Skinner's Rules (28 page)

‘What use is an advocate who can’t appear in court?’

‘I told you, they were buying legal advice, that’s all. Bob, hear me again. Drop it. There’s nowhere else to go. That comes from me at this stage, but if necessary it can come from on high. Give it up.

‘Do you know what they say about Bob Skinner? “The game’s got to be played by Skinner’s Rules, right and righteous, all the way.”

‘Bob, sometimes you’ve got to bend in this world. There’s another rule book too, you know. It runs to three words. Know what they are? “Adap and survive.” Understood?’

Skinner’s anger seemed to fill the small room. ‘Hugh, if that was a threat you can shove it. You’ve been cooped up in this big concrete hen house for too long. You’ve forgotten you were ever a copper.

‘I’ve seen these people that are just names to you. Mortimer, our half-cremated wino, poor wee Mrs Rafferty, and young PC Mac Vicar with his blood all over his new tunic and his throat open in the moonlight. I know that the bastard who killed those people is still running about free. I’m not going to stop until he’s locked up, and no one, absolutely no one, is going to get in my way. You’re right, this game is being played to my rules, and Skinner’s rules say that the bad guys pay the price. You can take that message as high up the tree as you like, or dare.’

He turned on his heel and crashed out of the room, slamming the anonymous door behind him.

‘We’ve been warned off, Andy. Hughie Fulton, big Aberdonian shitbag that he is, told me to be happy that we can lay the blame on Yobatu, and to leave it at that. Friendly advice from a father figure, with a threat lying not far behind it.’

‘What did you tell him?’

‘What do you think? I told him to get fucked. I’ve had bodies littering this city, one of them a copper, and neither powers nor principalities are going to prevent me finding out who put them there.’

‘What will he do?’

‘Try to lean on the Chief, I expect. Jimmy’ll back me for a while, but when the blackmail starts, no knighthood, that sort of thing, leading up to heavier threats, I don’t know whether he’ll hold out.

‘The thing that narks me most is that Fulton knew about our investigation. Somewhere, he’s got a spy. He knew about the money, and he suggested an explanation, one that would sound plausible if you ignored the fact that there are dead people involved. He knew about Aileen Stimson’s job, and he knew that you were coordinating things.

‘If we’re going to continue with this operation it’ll have to be tighter than a fish’s arsehole. You, Andy, I’d trust with my life, and I’m as sure as I can be of Brian Mackie. What do you think about the rest?’

Martin thought for a few moments. ‘I’d vouch for Maggie Rose. She’s rock-solid, doesn’t panic, and loves the job. The DCs are two of the closest guys you’ll ever find. Good company, great talkers in the pub, but never giving anything away, and even more important, great listeners to everything going on around them. The four of them, Brian, Maggie, McGuire and Mcllhenney, all have one other thing in common. They’re single.

‘Since they don’t have any steady partners, there’s no danger of pillow talk being passed on by accident, by some daft wife or boyfriend to a mate in the supermarket queue or in the pub.’

‘What about Aileen Stimson?’

‘We can’t rely on her. She isn’t committed to the force any longer.’

‘You’re right. Her cover’s blown too. Either one of those things would disqualify her for me. Pull her out.’

Skinner sat upright in his chair. ‘So our team is six. No one else. Wrap up the searches at the two flats and report to me on the findings. Then arrange for our people to take over the Harvey surveillance. No word on that yet?’

‘No, it’s business as usual for them. No odd moves at all.’

‘Good. That means they didn’t catch on to you.

‘One other thing. I want our team, no one else, to work on the Syrian security job when it happens. When he was still in a dealing mood, Hughie Fulton promised me all the special back-up we’ll need. The boys from Hereford and all that.’

The report which Martin brought to Skinner was bleak. Neither of the search locations had yielded a single clue to the reason for the secret payment to the two advocates.

‘It’s a dead end, boss. Nothing on paper, or on Mortimer’s computer disks. I’ve given Kenny Duff his keys back. As far as I’m concerned he can carry on with winding up the estates.’

Skinner considered this for a few moments. ‘Okay. Tell him we’v finished with everything, except for Mortimer’s briefcase, and the other items that we have in the Productions Store.

