Hunter's Rules (The Edinburgh Crime Mysteries Book 6)

by Val Penny

  Hunter stared at Bear. “DC Zewedu, it would be nice if you knocked before entering my office when I’m in a meeting.”

  “Ten minutes. Just give me ten frigging minutes, boss. I’ll give fucking Sir Felix just what he deserves.”

  “Bear, take the rest of the day off. Go for a walk or run until your temper is back to normal and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “I’ll run to the door of the fucking estate and wait for that bastard until he gets there.”

  “Under no circumstances will you go within ten miles of the Buchanan estate. Calm down Bear. Oskar and I have got this. Now get out of here.”

  Hunter didn’t move until Bear left his office. He then looked at Oskar and shook his head. “Bear and Tim have been friendly since they were eleven. They are great friends, and loyal protectors. Bear will rumble all night, but he’ll see things more calmly in the morning. Now we better get back to that interview. Lead the way, Oskar.”

  Hunter recommenced the interview. “Sir Felix, so far you have told us that both you and Steven Morrison were indebted to Arjun Mansoor for different reasons and that initially you were only required to take a dead animal to Mr Morrison to allow him to harvest and preserve the eyes. The evidence found at his former home would support that claim and suggest that your debt to Mansoor goes back several years.

  “You also say that Mr Mansoor wanted you to join dating websites and supply him with pictures of women with unusual eye colours. When did that change to you attacking the women to drug them and harvest their eyes?”

  “Not immediately. At first, I would just meet up with girls at my gigs and if they had eyes that I knew Arjun would like, I’d get them drunk or high and take photos to send him.”

  “That’s what happened in Ibiza. She wasn’t drunk enough and complained.”

  “Something must have changed. Two women are dead, one is blind, and another assaulted and scarred,” Oskar said.

  “The first two weren’t me. But I was there. I met them through a dating site, and Mansoor’s men supplied me with Rohypnol. They told me to get them high with the drug and to take the first one for a walk in the woods. The second woman I had to take for a walk along the beach.

  “On both occasions we were jumped. I don’t know who by, but it must have been Mansoor’s men because I was held and made to watch while they butchered the women’s heads and took their eyes. When they were finished, I was released and instructed to take the eyes to Steven Morrison for processing.” Felix paused and stared at the wall above Hunter’s head before he continued.

  “The eyes were in containers with liquid. I don’t know what. The women didn’t move. I thought they were dead. I ran. I just fucking ran.

  “I kept vomiting when the visions came back to me. But I never killed anyone. Although it might have been better if my one died too. It was so inconvenient; this was all bound to come out.”

  “Are you admitting the attack on Eileen Maguire which has resulted in her being blinded?”

  “Yep. I suppose I must. I had to get out from the scene really fast, because some bloody nosy police officer found her in the lift and so I got away through the public bar and got a bus back to the Morrisons’ place.”

  “Why did you go to the Morrison’s house?”

  “I was told to put her eyes in a container this goon gave me and get them to Steven Morrison for preservation as quickly as possible. I’m dreadfully sorry for what I did to Eileen. But I had no choice, I had to pay Mansoor back for my drugs.”

  “I doubt she’ll be too forgiving about that,” Hunter said.

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Jamie was pleased with his new home. It was much more peaceful than next door where the twins ran around and shrieked with laughter or anger, depending on their mood. Some of their furniture had come from Eileen’s flat in Tollcross and new furniture was delivered from Ikea, and he watched Linda put it all together while he held the instructions and the screws. “I’ve never met a man who doesn’t even own a screwdriver or a hammer, much less a toolbox,” she said.

  “I don’t need one. I’ve got you and you’ve got a toolbox. And you’re doing a great job putting all this together.”

  “Thanks. I’m not going to put the stuff together for Eileen’s room, or your pop’s. It’ll be some months before Eileen’s finished her rehab and can move in and who knows when your pop’ll be out and able to join us. I don’t like to think what he’d do to Arjun Mansoor if he gets hold of him in the big house.”

