Into the Dark

by Stuart Johnstone

  ‘Jesus, Aly! What the fuck? Shit, look at your hand.’

  Alyson’s face was stone. She spat on the ground and then examined her knuckles, flexing her fingers open and closed. ‘Don’t worry, I think it’s all him,’ she said, wiping at the blood and panting a little.

  Faces stared from the office and at the far side there was a commotion at the window of the day room. ‘We’ll need to get our stories straight,’ I said and led her back inside.

  ‘There won’t be a complaint. Pricks like that are nothing but cowards. Trust me, I know. Later he’ll be too embarrassed to have been beaten by a woman to mention this to a soul.’

  I took her to the kitchen area and ran the cold tap. She hissed with pain as she pushed her hand under the stream. Most of the blood ran off, but there were some cuts and swelling.

  ‘I’ll find you a towel and some ice,’ I said. There was nothing obvious to hand, so I went looking for a staff member for a little help. As I made my way back along the corridor, the noise from the dayroom was getting louder. They must have been watching the violence and got upset, I thought, but all the noise was coming from Martin. The other residents were being moved clear by Michelle while Vicky struggled to restrain him.

  I moved to help her. Placing my hands on Martin’s shoulders to try to stop him getting to his feet. His face was furious and he was yelling, over and over, ‘Bastard, cut out her tongue, cut out her tongue. Bastard, cut out her tongue …’

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Wise Monkeys

  ‘Do you want to talk about what just happened?’

  ‘The old fella having a fit?’ Alyson said. She was running her left hand over the raw knuckles of her right as I drove. Her head rested against the side window. She hadn’t said a word in five minutes, but then again, neither had I. My head was still repeating Martin’s words, but it was the image of the blood-spattered interior of the Subaru that I was trying to address. ‘You’re going to try to make a big deal about it, but don’t. Sorry, but I don’t want to hear it.’

  ‘Hold on, are you talking about Martin, or are we now talking about the assault?’

  ‘Assault? You know that in the definition of “assault” there is the defence of self-defence and that it can used by a third-party protecting a victim.’

  ‘You are worried he’s going to make a complaint. This is what you’ve been thinking about.’

  She looked at me for a second, there was worry there. ‘Maybe I got a bit carried away.’ She wiped at her face, pushed the palm of her healthy hand into each eye and yawned.

  ‘You’re sleep deprived and stressed out. Aly, I’ve never seen you do anything like that.’

  There was a minute of silence before she spoke again. ‘Do you think he’ll go to the police? I could lose my job.’ Her voice was unsteady, her eyes were beginning to shine.

  ‘I think it’s like you said. He won’t want anyone to know what happened to him. And if he does, well, you and me will sit down and figure out what really happened a long time before professional standards get involved.’

  ‘I wouldn’t involve you.’

  ‘I was there, so that’s not a choice. Look, just forget about it until there’s something to worry about. Try to put it out of your mind. But what was going through your mind when you approached the car?’

  The fingers of her hand touched her brow and then gestured out in front of her, baffled. ‘I think I was going out there to scream in his face. Then, as I left the building, he saw me and his window started lowering. He had this smug look on his face and the next thing I knew my fingers were digging into my palm. I planted one hand on the door and then I just wanted to slam that look off his face. And then I wanted to do it again and again.’

  ‘Even before that though, the second you found out what had been going on, you were furious. I’ve rarely seen rage like it. In case you didn’t know, I’m a cop – I’m used to angry people.’

  We reached the station. I pulled into the rear yard and turned off the engine. I removed my belt and had just opened my door when I felt Alyson’s hand on my forearm. I closed it back over.

  ‘I had this boyfriend when I was at uni. Real prick. I met him when I was in first year. He was in third, was a few years older and had sort of figured the whole uni thing out. We ended up moving in together. At the time I didn’t see things developing, though looking back now it’s perfectly clear. All the little controlling behaviours. So, when he hit me for the first time, it didn’t really come as a shock. I’ll save you all the details, but it took nearly a year and a deep fucking depression to get shot of him. I started going to the gym, mostly to fight the depression, but I think it also had to do with finding a way to never feel that vulnerable again. Anyway, something snapped in that old place. Something that has been in a box for a very long time. There, now I’ve told you and we don’t have to talk about it again. OK?’

  Her hand was still on my arm. I patted it and she pulled away, wincing.

  ‘Ah, shit, sorry.’ I then started laughing, and soon she was laughing too. She punched me on the shoulder and I got a very small, but nonetheless painful, insight into what that fucker’s face took.

  Alyson left to complete her tasks before heading back to Leith. The tasks that I had set out for myself had gone completely out of my mind. I sat down at my desk, took a single sheet of paper from the printer tray and wrote:

  ‘Bastard cut out her tongue!’

  I stared at it for a long time. Exactly how long, I didn’t know. It wasn’t until Vikram knocked my door and asked if I wanted something picked up for my dinner that I realised how late it was getting. I thanked him but refused; my stomach was not in a good way. When I was alone again, I took my notebook from my pocket and scoured for the passages I had written after seeing Martin. Above the line I had written on the sheet, I added a statement. I flicked back further and added another line, then put down my pen and looked at what I had:

  ‘What kind of a monster could cut his eyes out?’