‘Are the team here?’ Martin nodded. ‘Let’s have them in.’

The four detectives came into the room. Skinner invited them to sit. ‘Well, people, you’re probably all bored stiff by now. I’m sure you all see this as a complete waste of time.’

McGuire shook his head.

‘Come on, Mario,’ said Skinner. ‘I sent you hunting wild geese. That’s what you’re really thinking, isn’t it?’

With a slow, wry smile, McGuire nodded his head.

Skinner smiled back. ‘Well that’s tough on you. Sometimes it comes with the warrant card and the nice suits we get to wear!

‘But seriously, I’ve been impressed by the way that you lot have done the job, regardless of the boredom. You worked well and methodically as a team. That’s why I want us all to work together on one of the most sensitive security jobs we’ve had in this city since the Pope stood under John Knox’s statue. Andy, will you explain, please.’

Martin stood up from his seat in the corner. ‘Question. Who is Hassan Al-Saddi?’

He looked from face to face. ‘No? Well, for the past six weeks or so, Mr Al-Saddi has been President of Syria. He took over following his predecessor’s enforced resignation, having been the strong man behind the scenes for some time before that.

‘He is a hard-liner, and believes that the previous incumbent was soft in his attitude to the West, and conciliatory towards Israel. Since he came to power there have been signs of a shift in the balance in the Arab world; the PLO have certainly become noisier. Get to know the name, and that face.’ He handed round a large black-and-white photograph. ‘On January the eighteenth you’re all going to be involved in protecting him when he visits Edinburgh.’

Martin described the detail of the Syrian’s visit. ‘Syria doesn’t have an embassy in this country at the moment. Later today, a Lebanese diplomat and a guy from the Foreign Office will arrive to look over the route, the hotel and the venue. Mario, you’ll drive the boss and me to meet them at the airport, and then take them to the Norton House Hotel and the MacEwan Hall. I’ve already had a quick look. All three places appear to give us the minimum security problems. Everybody on the team will be allocated specific tasks for the visit once the Lebanese representative is happy. That’s all I have to say for now.’ He resumed his seat.

‘I have a few things to add on the other matter,’ said Skinner. ‘Call it a bonus. All that boring time you’ve spent going through those files wasn’t in vain after all. The Filofax and the address book which Mr Martin and I took away have given us a lead. That lead has taken us quite a way.

‘For example, we now know that our two victims were paid twenty thousand pounds - that’s right, twenty big ones - in two cash instalments; paid, it seems, by a diplomat who, by a coincidence, bearing in mind the previous item, happens to be Lebanese, with strong Syrian connections. We have to consider the possibility that this transaction was linked in some way to the murders, and that this man, might be our killer. I’d like to ask him politely whether he is or not, but I can’t. Not just because he’s a diplomat, but because he’s disappeared.

‘We know too, that this same bloke has a past connection, a student relationship at Edinburgh University, with Rachel Jameson. We are further aware of a link between the pair of them and a one-time student radical, now turned businessman - and boring wee fart, according to Mr Martin - called Andrew Harvey.

‘Mrs Harvey, who was around then, too, has for some reason, been telling us porky pies about those days. In current circumstances, I hope you’ll agree that all that is very interesting. So we’re keeping a close eye on Mr and Mrs H. at the moment, as the only members of this wee group who are alive or otherwise available. I want you four to take over that surveillance, and to be ready to follow wherever it leads you.

‘I’ll say this once more. I want you to keep this enquiry absolutely secret.

He looked slowly from face to face. ‘I’m going to tell you this only because I trust you all implicitly. There are people in high places outside this force who know something of our enquiries, and who don’t like them one wee bit. In fact, I’ve been given a heavy hint to lay off, for reasons which I believe to be political.’

His eyes swept the room again, catching the concern in the four faces. ‘I’ve never been a politician. I don’t really know what the word means.

‘This is still a multiple murder enquiry, for all the cloak and dagger I expect the pressure to get tougher. If it does, I’ll handle it. All I ask of you is total discretion. Nothing on paper. Report orally to me or Mr Martin. Unless it’s most urgent, use the phone rather than police radio.’

