Shallow Water

by Hunter J Walker

  William Tschederer looked into the darkness under the trees by the end of the bridge and after a while he could just make out a figure standing in the shadows. He glanced back to the man and he was gone. He turned to face the shadows and a tall woman was walking across the bridge towards him.

  Chapter 15

  Friday

  Nicola arrived outside DCI Caddell’s large detached sandstone house on the south side of Glasgow; standing in a half-acre plot opposite Maxwell Park it represented twenty odd years of her take home pay. She wondered if he’d inherited it from a distant relative because his parents never had money and lived in two-bed flat on the Gallowgate all their lives. She glanced at the dashboard clock. It was five in the morning and rather than annoy the neighbours with the sound of the horn she got out and walked up the drive to ring the doorbell. She had dressed for standing around on a cold wet morning in Edinburgh, but despite that the icy wind cut through her clothing. She was relieved when the door finally opened and Caddell stepped out. He greeted her with a grouchy: ‘Let’s go.’

  She drove in silence the short distance to the M7. Shortly afterwards they joined the M8, and when it turned into the A8 she put her foot down, on the grounds no patrol cars would bother with them at this time of the morning, and if they did she could give them a flash of the discreet blue lights to warn them off.

  ‘Where are we meeting the Edinburgh team?’ Caddell said, breaking the silence of the last thirty minutes.

  ‘At the house, they’re scheduled to be there at six-fifteen…and don’t ask me why they chose that time.’

  ‘Where is this house?’

  ‘Morningside.’

  ‘That figures. Large house is it?’

  ‘I checked it last night on the Internet and it has seven bedrooms. Five years ago he paid just under two million pounds for it.’

  ‘Let’s hope they have plenty of men to search the place.’

  Nicola judged they had time to spare and slowed the car as they drove southwards along the A720, skirting the southern edge of Edinburgh. They arrived at their destination five minutes before the appointed time. She parked the car in a side street, where they could see the road in front of the target house and waited for the convoy of police vehicles to arrive. She glanced at the rear view mirror and laughed out loud. Caddell glared at her. ‘The press are here,’ she announced.

  ‘How do you know that?’ he snapped.

  ‘A van with a ruddy great satellite dish on the roof has just parked in the road behind us.’

  ‘Oh.’

  She glanced in the mirror again and laughed. ‘And there’s another one driving up the road.’

  Caddell put his head in his hands and swore.

  ‘If he’s decided to run he’ll be well away by now,’ Nicola said as she saw the first of the marked police cars draw up outside the house. ‘Anyway, Edinburgh are here so we can join the circus and get our faces on TV.’

  Nicola walked along the street and watched the uniform officers fan out to cover all the exits of the building while the plain clothes officers waited until everyone was in position. The press had their cameras in position and running before the senior officer approached the front door and rang the bell. After several minutes of pressing the button the officer changed hands and continued pressing until the door opened to reveal a young Asian woman. Nicola saw her shake her head in response to the question, but the search team just pushed past her into the house.

  Caddell became impatient and crossed the road to confront the constable standing by the entrance to the drive. After a heated exchange he was turned away and retraced his steps.

  ‘So much for bloody co-operation, they want to completely survey the house before they allow anyone else in.’

  ‘Is he there?’ Nicola said, wanting to know if their trip was a waste of time.

  ‘No.’

  She took out her phone, found Douglas’ home number and called it, but heard the number unobtainable sound. ‘The silly bugger’s not given me his new number.’

  ‘Who?’ Caddell asked.

  ‘Ashburner has moved in with his girlfriend.’

  ‘Is that our wee problem out of the way?’

  She called his mobile number. ‘Let’s hope he’s left his mobile on, and no, that problem hasn’t gone away; somebody in our team is bent.’

  *****

  Douglas ran his fingers down Susanne’s naked back and she stirred. He checked the clock and they had thirty minutes before he needed to get up for his shower. He ran his hand down to her naked thigh and she rolled over onto her back. He kissed her shoulder and was working his way round to her breasts when his mobile phone started to play its annoying tune.

