Shallow Water

by Hunter J Walker

  ‘It was suggested to me that I need to shake the tree; put a formal request for information up the chain of command. I suppose, to get it documented.’

  ‘Oh God, I hate this sort stuff, you never bloody know when it’s going to blow up in your face. I need to think…go and get me a coffee…and make it strong.’

  As he made for the door she called after him. ‘And get me a locksmith…and find me a safe, a big one with a re-settable combination.’

  *****

  As he left the office he received looks from the others in the room. He went out to the canteen and paid for a strong coffee. On the way back he found McCray waiting for him in the corridor.

  ‘Is your arse still burning from the skelping?’ McCray said.

  Douglas stopped and moved the plastic cup to the other hand before replying. ‘No, Sergeant.’

  ‘What were you doing this morning?’

  ‘Sorry Sergeant, you will have to ask the boss.’

  ‘Come on, lad.’

  Douglas remained silent.

  McCray stepped back. ‘All right, have it your way.’

  He returned to Nicola’s office, put the cup on the desk and closed the door.

  ‘Sit down and I’ll run through the counter-surveillance basics with you,’ Nicola said.

  ‘Counter-surveillance?’

  ‘We have to assume that the players involved with this bank have plenty of money and manpower – that’s how Marcus Triffit ended up dead. We don’t know who is doing what yet, so we can play our hand close to our chest and not let the other buggers see it. We have to assume they can hear us, see us, read our emails, stick their noses into our computers and listen into our phone calls. Got it so far?’

  Douglas nodded.

  ‘Don’t turn your mobile phone on unless you have to, use texts. We’ll change the SIM cards every couple of days.’

  ‘OK.’

  ‘Well, the next thing the buggers will do is send someone in here to read our files. You wave enough money around; somebody in this building will take the bung. So we stick all the files into this safe you’re going to get for me and at least we’ll know the files are secure, unless they blow it open. Next thing, don’t talk about this to anyone, not you’re girlfriend, mother, father, priest, anyone…understand?’

  ‘Mm, just one thing, what do I say if someone from the fifth floor corners me?’

  ‘Just act dumb for as long as possible, and then prevaricate, if that fails, lie through your teeth. And stay away from anyone of higher rank, which in your case means more or less everyone.’

  *****

  While Douglas drove the short distance to Shona’s flat Nicola used her mobile. He didn’t catch all of the conversations, but one was to find out whether Julie and the new man, Colin Urquhart, were finished the work at Marcus Triffit’s flat. The next one was to McCray and all he heard was that she was annoyed with him. The next one he thought was to DCI Caddell, but he couldn’t be sure. By the end of the last argument they were at the block of flats overlooking the park. Upstairs, much to Douglas’ relief, Shona opened the door fully dressed in jeans and a white shirt.

  ‘This is getting to be a regular thing,’ Shona said and then she noticed Nicola standing off to one side. ‘And DI Collins, do come in, or are there more police hiding round the corner?’

  ‘No, just the two of us,’ Nicola said and followed Douglas into the flat

  ‘Take a seat; I’ll put the kettle on.’

  Douglas sat on the sofa and after a while Nicola relented and sat on the sofa as well.

  Shona finally brought the cafetiere and three mugs. ‘I’ve run out of cups, I hope mugs will do.’

  ‘Yes, that’s fine,’ Nicola said.

  Shona placed three coasters on the chest that served as a table. Next she placed a mug on each coaster and filled them from the cafetiere. ‘Ah, I almost forgot the biscuits,’ she finally said and went back into the kitchen area.

  When Shona was finally settled in the chair, she looked at Douglas. ‘What can I do for you today and you haven’t forgotten my drive, have you? You promised me a new one for being a good girl and letting you have the old one.’

  ‘I haven’t forgotten it, but we need to ask you about some things we’ve found on the video from the hall.’

  Shona curled her legs up onto the chair and nodded. ‘OK, spit it out.’

  ‘We think Tony Doherty visited Annabel’s flat on several occasions. Each time it coincided with times when you were out of the building. What can you tell us about that?’

  Shona looked at him for a second. ‘You are serious?’

