by Rena George
Would he be taking his frustration out on wife Rachel even now? What if he was still in Glasgow trying to find a way to silence Joanna Flugg? Had they jumped in at the deep end with absolutely no evidence that McLeod was involved in these killings?
Drummond frowned. He would have to keep reminding himself that this was just another exercise to cross a potential suspect off their list. Even thinking of the man as a suspect was a shot in the dark.
It was easily resolved though. If Rachel McLeod could verify that Angus had slept with her all night and never left the house, then he wasn't their man. And he had to admit that this was the most likely scenario.
He made good time and Drummond's spirits rose as the soaring parapets of the Kessock Bridge came into view.
He'd acted on impulse leaving Glasgow so early, insisting on taking his own car. He didn't fancy being left high and dry in Inverness without transport. For the first time he wondered where Rougvie was. They should have convoyed, but he'd been too impatient to get there. He'd ring Rougvie and arrange for them to see Angus McLeod together.
He checked his dashboard clock. It was almost 8 a.m. and the traffic was building as he drove through the Longman Estate. It was almost a reflex action to head for the McLeod house. He didn't need to actually knock the door but keeping the place under surveillance until Rougvie turned up would be no bad thing.
As soon as Drummond turned into the road, he could see the car in the drive. It all looked so normal. His heart sank. Could McLeod really have driven to Glasgow the previous day, attempted to murder Joanna Flugg and then calmly returned to Inverness in time for work that morning? What had felt like a possibility in Glasgow yesterday was now looking highly unlikely.
His phone rang just as the man emerged from the front door, businesslike as always in a grey pinstriped suit and carrying a black leather briefcase.
He didn't look like a man who strangled women.
Drummond raised the instrument to his ear. 'Hi, Nick. Sorry, I should have called you.'
'No worries,' Rougvie said. 'I'm having a bacon roll at a cafe. Where are you?'
Drummond watched Angus McLeod carefully reverse his car out of his drive. 'I'm here at the McLeod place,' he said. He could almost imagine the face Nick Rougvie was pulling at the other end.
'I thought we were going to do this together?'
'We are, if you stop feeding your face and get a move on.'
'It sounds like you might feel better if you fed your face. Didn't you even sleep last night, Jack?'
'Not a lot. I just wanted to get here.'
Rougvie sighed. 'OK. Well, why don't you relax and grab a bit of breakfast. I should be with you in an hour and a half.'
Drummond slid down out of sight as Angus McLeod drove past him. 'Yeah,' he said. 'Maybe I will.'
The barman at the River Inn didn't look in the least surprised to see him walking in. 'So, you're back,' he said. 'The bar's not open yet.'
'It's breakfast I'm after, Colin, the biggest and best you've got.'
Colin Ridley nodded to a table. 'Sit yourself down I'll see what we can do.'
Drummond watched him go off to the kitchen and smiled. He was looking forward to this. While he waited, he texted Rougvie to meet him here, suggesting he called in at home first. The anticipation of food was mellowing him. "Say hello to Elaine for me."
The reply pinged back immediately. "Will do. Thanks Jack."
Drummond had demolished a huge Scottish breakfast right down to the fried tattie scone and was outside the pub staring thoughtfully at the fast-flowing river when Rougvie arrived. 'I should call in at the station and let them know I'm back,' he said, coming to stand beside him.
'If you do that, they might not let you out to play. Ring your guv and put him in the picture. I'll call him later and explain I need you for this morning's investigation. I need your local knowledge.'
Rougvie got out his phone. 'Let's hope Joey Buchan has persuaded him to let me stay on board this case,' he said as he tapped the number.
Drummond watched his body language as he strolled off, talking into his phone. It didn't appear to be going well. Rougvie came back, frowning. 'Your DCI rang him, but I don't think he was listening. He's told me to get back to the station.'
Drummond pulled a face. Shit! He'd called Joey Buchan earlier to let her know he and Rougvie were both back in Inverness and about to visit Angus McLeod's wife. 'I'm not sure this isn't going to turn out to be a wild goose chase, Jack, but keep me informed,' she'd said, adding. ‘And keep it tight. I don't want you two going off-road on this.' Drummond assured her this wouldn't happen.
