Hunter's Chase

by Val Penny

  “Alice, could we have coffee and biscuits for three, please. If Mary-Ann gets here, have her start in the bedrooms. Ask Kenneth not to put any calls through, just to take messages while I am in my meeting.”

  Sir Peter rejoined them, then he and DCI Allan Mackay continued their cosy chat and exchanged pleasantries. It was like a ritual mating dance.

  “I hear from Tim he has joined the CID? He seems to be looking forward to the experience. He is going with Sophie to pick up the keys for their new home today.” Sir Peter allowed for a pregnant pause before saying, “Tim is dating Lady Sophie Dalmore. Such a lovely girl. You know, Earl Dalmore's daughter? She has bought a most spacious apartment in Bruntsfield, and they’re moving in together. Fine area for a young couple, don't you think, Allan? ”

  “Bear told me they were moving into a first floor flat in Tollcross,” Jane commented before she could stop herself.

  “It is a drawing room apartment in Bruntsfield, Detective Sergeant,” Sir Peter growled.

  “That's good to hear, sir.” Mackay said, frowning at Jane in an obvious attempt to diffuse the tension. “And Ailsa is doing well?”

  “Indeed. She has graduated with a First in Medicine from Cambridge, and is now working in the Accident and Emergency department at King's Hospital in London. She says that department offers the best training.” Sir Peter paused. “Seems silly to waste such a good degree on drunks and pensioners, but what can you do? She's still at the stage she wants to make a difference. She's her mother's daughter. But she'll learn!” Sir Peter nodded knowingly.

  Jane liked Ailsa already. She vividly remembered how miserable it was not to be accepted and respected for who she was and what she wanted to do. She had never met Ailsa Myerscough, but empathised with her. She was disturbed from her reverie by a knock at the door.

  Alice came in to pour the coffee and offer around biscuits before leaving the three to their meeting. Jane tried to steer the conversation back to something more relevant.

  “Could you tell us what happened yesterday evening, Sir Peter? From the time you got home and realised something was wrong.”

  Myerscough explained the chain of events. “It was dreadful, DS Renwick. Truly appalling to realise a dead human body had been hidden on the Golf Club Grounds.” He looked at her intently. “Merchants is such a respectable club. One would not expect to have such a horrific experience there.” He paused. “She was hidden in a very shallow grave. Her leg and part of her face were already visible. That's what tripped the blasted boy up. Do you know I fought to get that thief a job? And he threw some of my valuable items into the body's mouth. Revolting. Ungrateful wretch that he is. And that poor woman. Do you know who she is yet? Is George Reinbold still in charge of the CSIs?”

  “Yes, indeed,” Mackay nodded.

  “He must be a good age now; I don't suppose there is much he hasn't seen. Has his team found out anything?”

  “Not yet, Sir Peter,” Jane answered. “What makes you think the body was hidden rather than just suffering an accident?”

  “Well, it seemed obvious. How could it be an accident? She had no reason to be there. It's not as if it’s a footpath or a shortcut to anywhere. And someone had tried to bury her body, to hide it. That doesn't look accidental to me.”

  Jane Renwick and DCI Mackay left after completing a statement with Sir Peter and issued him with a crime number for the break-in. Before Jane passed the report over to the former Chief Constable, she glanced at it. It was clear Myerscough had interrupted Jamie soon after he broke into his home. Damage was minimal, but some of the jewellery reported missing was very valuable. She knew it had not all been found in Jamie's possession, nor amongst the items recovered from the woods so far.

  “Thank you Sir Peter,” she said. “I must make you aware that many of the most valuable items you have listed here have not been traced.”

  “Indeed, well, I saw him drop some things in the street as he ran. Could be they have been picked up by someone else who found them there?”

  “That could be. But you have two paintings on this list too. How would Jamie carry those, Sir? I did not notice any gaps on the walls to support the theft of paintings. Which rooms were they in?”