  ‘Yes, do you want the dates?’

  ‘No,’ Shona said and burst out laughing.

  Douglas hadn’t been expecting that reaction. ‘Do you know why he was visiting her?’

  Shona stopped laughing and looked at him. ‘No…but it’s obvious he’s shagging her, rumpy-pumpy, bunga-bunga, jig-a-jig...you know…sex.’

  Nicola shook her head. ‘But he’s twenty-five years older than her?’

  Shona looked across at her. ‘You should know Detective Inspector; he’s got IT…just like Douglas…sex appeal…women go for it.’

  Nicola glared across at Douglas and he shrugged.

  ‘Hah, don’t deny it Douglas,’ Shona said and learned towards him. ‘You have it in spades.’

  ‘I can’t help it,’ Douglas said, not being able to think of anything else to say in his defence. He picked up his mug to hide his confusion.

  ‘Do you have any evidence?’ Nicola interjected.

  Shona screwed her face up. ‘Not as such, but it makes sense – Annabel would have known from Tony that the flat was vacant and all he had to do was suggest her name to the letting agent. You could check with them: who is paying her rent, gas, electricity and council tax – that sort of stuff. And if you want proof he was shagging her, turn the mattress over and check it for stains…I do that if my lovers are a bit over-enthusiastic.’

  ‘Did he have anything to do with her disappearance?’ Nicola said.

  ‘No idea, ask him yourself.’

  At a loss, Douglas couldn’t think of any more questions and Nicola, similarly out of ideas said: ‘Can we have the keys again, we need to check something.’

  Shona grinned at her and went to get the keys. ‘I should put these under the mat and then you wouldn’t have to ring my bell.’

  *****

  While Nicola was out of sight unlocking the door to Annabel’s flat Shona kissed Douglas full on the mouth. ‘Give me your number and I’ll ring you later.’

  Douglas nodded and gave her the number for his spare phone. ‘This one’s clean and you can text me any time.’

  ‘Can I ring you?’

  ‘If it’s on, I’m OK to talk.’

  Shona called after him as he left to join Nicola: ‘And don’t forget my new hard-drive.’

  Once he had closed the door Nicola glared at him. ‘She seems determined to get a new drive out of you.’

  ‘They’re expensive things and I’d be upset if someone just turned up and took an expensive bit of my computer away.’

  ‘Yeah, yeah, you go and get the sample kit from the car and I’ll go look at this mattress.’

  *****

  Douglas pressed the remote and the car doors responded with a clunk. In the car Nicola said: ‘After you drop these samples off we’ll go and ask James Double-Barrelled if he knows anything about Tony Doherty and the Sutherland girl, and if his brother has turned up.’

  ‘Do we have a better picture of Annabel Sutherland? All I’ve got is the small matriculation photograph from the university.’

  ‘I’m waiting for a reply from the embassy. I trust you noticed she didn’t have a single photograph of herself in that flat – that says something about her.’

  *****

  Douglas found a parking space in Brunswick Street and he followed Nicola across Wilson Street to the almost-pedestrian part where James lived. He pulled his coat closer to k
eep warm – the pleasant afternoon had turned cold and a light rain had started. The café chairs cluttering the wide pavement were deserted and there was little sign of life. They walked the short distance along the street and Nicola waited while he pressed the call-button of the entry-phone for James’ flat. A female voice said: Hello. He responded with their identities and after a short interlude he heard the door lock clunk open. Upstairs, at the entrance to the flat, he was surprised when a young woman in a nurse’s uniform opened the door in response to his knock.

  ‘James Cameron-Smythe?’

  ‘Come in, he’ll be ready shortly. You two interviewed him at the Infirmary if I remember correctly?’ she said, smiling at them and standing back to let them enter.

  Douglas nodded and she closed the door behind them. They followed her into the living room.

  ‘He’s having a shower; can I get you a drink, tea, coffee, or something stronger?’

  ‘Thank you, but no…is James all right or has a complication set in?’

  She looked startled for a moment, then realised what he was talking about and laughed. ‘Just a social visit and I have to get back to work.’

  ‘Good,’ Douglas said.

