by Val Penny
“I know Eileen’s poorly. She’s been attacked by that bastard who took her out, hasn’t she? But she’s going to be okay, isn’t she? I mean, they gave her an operation to make everything okay again, didn’t they? I mean it’s good you were here when she arrived, wasn’t it?” Linda rambled.
There was a soft knock on the door and a nurse brought in three mugs of tea, some little cartons of UHT milk, a few sachets of sugar and some wooden sticks to stir with. Jamie noticed there were biscuits on a plate too.
Linda continued to talk. “She must have been hurt bad because we don’t normally get tea and biscuits anywhere. That’s for posh folks, isn’t it? So, when will Eileen get home? Will she have to stay with us for a few days or can she go back to her flat right away? She lives alone, you see.”
Jamie caught the look in Ailsa’s eyes. This was not going to be good news. Oh God. Just stop talking Linda.
“Help yourselves to milk and sugar,” Ailsa said. Then she offered them each a biscuit. “I don’t know exactly what happened to Eileen, but I’ll tell you what I do know and then I’ll take you up to the ICU and you can see her.”
Jamie listened to Ailsa as she explained that Eileen had been found by a police detective and a doctor on the floor of a lift in the fancy hotel. Jamie remembered casing the same place some years ago with his pop. It had a different name then. He seemed to recall that they did okay out of it. He realised he had stopped hearing what Ailsa was saying. He looked at Linda. She had turned white. The undigested tea and biscuits reappeared from her mouth and splashed all over the coffee table.
She shook uncontrollably. Tears were streaming down her face. He saw her coat covered in vomit. Oh God. Jamie stared at Ailsa. What had he missed?
“So just now she’s blind? What are they going to do about it? Who would do such a horrible thing? Take her whole eyeball out? That’s disgusting,” Linda shouted.
Jamie’s lip curled inadvertently. He felt the bile rise in his gullet. Fucking hell, why would anybody do that? He swallowed the sour taste. It took two or three goes to get the sensation out of his mouth. He tried to clear his throat, but his voice only came out in a whisper.
“Sorry, doc. What happened?”
“Both Eileen’s eyeballs have been removed from their sockets on her face. I believe she was probably drugged, although I haven’t seen the blood reports. They went up to the ward. Still, I can’t imagine anybody being able to stand the pain and shock of such an attack if they were conscious.”
“What have they done? Have they put new eyes in or what?”
“Jamie, we can’t do that. Going forward, Eileen’s life will be that of a blind person.”
“Fucking shit, Ailsa. Who did this? By Christ, they’re going to suffer.”
“I don’t know who did it, Jamie. That’s a police matter. Had she not been found so soon after the attack, I don’t believe she would have survived. When she came into hospital, her body was in shock. She had lost a great deal of blood. Once we stabilised her condition, she was taken to theatre. Her wounds were cleaned out and the blood vessels and nerve endings repaired as far as possible so that they don’t cause her more pain and have less chance of becoming infected.”
“This is grim,” Jamie said. “She’ll move in with us, of course.” He looked at Linda.
“I’ll have to look after her,” Linda said.
“Blind people can lead independent lives, you know. Don’t make plans for Eileen without discussing her wishes although, of course, her rehabilitation will take a long time.”
Jamie looked across at Ailsa. His expression had turned from one of horror to fury. “It was that bastard that took her out, wasn’t it? Groomed her and then stole her fucking eyes. Frederick, did you say his name was, Linda?”
“I don’t know who it did, but I have no doubt the police are working on it as we speak,” Ailsa said. “Eileen is still in an induced coma, but would you like to come up and see her now?”
***
I didn’t really want to see her again, but I was curious to see my handiwork. I told them at reception I was her brother, and they gave me the ward number, no questions asked.
It was when I was going along the corridor, I realised there was a doctor and a couple talking about Eileen. They must be going to see her. Probably her sister and the dodgy guy she goes out with. I didn’t want to meet them. His dad’s in Saughton, and hard, by all accounts.