  To Jane’s surprise, Mackay snatched the crime report from her, but she did not argue when Mackay insisted that he co-sign the form with Sir Peter, then brown-nosed his way to the door. “So good of you to take time to see us, Sir Peter.”

  On the way back to the station, Jane tried to find out if the DCI had any questions relating to Sir Peter's account of things. If he did, he did not voice any.

  For lunch, Colin Reid had a turkey salad sandwich that his wife had made, an apple and a bottle of water. John Hamilton had nipped out to the snack bar across the street, and came back with two scotch pies, a bag of tortilla chips, a large bar of chocolate and a can of cola. Afterwards, John and Colin went over to the Golf Club.

  There were three groundsmen and a boy on work experience from the job centre. None of them had noticed anything unusual. The boy was employed primarily to clear up litter and collect golf balls from the Club's grounds. The two DCs decided he was their best bet, as the other two cared for the greens, and pressed the boy for information.

  “I saw more birds than usual in the trees near where you all found the body. I noticed because I like birds. I like animals too and I saw a mother fox with her cubs. Two cubs, quite tiny.”

  “Did you see anything odd when you were watching the foxes and the birds?” Colin asked.

  “No. I didn't go close into that area of the rough in case I disturbed the foxes and chased them away. I like seeing the animals and birds around the grounds.” The lad said that he had not thought of the scavenging as being unusual. “No. I can't really give you a time-scale, but I’ve been here almost three weeks.” He looked disappointed when he told them he would be going back to school next week.

  “Understandable, the boy didn't go near the body,” Colin said to John as they walked back to the car. “I know he didn't have to, but bloody infuriating, isn't it? I wish he'd given half as much thought to the change in wildlife activity as he did to baby foxes.”

  “Aye, but to be honest, Colin, I'm not sure that lad's the full shilling.” John pulled a couple of sticky mint humbugs out of his pocket and offered one to Colin, who shook his head. John went on, “Did you believe the others?”

  “No real reason not to, is there? And the boy wasn't quick enough to lie, was he?” Colin smiled then looked much more serious as he commented, “I wonder what the post mortem examination will show?”

  “Glad it was Rachael Anderson called in to that and not me.”

  John heaved his ample body behind the wheel and they made their way back to the station to write up statements. It made for a long, boring afternoon.

  Chapter Eight

  Tim and Sophie were proud of their new home. It was her flat, but their home. They had not chosen to live in the fashionable New Town, but their flat in the south west of the city was convenient for both work and socialising, and their favourite pub, The Golf, was also now their local.

  If Sophie had been willing to wait a few months, Tim would have had access to his inheritance from his mother. Then they could have bought something together, anything they wanted, but Sophie was always the more impetuous of the two. When she decided she wanted something, she made it happen. As it was, they knew their families told everybody they had bought property in Bruntsfield, whereas in truth, the flat was nearer the less fashionable Tollcross. Home for them was now Gillespie Crescent, a short cul-de-sac that was a little world of its own, with Viewpoint Retirement Housing opposite a wide curve of spacious, traditional tenement flats. To the rear of their new home, the Angelus rang out from the convent. The spacious two-bedroomed, first floor apartment suited them perfectly, and when Tim stood at the kitchen sink he could see Edinburgh Castle.

  Sophie pulled her Fiat 500 into a parking space opposite their building and shook her mane of dark bl
onde hair, flashing Tim a wide smile. She was excited about moving in with Tim. She was less sure about living with Lucy, as she did not consider herself a cat person. But for Tim, Lucy was non-negotiable.

  ***

  Tim unfolded his 6'4” frame and clambered carefully out of the tiny vehicle. He always felt he was wearing the car rather than riding in it. How he hated squashing into that car. He said nothing to Sophie; the resulting lecture was not worth the candle. She was environment-crazy and determined to save the planet, single-handed if need be. It was only the lack of charging points that stopped her from buying an electric car.

  Tim was very much looking forward to his forthcoming thirtieth birthday. The first thing he planned to do with the trust money from his mother was buy a much bigger car. He knew it would have to be a hybrid car to satisfy Sophie, but he was determined to get a car that he would find comfortable.

