by Ian Todd
“If it’s awright wae yersel, Ah’ll make ma ain way back…if that’s okay?”
“Fine.”
Collette stood and watched The Super slowly walk back tae the car. Jist before she reached it, the big sergeant goat oot and held open the back door fur her. She heard The Super saying something, bit couldnae make oot whit it wis, as she handed o’er the letters tae him.
“Get rid of these. Today. Burn them,” The Superintendent ordered, as she bent doon and slid intae the back seat.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, shutting o’er the car door gently.
It wis only efter the car hid done a U-turn that Collette realised that The Super hid legged it wae her resignation letter.
“Shit!”
She looked aboot. The ducks hid disappeared. At least Lesley widnae be affected, unless there wis other stuff that Teddy Bare hid been involved in that her and Lesley didnae know aboot. Poor Lesley. She’d been really angry, snarling aw sorts at her doon in the Kings Café jist before she dashed aff in tears.
“Ah want that original letter burned wance the file fae Pitt Street is handed o’er, so Ah dae.”
She’d made that a priority as soon as she’d arrived hame efter receiving Geraldine Baker’s phone call at the end ae her nightshift earlier. She still felt a bit uneasy at whit she’d jist done. Everything the superintendent hid said made total sense. Wid Priscilla and the other wummin really want tae bring doon the force? She doubted if they’d want that tae happen, if they wur being truly honest wae themsels. Wid no hivving their day in court affect the way they should noo get oan wae their lives? That wis open tae speculation, bit at the end ae the day they’d realise, like her, that as long as the basturts goat whit they deserved, then that wis aw that mattered. She tried tae remember whit it wis that the bolshie nurse hid quoted tae her fae some famous wummin back in the day up in The City Café. It wis something aboot when there wis warfare, aw sorts ae things happened, people suffered, the non-combatants suffered as well as the combatants and…and so it happens in civil war. Aye, that wis it. The last time, sitting where she noo wis, speaking tae Susan McFarlane, she’d admitted being content and happy, despite whit hid happened tae her. Efter she’d been assured ae Priscilla’s support, she’d sworn tae aw the ex poliswummin that she widnae let them doon. It wid maybe take a wee while, bit she wis genuinely convinced they’d come tae realise that there wis mair than wan way tae skin a cat. Justice wid be done, bit no at the expense ae aw the good people in the force. That’s whit the super hid promised. Of course, she felt terrible fur Priscilla. Oot ae them aw, she wis the wan that hid brought them aw back thegither again, convincing them tae gie Collette a chance, getting them tae revisit auld wounds that wurnae healing, hivving tae confront the trials and tribulations ae being a female bizzy in Glesga’s finest fae back in the day. Despite Priscilla’s willingness tae go aw the way, it hid been her that hid been the wan that hid agreed tae sacrifice her ain search fur justice, so everywan else could hiv their day in court. Thinking back oan whit the super hid jist come oot wae a few minutes earlier…her rationale…Collette realised that there wis a good chance that none ae the them wid get tae confront their tormentors fur the hurt that hid been inflicted oan them. She hoped they wid understaun. It might no be fur the sexual harassment and assaults inflicted oan them by The Irish Brigade, bit justice wid still be done. The superintendent hid said so. Despite the reassurance, Collette, again, wondered if she’d done the right thing. The super hid convinced her that wummin, oot ae everywan, hid always been prepared tae make sacrifices fur the greater good ae everywan.
“It’s just who we are, Collette. I mean, look what happened to poor Cleopatra,” she’d purred.
Bit why? Why did it hiv tae be that way, she asked hersel, looking alang the misty canal, before turning and walking towards the wee bridge tae the bus stoap. She’d nip in tae The University Café and get hersel a big mug ae decent coffee before heiding hame tae her bed.