  ‘I wish you would turn that bloody thing off when we go to bed!’ she snapped and he knew the mood had evaporated, not to return anytime soon.

  He reached over and answered the phone: ‘Ashburner.’

  ‘You didn’t tell me your new landline number, Dougie.’

  He put his hand over the phone and rolled towards Susanne. ‘It’s Nicola Collins.’

  ‘Of course it is darling, who else would throw a spanner into our love life.’

  He took his hand away from the phone. ‘I gave it to Sergeant McCray.’

  ‘Oh great…anyway, get yourself up and into work. That slimy toad Sutherland has done a runner and we need to catch him before he gets to Northern Cyprus or whichever bolthole he’s heading for. Check what he owns in the way of transport, or has access to, and look into the other bank directors as well – they may have boats or planes he can use. I’ll be back sometime when Caddell has cooled down enough to get in the car. Anyway, best get cracking; we don’t want him getting away.’ She ended the call and he put the phone down.

  Before he could turn over and lay a hand on Susanne’s naked body he felt the bed bounce as she left it.

  She paused by the bed. ‘No, don’t even think about that until this evening. I’m going for breakfast and you can have a cold shower.’

  Douglas finally gave up any expectations he had and swung his feet out of bed and headed for the bathroom. Afterwards he dressed and found Susanne in the kitchen.

  ‘Is your ardour sufficiently cool for me not to be thrown on the sofa and ravaged?’

  ‘Nothing wrong with a bit of ravaging.’

  ‘There’s a time and a place for everything, Douglas.’

  ‘I get the message; what’s happening this weekend?’

  Susanne spooned the last of muesli into her mouth and put the bowl in the dishwasher before replying. ‘We’re going to my parent’s this evening and for as long as your work allows.’

  ‘OK, I’ll try and get away on time.’

  *****

  The office was deserted when he arrived. After fortifying himself with a mug of coffee he set to work and quickly discovered that Sutherland had three cars registered to his name, an Audi A8, a Range Rover and a Mini Cooper. He noted the registrations and rang the control room to have them entered into the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system for tracking and stop if seen. Next he checked the Civil Aviation Authority and discovered that a Cessna 340A twin-engine aeroplane was registered in Sutherland’s name as well.

  He was contemplating what to do about the Cessna and what the aircraft equivalent of the ANPR system was, when Julie entered the room and walked to his desk. He raised his head and looked at her.

  ‘Hi, Douglas, this is early for you. Let me guess, she wouldn’t let you get your leg over and you’re here early because there is nothing else but work in your sad life.’

  He snorted. ‘Collins rang me early this morning to impart the glad news that Edinburgh failed to arrest Sutherland and she’s dumped the problem on me.’

  ‘Never mind Douglas I’m here now – coffee, back massage, or help?’

  ‘A coffee would be nice if you’re offering and do you know anything about tracking private aircraft.’

  ‘Not really, but McCray does, I’ll get the coffee,’ she said and
dropped her jacket on Douglas’ desk.

  By the time Julie returned with two cups he had checked the Companies House website for the names and address of the directors of the Scotia Investment Bank.

  She put one of cups by his keyboard. ‘What sort aircraft are we talking about?’

  ‘It’s a twin-engine job and with a full load of fuel it has a range of two thousand six hundred miles. It could get to Ireland, Iceland, Norway, or any part of Europe from here and with a following wind it could just about get to Canada.’

  ‘Where does he keep it?’

  ‘No idea; and it can take off from a grass strip.’

  ‘If it’s flying, Air traffic Control will pick it up unless its close to the ground. And if I remember correctly, light aircraft aren’t required to file flight plans unless they’re crossing borders.’

  ‘And he has a yacht registered in his name as well.’

  ‘Give me the details and I’ll do that bit. I’ve done yachts before.’

  ‘When was that?’

  ‘I have hidden talents, Douglas. I was with Customs for a while before I joined the police.’