  Tim went around the Fiat to stand beside Sophie. Together they gazed up at their new home. Sophie's intelligent, hazel eyes smiled up at him. He patted his pocket and took the keys out. He kissed her gently. Sophie squeezed his hand. Tim winced and moved the door keys into his free hand.

  “Ouch! Keys are here.”

  “Oops, sorry,” she smiled.

  “No second thoughts?”

  She shook her head and looked up and stared straight into his sapphire-blue eyes.

  “You ready to go up to our new home?” Tim asked.

  “I like the sound of that! Let's go!”

  He lifted her swiftly off her feet and ran across the road and up the stairs. She squealed with surprise.

  “Tim, you fool. Put me down!”

  They laughed as he unlocked the door with one hand, balancing her safely on his shoulder until they crossed the threshold. Then he placed her back on to her feet, bent down and kissed her deeply until she gasped for breath.

  “I do love you, Tim.”

  “I love you too. I don't think I have ever been happier. I'll run down and get Lucy's basket, and then shall we take a walk around and work out what we should put where?”

  “Good idea. That would be fun. I hope the deliveries start arriving soon. I can't wait!”

  “You know, this whole street is pretty.” Sophie was standing in the bay window of the living room as Tim followed her through. “But I'm really looking for delivery vans!” She squeezed his hand.

  “How common, Lady Sophie!” he grinned. “Surely you know better than to stand at windows and stare? Windy hinging, it's called, I think.”

  She laughed and held his outstretched hand more firmly. As they continued to wander from room to room, they chatted about where they would place each piece of furniture.

  Lucy, Tim's pretty Persian Blue cat, followed them, surveying her new territory and nuzzling Tim's legs whenever he paused. When the John Lewis van arrived, Tim picked Lucy up and cradled her in his arms. She purred gently, but when (for her own safety) he closed her in the kitchen, Lucy was clearly unimpressed. She howled like a baby as the furniture was unloaded.

  Tim and Sophie decided to build their new bed first and leave Lucy where she was. Her help was more than they needed. They left the other furniture in the living room out of the way while they struggled with the construction.

  “It will be great to have a bed long enough for me.” Tim stretched out on the new mattress as they completed their work. “This mattress is good and firm,” he said patting the bed next to him. Sophie lay down beside him.

  “Very nice, but I wonder if the bed squeaks.”

  “We have a duty to make sure it doesn't,” Tim said as he rolled over. They kissed deeply and passionately, a long open-mouthed kiss that made the blood rush to his loins. Tim began to undress Sophie, gently caressing the softness of her skin and covering her body in repeated kisses…

  After they had made love neither of them had any idea whether the bed made any noise. And neither of them cared.

  “We will have to try the bed again, just to find out,” Sophie smiled. That idea changed as the next van arrived, this time from Ikea. They dressed hurriedly, leaving Lucy howling where she was, and opened the door for the deliverymen to bring in the dining room set and more living room furniture. Sophie squeezed her arms around her body.

  “Are you looking forward to our flat-warming party next weekend, Soph? Mind you, we might need two: one for the families and one for our friends.”

  Sophie turned to him. “Party yes, but I'm not going through it all twice just because our fathers are both snobs! It will be fun, Timmy, everyone is invited at the one time and they can all just get on with it.”

  Tim was taken aback by how adamant she was. Then her frown turned to a smile again as her glance took in the new furniture.

  “Now, at least some people will be able to sit if they want to!”

  “Okay, agreed. This party idea may be either brave or foolhardy, but I'll run with it!” Tim said.

  Sophie nodded, and walked away to empty more boxes.

  As they unpacked the other items they had fun getting their furniture into place and they now had bookcases for books, DVDs and CDs. They planned to use the large internal hall as a dining room and were setting it up when the doorbell rang again.

  Tim got to the door first and managed to surprise Sophie again with a huge bouquet of flowers. She burst into tears as all her earlier bravado evaporated.

