking his words and pulling a face. Considering what happened later between them it was at least an enjoyable evening.

  ---oOo---

  Joe Flint took the call from his friend late evening. He felt his heart rate increasing on recognising the number.

  ‘Got some news mate, but I think I need to ask if you’ve told the police about this yet?’

  ‘No John, I didn’t want to go to them if it was all hearsay.’

  ‘Ok, I was right in my initial feeling that Ellie would have gone to a hospital in Christchurch. My wife and I did some digging and the records show that she was pregnant when she arrived in New Zealand.’

  ‘Right,’ Flint replied hesitantly.

  There was a significant pause before Dylan continued, Flint realising he was struggling with ethical issues. In any case Flint already knew what must have happened.

  ‘I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done. It’s up to me now to take things further.’

  ‘I really haven’t told you anything mate.’

  ‘I can work it out,’ Flint laughed.

  ‘You can?’

  ‘She was pregnant when she arrived in New Zealand. Now if she had an abortion, I’m pretty sure you would have told me since Ellie is now deceased and a dead foetus has no rights to privacy. An adopted child however does have rights, important rights. And that’s what’s making you nervous.’

  Dylan said nothing for several seconds.

  ‘I always knew you were sharp and so I will neither confirm nor deny your last statement.’

  ‘Thanks mate.’

  ‘I think you really need to tell the police about this. And be careful about the ramifications over here if the papers get to hear of things.’

  ‘I won’t mention your name so don’t worry. I’ll work something out before I speak to them. I owe you big time.’

  ‘You can take my wife and me for dinner when you come over. There’s a top restaurant that even with our doctors’ salaries combined we can’t afford.’

  ‘You’re on mate!’

  ---oOo---

  They met in a café they both knew in Glasgow. He thought it would be cathartic to see her again and mostly it was. Tosh was through on police business, preparing to give evidence in court to a crime that had been committed over two years ago. Initially dismissed for lack of evidence the Procurator Fiscal had reopened the case when a new witness had come forward. An unexpected guilty plea to the charges left Tosh with a few hours to kill before he caught the train back to Fort William. Knowing Alison was on maternity leave, and summoning up the courage, he texted her with a suggestion they meet for lunch. A positive reply came through instantly.

  She was late, something that was characteristic when they were in the initial stages of their relationship, but maybe it had just taken her time to get organised. In any case she looked very pregnant. To hug or not to hug had been the dilemma troubling him that morning, Alison solving the problem by holding out both arms when he rose from the table to greet her.

  ‘You look well,’ he smiled when they sat down.

  ‘Thanks,’ she replied easily. ‘You’re looking good too.’

  Tosh’s mind buzzed with questions of propriety. Should he mention her pregnancy, ask if she had morning sickness, was she expecting a boy or a girl, enquire after her parents, even mention her new partner? And that word ‘new’ was surely incongruous; after all it was now over two years. What about Shona, should he tell her he was now seeing a police sergeant from Fort William?’

  A waitress came over to take their order, having to choose what to eat only adding to his anxiety. For some reason he chose a soup and sandwich combo, the decision bringing a smile to Alison’s face.

  ‘I thought you’d have gone for the steak pie.’

  He laughed, feeling the tension lift. ‘You’re right, I’m just nervous.’

  ‘There’s still time to change your order.’

  He nodded, rising from his seat and went to the bar. He returned with drinks. ‘Ginger beer and lime since you won’t be drinking alcohol,’ he smiled. ‘I of course can have a beer.’

  ‘I miss my wine.’

  On some ancient reflex they clinked glasses before Alison spoke. ‘I hear you’ve got someone in your life now.’

  ‘Wow, word travels fast in the Force?’

  ‘I’m glad. You deserve someone who will make you happy. You’re a good man and you’ll make a good father.’

  ‘For some reason people keep saying that. You were a big part of my life for so long. It’s been hard to move on.’

  ‘You were a big part of my life too, a good part. I am sorry about what happened, and it is time to move on.’

  They talked about stuff, safe stuff. It was not the time to go deep and both sensed that. Maybe they would never go deep, the pain of their separation for Tosh had now eased but not healed and some scars might never heal. She asked about the murder and he willingly gave her the details. They defaulted into police talk, Alison eager and animated to comment on developments in the case. She said there was surely enough evidence to convict Serafini despite Tosh’s reservations. He asked after her parents and she did likewise. Her partner was never discussed nor was their coming child. Tosh didn’t want to know when the baby was due, whether it was a boy or a girl or what names they had selected. The only thing he knew for certain was that William would not be amongst them.

  Chapter 30

  ‘I was hoping we could maybe have a chat first before the party starts,’ Annabel whispered, closing the door behind her. ‘It’s warm enough to sit outside.’

  ‘Is it about Eilidh?’

  ‘No, it’s about Joe Flint.’

  ‘Annabel, you know I’ve spoken to him,’ Hunter replied wearily. ‘After you phoned, he came to the house as I’m sure you know. I don’t have anything else to say on the matter.’