But now he was back with Rougvie and nodding to his car. ‘You drive. Let's see what Rachel has to tell us.'
Rougvie stared at him. ‘Did you not you hear what I just said?
‘Don't walk out on me now, Nick. I'll clear it with your DCI Fraser. This visit won't take long. Trust me.'
Rougvie sighed. ‘An hour then, I'll give you an hour.'
The McLeod house was only minutes away. They drove there and sat outside, each man with his own thoughts. If Rachel gave her husband an alibi and said he'd been at home all the previous night, then Angus McLeod was off the hook and the investigation was back to square one. Drummond took a deep breath, making a conscious effort to calm his rising nerves. 'If I've got the family routine right, the twins should be next door with the neighbour by now,' he said, hoping baby Archie would also be settled in his play pen and Rachel free to talk to them. He could hear Rougvie's intake of breath and knew the man shared his nerves.
They got out of the car and approached the front door. Rachel must have spotted them as they came up the path, for the door opened before Drummond knocked.
'You've got news?' she said, her eyes lighting up expectantly.
Drummond put up a hand. 'Sorry, no. Just more routine enquiries. May we come in?'
Rachel McLeod's shoulders slumped. 'Of course,' she said flatly, stepping back to let them pass her into the house. 'I'm in the kitchen. I suppose you'll want coffee.'
Drummond and Rougvie exchanged a look. 'That would be great,' Drummond said, following her into the big homely room. The radio was playing and he recognized the phone-in programme. His father always had it on in the shop.
The kettle had already boiled and both detectives sat at the table as Rachel spooned coffee from a small jar of Nescafé.
'Angus doesn't like me drinking this stuff. He says we should only have tea, but that's just because he prefers tea.'
'How are you two coping now?' Drummond asked.
Rachel's shoulders rose in a huge shrug. 'How d'you think? It doesn't get any easier.'
'Couldn't you all take a family break?' Rougvie suggested.
She swung round to give him a disbelieving stare. 'A break? We never take any breaks. Angus doesn't like family holidays. He doesn't see the point.' She turned back to pour boiling water into the mugs. 'Besides,' she said, sighing. 'He's never here at weekends, at least not on Friday and Saturday nights. He's always back for church on Sunday though.'
Drummond's heart quickened. He cleared his throat. 'What does Angus do at weekends?'
Rachel took a long, deep sigh. 'My husband is a very private man. There are things in his life that he doesn't share with anyone, especially not me.'
Rougvie frowned. 'You mean your husband goes away every weekend and you've never asked him where he goes?'
Rachel put a hand on her swollen belly as though the unborn child inside brought her comfort. 'I didn't say that. Of course, I've asked him.'
'And?' Rougvie went on.
'And nothing. Angus tells only what he wants us to know. He goes off walking during the night, you know. I hear the front door closing.'
Drummond stepped forward, flashing Rougvie a look. 'Do these nocturnal walks happen often?' he asked.
'Probably. I don't really know. We have separate rooms these days.'
'So Angus could be going out at night and you wouldn't necessarily be a
ware of it?' Drummond was trying to keep his voice steady.
Rachel nodded. 'I don't think he sleeps very well. Sometimes he goes out in the evening and hasn't returned when I go to bed.'
'You must have your own ideas about what's going on though,' Rougvie said gently.
Rachel passed their coffees across the table and sat down cupping her hands around her own mug. She shrugged. 'I believe Angus has another family somewhere,' she said quietly, unaware of the look that shot between the two detectives.
Drummond waited a beat. This conversation was turning explosive. He needed to keep calm. 'What makes you think that?' he said quietly.
Rachel gave a resigned shrug. 'I suppose it was the toys that got me wondering.' She looked up at Drummond. 'I found a pink rabbit in his briefcase one day. I thought it was strange. I mean we have three sons. Why would Angus give any of them a fluffy pink rabbit? I waited to see if he would mention it, but he never did.'
'It could have been a gift for the child of one of the church parishioners,' Rougvie suggested.