  “Thank you so much, Timmy. What on earth did I do to deserve these? They are beautiful!”

  “You put up with my dad and never shout at him. You are clever and beautiful and everybody knows I am punching way above my weight!” He grinned and picked her up to carry her back to the bedroom. “You are the most amazing woman I have ever met.”

  They laughed and hugged, closing the door on Lucy again. She howled like a banshee.

  Tim ignored the other female in his life. Once again he felt Sophie wet and warm on his hand. He gazed at Sophie as she lay back, her legs crossed behind his back, as he entered her. Firm and fast with an easy rhythm his strokes ensured their explosion was simultaneous. Sophie lay, flushed and satisfied. He slipped out of her and rolled over. He felt complete.

  ***

  Sophie turned to him, gazed at his blue eyes and fine features. Even his broken nose did not spoil his looks, although Sophie knew her mother wanted Tim to have it fixed. This was the man she loved. The man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, didn't she? Sophie certainly knew she could trust him to the ends of the earth, and soon, when she had made the big decision, she would trust him with her secret. In the meantime, she sighed, contentedly.

  “Shall I make you some tea?” Tim asked and, treating it as a rhetorical question, he pulled on his trousers and walked towards the kitchen and put the kettle on. “Lady Grey, Lady Dalmore?”

  “Sweepings is fine, pet. But let's have a chocolate biscuit too.”

  Lucy dashed into the bedroom as soon as the kitchen door opened, but was clearly less than impressed to find herself on the bed with Sophie, and completely furious when the woman brushed her away. After Tim and Sophie were fully dressed again, Lucy joined them as they sat on boxes looking out of the window of the living room. Tim stroked Lucy gently. Sophie was convinced that the cat believed there was only room for one female in Tim's life, and she was not sure this new arrangement would work. She didn’t like cats in general, and she certainly didn’t like Lucy enough to want to share Tim. Then she felt ridiculous; she could not be jealous of a cat!

  ***

  “There are hardly any leaves on the trees now, they look so bare. Ooh, look at all those fire engines at the home for the bewildered.”

  “Tim, don’t say that, it’s Viewpoint Housing for the elderly. Oh look! There are four of them. How are they going to get out of the car park?”

  They both sat and watched the firefighters move to one of the buildings and huddle. All the premises were inspected and, without need for any action, the men jumped back into the engines and Sophie laughed and clapped her hands as
she watched the large vehicles reverse slowly and expertly back onto the road, one after the other, and drive away.

  “Those guys have done that before!” She looked up at Tim.

  “And no doubt the poor buggers will have to do it again,” he said, as he took her mug through to the kitchen.

  “No doubt.”

  “Come on, Soph. I'll get the TV and the sound system set up if you straighten out the bed and put the chairs around the dining table. I think that will be enough for today, don't you?”

  “Definitely!”

  “Shall we go and have a few drinks at The Golf?”

  “Yes that sounds good. And a takeaway. I'm far too tired to cook,” Sophie smiled.

  “Me too.” Tim could not think when he had ever been happier; at last he could see his future taking shape.

  “Are you looking forward to the move to CID?” Sophie asked later, as they sat in The Golf.

  “Sort of. I know my father and my new boss never got along, so that could be difficult. But Bear is already in the team, so at least there is someone on my side.”

  “I never really understood why you didn't apply for accelerated promotion. I mean, you have a first class degree, and with your contacts...”

  “Exactly why I never did it, Soph. It's bad enough that I went to Merchiston and am the son of the former Chief Constable, without mentioning St Andrew's and being in 'Bob's' rugby team.”

  “Is that what they called Prince William? I knew he had a silly nickname. But I would have thought that would all be good.”

  “Ha ha. No, I don't think so. I want to be accepted for who I am, not for who my father is or who I know. I never wanted to do anything but follow my father into the force. I know you don't understand that, really. I know it's not the job your parents expected your partner to have. But let's face it, both you and Geoffrey followed your father to read law. You have even gone into his firm.”

  “I suppose. We're not so very different, when you look at it that way.”