by Val McDermid
‘What about the passports? How did you come by those?’
‘An artist David knew. He’d been using the concept of identity theft in his work. He put us on to a man who created a whole false ID for us both. I was scared shitless the first time I used my passport, but it’s never been questioned.’
‘So you made your plans. And you set up a very loud row with your brother and made sure the neighbours heard?’
For the first time, Auld looked ashamed. ‘Yes. That was David’s idea.’
‘What was the row about?’ Karen pushed back.
Auld bit his lip. ‘I told Jamie I had fallen in love with someone else. A man. And that I was planning to leave Mary. He was outraged, exactly like I knew he would be. Not because it was a man. He’d have been equally angry if it had been a woman. No, he was furious that I could even contemplate leaving Mary and all we’d built together. He called it a shitty little fling, and that gave me an excuse to lose my temper in return. I hated it, but it had to be done if our plan was going to work.’
‘That makes more sense. The only thing Mary could imagine the two of you almost coming to blows over was Scottish independence, but I never thought it was enough of a provocation for a murderous row. But were you not afraid that Jamie would tell Mary the truth? Especially when he came under suspicion?’
He met her eyes. ‘Why would he do that, when the sole reason for his anger was how much pain my betrayal would cause Mary? I was never comfortable about taking advantage of the care he felt towards Mary. But I truly assumed Jamie would have an alibi for later in the evening, after our row. He was always very sociable, always hanging out with musicians in bars and clubs.’
‘And was it also David’s idea to stuff your bloodstained T-shirt into the bin in the basement of Jamie’s flat?’ She couldn’t keep an edge out of her voice this time.
His head came up and she saw that moment of shock again. Had he not taken in what she’d said earlier? ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘A crime scene officer found a bloodstained T-shirt in one of the bins in the basement of Jamie’s block of flats. It was your blood.’
He stared at her, shaking his head. ‘How?’
‘That’s what I’m asking. Your blood, in your brother’s bin. How?’
He gripped the sides of his face with his hands, so hard he left white fingermarks when he stopped. ‘I can’t . . . No, wait. The week before. I was at David’s, he’s got these sharp Japanese knives, I took a chunk out of my thumb when I was cooking. It bled like crazy. David binned my T-shirt and gave me one of his. Are you seriously telling me he kept it to incriminate Jamie?’
‘What do you think? If you’ve got another explanation, I’d love to hear it.’
He looked ready to burst into tears again. ‘Jamie was only supposed to be a distraction, a diversion. Not a serious suspect.’
‘And what about Mary in all of this? You say you loved her but you left her in limbo. Grieving your loss but never knowing whether you were alive or dead. How did you justify that to yourself?’ Again, she fought to sound merely curious rather than judgemental. Sometimes it was almost a physical struggle to turn away from what often felt like her default state.
‘I thought she’d be better off without me. I’d turned our marriage into second best and I thought she deserved the chance to find happiness with someone else.’ He couldn’t meet her eye now.
Self-serving, selfish, self-indulgent bawbag. ‘That’s a big ask when she didn’t know if you were alive or dead. How could she embark on a new relationship when she had no idea whether you were going to walk back through the door like the first episode of a TV drama?’
‘She had me declared dead,’ he said, defensive. ‘She decided there was no room for me in her life.’
‘She had you declared dead because her life had been on hold for more than seven years. Have you any idea the hoops she had to jump through to conduct her financial affairs? How she couldn’t even sell the car that was registered to you because you were still officially alive and unaccounted for?’ Karen let one hand drop below the tabletop and pressed her fingernails into her palm to contain her anger.
‘I’m sorry for all of that. But what use would I have been to her if I’d said no to David’s plan? I’d have been languishing in jail, my career in ruins. Living with the disgrace and the humiliation would have been worse for her, surely?’
You think? Karen took a deep breath. ‘What happened the night you disappeared?’
‘Simple. It was a summer evening, lots of people around. I walked up to Soho and David picked me up in his car. We drove through the night to Holyhead and crossed to Ireland. Nobody gave my new passport a second glance. We took the long way round to Donegal so we wouldn’t have to cross the border, and David left me at Hill House with a fridge full of food and a cupboard full of booze. Three weeks later, he faked his own death and joined me in Ramelton. It’s a nice town, people are friendly without being too nosy.’ He spread his hands in a gesture of completion. ‘We’ve been there ever since.’
Karen turned to Daisy. ‘Is that what we think, Sergeant?’
‘More or less. Apart from a side trip to Brighton in 2017.’
Karen smiled. ‘Oh yes, I’d almost forgotten about the arson. There’s a lovely picture of you among the rubberneckers at an art gallery fire. Sadly the Goldman Gallery lost three – or was it four? – of David Greig’s paintings. What was the problem, Iain? Was your lovely lifestyle working out more expensive than you’d planned? Was the bottom dropping out of his market? Did you need to up the scarcity value of the work he was still churning out?’
‘Got it in one,’ he said, rueful. ‘We were burning through our capital faster than we’d anticipated. David thought we needed to give his prices an artificial leg-up to boost our nest-egg.’
‘It certainly did that. And it was your first mistake, Iain. You know what happened, don’t you?’