Rachel shook her head. 'No, Angus doesn't do things like that. And even if he did, why would he not mention it?'
The woman's theory was fascinating even if it did seem a bit far-fetched.
'And then there was the letter,' she said.
'Letter?' Drummond made no attempt to hide his interest now.
'I found a letter in his bureau. He normally keeps it locked but one day he went off to work and left the key in the lock.' She lifted her coffee and took a slow sip, apparently remembering the incident. 'I know I shouldn't have opened it, but I did. The letter, well just a note really, was under some bills. I picked it up and read it.' Her hand went to her throat. 'I could hardly believe what I was seeing. I know it by heart.'
"Darling Angus," she recited, her voice shaking. "I know you said not to, but I needed to write this.
The days without having you here with us are torture. The weekends are never enough. Forgive my impatience. I know how hard you are trying to find another job so we can be together all the time. Having Grace after all these years is like a miracle and I can't bear that you're missing so much time together.
Read this often, my darling. I know you miss us as much as we miss you.
With all my love, Judy."
Rachel slumped wearily back in her chair. 'If that doesn't sound like he's got another family tucked away somewhere then I don't know what does.'
Drummond prided himself in not being surprised at anything the public threw at him, but he hadn't been expecting this. 'Did you tackle your husband about the note?' he asked.
Rachel rubbed her arm and Drummond glimpsed the bruise on her wrist as her sleeve rode up. 'No,' she said. 'Angus doesn't like being questioned.'
He was aware of Rougvie's concerned glance. His brow wrinkled. 'Why do you stay with him, Rachel?'
The woman stared at him. 'You make it sound like I have an option.' She cupped her baby bulge in her hands. 'I have three young children and this one to think of. Angus would never allow me to leave.'
'If you want to go, he can't stop you,' Rougvie said. 'There's a place here in Inverness where you and the children would be safe. We can help you.'
Rachel laughed. 'A women's refuge in Inverness? It would take Angus five minutes to find me. He'd haul me out by the hair, you don't know him.'
Drummond's anger against the man was flaring. He knew he didn't treat his women well, but he would never raise a hand to any of them. Men who beat women were the scum of the earth. 'You could charge him with assault. We would support you.'
Rachel shook her head. 'I've already told you too much. If Angus suspects I've been going through his bureau or even criticizing him to you he would make my life hell. Please don't ask him about this.'
'But if he's abusing you…' Rougvie protested.
'You don't understand. No one would believe me.' She rubbed her hands over her face but there were no tears. 'The minister's wife came to see me when Angus was away on Saturday. She wanted to help me too.' She looked up from one to the other. 'Apparently I need help because I've been telling people Angus is violent towards me. She said the mind can play tricks when you're pregnant.' Rachel gave an incredulous laugh. 'Like a woman who's never actually been pregnant would know that. Anyway, it appears that Angus has had a word with her, confided in her she said, about the problems he's having with me.'
'She said that?' Rougvie frowned.
'Oh yes. Apparently, Angus is very worried about me…worried about the stories I might be spreading about him. She said it was all in my mind. She actually offered to counsel me.' Rachel got to her feet and began collecting the empty coffee mugs. Rougvie jumped up to help but she waved him back down to his chair. 'It's what Angus does. He's very clever you see. He gets people on his side.' She paused. 'Believe me, he can be very convincing.'
Drummond rubbed his chin, thinking. 'How did Emily get on with your husband?'
Rachel clattered the mugs into the sink. 'She hated him. I didn't understand at the time. Angus likes to control people, but he couldn't do it with Emily. Nobody told Emily what to do. I know how much that would have frustrated him, but they kept all that hostility under wraps, at least as far as I was concerned.
'At the time I put Emily's dislike of her stepfather down to jealousy. Before I married Angus it had been a struggle being a single mum. Money was tight so all I could afford was a pokey little flat down by the harbour. But we were happy together, Emily and me.
'When Angus arrived on the scene I worked at the bank and he was my boss. He made no secret that he was attracted to me and I was flattered. I suppose Emily felt threatened when he started coming to visit us at home.'