  ‘How can he hear the word of God?’

  ‘Bastard cut out her tongue!’

  After a few minutes, I lifted the pen once more and at the bottom wrote three more lines.

  See No Evil

  Hear No Evil

  Speak No Evil

  I left a little early, heading home before 10 p.m. with the day’s events still rattling around in my head. For once I found a space near to the flat. There was still some light in the sky; not much, but a purple glow underlit thin clouds. As hard as Scottish winters could be, this was the payoff – long summer days. I’d heard that they play a midnight golf tournament on Shetland and I could believe it.

  As I descended to the basement flat, I could see that there was a light on in the hall. I assumed Alyson had done herself a favour after the earlier drama and come home at a reasonable hour, but no.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ I said, dropping my bag in the hall.

  Dad looked at me like I’d asked the most absurd question. ‘This is still my flat, last I checked,’ he said. He was holding a bundle of clothes and I followed him through to the living room where a suitcase was lying open on the sofa.

  ‘Of course. I just meant … well, I just didn’t expect to see you.’

  ‘I came to gather some things. Heading back to Heather’s later.’

  ‘It’s going well, then?’

  ‘Aye, it’s going well. How are you? I was just about to put the kettle on.’

  He pushed a handful of boxer shorts down the side of the larger bundle in the middle of the case and wrestled the zip shut.

  ‘Actually, I think I’ll need something stronger tonight,’ I said and rubbed at my face, trying to awaken tired muscles.

  ‘One of those days?’ he said and then paused, his eyes searching the ceiling in thought. ‘You fancy going to the pub?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know, Faither, it’s been a really long day.’

  ‘All the more reason. You get changed, even with a coat on, it’s cle
ar yer fuzz, and I’ll call the missus.’

  ‘“The Missus”, aye?’ I said, my voice trailing higher at the end than was kind. ‘Fine, I suppose a few pints wouldn’t hurt.’

  I came back to the hall as Dad was finishing his call. ‘All right, love. I have a key, aye.’ There was a brief pause and his eyes shot to me, before he turned his back and said, as quietly as he thought he might get away with it, ‘Love you too.’

  I stifled a smile. ‘Ready?’

  Dad turned left at the top of the stairs, which meant we were going to go to the Cumberland bar, as opposed to the St Vincent.

  ‘It’s a braw evening, do you want to sit outside?’ he said as we approached the bar.

  ‘With that lot? No danger.’ A large crowd of student types dominated much of the beer garden seating area. One of them showed the group something on his phone, which prompted an eruption of raucous laughter. My head ached just looking at them.

  Inside was much more civilised. Busy, but not so busy we wouldn’t be able to sit. The bar stretched back to a restaurant section, but we took a table by the window with our pints.

  ‘How is Alyson liking the flat?’ he asked.

  ‘Fine, when she’s here. Been missing her own bed lately and this case she’s working on has her in the office most of the time. We barely see one another.’

  ‘What case is that?’

  ‘The case, Dad.’

  ‘Oh, you mean the, the thing with the boy and the—’

  ‘Yes, that one.’

  ‘Oh, I see. Are they close to catching the bastard?’ he whispered, though there was no real need. Three out of the four tables in our area were occupied, but they were all having fairly robust conversations of their own, having been in the pub a good while longer than us.

  ‘I’m not sure. I don’t think so. Besides, I can’t really talk about it.’

  ‘How?’ he said. This always made me wince. Some areas of Scotland where the word was used instead of ‘why’.

  ‘You know why. All this stuff is highly confidential.’

  ‘But you’re no working on it, are you?’

  The question caught me a bit by surprise. I thought again of the piece of paper on my desk at work, of Martin and of Alyson. ‘I’ve had some involvement, just a little.’

  Dad shifted in his chair opposite me. He looked excited. ‘I didn’t know that. I thought you were community police, or whatever.’

  ‘I am, but when you have a major inquiry like this, resources get pulled in from all over. Seems everyone has a part to play.’ Dad said something, but I missed it. Everyone has a part to play, I’d just said. Alyson had no time for this thing with Martin and likely she was right, but I couldn’t shake it. I was trying to remember how long between these strange incidents at the care home and something happening. What was it? Twenty-two and twenty-three days?

  ‘Oy,’ Dad said and nudged my arm. I looked up from wherever I was. ‘I said are you having another?’

  ‘Aye, sure. Thanks.’

  He got up and took our empties with him, grumbling about getting better conversation from the barmaid.

  I had three choices. One, I let this thing go, assuming it was nonsense and take comfort in the fact that those dealing with the case know what they’re doing. Two, I try again to convince Alyson, though that seemed even more far-fetched than these coincidences actually meaning something. Or, there was option three.

  There was a small thump as Dad laid down my glass in front of me. ‘What is it you’re daydreaming about?’

  ‘I’m just thinking about some work I need to do, starting tomorrow,’ I said.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Pushing Forward

  I have to make more of an effort, Alyson thought, only now seeing Don’s text from last night.