‘No. All I know is that I got an email from Francis Geary, passing on a message from Jamie. It was like a punch in the chest.’
‘What did it say?’
‘It’s carved on my memory. “Dear Daniel Connolly, Apologies for contacting you out of the blue but I believe you may know something of the whereabouts of my brother, Iain Auld, who knew David Greig very well. I would like to meet to discuss this.” I was so shocked, I threw up. I barely made it to the bathroom. I couldn’t make sense of it.’
‘So what did you do?’
‘I told David.’
53
Auld’s words hung in the air. He might as well have said, ‘I signed my brother’s death warrant,’ Karen thought. Auld knew how ruthless his lover was; he must have understood the risk he was exposing his brother to. But she knew from long experience that people’s capacity for self-delusion was pretty much unlimited.
‘You told David. How did he react?’
‘He could see how upset I was. He told me not to worry. He insisted that he’d handle it.’
Karen let the words settle between them. ‘What did you take that to mean?’
‘I was so relieved. I knew he’d find a better way to explain things to Jamie than I would. I’d have been too emotional, we both knew that. So David said he’d meet Jamie and see how the land lay.’ He gave her a beseeching look. ‘He’s good with people, he knows how to persuade them to see things differently.’ He gave a laugh that turned into a cough. His eyes were all over the place, everywhere except Karen’s gaze. ‘I mean, look how well he did with me, and I was as strait-laced as they come.’
Karen bit down again on her anger. ‘What happened next?’
‘David replied to the email and set up a meeting in Fife. Jamie was up there, visiting Mary. They arranged to meet in Elie and walked out along the coastal path together. They were talking for a long time. There was a lot to explain. Jamie was angry at first, Davi
d said. But he calmed down when he understood he could be back in my life again. They were out for so long it got dark.’ Auld closed his eyes, his expression one of anguish. ‘And Jamie lost his footing and fell down the cliff. David went after him but there was no sign.’ He opened his eyes, meeting Karen’s in a piteous stare. ‘He must have hit his head on the way down. That’s what David said.’
‘David lied, Iain. I don’t think there was ever a conversation. I think he went there with the express purpose of removing the threat to his lovely life.’
‘You’re wrong. You don’t know him. He’s not a cold-blooded killer. I’ve lived with him for ten years. He’s warm and loving and generous.’
‘He killed your brother.’ She pushed her chair back. ‘I think we all need a break now. Do you want a coffee, or a tea? Something to eat?’
Auld shook his head. ‘A cup of black tea, that’s all. No sugar.’
Nugent intoned the formula for the interview suspension and the three officers filed out. Karen leaned against the wall, exhaling slowly. She allowed herself to feel the tension in her body, the damp in her armpits, the dull ache at the base of her skull. ‘I need something to eat,’ she said. ‘Daisy, away and find me chocolate. Please. And coffee.’
When they were alone, Nugent said, ‘That was a helluva performance in there.’
‘Mine or his?’
‘Well, both, I suppose, but I meant yours. You pushed all the right buttons at the right time.’
‘I thought I’d lost him at the end there, when he started on about it being an accident.’
Nugent gave a dark chuckle. ‘Last desperate throw of the dice. You could see he didn’t believe it himself. So what now?’
‘I have to persuade him to trick David into coming on to your turf.’
‘You have a plan?’
Karen managed a weak laugh. ‘I wouldn’t pay it the compliment of calling it a plan. I have an idea.’
Daisy reappeared. ‘I got you a Snickers because peanuts are protein.’ She handed over the bar. ‘And a bag of Maltesers. Sergeant Tiernan’s bringing coffee.’
Karen forced herself to eat the Snickers bar with something approaching restraint in spite of her desire to demolish it in three bites. ‘Oh God, that’s better,’ she sighed as Tiernan arrived with the coffee.
‘You were amazing in there,’ Daisy said. ‘I mean, wow. I’m learning so much, working with you.’
Karen nodded her thanks, drank the coffee and ate the Maltesers without another word. ‘Bathroom break,’ she said. ‘Then it’s showtime.’
Iain Auld was beginning to look dishevelled. His tie was loose, the top button of his shirt undone. He’d taken off his jacket and there were dark circles under his armpits. Even his hair had started to go limp, its curl loosening.
Karen, who had washed her face and pimped her hair, sat up straight and gave him a look of pity. ‘You know you’re looking at jail time, Iain? I won’t pretend there’s any way out of that. I’ll tell you what else there’s no way out of, and that’s the end of your relationship with David. You’ve woken up next to him for the last time. No more cosy cups of tea in bed in the morning. Whatever happens now, you’re on your own. Either you help us bring him to justice. And I’m guessing he won’t be too happy about that. Or you take the rap for all you’ve done together, all his crimes as well as your own. And what will he do then? Well, based on his past history, he’ll run as far and as fast as he can. So what’s it to be? Decency or martyrdom? I’ll be honest. I believe in justice, and there’s nothing just about you carrying the can for the murder of your brother.’