I patted myself down, as if I’d forgotten something and turned to leave. I took the stairs rather than the lift. Less chance of meeting anybody else. I’ll stop by another time.
Chapter Ten
“Good of the boss to let us all away to go to this,” Tim said.
“Not really. We’re both on a day off, and you only got time off because your ex is Lady Dalmore,” Bear said. He held Mel’s hand as she climbed out of the back of Tim’s big BMW.
Tim looked back and pressed his key fob to check his car was locked. He caught sight of Simon Land striding towards them with his brother Robin by his side. They all shook hands.
“Look they’re going in. Let’s make sure we get a seat. This will be a busy funeral,” Mel said.
“I’ll have a seat, whatever happens,” Robin said.
“Always the pragmatist.” Tim smiled at him and led the way.
“Where’s Gillian?” Simon asked Tim.
“She’s packing. She’s determined to take a job she’s been offered at the National University of Kiev.”
“I don’t blame her. That’s an incredible opportunity,” Robin said.
Tim shrugged, and they fell silent as they stepped inside. He looked around and recognised many of the great and the good of Edinburgh’s legal society. Members of the nobility were there, along with the political figures of Scotland. Tim knew most of the politicians, at least by sight. They had served with his father in the Scottish Parliament, but none of them would confess to knowing him now. Even a minor royal had been despatched to pay respects. Everyone was looking around to check who else was there and making sure their own presence was noted. Reading and re-reading the order of service, they glanced up only to nod acknowledgements to those they felt were their social equals or superiors.
Tim didn’t bother, but nor did he hide. At six feet four inches tall and sitting beside the only black man in the room, that would have been impossible. He smiled. He knew his wealth was greater than most of the dignitaries present. He also knew few of them considered him their social equal and would have laughed if he had claimed otherwise, despite the fact he went to Merchiston Castle School and graduated with First Class Honours from St. Andrews University.
It was a shame. Lord Dalmore died so young. He had been a decent man. Tim enjoyed knowing him. He got to know him well over the years that he had dated his daughter, Sophie. Tim never told the man why he ended that relationship. He doubted Sophie ever did either.
More people entered. Tim understood that Lord Dalmore had been proud of his heritage and the law firm his family had established, but the man Tim knew was quiet and thoughtful. He couldn’t help wondering how the new Lord Dalmore, Sophie’s brother Geoffrey, would be like as head of the family.
Tim missed Gillian’s presence. When he glanced over at Bear and Mel, he noticed that they sat closely together and whispered to one another quietly. Simon sat at the end of the row behind them so that Robin, in his wheelchair, was beside him.
The minister asked the congregation to stand as the coffin was brought to the front of the gathering. As Tim did so, he felt a hollowness in the core of his being. One of the good men of the city had passed. Tim would miss him. His calm influence and incisive intellect would be a great loss to those who knew him.
The family followed the coffin. Geoffrey limped with his familiar unsteady gait and held onto his mother. Lady Dalmore wept openly, and it was impossible for Tim to work out which of them was supporting the other. Sophie walked behind them. She was dressed in a chic, black, embroidered dress coat. God she was go
rgeous. She looked up and smiled directly at him. She still made him stiff. Bugger.
The service took almost an hour, largely because of a verbose eulogy given by the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates. That man had always liked the sound of his own voice.
The congregation stood again as the family walked towards the door and stood in line to shake hands with those who had paid their respects. However, Geoffrey’s short arms and misshapen hands were withered and not well-suited for shaking. Lady Dalmore was unsuccessful in containing her tears and therefore the bulk of the glad handing fell to Sophie. Tim watched her smile as she charmed each individual in turn.
He decided to avoid a potentially embarrassing encounter, so he moved aside and gathered outside with his friends without joining the line. They discussed the service and the length of the eulogy. Why did everybody choose the hymn Abide with Me and Psalm 23, The Lord’s My Shepherd?
