Shadow of the Castle

by Matthew Macleod

  'Major? Yes, it's the Superintendent here. Just a few bits of information to pass on to your man with regards to the Reid case.'

  Luke entered the station through the glass doors at the front and wandered up to the information desk. There was glass running all along the lower levels facing out towards the high school across the street. On the walls were posters encouraging people to report crime and domestic abuse and to the right and left of the desk were doors that required security passes to enter or exit. The lost property section operated out of a small windowed booth and Luke was grateful not to be sat waiting on the seats opposite with a hangover and a sense of being in the last chance saloon as he had been on too many occasions previously. Behind the desk, a middle aged man was either busy on a computer or trying to appear to be. Luke leaned forward onto the counter with both forearms and waited. The desk officer was tapping away and tapped his return key with an air of finality before turning with a smile towards Luke.

  'How can I help you?'

  Luke was concentrating on interlocking his fingertips slowly one over the other.

  'I was wondering if Sgt Jeffries was around?'

  The tapping resumed and Luke looked around the room idly, waiting. He knew full well that the man at the desk knew off the top of his head whether he was in the station, off shift or out on a job but the facade had to be preserved.

  'He is currently still on shift here so I'm afraid he would only be available for work related business if that's what you need him for?'

  'Sort of.'

  The smile behind the desk seemed to grow slightly as he took his hands off the keyboard and spread them in a sympathetic gesture.

  'I'm afraid you'll have to get him another time then.'

  Luke tapped the desk twice gently and returned the smile before turning around to leave. He had no specific information with which to justify pulling the Sergeant to the desk for a chat and there was no point in antagonising the man behind the desk. Pausing outside the door to light up his mobile vibrated in his pocket and he took it out quickly. It was the office.

  'How's my favourite wife today then?'

  There was a pause on the end of the line as Laura decided whether or not she found this remark amusing or not. The overly official tone that responded gave him the impression that the deliberation had not gone in his favour after all.

  'I've been instructed to ask you for an update.'

  Sometimes she could be so serious that Luke was becoming suspicious that these unofficial, top-secret lines were in fact being monitored for training purposes. It was never any fun to antagonise Laura if she wasn't in the mood for playing the game as well.

  'I have very little to update. Chasing up a few bits and pieces but struggling to get a foothold.'

  'Did you go up to Arthur's Seat this morning?'

  'No Laura, I took a day trip to the Isle of Wight instead. Lovely this time of year.'

  Again, nothing. Zero out of two – something had definitely rattled her cage. He took a draw as she came out with her response.

  'And there was nothing of note?'

  'Nothing so far. I have been meeting a few people to try and get some more insight but it's not proving easy.'

  'Can't be, from the Isle of Wight...'

  Can't really give it out then choose not to be a good sport when it's being given back to you can you? Luke allowed himself a grin.

  'I guess that's my mistake.'

  Laura continued on immediately.

  'The Major has just phoned with a bit of news from the police side of things.'

  'I'm actually at the station the now as it goes. Banging my head against the brick wall.'

  'It must be nice for you to be there of your own accord for once...' She was definitely smiling down the phone again. 'Instead of drying out at her Majesty’s pleasure.'

  'Yeah, but they don't give you a free breakfast when you're just visiting.'

  He had actually woken up in the cells once or twice but she had no way of knowing that. Even with her apparent supercomputer and bottomless knowledge, she couldn't know that right? The paranoia dropped away as quickly as it had appeared. What difference did it really make anyway? Laura interrupted his thoughts.

  'The Chief Superintendent has been in touch to let us know he will give you any assistance you feel you need. Albeit unofficially. Make of that what you will.'

  Now this was surprising. Although there was an ongoing friendly relationship between himself and the police force it was mainly forged on personal relationships at the ground level. There was no protocol that required sharing of information between the two parties. In all reality the police knew that if they made the effort to ever drag him in and try to extract information, there would not even be enough time to have him sat in the chair with the bright lights on before someone who outranked them significantly swung the door open and threw them out with their careers in tatters. He knew that he could have demanded information through the official channels and it would be given to him but no one liked to have their hand forced and playing hardball with the men on the front line would cost him every tip, hint and nudge that would have come his way after this point. It was a delicate balancing act where each acted only on good faith and in the interests of keeping a working relationship going.

  'I wouldn't have expected a cooperation order from anyone that high up.... Has the Major forced this on them?'

  'Not to my knowledge but even if he had, you know full well I wouldn't be allowed to tell you.'

  'You would anyway though wouldn't you?' he asked coyly.

  'I would not Mr. Calvin.'

  The short response and return to proper names indicated that she was no longer willing to joke with him. He still remained confident that she would tell him should the occasion arise. The cigarette between his fingers had burnt down a fair portion with very little interaction from his end. Remedying that with a couple of short pulls he looked through the window at the officer behind the desk who was busy on his computer again.

  'I don't want to have to pull rank on everyone to get what I want.' The cigarette was spinning between his index and middle finger, flipping over and under and back to where it started. 'That's how guys in my line of work get shut out. You start throwing weight around and you'll get a brick wall every time you need anything after that. Good for bashing your head off but not for anything else.'