  ‘Please Euan, it won’t take long. Eilidh’s busy with her pals for now.’

  ‘As long as it’s quick Annabel. I don’t want this to spoil the time with Eilidh.’

  ‘Thanks, I’ve made some tea and I’ll bring it out.’

  Reluctantly Euan made his way to the rear of the house, finding a garden bench close to a large apple tree.

  ‘How’s Mark?’ Euan asked when Annabel appeared carrying a tray with two mugs of tea and a plate of biscuits. ‘Does he know we’re having this tete-a-tete in the garden?’

  ‘He’s good thanks and yes I told him I wanted to talk to you about Ellie. He’s fine with it, and by the way John’s hoping to get into medicine.’

  Hunter nodded, Mark’s son John was in sixth year at school and was very bright academically as well as being a talented footballer. On the odd occasion they had met Hunter had tried to persuade him to do engineering at Glasgow.

  ‘You gave Joe a copy of Ellie’s scan.’

  ‘I just wanted rid of him. It was something to shut him up and stop him bothering me.’

  ‘Where did you get the scan?’

  ‘It was in a letter I got from Ellie. I wish I hadn’t given it to him now.’

  ‘That was a rather odd thing to do?’

  He just shrugged his shoulders, sipping his tea.

  ‘Did you know Ellie was pregnant?’

  ‘No and when I found out I initially assumed it was her counsellor.’

  ‘How did you find out?’

&nbs
p; ‘I just found out.’

  ‘You knew the baby wasn’t yours?’

  ‘We hadn’t seen each other for well over a year and I was living with you.’

  ‘Have you told the police?’

  ‘No, I haven’t and I’m not going to.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘She’s dead and a baby or no baby doesn’t have a bearing on anything.’

  ‘So can I ask again why you gave the copy of the scan to Joe?’

  ‘Ellie phoned me out the blue from New Zealand. She was crying down the phone. I asked her what was wrong, and she said she should have loved me and spent her life with me. I was the perfect man, but she loved someone else. She couldn’t tell me who but said she had ruined my life. Then she told me she hadn’t done the right thing by another man.’

  ‘Did she tell you what that meant. I mean was it about Joe?’

  ‘I never asked. I wasn’t in the least bit interested in him. I had a daughter, our daughter Eilidh, who was only nine months old and I loved her so much. You and I were struggling to stay together because of all my angst with Ellie. All her call did was rake up past scars, so I told her to come home and sort things out. When Joe appeared at my door that day ranting about information I had about Ellie and some meeting he was supposed to have with her in Edinburgh, I put two and two together and gave him the scan to make him go away.’

  ‘What did the letter that had the scan say?’

  ‘It said a lot of things. It was very personal and ’m not going to talk about it,’ he said gently. ‘Now we have a lovely daughter who’s just about to become fourteen. I just want to enjoy her birthday and not have the day spoiled by thoughts of the past.’

  ---oOo---

  Katie had decided to go into work as usual on the first morning after his release from jail otherwise she would have to cancel several operations causing inconvenience and a future backlog. She told him it was important for life to continue as normal as possible and he agreed with her. No one knew officially, but news of her husband’s visit from the police at the hospital and his departure in handcuffs had travelled quickly. Katie felt she could cope with any questions or comments from patients or colleagues and Serafini knew his wife would manage things with a quiet dignity.

  He had a few visitors lined up after that morning, his father being by far the most difficult emotionally. A man with old-fashioned values, it seemed more difficult for him to accept that his son had been with another woman, rather than he had been charged with her murder. His mother’s death five years ago had resulted in Serafini being close to his father, making the silent condemnation hard to bear. But before he left his father whispered in his ear that he knew his son could never kill anyone.

  Martin Lewis arrived shortly after Serafini’s father had left.

  ‘How are you John?’

  ‘I’m ok. And yes, you were right I should have turned myself in.’

  ‘Easy after the event,’ Lewis conceded when they had sat down in the conservatory. ‘Don’t know if I would have taken my own advice had I been in your position. What we need now is for the police to catch the person who killed her.’

  ‘I haven’t been charged yet, though I doubt if there’s much incentive for them to keep looking.’

  ‘What’s your solicitor saying?’

  ‘She’s staying positive, saying they don’t have enough evidence. In the end it would be down to a jury and the prosecutor will push the fact I didn’t come forward – ergo, something to hide.’

  ‘There must be something the police are missing. What about this Hunter guy you mentioned before?’

  ‘I’ve told the detectives heading up the case about him. I’ll push that angle again when I see them later today.’

  ‘You have no record of violence, no criminal record, an unblemished medical career - that must count for something.’

  ‘It would be a trial by a jury, we both know how the average mind works. They’ll only focus on the fact I was the last person to see Ellie alive, the DNA, and the fact I didn’t come forward when the police put out the appeal.’

  ‘Is there anything I can do? Do you want me to speak to Katie or the kids, so they have someone to sound off to?’