  Going to the pub with Dad. Sure you’ll be too busy, but if you get off early enough, come join us for a beer. x

  She made a mental note to respond later and slid her phone discreetly back into her pocket under the desk. She’d do it now, but she couldn’t risk what kind of mood Kate might be in. A week ago they’d been waiting for her to arrive for the morning meeting, just like this, and Adrian was checking whatever on his phone. She’d chewed him up and left him red-faced and bewildered. It was only luck that it hadn’t been her, she’d been on her screen only moments before, as all of them had done on any number of occasions when Kate came in previously, and she hadn’t uttered a word of complaint.

  Like Alyson, one or two were risking a glance under the table. Otherwise they all sat in silence, save for the occasional sip from their morning brew of choice. Alyson tried to count everyone. There were eight of them seated around the table with a crowd, two-people thick in places, gathered behind. There were also a few chapping away at terminals, taking the risk of getting some work done before Kate arrived. Alyson estimated nineteen, give or take.

  The door crashed against the opposite wall as Kate strode in. There was a dusting of white powder collecting on the carpet underneath where the handle struck the plaster each time she flung open the door. Since every inch of the place was covered in sensitive material, cleaners were not allowed access to the entire floor and it was unlikely any of them would go hunting for a vacuum cleaner anytime soon.

  ‘Talk to me about the van, Duncan,’ Kate barked. She laid her coffee down and hung her coat over the back of her chair. She sat and started pulling folders from her bag.

  He stood and nervously adjusted his tie. ‘There’s nothing to report, ma’am. We have a dedicated team physically eyeballing as many vehicles registered in the central belt that have business insurance attached as we can. There were one or two maybes, but they had air-tight alibis and one promising hit, but it went nowhere.’

  ‘Tell me about that.’

  ‘A spark, out by Falkirk. He wasn’t able—’

  ‘Spark? What the fuck are you on about?’

  ‘Sorry ma’am, an electrician. The graphics on his van included a hammer, but only as a small part of a whole bunch of tools in a bag. You’d have been hard-pressed to pick it out if you weren’t looking for it. Anyway, he had no real alibi to speak of. We looked into it, even seized the van, until he remembered going to a KFC drive-through near Bridge of Allan on the night in question. Bank checks and CCTV confirm. I checked and double-checked the timeline, it’s possible to make that journey and make it fit, but you’d need to be doing a solid ninety.’

  ‘You got the van checked by SOCO anyway?’

  ‘Of course, ma’am. There had been no attempt to clean the interior of the vehicle in some time and no hits. There’s nothing about this guy that would give rise to suspicion.’

  ‘Phone records?’

  ‘We’re checking, yes. He gave permission and has been cooperative at every stage. He’s not our guy.’

  ‘Fine, but don’t lose sight of him, just in case.’

  ‘Ma’am,’ said Duncan in confirmation and sat.

  ‘Cross referencing. Where are we with HOLMES?’

  Fuck, thought Alyson, and stood. ‘Nothing new, ma’am. We’ve gone through every place victim number two has worked and the same for the grandfather of victim number one. The word “priest” is the only link established. We’re gathering more information every day and, of course, I will bring anything new to you the second it comes in.’

  Kate looked at her, then down at her notes. Alyson was lowering back into her chair when Kate cleared her throat. Alyson rose once more. After a short period of silence and with all the eyes in the room switching between the two women, Kate spoke.

  ‘You brought us this lead, DC Kane. I can’t tell you how impressed I was that day when it landed on us. But you’re not going to go and disappoint me now, are you?’

  ‘Uh, no, ma’am. I’m on it. I promise—’

  ‘CCTV. Talk to me.’

  Alyson sat awkwardly as the DS from the CCTV team stood and began delivering a similarly impotent update. Duncan looked like he wanted to say something to her, but da
ren’t. Instead he widened his eyes at her. She returned the gesture and tried to settle her pulse.

  I looked at the date I’d circled on the calendar hanging on the kitchen wall: the tenth of September. If Alyson asked why I’d circled it, I decided it was my mum’s birthday. The fact that her birthday was the twenty-second of January was neither here nor there. I’d counted twenty-one days from Martin’s latest outburst, this being the shortest of the two periods between an episode and an attack. I’d circled it last night with a sense of purpose and determination. However, in the cold light of day it felt silly. What were the chances of there being anything to this theory? And if I did do what I was thinking about doing, what would that mean for my career?

  ‘What the fuck are you doing?’ I said aloud and fell into a chair with my tea clutched to my chest. I looked at the green circle, twenty days and counting. ‘Counting to what?’ Counting to some poor bastard having their tongue cut out. ‘Are you really going to risk your job because some old man’s been having bad dreams?’ I put down the tea, being careful where to lay it. Alyson’s paperwork was still spread all over the table. But what if you do nothing? What if you do nothing and it’s another child?

  I drained the remainder of the tea and climbed on top of the chair, so I could get the whole table surface into the camera of the phone. It must look exactly like this after you’re done. She’d kill you if she knew anything about this.