  “That thought’s all that keeps me going, Linda. As long as Pop doesn’t get caught in the act. I think we should get Linda’s room put together, though. I’d like it done before she comes for her recce visit tomorrow.”

  “I like your use of the word ‘we’, but you’re probably right. I’ll take a loo break and you unpack Eileen’s bed, wardrobe and chair then we’ll get it done. I think it’ll be good for her having her own things. Did we remember the cat basket and the dog’s bed?”

  “Of course. Eileen can decide if she wants them in her room or downstairs. I don’t mind. I quite like Princess Leia and Rory.”

  “That’s good. But you’ll have to get tea for us tonight. I’ll be too tired.”

  “No problem. Fish and chips, or pizza?” Jamie grinned at Linda and went down to the kitchen to get them a couple of diet cokes from the fridge. He was pleased with the results of their choices and believed Eileen would settle in well with them.

  ***

  Eileen was nervous. This was the first time she’d have visited her new home. She had lived alone with her cat for so long, that she would have to get used to living with other people.

  The little flat she’d had in Tollcross had sold quickly and given her a nest egg and Linda and Jamie seemed keen to have her stay with them. She hoped her company wouldn’t get old too fast for them.

  Her furniture had been moved into their new home and what she didn’t have, they’d bought. It would be nice to have some familiar things around her, even if she couldn’t see them.

  There was a knock on the door. “Hello, Eileen, it’s Rachael. May I come in?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “I brought you a little house-warming gift. It’s a gardenia. I thought you might enjoy the perfume. But I brought some chocolates too.”

  Eileen smiled. “The plant smells lovely, but you can never go wrong with chocolate.”

  “It won’t be too long until you and Rory move into your new home in West Mains Road.”

  “No, it won’t, and Rory has met Princess Leia several times now and they seem to get on fine. If Jamie stops tripping over the cat, and Linda stops fussing and lets me make my own tea, everything will be great.

  “I can walk to the local shops and get a bus from just round the corner to work when I get started on my new job. My life will be different to the one I had, but at least I still have one. The first two women that were attacked died, didn’t they?”

  “Yes, they did. Their main attackers have been caught too and they’re in jail awaiting trial. They were working for someone named Arjun Mansoor who seems to have preyed on their weaknesses and controlled their actions. The man who attacked you was also present at those murders.”

  “It’s shocking, I've never even heard of Arjun Mansoor and he arranged for me to be so brutally attacked. And as for Frederick, or whatever his name is, he’s nobility or something, Sir Felix Buchanan, they told me. How could he do that? Aren’t those kinds of people meant to set an example? He even tried to lay the blame on someone else, a guy who’s already in jail. He’s just scum. Well, he may have changed my life, but he’s not going to ruin it.”

  “He won’t be back on the streets any time soon. He did say he was sorry for you.”

  “Sorry for himself that I lived and could identify his voice more like. Bastard.”

  “Agreed. Shall we go for a walk around the grounds for some fresh air?” Rachael asked.

  “I’m just waiting for Noah to bring Rory over then I�
��m going for a walk around the neighbourhood to see if I can manage with Rory on my own. Noah is going to walk behind me, just in case I need him.”

  “Did I hear someone mention my name?” Noah walked into the room with Rory. The dog’s tail was wagging, and he went straight up to Eileen. “Hello, Rachael. If all goes well today, Rory will be moving in to stay with Eileen permanently. They have both completed their training, and they work really well together.”

  “Congratulations. Well done, Eileen. I’ll leave you now, but you have my number. If you ever want a chat, or to go for a coffee or anything, just give me a call.” Rachael shook Noah’s hand and kissed Eileen lightly on the cheek. “Nothing will stop you now.”

  Rachael hurried away. If she were lucky, she’d manage to speak to Hunter before this morning’s briefing. It was important to get him to put her request in before the deadline.

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  “It doesn’t seem like two months since we were last here,” Gillian said. “I always used to like airports and travelling, but I’m finding today so stressful, Tim.”

  “I know. Don’t worry, I’ve bought myself a ticket to London too.”

  “You’re not coming with me, are you?”