  ‘Thanks Martin, that might be useful. I’ve got Andrea coming round later for a chat before the detectives appear for another grilling. Once that’s over I’ll give you a call, probably this evening.’

  ‘You didn’t do it,’ Lewis said emphatically before they parted. ‘You are completely innocent so keep that in your head at all times.’

  Fighting back the tears, Serafini shook his head.

  ‘If nothing changes soon, I think I’m going to prison.’

  ---oOo---

  ‘I really don’t see the need for this Annabel,’ Joe insisted. ‘It happened years ago.’

  ‘You’ve got to go to the police. Ellie was pregnant and now it looks like she had a child that was adopted in New Zealand. It might be significant.’

  ‘I don’t know this for certain. My contact wouldn’t tell me outright and I think I need to go to New Zealand to see what I can find out before the police go in all heavy handed.’

  Annabel sighed, it was difficult to discuss things on the phone, the distance between Edinburgh and Wales making a meeting again in person difficult. She didn’t want an argument, but it was a murder investigation and the fact Ellie had been pregnant, even all those years ago, might have a bearing on the investigation. She knew that he didn’t want it made public in case it made things harder for him to track down his son. She knew that was surely a long shot anyway and she wanted Joe to inform the police rather than her.’

  ‘Joe,’ she replied softly. ‘I know this is emotionally hard for you and you will want to find out if the child in New Zealand is yours. That in itself will be fraught with difficulties. I think it’s important that the police know what happened.’

  ‘It was years ago. It can’t have much bearing on what happened to her on the mountain and anyway I heard someone was arrested in connection with her murder.’

  ‘There might be a connection and you surely want the right person to be convicted.’

  There was a silence for a few moments while Joe digested her last comment.

  ‘I take it that you’ll speak to the detectives if I don’t?’

  ‘I think one of us has to. It might be an offence to withhold information from a murder enquiry.’

  ‘You’re probably right. Maybe I’ll think about speaking to DCI Tosh tomorrow.’

  ‘Thanks Joe, it’s for the best.’

  He put the phone down and stared out the window. The past few days had been difficult, his mind refusing to let go of the notion that he might have a child somewhere in New Zealand. He had pulled out of an expedition to the Alps knowing his head was too scrambled to climb safely.

  An online guide on contacting adopted children made it clear that no approach could be made to a child under the age of 18, even in the unlikely event that he could track down a name or address. And there was no proof he was the father, that requiring DNA tests. He couldn’t compromise John Dylan by asking for more information, his friend having already gone above and beyond. A visit to New Zealand was tempting, but after the initial excitement on the possibility he might be a father had passed, what would that achieve? The boy could be anywhere in New Zealand and there was even a possibility of the family having moved to another country.

  And there was still Euan Hunter in the middle of all this and he was certain Hunter was withholding information. Annabel had told him of her meeting with him and Hunter’s refusal to reveal what was in the letter that had accompanied the copy of the scan. Well, the identity of Ellie’s counsellor had been ascertained so there was now no need for Hunter to barter information. It was time for another visit before he went to the police.

  ---oOo---

 
Her next letter was devastating. Things had suddenly and inexplicably deteriorated over a period of days between them. She had become fractious and moody, cancelling a walk up Ben Lomond. The lunch with Annabel and her new boyfriend had been awkward, Ellie tired and withdrawn. When asked if she was all right, Annabel was clearly put out by the dismissive reply. Ellie eventually apologised, citing a headache and they had cut short the meal and left.

  As they walked back to her flat after the lunch, she claimed he was crowding her when he aired the possibility of them moving in together. He had seen the change in her moods a few days before, darkness gradually displacing the euphoria of the previous weeks. She had become angry at injustice in the world, angry at the cruelty towards animals and angry that women were always subservient to men. She told him she ran a successful company without employing any men so there was no sexual harassment and apparently everyone was happy. She challenged him again on the lack of women engineers. He said nothing, knowing whatever answer he gave would be wrong.

  He had tried to explain that moving in together was a sign of his commitment to their relationship and that he could work out of the new Edinburgh office his company were opening, while renting out his flat in Glasgow. They could both save time and money by not having to travel through at the weekend. He knew it was more an attempt to give her something new to look forward to, something that might ease the torment inside her head. But she dismissed the idea completely.

  Once they had reached her flat she started an argument over his refusal to become a vegetarian. How could she live with someone who ate meat? It obviously meant they were not compatible. He told her he could find meat and eggs that were ethically sourced. Ellie had said there was no such thing, killing was killing regardless of how you did it. He argued back stating that animals ate other animals and even chimps hunted monkeys for their meat. Then she lost it completely, shouting at him to get out and for the first time he shouted back. Then she swore at him, saying hurtful things, that he was useless in bed and she would always need lovers to have any hope of being satisfied. Gathering up his things he had headed back to Glasgow without saying goodbye. It had felt the saddest day of his life.