He hung his head and spoke softly. ‘I’m glad our parents are dead. I couldn’t face them. The shame. The disappointment. That’s what I was thinking about when you were outside. Everything you said, when I had to listen to it like that, I couldn’t believe it was me you were talking about. That I’d lost my way so badly that I let myself be carried along without stopping to think. Deep down, I knew it was wrong.’ He looked up. ‘But I love him so much. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing him.’
‘But you do see now that he’s lost to you, whatever happens?’
He gave a sigh that was more like a sob in the back of his throat. ‘It sounds crazy, but I still want him to think well of me.’
Karen leaned in again. Her voice was soft, almost a caress. ‘I’ve been doing this job a long time, Iain. I’ve seen people like David Greig before. People who think they’re special, above the rules that confine the rest of us. And I swear there is no way he’s going to think well of you after this. He’ll either despise you for your weakness if you try to save him, or he’ll hate you for your treachery if you do the right thing. You’re dead to him now. Your only chance to survive this is to work with me.’
He took off his glasses, polished them on his tie and replaced them. ‘What do you want me to do?’
Karen felt something loosen inside her, something she hadn’t even realised she was holding so tightly. The headache lifted miraculously and she smiled tenderly at him. ‘It’s really simple. I want you to send him a text. You’ve been in a car accident. You’re absolutely fine but the car is too damaged to drive. Can he come and pick you up? He’ll do that for you, won’t he?’
Auld nodded. ‘He’ll come like a shot.’ He took out his phone. ‘There’s no signal here.’
‘Never mind, we’ll compose it in here then I’ll take it and find a signal and send it.’
‘I should say something about Dublin, he’ll be thinking I’m there and back by now.’ He started tapping the phone then showed it to Karen.
Dublin a waste of time, definitely not your work! Need a favour now – bloody stupid woman drove into me coming out of petrol station in Omagh. Front wing smashed to fuck, undriveable. It’s at the BMW garage bodyshop, they’re saying the end of the week!!! Can you come and get me? Love you. Xxx
Karen took the phone from him and flicked back past some exchanges between them. The tone and the sign-off matched. He wasn’t trying to alert Greig. ‘Thank you. Sergeant Mortimer will wait with you while Chief Inspector Nugent and I sort this out.’
Nugent followed her from the room and they walked back to his office, where the phone signal was clear. Karen pressed send and they waited. ‘You think he’ll go for it?’ Nugent asked, propping one buttock on the edge of desk.
Karen couldn’t keep still. She needed to stretch her legs, her back, her neck. ‘Why wouldn’t he? I don’t think I’ve done anything to rattle his cage. My only concern was whether Geary would talk – I called him at the gallery this morning and told him Daniel Connolly wouldn’t be coming and he should keep his mouth shut unless he wanted the Gardai all over him like a very bad rash. Given that Greig hasn’t been in touch with Auld, I’d say Geary has done what I told him.’
‘How are we going to do this? I take it you want Auld staked out in full view to draw him in?’
‘You’ll know a good spot? I’m thinking a coffee shop. Somewhere without alternative exits and entrances?’
‘There’s a nice wee coffee shop opposite the Sacred Heart church on George’s Street. About five minutes away from here. There’s probably a back door but you’d have to jump the counter and fight your way through the kitchen to get to it and we can stick a couple of uniforms out there.’
Before he’d finished speaking, the phone vibrated with a text:
Shit, that’s not good. You sure you’re OK? I’ll jump in the car now, I’ll be there soon as. Where are you? Xx
Karen typed a reply:
I’m in a café on George’s Street opposite the Sacred Heart. Thanks. Love you. Xxx.
The response was instant:
Don’t eat too many scones! Xx
She let out a breath and felt her shoulders drop. ‘Thank fuck,’ she said.
Nugent grinned. ‘Aye,’ he said. ‘We’ll get that all set up and
walk Auld over there. Now, tell me. That crystal ball of yours, I don’t suppose it knows where Greig is right now?’
‘Look away now, nothing to see here,’ Karen said, taking her own phone out and opening the app. ‘He’s not hanging about. He’s coming down the road into Ramelton.’ She looked up. ‘I am so looking forward to this.’
54
Karen had to admit that Nugent was a serious operator. He’d proved it twice in one day. With less than an hour to work with, he’d cleared the café of customers and replaced the owner behind the counter with the woman who ran the police station canteen.
He had chosen well. The café was small – three four-top booths along one wall, five small round tables in the rest of the space. Auld was in the booth nearest the counter, facing the door. Daisy had managed to get Auld spruced up a bit – hair tidied, shirt button fastened, tie straight. Karen hoped Greig would write off his partner’s worried and weary expression as the result of his car crash.
There was an unmarked car stationed outside with a plain-clothes detective in the passenger seat, and Sergeant Tiernan apparently interviewing a suspect in a liveried Land Rover in the lane behind. Inside, a young officer sat with a glass of Coke, seemingly absorbed in his phone. Daisy and another plain-clothes cop sat facing each other across the table nearest the door, drinking tea and working their way through a plate of scones. Between mouthfuls, having a quiet conversation about their favourite bands. They almost looked convincing as a couple, Karen thought. Two women from the clerical support team occupied a booth with strict instructions not to get involved.