  He gladly handed over the details of the yacht and carried on checking the six other bank directors. It soon became clear these men all liked big boy’s toys; fast cars, yachts, aircraft, houses all over Britain, even a castle in one case. If Sutherland was still friendly with his co-directors they had a vanishingly small chance of finding him. ‘We have more chance of finding Lord Lucan,’ he called over to Julie.

  ‘Don’t be like that. I’ve tracked down his yacht to a marina in Fife and I’ve alerted the local CID to keep an eye on it…and the Cavalry are here.’

  McCray stomped across the office and stopped by Julie’s desk. ‘I’ve had the DI on the phone about Sutherland – where have we got to?’

  ‘I’ve located his yacht and two cars, but his Audi is missing and so is his plane. Douglas is chasing up the other directors and seeing if they had the means to get Sutherland out of the country. And will you use your massive experience to find Sutherland’s plane?’

  ‘OK, what’s the registration?’ McCray asked.

  ‘And I’ve found another two planes he may be able to use,’ Douglas interjected.

  ‘OK, give me those as well.’

  Douglas gave him the details and asked: ‘Any idea where Tanya’s disappeared to?’

  ‘No I haven’t, Constable, I thought she was your partner, or has there been a falling out.’

  ‘Not as far as I know, Sergeant.’

  Twenty-five minutes later McCray walked over to the white board and added the list of aircraft registrations to information on the cars and yachts. Douglas walked over and joined him by the board.

  McCray pointed at the first two aircraft registrations. ‘These two are on the ground and we’ll be advised if they take off.’ He pointed at the Cessna registration. ‘This one is in the air; he filed a flight plan to the Republic of Ireland yesterday morning.’

  ‘How did he manage that? Douglas asked.

  ‘Your guess is as good as mine, but he must have been informed pretty soon after those DVDs arrived in the office. I’ve alerted the Guarda that we’re interested in him.’

  ‘But they can’t hold him unless we raise a European arrest warrant?’

  McCray nodded. ‘Good point, get onto the DI and see if she knows anything about that. The plane is due to land at twelve.’

  Ten minutes later Douglas reported: ‘She is not amused, the DCI didn’t request a European arrest warrant and it’s unlikely they will get one before the plane lands.’

  ‘Oh great, just great,’ McCray muttered.

  ‘But we don’t know if he’s on the plane.’

  ‘Yep, nil desperandum…and we need a volunteer to get the nosh?’ McCray said.

  ‘Pizza?’ Douglas suggested.

  ‘It’s too early for Pizza,’ McCray replied. ‘Sandwiches will do just fine.’

  ‘OK, I’ll stand the cost if someone else volunteers to get them.’

  Colin put his head over his computer screen. ‘I’ll go.’

  Douglas fished two twenty-pound notes out of his wallet and handed them over.

  Twenty minutes Colin reappeared with a carrier bag full of sandwiches. ‘I’ve got two for everyone, with a few left over for the gutsy people,’ he said and placed the bag on the desk. ‘Have first pick, it was your money.’

  Douglas opened the bag and began arranging the contents on his desk. ‘Any change?’ he asked.

  ‘It came to exactly forty pounds – it should have been forty-two but they let me off with the two,’ Colin replied with a grin.

  Douglas counted the sandwiches. ‘Twelve, you’ve included Tanya then?’

  ‘Included me in what?’

  They looked round at the voice to see Tanya approaching.

  ‘The cats are away and the mice get to play,’ Douglas replied and gestured towards the row of cardboard and cellophane containers on his desk. ‘Help yourself.’

  He picked BLT and Prawn sandwiches out of the row. ‘Apart from these two.’

  ‘I see harmony has returned,’ McCray commented.

  Tanya did a double take. ‘What?’

  ‘He was pining for you,’ McCray retorted, nodding his head towards Douglas.

  Tanya sat on the desk next to Douglas and wriggled along until she could lay her head on his shoulder for a few of seconds. ‘I had personal stuff to sort out this morning, Douglas.’