2.45 PM
The Cooncillor sat behind her desk, facing the door. She could hear the voices oot in the front office. She’d telt Susan, her secretary, who’d jist buzzed through tae her, tae gie her five minutes. She fought hard tae contain her disappointment. When she’d first clocked that the file fae Pitt Street hid The Showgirls splashed across the front ae it, she’d jist aboot fainted in ecstasy, only tae be disappointed that Lesley Bare hid obviously switched the contents fur Rose Bain’s wans. Geraldine hid jist been oan the phone. She’d been intercepted and delayed by the polis, oan the pretext ae assisting them wae their enquiries intae burglaries in the area where she lived. Who’d ever heard ae armed polis investigating hoose break-ins? By the time she’d arrived up at the wee bascule bridge in Cadder, there hid been nae sign ae the wee blonde WPC. They noo hid tae accept that their mission hid been compromised and the WPC hid been turned at the last minute. Pity. She felt a bit sorry that the nurse’s file hidnae thrown up anything blatant regarding the tampering ae evidence, other than the fact that Paddy McPhee, The Stalker, hid been wan ae the two senior polis officers who’d reviewed the case, looking fur signs ae a cover-up. Geraldine hid said that they could still use that fact in the Johnboy Taylor case. Of course, everywan wid be glad fur Senga. Geraldine hid telt her earlier that Senga hid been heiding oot tae Edinburgh tae try and progress the boy’s appeal and wid be excited by the discovery. Excited? The lunchtime news hid blasted the news ae Taylor’s unexpected release aw o’er it. Geraldine hid also telt her that Michelle Hope’s boyfriend hid predicted that the discovery ae The Stalker’s involvement in reviewing the cover-up allegations wid blow the case wide open. It certainly looked as if it hid done that and mair. She’d been telt that there wis still a large, noisy crowd ae protesters aroond at The Sheriff Court, refusing tae leave, despite Clifford Burns, the sheriff, deciding tae abandon the petition tae hiv the notebook released tae young Taylor’s legal team, efter he’d been ordered tae be set free earlier in the day. She looked at the clock above the door. Two-forty-seven. In a few hours time, the shit wid finally hit the fan, when people connected the news ae Johnboy Taylor’s release and the murky world that poor Rose Bain unwittingly found hersel walking intae. The authorities widnae be able tae haud back oan a public enquiry noo. The Stalker’s involvement in Rose Bain’s murder wid, at last, hopefully, be the catalyst fur bringing aw the wummin’s groups in the city thegither tae sing aff ae the same hymn sheet. Although she’d deliberately left her diary clear, she still hid business tae attend tae. There wis trouble brewing and it wisnae far fae where she wis noo sitting, oan the other side ae the door. She sighed as she picked up the receiver.
“Susan? Please send in Superintendent Munro,” she asked pleasantly.
She wisnae whit she’d expected. Tall, aboot five-feet-nine or ten and no a kirby oot ae place, sporting an immaculate uniform. The make-up and the red-wine-coloured lipstick looked as if it hid been applied by an expert. She wis dying tae comment oan the shiny, black patent leather shoes, bit she thought better ae it. Although the eyes looked friendly enough when she marched confidently through the door, the faint static sound ae her black tights, swishing in her wake, reminded her ae a she-wolf in sheep’s clothing. She’d clocked a few power-dressers o’er the past wee while when she’d been crossing the square tae the chambers. They stood oot a mile, although they wid’ve been hard pushed tae match Donna The Prima Donna…bit this wan wis something else. The Cooncillor wis under nae illusions. The wummin walking towards the desk, her ootstretched haun in front ae her, spelt trouble wae a capital T.
“Councillor Allan? So good of you to meet with me at such short notice.”
“Please, call me Barbara.”
“And you must call me Murdina,” The She-wolf replied, taking the seat waiting fur her in front ae the desk.
“So, can Ah get ye anything?”
“No, no, I’m fine.”
“Right, well, ma secretary, Susan, informed me that ye wanted tae speak tae me aboot something urgent?”
“Yes, quite.”
Silence.
“So?” The Cooncillor invited.
“Mrs Allan…Barbara, I think I’ll just come to the point, if I may?”
“That’s the way Ah like it.”
“You have a file…a missing file, belonging to us…me…and I’d like it back.”
“A file? Noo, whit kind ae file wid that be then?”
“The file relating to that poor unfortunate young nurse, Rose Bain, the one who was run over by a hit-and-run driver up at Stobhill Hospital after she completed her work shift in June of last year. Somehow the file’s gone missing in the past few days and now I’d like it back.”
“So, why ur ye asking me? Should ye no be asking the campaigners ae that young lad who wis put away fur fourteen years, despite being innocent?” The Cooncillor asked pleasantly.