He paused, and looked every officer in the eye, in turn. ‘Having told you all that, I’m offering you an exit. If anyone thinks that this is too heavy for him, or her, or worries about career prospects - and I won’t deny it, if this thing goes really badly south that could be a worry — they are free to opt out right now. No comebacks.’ He paused again. He looked again at each officer. ‘Well?’

Brian Mackie stood up, a gesture surprising in its formality. ‘Sir, over the past four days, we’ve all, well we’ve come to know Mike and Rachel. And none of us will ever forget young MacVicar, or the others. We’re all as determined as you are to catch the animal who killed them.’

Skinner’s smile was one of gratitude. ‘You’re all good people. Stick with me on this I won’t let you down.’

Allingham and the Lebanese diplomat, who was introduced as Mr Feydassen, arrived at Fettes Avenue just after 4.00 p.m. The Foreign Office policeman was on his best behaviour when Martin showed him into Skinner’s office. The Lebanese a small, swarthy man, seemed nervous, overawed by his responsibility.

Skinner did his best to put him at his ease, explaining that, since Edinburgh was a capital city, visits by heads of state, with their attendant security requirements, were commonplace for his force.

‘This visit is shorter than most. Mr Martin has been over the route and we have chosen a hotel which will be easy to guard for the brief time that our guest is with us, and which we believe offers a suitable standard of comfort. You’re booked in there tonight, so you can judge for yourself. Tonight we will drive over the route which the President will cover Then we will look at the Hall in which he will be speaking.’

Mario McGuire drove them back out of town, heading west as if towards Edinburgh Airport. But instead of heading straight through the complicated Maybury roundabout system, he took the right turn leading to RAF Tumhouse.

‘This is the original Edinburgh Airport,’ Skinner explained. ‘It’s still used by the Queen’s Flight. Security here can be as heavy as we like. This visit won’t be announced in advance, but with a university and its students involved, we have to assume that it’s going to leak.’

Feydassen turned towards him in alarm.‘ Your newspapers will report it, you mean?’

Skinner shook his head. ‘No. They’ll keep quiet, in exchange for full reporting facilities at the debate. The press will be handled by the Scottish Office information department; all the media in the hall will be vetted by us.’

The car left the airfield and turned once again towards the city centre, taking the Western Approach into Lothian Road, and winding through the Grassmarket, beneath the towering floodlit bulk of Edinburgh Castle, perched in splendour on its rock.

As McGuire drew the Granada to a stop outside the MacEwan Graduating Hall, Skinner turned to Feydassen. ‘On the evening of the visit, the President’s car will be led by motorcyclists, and will be followed by another carrying Mr Martin and three other officers. I will be in the President’s car. My colleagues and I will all be armed.’

‘You will use outside people, won’t you?’ asked Allingham.

‘Of course. The RAF regiment will be responsible, as usual, at Turnhouse. Both the Hall and the Hotel will be secured by a detachment from the Special Air Services.’

Feydassen smiled. ‘That is most satisfactory, Mr Skinner.’

Henry Wills greeted the party at the entrance to the debating hall. He explained how it would be set out on the night, indicating the areas to be reserved for press, television and radio.

‘As I told you,’ said Skinner, ‘every journalist and television technician will be approved by the Scottish Office people, and supervised by them. Their fixed locations make life easier for those of us on the security job.’

 

Twenty minutes later the group left for the hotel. They took a different route, taking the A71 to the city by-pass. McGuire drove smoothly through the Gogar roundabout, and three minutes later, drew up outside the Norton House Hotel, set in wooded countryside, more than half a mile back from the main road.

‘As you can see,’ said Martin, ‘this is a small hotel. There will be no other guests on the night. With only a few men, we can turn this place into a fortress.’

Feydassen looked at Skinner and Martin in appreciation. ‘Gentlemen I am reassured. As Mr Allingham said, you are very thorough. I am happy that my Embassy’s client will be in your safe hands.’

Skinner left Martin to dine with the visitors. McGuire drove him home to Stockbridge. Sarah was back into the full swing of her practice, and of her police work. When Skinner let himself in, he found her sprawled on the couch, still wearing a heavy tweed jacket, with a woollen scarf wound around her neck. The gas fire was still warming up.