  ‘I must be going now or I’ll be late for the start of my shift.’

  She disappeared out into the hall and he heard her call out: ‘James is out of the shower now; he’ll be a couple of minutes.’

  Once they heard her leave the flat Nicola said: ‘You can do the talking and in the meantime, let’s have a look around.’

  Douglas started to examine the room. He could see CD and DVD collections on the shelves, a couple of old paperback books, but no bank statements, mobile telephone or address books. However, over by the window on the wall there was a group of framed photographs on the wall. Moving quietly over to them he identified a family photograph of James and what, Douglas assumed, were his parents and brother. He reached for his mobile phone and took a picture of the family group, and he was about to put the phone away when he spotted a head and shoulders photograph of the brother. He snatched an image of that as well. As he pocketed the phone the door opened and James, in jeans and a striped shirt, entered.

  ‘Hi, what can I do for you?’

  ‘We just need you to take a look at this?’ Douglas said and handed him the photograph of Annabel Sutherland.

  ‘That’s Annabel,’ he replied and handed the photograph back.

  Douglas handed James the PNC file photographs of Tony Doherty. ‘Did you ever see this man with Annabel?’ He watched James carefully, noting the movement of his eyes as they moved over the photographs. ‘They were taken twenty years ago and he’s a man that avoids publicity, so we don’t have a recent image of him.’

  James shook his head. ‘No, I’ve never seen him before, with Annabel or otherwise.’

  Although he was watching intently he couldn’t be sure whether James’ eyes flicked the wrong way as he replied.

  ‘Thank you, James, that’s all,’ Douglas said turned for the door and Nicola followed him.

  ‘Did you ever trace the old guy from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders?’

  He shook his head. ‘We’re waiting to see if the Regimental Museum has any information. But it’s probably a long shot.’

  As they left the flat James added: ‘I would like to thank the old man if you do find him.’

  *****

  Douglas opened the door to the flat. ‘Where are you, darling?’ he called out and heard a muffled reply, which sounded like: In the kitchen. He opened the kitchen door to see Susanne sitting at the kitchen table in a green silk kimono with a glossy cookery book open in front of her. She looked up at him.

  ‘Cooking’s bloody complicated, it takes masses of stuff and hours to do the simplest thing,’ she said putting her head in her hands. ‘I though I would cook you something tonight, but I can’t find a single recipe in this bloody book that I can do. I didn’t realise it would take umpteen trips to the shops to get all the stuff listed. Did you know there are five hundred types of bloody bacon…and what’s sea salt? I thought salt was bloody sodium chloride and that was it!’

  ‘You know more about food than I do.’

  ‘That’s ordering it and eating it, not cooking the sodding stuff.’

  He moved behind her, slid his arms around her waist, pulled her tight and kissed the top of her head. ‘Don’t despair; you’re starting at the deluxe end of the market. Ten-to-one the person who wrote this book has made a career conning their way through hours of television pretending it’s simple and you can do everything they do in an hour.’ He closed the book and recognised the name on the front cover instantly. ‘Yes, I might have known, just her first name and nothing else…this book is not the place to start.’

  ‘Where DO I start then?’

  He nuzzled his face into her neck and kissed it before replying: ‘Cooking for Dummies, if there is such a thing, I’ll sure we can find a book on Amazon for you to start on. These glossy cookery books are for showing off and impressing your guests, not everyday life. I started with the simple stuff and never got much beyond that.’

  ‘I’ve spent hours combing though the fridge and the cupboards trying to find stuff.’

  ‘Well my stuff isn’t exactly from the cookery book. A jar or packet sauce is a lot easier than grinding up the spices. Anyway, I suggest we eat out tonight.’

  Susanne turned her head and searched for his mouth to kiss him. ‘I wanted a romantic dinner for two. The wine is cooling the fridge and I bought some candles.’

  ‘OK, we’ll go some place that has candles.’ He released his grip on her.

  She rose from the chair and turning to face him, she pouted: ‘I dressed for you,’ and undid the kimono, letting it fall open. ‘Black, your favourite colour for my underwear.’ Putting her arms around his neck she kissed him, sliding her tongue between his lips and deep into his mouth. Finally she pulled back. ‘That’s enough for now, you can have more later,’ she said and left the kitchen.