“I wonder how Geoffrey will cope with his father’s title,” Bear said. “He’s intelligent, but his mobility’s not great, and he needs help with basic care.”
“Excuse me. Disabled farmer in the group,” Robin said.
“True, but nobody ever said you were intelligent,” Bear joked.
“Fuck off, Zewedu!”
Tim watched Sophie walk towards them. He held out his hand to shake hers and offered his condolences.
She ignored his hand and took him into her arms. “Oh, Tim. I’m so glad you’re here. It’s been so awful. Mum is a basket case and Geoffrey is even more of a prig than usual. He expects me to give up our flat and my job and move back to help him run the estate.”
“I’m sure he will need help, but are you the right person to give it? He probably needs to sit down with your dad’s accountant and estate manager before he takes any decisions.”
“I’d advise against doing anything life changing so soon after your father’s death,” Simon said. “When our dad died and Robin and I took over the farm, it was months before we sorted out all the legalities and worked out our respective roles.”
“And dad’s farm was much smaller than your family estate,” Robin said.
“Will you or Geoffrey go back into your family legal firm?” Tim asked.
“I really don’t know. I can’t think,” Sophie said.
Tim was glad to see the tears in her eyes. It made her look more humane to him.
“You will all come to the wake, won’t you?”
“Sorry, Sophie. Robin and I have to get back to the farm. Too close to lambing for us to skive.”
“Mel and I are getting a lift back with Tim, sorry,” Bear said.
“But, Timmy, you’ll stay. Please stay and hold my hand.”
“With the best will in the world, that’s no longer my place, Sophe. Anyway, once I’ve got these good people safely back to Marchmont, I have to make an emergency mission to pick up Lucky from rehab.”
“I didn’t think he got out till tomorrow.”
Tim blushed. He had always been a rotten liar. “I got an SOS call from him because his cousin Felix has gone AWOL apparently and the rehab unit won’t let Lucky out unaccompanied. I have to take him home and wait with him until the person has come out to put on his tag for the home detention curfew.”
“I don’t envy you that,” Sophie said. “I suppose I’ll have to put up with my mother and the new Lord Dalmore all alone. Thank you all for coming. I better find the car to take me to the hotel.”
Tim watched her move towards those who would take up her offer of hospitality.
“She still does it for you, doesn’t she Tim?” Mel said.
“Let’s go. I’m going to crash with you and Bear for the afternoon.”
“I thought you had to rescue Lucky.”
“Tomorrow. Sophie was right. I just can’t go and smile and be nice to people. It’s exhausting at the best of times, and this is not one of them. Shall we go to The Golf Tavern or stay back at yours?”
“Either sounds good to me. Simon, Robin, see you soon,” Bear said and then followed Tim as he turned and strode towards the car.
“Will Gillian join us?” Mel asked.
“Probably, if she can fit us into her busy schedule.”
Chapter Eleven
“Right, pipe down you lot,” Hunter said. “Let’s officially welcome DC Neil Larkin to CID.” He waited for the round of applause and stomping feet to quieten. “First round’s on you, Neil.”
“Drinks, drinks.”
“That’s enough put of you, Bear. Now back to business. Forensics got some fingerprints in the blood on the walls of the elevator. Unfortunately, only mine and Meera’s came up. We’re both on the elimination database.”
“We have another clear thumb print and a middle and index finger, but not on record. So, they’re no use to us until we’ve found our man.” He paused and looked around the room before continuing to speak. “On the bright side, the descriptions from staff at the hotel and other guests in the bar and dining room have allowed us to get an idea of what our perpetrator looks like.”
“Good.” Neil said.
“Yep, except that there are four different photofits of him, Neil.”
“Bloody hell,” Colin said. “Can we not just get a break?”
Hunter taped the four pictures onto the white board.
“That first one is a dead ringer for Arjun Mansoor,” Mel said. “But he’s still in Saughton Prison, I think.”