“Whether you have it in your possession at this moment in time is irrelevant. What I do know, is that you’re the best person in town to retrieve it for me…us,” The She-wolf replied pleasantly.
“Ah think that ye’re perhaps gieing me too much credit…Murdina. Ah’m an elected cooncillor, no a private dick. Of course, Ah’m sure The Corporation will offer ye every assistance in the search fur it, should it be discovered or revealed that any ae its employees might know where it is. Kin Ah ask ye a, er, question…Murdina?”
“Of course.”
“Oan who’s authority ur ye wandering aboot oor fair city, displaying Highland badges wae a band ae armed officers at yer back? Surely ye’re well oot ae yer jurisdiction area or hiv Ah goat that wan wrang?”
“I’m here under the jurisdiction of Strathclyde’s recently appointed Chief Constable Horace Williams, to assist with a few outstanding investigations. He requested new faces and fresh blood to come and have a look. You know what they say about a fresh pair of eyes, eh?”
“Aye, and who gied Williams the authority? Ah never heard anything aboot that and Ah’m oan the authority’s polis committee, so Ah am.”
“Oh, well, I’m sure you would need to take that up with him, although, I do believe the Secretary of State himself originally requested bringing in the Highland’s finest,” The Superintendent replied, smiling.
“This file, the missing wan? Ah’m sure ye must hiv other copies surely?”
“Oh, that’s not the point, councillor. It only came to light earlier today that it had gone missing. The point is, we need it back…this afternoon, if possible.”
“And as Ah’ve jist said, anything we kin dae, we’ll be glad tae help.”
“Oh, it’s not The Corporation I’m asking for assistance in retrieving it.”
“Then, who is it then?”
“Why, it’s your good self as leader of the self-styled Showgirls…you are, after all, The Purple Dove, are you not?” The She-wolf asked, a wee sly smile appearing at the corner ae her blackcurrant lips.
Silence.
“Showgirls? Ah’m sorry, bit ye’ll hiv tae expand oan that wan? Whit showgirls? The only showgirls Ah’ve heard ae ur the wans that used tae kick and tap aboot in their bare arses oan ‘Sunday Night at The London Palladium’.”
“We’ve taped your conversations, followed your movements…in fact, I know that much about you, I feel we are practically sisters.”
“Taped?”
“In The Tear Drop Café. We’ve recorded every single meeting you’ve had in the past ten months.”
“Aye, Ah cannae wait tae hear that yer wiretap is no only illegal, bit inadmissible in a court ae law, so it is,” The cooncillor replied calmly, smiling, getting a wee bit ae satisfaction oot ae the wince she detected flashing across that painted kisser.
“Geraldine Baker, an active member of your organisation, met with WPC Collette James in The City Café on Castle Street where Baker persuaded her to hand over a bundle of letters from disgruntled female ex-police officers. You believed she was a plant and proceeded to demand that she demonstrate her status and to prove the letters were genuine. The WPC provided confidential information on how to access the secure cove within the Serious Crime and Intelligence Division in Pitt Street,” The She-wolf reminded her, taking some pleasure fae the blow that she knew hid landed.
“Tsk! Disgruntled female polis officers? Don’t make me laugh.”
“Then don’t insult my intelligence.”
“Ma advice tae you wid be tae arrest the baith ae them then. It sounds tae me as if ye’ve goat enough evidence.”
“WPC James is an honest and dedicated young police officer. Given the circumstances she found herself in, I believe she can be forgiven for being naïve. After all, we’ve all been young once.”
“Hiv ye?”
“Barbara, I’m sure we can reach an accommodation, can’t we?” The She-wolf meowed, withdrawing a wee green box and a fag lighter, before lighting up a Panatela.
“Ah never gied ye permission tae light up in here, so Ah didnae,” The Cooncillor scolded her, snatching up her heavy crystal ‘Cooncillor Ae The Year Award’ ashtray up aff the desk and replacing it wae an elastic band tin lid.
Silence.
The Cooncillor wondered where this wis leading tae. The file hid nae relevance or purpose tae The Showgirls, noo that its contents relating tae The Stalker wis oot in the public domain. She suspected there wis a wee vanity issue at play here. She relaxed. Fae where she wis sitting, the baw wis still in her court.