  “No.” Tim smiled. “I’m not coming with you, but it allows me to go through security with you and see you safely to the gate for your flight. I’m not taking any chances.”

  “Thank you. One of my new colleagues is meeting me in Boryspil International Airport, so I only have to navigate Heathrow, and I know that airport well enough.”

  “Don’t talk to any strange, bearded men. That’s all I ask. I will miss you, you know.”

  “I’ll miss you too, but you will come to visit, won’t you? You could come for your winter skiing trip. There is good alpine skiing and snowboarding in Bukovel.”

  “That sounds like a great idea. I’m glad you want me to come. I’ve never been skiing in Ukraine. In fact, I’ve never been to the country at all. Let me know when you have time off and we’ll get it arranged. Look, your plane is leaving from Gate 12. Let’s go.”

  Tim took Gillian’s hand and they walked along the corridor to the gate. He stood and watched until she entered the airbridge and he could no longer see her. Then he turned and walked back to the airport terminus and drove to the station for the morning briefing.

  Chapter Fifty

  “Good of you to take the time to join us, DC Myerscough,” Hunter said.

  “I was dropping Gillian at the airport, boss. I’m not late, am I?”

  “Nearly.” Hunter smiled. “Now, Rachael, you go first. How is Eileen?”

  “She’s a lovely woman, boss. She’s having her final training day with her guide dog today and then she’ll be moving out of rehab and into the house Jamie and Linda have bought for the three of them. I think she’s quite looking forward to the move, getting back to work and starting what will be her new normal.”

  “That’s all good news. Did you tell her we’ve caught the beasts that murdered the other women?”

  “Yes boss. I also told her Felix won’t be out on the streets any time soon. She was pleased about that and determined not to let what happened to her ruin her life, just change it.”

  “She’s certainly brave. How’s Gillian, Tim?”

  “Physically she’s fine, but she was nervous about going back to Edinburgh Airport. When I thought about it, we should have done a dummy run before today, but we didn’t. Anyway, she’s on the plane to Heathrow and someone is meeting her in Kiev, so she’ll be fine.”

  “Good. What do we know about Morrison, Nadia?”

  “I’ve informed The General Optical Council that he’s been acting as an optician without being qualified to practice and they’ve informed all their members of the fraud. He won’t be doing that again.”

  “I wonder what Hector thought about his uncle naming him as the attacker?”

  “I’d like to have been a fly on the wall when that came out,” Nadia said.

  “What has Morrison been charged with?” Hunter asked.

  “Aiding and abetting assault to severe injury, because although he didn’t take part in any of the assaults, he knew about them and did nothing to stop them. We’ve also got him for helping to launder the drug money. That’s what we found in Hector and John’s flat and office. His professional body will deal with the rest.”

  “That sounds like Morrison will get the book thrown at him. Good. And what about Mansoor, Colin?”

  “Sentencing next week, but he’ll get time added. There’s no doubt about that and the Procurator Fiscal also intends to prosecute John Hamilton for the drugs and cash we found. But I don’t know about Hector.”

  “I don’t know either, but I doubt he’ll get off entirely.” Hunter nodded. “It depends on how much he is found to have known about what was going on.”

  “What about Felix?” Bear asked. “I never liked that man.”

  Hunter looked around his team. “He’s named in the two murder cases, being prosecuted for the attacks on Eileen and Gillian. He’s in for a long haul.”

  “Not as long a haul as Eileen,” Rachael said.

  “She’ll be sorry to hear you’re leaving us to join MIT. But our new Detective Sergeant Myerscough will have to give evidence in the assault case against Gillian.”

  A cheer went up around the room.

  Bear jumped to his feet and shook Tim warmly by the hand. “When did you sit the exam? When did you hear? That’s great news.”

  “The drinks are on Tim.” Mel grinned.

  “I’m not buying all the drinks,” Tim said. “Let me introduce DCI Hunter Wilson who is engaged to be married to the amazing Dr Meera Sharma. Congratulations, boss.”

  Hunter’s Festival follows shortly

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