  She seemed to be thinking it over herself before responding. In the brief silence he realised he had not given any thought to how he imagined she was dressed today. Clearly he was losing focus with all this confusion all around.

  'Maybe try and confirm it with the man himself before you start using this trump card to earn the hatred of every policeman in Edinburgh.'

  A fair point well made. 'Yeah, I think the fact that half of them already hate me is more than enough for now.'

  Her sudden laugh seemed genuine. Maybe she was in a summer dress – it was getting to that time of year and even his dear Laura must lighten up every now and then.

  'I'm more amazed that half of them tolerate you!'

  'Well I never. How rude.' His indignation was of course false. 'I've never been so insulted.' Pausing a moment to finish his smoke and crush it out in the ashtray but there was no reaction. 'It isn't that they tolerate me Laura.'

  'What is it then?'

  'It's that they haven't even met me yet.'

  'Lucky them. If you need anything else let me know. And keep us posted please?'

  'Anything to hear your voice again dear.'

  The disappointed sigh that had preceded the line dying was only mildly exasperated and Luke congratulated himself on annoying her somewhat less than usual. Squinting in the sunlight that was streaming over the playing fields he tapped his phone thoughtfully against his hand while thinking about what his next move should be. It was nice to have an Ace up your sleeve but you never wanted to use it unless you had to. It wasn't playing the game straight and that was an unforgivable sin to any man with int
egrity. Or even to a cop.

  The only hint that Steve had given him was to look into the findings of the forensics team and here he was outside the building itself having been given permission to do just that, all above board. There was something more to all this that was beginning to come together but he couldn't for the life of him see what it was yet. Running his hand through his hair briefly he knew he was going to go back inside and try and get the information without treading on too many toes. Maybe then he could understand all this sudden assistance. It was one thing to come up against a whole load of nothing in the early days of an investigation – it was actually expected – but to suddenly be allowed this level of access was highly suspicious.

  'Only one way to find out.'

  Having accidentally said it out loud and rather startled an old dear making her way inside he could only smile apologetically, hold the door open for her and wait while she conducted her business before he readdressed the desk sergeant who viewed his return with no enthusiasm but maintained the large smile plastered across his face. Luke attempted to make light of the situation:

  'Me again. Any chance of the Superintendent this time?'

  There was no attempt made to mask the incredulity this time. The officer eyed him over the desk as if he were a 17-year-old who'd walked into the Ferrari showroom and asked for a test drive. He made no move towards either the phone or the computer.

  'The Superintendent? Could you tell me what it's regarding?'

  'It's a private matter. Nothing too important.'

  Luke was well aware that he was being viewed as a man on the wind up now. After all, from his new friend's point of view he had come in, been knocked back, left to smoke and then returned asking for the highest ranked policeman in the building. It wasn't the sort of behaviour usually exhibited by the men who came to call on him.

  'Do you have an appointment?'

  Shaking his head deliberately and slowly, Luke could see the irritation beginning to bubble across the desk between them. The sergeant put one hand slowly across his face while emitting a low whistle.

  'So. The Superintendent will be happy to see you? Just out of the blue?'

  Nodding and grinning, Luke found he was deriving a perverse sort of pleasure from this exchange. He had to compliment his opponent on his ability to maintain his cool. His poker face had barely slipped for a second. He had no idea he was holding a losing hand.

  'Would you mind just trying his secretary? See what she says?'

  After a long searching look, the phone was taken off the hook and brought up to his ear. Never taking his eyes off Luke who was now leaning forward onto the desk with both arms, he pressed the button and had the call picked up in the big office upstairs.

  'Afternoon. Yes, I have someone here who wishes to see the Superintendent. No, no appointment.’ He shot a glance back across the desk. ‘His name?'

  'Luke Calvin.'

  The desk sergeant quickly scanned his memory for any relevance to the name and found nothing.

  'Luke Calvin.'

  His eyes were still on Luke with a withering smile which faltered after a moment before slipping entirely. The ashen faced look became drawn and concerned and there was a confused air as he removed the receiver from his ear and glanced at it as if expecting some response. It was extended across the desk between them.

  'He.... he wants to talk to you.'

  With a smile and a wink, he took the offered receiver and gave the worried officer a thumbs up that he thought was reassuring but could just as well have been interpreted as confirmation that he'd messed up. He'd sort the poor guy out after he was done talking with the Superintendent.

  Chapter 17

  Abandoning the relative comfort of the Fluke for the dusk outside, Grant found himself a little unsteady on his feet. He'd stayed for another jar or two after Luke had left, ostensibly to take the edge off his hangover but in reality just because they were going down so well and he was starting to enjoy himself a little. Sitting at the corner table by himself he had ignored the people that came and went as he thought carefully about the ongoing situation from every viewpoint possible. He was making his way back up towards the flat when his phone rang and he fumbled in his pocket to find it.

  'Hello?'

  'Orite big man. It's Luke. Got a bit of news for you.'

  Grant stopped where he was and braced himself.