  *****

  Susanne appeared from the bedroom wearing a red dress and carrying her fawn coat. ‘You’re not ready.’

  ‘I’ll get my jacket,’ Douglas said and went to get a jacket. He returned with the battered black jacket Tanya had bought him.

  Susanne reached out and ran her hand down the worn leather of the sleeve. ‘I don’t remember you wearing that before. It looks good on you; gives you that hard-bitten, private-eye look.’

  Douglas turned towards the door: ‘Are we getting a taxi? It’s cold out there.’

  ‘We’ll walk there and get a taxi back; it’s not raining at the moment.’

  ‘Where are we walking to?’

  ‘Below the Stairs,’ Susanne said after pressing the lift button. ‘We’re not going to meet your police mates there. And she bought you that jacket, didn’t she.’

  ‘She?’

  ‘Don’t think you can hide the truth from me, Douglas. I had a long chat with your mate Julie and she filled me in on the details of this undercover operation you’re on.’

  ‘It’s not very undercover with all and sundry blabbing about it!’

  ‘I wasn’t blabbing about it, apart from talking to you.’

  ‘I didn’t say you were, but Julie talked to you and God knows who else she’s talked to?’

  ‘You can remonstrate with her tomorrow,’ Susanne said as the lift doors opened. Inside she punched the button for the ground floor and the doors sighed shut. ‘And when are we going to have this party?’

  Douglas leaned against the wall and wondered if a party was such a good idea. ‘Let’s set it for four weeks hence.’

  ‘OK, which night?’

  ‘Friday or Saturday nights are not a good idea for my lot.’

  ‘Douglas, nobody will turn up on a Sunday, let’s go for Saturday and hope it’s a quiet night. We’ll get wine for my lot and beer for yours.’

  ‘That’s a bit simplistic.’

  ‘What do you want: Brandy and Champagn
e?’

  ‘Some might go for that.’

  ‘And the rest, what about them: cheap whisky, beer and crisps?’

  ‘I’d avoid the whisky, cheap or otherwise, it might result in an end of party punch up if they’re on that stuff.’

  ‘Have you done your list yet?’

  ‘Not yet.’

  A Scotch mist had descended as they walked and by the time they reached the restaurant they were cold. They hurried down the stairs into warmth of the crowded restaurant. They found themselves an unoccupied two-seater sofa by a small table squeezed into a corner at the back. Susanne took off her coat and settled into the sofa while he went off to the bar for the drinks. He returned with a bottle of red wine and two glasses, placing them on the table and sat beside her.

  ‘Not having beer?’ she said.

  ‘Nothing there that interests me and I thought I should improve my palate,’ he replied and as he poured the wine a redheaded waitress in a short blue dress appeared. Douglas ordered duck and Susanne the sea bass.

  *****

  When the waitress had cleared the plates away and Susanne had consumed her half of the bottle of wine she pressed herself against Douglas. Putting her head on his shoulder she whispered: ‘This undercover operation.’

  He picked up the bottle and poured the remains into his glass. ‘Do we want another bottle of this?’

  She moved her hand under his jacket and began to unbutton his shirt before sliding her hand over his chest. ‘No, I think we should have coffee back home. Now getting back to this undercover operation – will you be sleeping in the same bed as this woman: Superwoman, isn’t that her nickname?’

  ‘What, or who, gave you that idea?’

  ‘So it’s true, Douglas…I don’t mind.’ Susanne sighed. ‘I can’t see you fancying a six foot Amazon wrestler with muscles where women shouldn’t have them. According to my informant her biceps are like steel and she has thighs to match. Reputedly, she can crack walnuts between them. Imagine what she’d do to you if you stuck your freezing cold hands between her thighs: she’d just have to cross her legs to break your fingers.’

  ‘How much have you had to drink tonight?’

  ‘Never you mind, pay up and we can go back home; where you can stick you hands between my thighs.’ Susanne uncoiled her legs from the sofa and stood up. ‘I’m going to the loo while you get your credit card out.’