Rachel bit her bottom lip. 'I should have seen it coming. I should have known Emily was never going to get on with Angus. She saw through him from the start. She tried to tell me what he was like, but I didn't believe her. He was still being kind to me back then. But now, thinking back. I know Angus was the reason Emily left. He drove her away.'
'Does Angus know how you feel about this?' Drummond asked.
She nodded. 'Oh yes. I've never actually accused him, but I'm sure he suspects what I think. It's probably one of the reasons why he treats me like this now.'
The detectives stood up together.
'You won't tell Angus what I've said, will you?' Rachel's voice was pleading. 'He would kill me if he thought I'd been talking like this to you.'
'I don't want you to worry about this,' Drummond said grimly. 'Leave Angus to us. We will have to speak to him, but we'll leave you out of it.'
Her look suggested she wasn't at all confident about that.
'Inspector Drummond is right, Rachel.' Rougvie's voice was full of compassion. 'You can trust us.'
Drummond turned back as they reached the door. The woman looked so forlorn sitting there that he wanted to wrap his arms around her, but that would hardly be appropriate. And besides, he was a hard-bitten Glasgow cop and he didn't make gestures like that. He met her eyes. 'We won't be telling your husband that we visited you. That's a promise.'
She mouthed a shaky 'thank you' but he could see she was on the verge of tears.
Twenty-Eight
'Well?' DCI Joey Buchan demanded. 'Is this bank manager our man?'
'Give us a break, Joey, we've only been here five minutes. He's a strong candidate, but I need to do some more sniffing around.'
'We need results, Jack.'
'And we'll get them. Things are starting to unravel around Mr McLeod. He wasn't at home in Inverness when Joanna Flugg was attacked, although I know that's what he'll claim.'
'So, he has no alibi?'
'Exactly, but he doesn't yet know that. If he thinks he's out of the woods he might get careless. He's cocky enough.'
He could hear Joey's sigh at the other end of the phone. 'We need to get things moving. I'm having to explain what you're doing in Inverness again. Give me something positive, Jack, or I'll have to pull you back to Glasgow.'
'Nobody wants to catch this monster more than me. You know that, Joey, but I need another day, maybe two.'
'Jesus, you don't want much, do you?' There was a pause. 'OK, but keep me in the loop, eh? And that means me knowing everything you know. Do you understand?'
'Yes, boss. I'll keep in touch.'
He threw Rougvie a grim smile. 'Right, it's your turn now, Nick. We have to put your governor in the picture.'
'That should please him,' Rougvie said.
'We need to do some digging into the charming Mr McLeod's background,' Drummond said. 'And for that we need to get out of this car and get access to computers and phones that don't run out of charge.'
Five minutes later they were speeding past Inverness railway station and heading for Rougvie's nick on the Longman Estate.
Drummond fancied he spotted a trace of relief in DCI Gavin Fraser's expression when they walked into his office and guessed Joey wasn't the only one getting leaned on from above. No doubt he'd had to explain his decision to release one of his senior detectives to assist in what was a Glasgow Police investigation.
Fraser didn't invite them to sit as he folded his arms. 'OK, DS Rougvie. Let's hear it.' He glanced from one to the other. 'I want a progress report on what you two have been up to.'
Rougvie shifted his weight uneasily from one foot to the other. 'I'm sorry, boss. I should have let you know I was back in Inverness.'
'That's my fault, sir,' Drummond cut in quickly. 'It was me who asked DS Rougvie to help me out this morning. I understand DCI Buchan has informed you there's a strong possibility of an Inverness connection in the strangler case. We might have a suspect. I needed DS Rougvie's local knowledge when I interviewed a witness this morning.' He pulled an apologetic expression. 'I know should have run it past you first, but there really wasn't time.'
DCI Gavin Fraser's eyebrow arched. 'DCI Buchan only mentioned enquiries. She didn't say you had a suspect.'
Drummond nodded. 'It's still early days, sir, but yes, could be.'
Fraser eyed him. 'I take it your enquiries aren't confidential?'
Drummond smiled. 'There's nothing I can't share with you, sir.'