“We’ll need to find out from HMP Edinburgh if there’s any chance he was outside the walls at the time the attack took place,” Hunter said.
“Don’t you think that second one could be Lucky, or Lord Lachlan Buchanan as he’s known to his friends, Tim?” Bear asked.
“Could be, or it could be his cousin Felix. The eyes are a bit too close together for Lucky.”
“I see what you mean, yes.”
“That third one is John Hamilton to a tee. Look, they’ve even got his big, fat nose,” Colin said.
“If I remember correctly, John Hamilton has big, fat everything,” Nadia said. “And I hate to say it boss, but that bottom picture could be you, if you’d forgotten to shave.”
“Everyone loves a comedian, Nadia.”
“No, really. Look at it. She’s right.”
“Okay, Colin, that’s not funny. You and Nadia go down to the hotel and check over the CCTV. Let’s see if we’ve caught our man in glorious technicolour.”
Colin and Nadia exchanged glances. They knew they were good at the detailed work required when reviewing CCTV.
“Bear, you and Neil make the necessary enquiries and establish the whereabouts of Mansoor, Lucky, Felix and Hamilton on the night in question. Rachael, now that you’ve finished your victim support training, I’m assigning your first victim to you. You’ll be there for Miss Eileen Maguire and look after her and her family.”
“God, that’s a baptism of fire.”
“Yes, Mel, that’s why you will go with Rachael to speak to the victim’s sister, today. I understand that Eileen is still in an induced coma, but find out what the family knows, will you?”
“That’ll be a little slice of heaven for you, Mel. The sister’s other half is Jamie Thomson,” Tim said.
“Don’t I know it!”
“Ah yes. Tim. Take our mugshot books down to the hotel and see if any of the staff recognise the perpetrator from the photos on file.”
“Sure, boss. You remember I’m off early today. I have to pick up Lucky from rehab.”
“I know. But fuck’s sake, young Myerscough, you’ve got almost seven hours between now and then. Get on with it!”
Chapter Twelve
Eileen knew she wasn’t fully awake, but she lay in a sort of half slumber and could hear Linda clearly.
Her sister was sobbing and crying, and kept screaming at Jamie, the chump she’s going out with. She was asking him what kind of fiend might steal someone’s eyes. Eileen thought Linda must have had too much to drink. She supposed she must be in her flat and wondered why th
ey were there when she was trying to sleep. It was a funny kind of sleep and she wondered why she couldn’t open her eyes to see the other people.
Jamie tried to soothe her, but Linda seemed to be having none of it. Eileen thought about it and remembered her sister got like that when she’d had a few. She should get rid of Jamie anyway, after all his father was nothing short of a gangster.
Eileen tried to work out why her flat smelt of disinfectant. She wondered if Linda had been cleaning, and why her sister couldn’t just mind her own business. She seemed to be saying Eileen couldn’t manage. Eileen felt cross. It was true that she didn’t feel up to much right now, but she knew it would be fine when she’d had a bit of sleep, if Linda would just shut up.
It was dark in here, darker than she remembered. Then she thought she must have ordered those blackout blinds she was thinking about. She has always liked a dark room when she’s sleeping and there are so many streetlights in the roads near her flat.
Then she remembered Frederick and hoped he found his way home safely. What a lovely meal he treated her to, but she doesn’t remember saying goodbye. She hopes she wasn’t rude and that he’ll take her out again.
He didn’t look quite like his picture, but that didn’t matter one bit. It made no difference at all. He called her darling. He was the only man who’d ever called her darling.
Chapter Thirteen
Rachael slid into the passenger seat of the car. She was glad Mel was driving to the hospital. She wondered why she had ever volunteered to become a victim support officer And now she had a traumatised blind woman as her first case. At least the woman was still in a coma, she realised, so she wouldn’t have to deal with the woman’s fear today. And she knew that the brother-in-law was Jamie Thomson. That guy was a maniac, she thought. Mel would deal with him.