“Carry oan,” she invited, nodding, starting tae enjoy hersel.
“I believe The Tear Drop Café has now closed,” The She-wolf stated, looking aboot the plush office.
“Fur painting and decorating. Somewan in here’s seen sense at last.”
“Painting and decorating? I’m sure someone’s pulling your leg, Councillor. I obtained a court order to shut that little viper’s nest down two days ago.”
‘Bloody bitch!’ The Cooncillor screamed inside.
“Did ye noo? Oan whit grounds wid that be then?”
“For using a public building to undermine the fabric of the justice system here in Glasgow.”
‘Bitch!’
“Conspiring to commit crimes against senior management in the public and private sectors…”
‘Cow!’
“Oh, I could go on, but you do get my drift?” The She-wolf replied pleasantly, snatching back her baw.
‘Dirty underhanded basturt!’
“That café is an institution in this building, so it is,” The Cooncillor snarled wae a wave ae her erm, cursing Karen Karoline, The Fastest Typist in the West.
She knew she should’ve goat rid ae that snivelling snooping traitor long ago.
“The workers, particularly the wummin, will fight tooth and nail tae keep that place a refuge open and Ah’ll be leading them, so Ah will.”
“I thought you and The Showgirls were about dismantling institutions?”
“Don’t get smart wae me, hen. Where Ah come fae, we eat class traitors like you fur oor breakfast, so we dae,” she fumed.
“Yes, quite. Anyhow, have we struck a deal? I really do have to watch my time,” The She-wolf said, looking at her diver’s watch.
“Which is whit?”
“You get to carry on with your tradition of providing a haven fur the most sensitive and vulnerable members of staff and I get my file. Now, how difficult can that be?” The She-Wolf asked pleasantly, emphasising the tradition bit, as she stubbed her cigar oot oan the tin lid.
“The trouble wae people like you is that when ye get oan that train back up tae the Highlands, people like me will still be here, fighting the cause fur wumminhood, so we will.”
“Oh, did I forget to mention? I’ll be in Glasgow for a little while yet…two years in fact.”
Silence.
“Well, do we have a deal?”
“We’ll see,” The Cooncillor replied, sitting where she wis, as the superintendent stood up and walked towards the office door, pocketing her wee green cigar case and lighter oan route.
3.05 PM
The inspector fell back oan tae his chair efter trying tae staun up. His brain wis in free-fall. He’d jist hid Billy Roy, wan ae the sergeants fae across in Craigie Street, oan the blower.
“Duggie, it’s me, Billy.”
“Aye, Billy, how ur ye daeing, son?”
“Look, Ah cannae fuck aboot jist noo. Ah’ve jist quickly nipped alang tae the phone box oan Alison Street.”
“Why, whit’s wrang?”
“It’s Teddy.”
“Whit aboot him?”
“He’s…he’s been arrested…earlier this morning, so he his.”
“Eh?”
“The stupid basturt went and battered fuck oot ae Lesley, that wife ae his. Seemingly, she hit her heid aff ae the mantle piece and split her skull open, so she did. She wis in a bit ae a mess by the time the ambulance arrived. Two ae the local boys who’d arrived oan the scene while it wis kicking aff said he’d gone tae toon oan her, so he hid.”
“Fuck! Is she awright?”
“They’ve kept her in apparently.”
“Christ!”
“Look, it’s important that ye keep who telt ye tae yersel, so it is.”
“Ach, Billy, that goes withoot saying, so it dis. Ye know me, son.”
“Aye, well, there’s mair. It’s only snippets, mind ye. The CID boys across here ur keeping tight-lipped aboot whit’s happening, bit there wis a letter or some kind ae note.”
“Letter?”
“Aye, fae some ex-copper…a WPC.”
“Whit?”
“Seemingly, this ex-WPC, whoever she is, accused Teddy ae raping her in it. They think that wife ae his confronted him wae the allegation and he lost the rag.”
“Oh, fur fuck’s sake,” The Inspector hid groaned, feeling the blood drain fae his face.
“Aye, well, there’s mair. They think that there might be others.”
“Other whit?”
“Letters carrying accusations in them.”
“Oh, fur fuck’s sake!”
“Aye, Ah know. Sorry tae be the bringer ae bad news.”