  'The body isn't Rab. Had it confirmed by the cops. I'll let you know if I hear anything else.'

  Hanging the phone up, he considered calling the Magistrate but assumed he'd already know. He wanted to call Claire but she'd probably already know as well. Regardless, he still felt like calling her but it wasn't a good idea when he was half canned. He resigned himself to just heading back to the flat and maybe taking a nap. Continuing on his way he felt like a load had been lifted and he was far more buoyant. There had never been any doubt in his mind about the outcome but now it was confirmed. All that was left now was to find Rab and decide whether to be happy to see him or to knock him out.

  Sgt Jeffries found himself in his slicker suit and face mask for about the fourth time in one day and accompanying yet another layman through his area of expertise. The sad fact of it seemed to be that this non-event had triggered a good sight more interest from outwith his own department than any of the technically rich cases prior. The only thing that was keeping the smile on his face behind the mask was the fact that the Superintendent had pulled him aside before making introductions and asked him to render all assistance to this Mr. Calvin or whatever rank he held.

  Despite being initially wary, Jeffries had slowly realised that Luke's initial connection was through Steve and since he was now helping him officially, his slight oversight in spreading confidential information was caught up in a perfect loop of happy coincidences where he might even get to keep his job. As such, he once again held his forearms straight up while holding the door with his foot, as a surgeon might to avoid contamination, and allowed his new student to enter the room ahead of him before crossing to the gurney and picking up his forceps once again ready to deliver his succinct presentation. Just as he was leaning forward to make his first point he saw that Luke was holding up a gloved hand, gesturing for him to stop.

  'One thing Doc. No technical stuff. I'm no surgeon.'

  'Neither am I. Trust me, none of this will be hard to get.'

  As he cleared his throat to begin he could have sworn he heard the faintest “I'll decide” from the other man's mask but had no way to prove it other than the mirth behind the goggles. He had no idea how this man had ever managed to become friends with moody old Steve. The skeleton that was laid out between them both was stripped of all clothes and flesh and all but intact. This was actually the first point that Sgt Jeffries made, hovering the forceps over the length of the remains with a long sweeping motion.

  'Notice a couple of things here before we get into particulars. Remains are entirely skeletal...'

  'Aye, it's all bones doc. With you so far.'

  The Sergeant pretended not to have heard and resisted the urge to inform him that he was no doctor. Instead, he focused in on the shoulder joint nearest to him, probing the bone delicately and gesturing over the rest of the body with his free hand.

  'No soft tissue of any sort remaining on any part of the body.'

  'Aye doc. No eyes or skin or that. Got it.'

  Jeffries paused again but continued, this time directing attention towards the elbow. He knew that “Humerus” was the term for exactly where he was pointing but given the reception that “skeletal” and “tissue” had elicited he was not willing to further make a rod for his own back.

  'More than that Mr. Calvin. No tendons or ligaments. No muscles or fat. Not a bit of flesh or a vein or artery to be seen. The amount and variety of tissue you would expect even around a simple hinge joint like the elbow here...'

  'Humerus doc. Even I know that. Where'd you get your medical licence? Plumbing school?'

  Sergeant Je
ffries laughed and shook his head slowly. 'Are you always this difficult? Or should I feel special?'

  In a minor breach of procedure, Luke itched the back of his slicker suit hood with a double gloved hand and thought a moment.

  'I'm usually worse actually. Kind of on good behaviour since you're helping me out.'

  Jeffries found himself warming to him. There was something about a man who acts with such flippancy in the face of the usual expectation to conform to manners that was refreshing. Grossly unprofessional, yes, but a breath of fresh air none the less.

  'You wanting the quick version then?'

  Receiving a wink, a click of the mouth and an honest-to-God finger gun by way of response he beckoned Luke towards him from the other side of the gurney and gave him the details.

  'Here's the main bits. Bones are totally clean. Bleached actually. Normally we'd have to wait for tests to confirm it but I'd bet my house on it. And look here. ' He indicated to a small powdery hole in the base of the left wrist. 'There's one like that in almost every single bone of the body. Some more obvious than others but all there. So, any thoughts?'

  'Maybe they left the body in strong acid for a while? You know, like industrial grade stuff. Or a barrel of Lime, then cleaned it?'

  'Watching too many TV shows Mr. Calvin. When's the last time you heard of that sort of nonsense going on in Edinburgh?'

  In response Luke made ghost motions with his raised hands and whistled the theme tune from Unsolved Mysteries.

  'It's much simpler than that Mr. Calvin. All these holes...' he jabbed at around ten in quick succession 'used to hold screws or bolts. There's been a pretty shoddy effort made to fill them in with cheap plaster but on nothing more than a purely cosmetic level.'

  Luke leaned forward and examined one closest to him. It was exactly as he had said, the spiralling helix working its way deep down into the bone lengthways was faint but there. He straightened up and waited patiently for the final part of the explanation which was duly provided.

  'It's a display skeleton. Genuine bones, don't get me wrong, but they've been cleaned and treated before being placed back together with screws and wires to be used for display purposes only. What we're looking at here is probably a stupid joke or a prank of some sort.'