  ‘You missed all the excitement,’ Colin said. ‘Samuel Sutherland’s done a runner, heading for Southern Ireland. He could be off and away – that’s if he’s on the plane, we’re just waiting for the call from Dublin to find out.’

  ‘That was one of his options,’ Tanya replied quietly before she picked up a sandwich.

  Distracted by the hunt for her father Douglas had almost forgotten Annabel Sutherland when he received a phone call from Slippery Sam. ‘Ms Price, this is an unexpected pleasure,’ he said in response to her terse greeting.

  ‘It might be for you – I have Annabel Sutherland with me and I assume you can fit her into your busy schedule this afternoon.

  ‘Anything for you Ms Price – give me ten minutes to sort out a room and I’m all yours.’

  ‘We’ll be there shortly.’

  He put the phone down and grinned to Tanya. ‘Annabel Sutherland will be coming in shortly, is Julie around?’

  ‘She’s disappeared somewhere with Sergeant McCray.’

  ‘Are you willing to step into her shoes?’ he asked Tanya.

  ‘What am I signing up to, Douglas?’

  ‘A bit of writing?’

  ‘You want me to take the statement, is that it?’

  ‘You get to meet the elusive Annabel.’

  ‘I’m not sure that’s a plus point – she’s a spoilt brat with too much pedigree and not enough sense.’

  ‘Don’t spare her feelings, Tanya.’

  *****

  The room Douglas found was one used for witnesses rather than suspects. The table was unmarked by violence and the seats of the chairs were padded and the chairs not bolted to the floor and the aroma was more of carpet cleaner, not sweat, fear and BO. Douglas had the déjà vu feeling again, but for a different reason this time: Slippery Sam wore the same skirt suit with a white silk shirt this time and a gold rope necklace. She wore, what Douglas guessed from his memory of Susanne’s perfumes, was Chanel No 9. In contrast Annabel Sutherland wore her blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail and minimal makeup to complement the long flowery dress. She looked the antithesis of a criminal. Douglas knew this was precisely the effect she had been instructed to achieve.

  Douglas took the seat diagonally opposite Slippery Sam and left Tanya to take the seat opposite. But this time Slippery Sam took one look at Tanya, paused to remove her jacket and concentred her gaze on him. ‘My client has prepared a statement,’ she said and opened her briefcase, extracting two typed documents she placed them on the table in front of the
m.

  Tanya nudged his leg with her knee.

  Douglas made a decision. ‘We will take a short break in the interview to read this document; in the mean time would either of you ladies like some refreshment?’

  He stood up with the statement in his hand and Tanya followed suit.

  ‘No, I’m fine,’ Slippery Sam answered and looked at Annabel.

  ‘No, not for me, thank you,’ the girl answered.

  Tanya stopped in the corridor. ‘God, what does she smell like?’

  ‘If I said that Susanne would call me a Barbarian, it’s expensive stuff.’

  ‘She smells like a cat on heat,’ Tanya countered.

  ‘I don’t think she liked you much either.’

  ‘You can sit opposite her when we go back into the room.’

  *****

  Douglas quickly read the document and then went through the points one by one to be sure he hadn’t missed anything. Tanya had finished the same exercise before he spoke. ‘It covers all the bases and neatly exonerates Annabel of all wrong doing, but I want her to expand on this and explain how she became involved with Kenny and Danny, where her father is and what she knows about the money.’

  ‘She may not know anything about the money,’

  ‘Let’s ask to be sure.’

  *****

  ‘Annabel we have some additional questions on areas that are not covered by the statement.’

  ‘All right,’ Annabel replied.

  ‘How did you meet Anthony Doherty?’ Douglas asked.

  ‘Marcus Triffet introduced me in the Blue Pelican Niteclub and it followed on from there.’

  ‘What followed from there?’

  She looked down at the table before answering. ‘We were lovers.’

  ‘Who did you tell about this relationship?’

  ‘Nobody.’