The Visitor (#3 - The Craig Modern Thriller Series) (10 page)

“Well...round one to us, don’t you think? Given that the prosecution’s evidence is circumstantial, I think our client should walk free very soon. Justice must be done, you know.”

Craig knew that he was meant to hear and he glared at Doyle in disgust. He wondered, as he often did, what kind of man defended the ones he knew were guilty. But discussion outside the court-room was forbidden. And Doyle would just trot out the ‘every man deserves a defence’ crap that they’d heard so many times before, usually from ambitious barristers out to make a name for themselves.

John said he’d like to devise a version of the movie SAW, just for defence barristers...

Craig’s silence spoke volumes, so Doyle shrugged and indicated his juniors with a sweep of his hand. “We’re off to the Harbour View for lunch, after a very successful morning.”

Annette caught Liam’s angry look and quickly stood between the three men.

“We have a meeting, Mr Doyle.” Then she grabbed Craig and Liam by the elbows and wheeled them towards the patrol car, before testosterone got the better of them.

“What meeting?”

“Be quiet, Liam.” She turned to Craig. “Let’s go to The James for lunch, sir. We have interviews all afternoon.”

It was a statement not a question. At times like these Annette went into ‘mum-mode’, with damage limitation her main aim.

“I just need to speak to the Warwicks, Annette.”

“No you don’t sir, not today. With respect, they won’t want to hear it.”

Craig nodded. She was right. “OK. Lunch is on me then.”

“Aye, that’ll do, boss. We can comfort-eat. Well, that’s what Danni calls it when she’s shovelling-in the chocolate.”

Annette raised her eyes in sympathy with Liam’s long suffering wife and climbed into the car.

The patrol car dropped them by the boarded-up Rotterdam Bar in Pilot Street. They wandered past the once-famous venue onto the reclaimed land of Barrow Square, then over the tram lines in Princes Dock Street, towards The James.

Liam grabbed a small table inside, arguing it was too breezy to sit out, despite the sun. “I’m not getting dirt in my chips, even for you two.” Just at that moment, a seagull swooped low enough to make his point and they conceded.

They relaxed to the sound of Anthony Toner’s ‘Sailortown’ as the bar’s older occupants gazed out the window, remembering the thriving area before the developers had come.

“Annette, give Nicky a call and invite her to join us please. She can divert the phones to my mobile for an hour.”

Liam lit up immediately. “Excellent idea.” He had a real soft spot for Nicky. They were both happily married and neither would have taken it further, but their innocent office flirting amused everyone. Nicky was as sharp as a whip and handled Liam’s banter brilliantly.

Craig’s mobile rang and he coloured, recognising the caller. Liam smiled to himself. Craig had been dating D.I. Julia McNulty lately. And although he didn’t say how it was going and they’d never ask, at least it took him away from work occasionally.

Craig waited until it cut to answerphone and then turned the phone to silent. He wouldn’t call her back at work. Julia would understand - work took priority for both of them.

The welcome sight of food coming towards the table interrupted his thoughts, just as Annette came back in. “Sorry, sir, Nicky had to take Jonny to view a school. She can’t make lunch.”

Liam’s face dropped.

“There, there Liam, you’ll see her later.”

“Ach, away on with you...she’s just good craic.” But his red flush gave him away. “Anyway, what do mean view a school?”

“You’ve all this ahead of you with Erin and Rory. Jonny’s doing his transfer test before he moves to secondary school.”

“Thank God, I’ve eight more years before that.”

They ate in silence for a moment until Annette broke it. “I meant to tell you something, sir...it’s about Nigel Murdock.”

“What about him?”

“Well…I was chatting to my friend Jo last night. She’s a Sister I trained with, and she works in Obstetrics now. Anyway, I happened to mention Murdock, just by-the-by.”

“Annette...behave yourself. We have nothing on him yet.”

“No honestly, I didn’t give anything away. It was just medical gossip. If you think the police force is small then the health service here is even smaller. Everyone knows everyone.”

Craig shot her a slight frown, but he was curious. “Go on.”

“Anyway, it seems that old Nigel gets up to all sorts of stuff, but no one’s been able to touch him for years. He’s been reported by patients loads of times. But his best mate from Windsor College, Robert Moore, was the C.E.O. His other mate was Alan Davis, Dr Winter’s predecessor, so he was flameproof. Now Moore’s been sacked and this new guy McAllister has been brought in from Manchester to shake things up. So they’re all hoping that Murdock finally gets his.”

Craig nodded slowly. It tallied with what he already knew. Annette leaned forward, dropping her voice.

“There’s more, sir, and this
is
gossip. But Jo’s a reliable source. Apparently Murdock and his wife, she’s one of the Burton family, her grandfather made a fortune out of the ships. Anyway, apparently they belong to a racy little sailing crowd up in Cultra. There are rumours about their wild house parties. Car keys being chucked into the fruit bowl and white powder up the nose.”

‘Coke and Key Parties’. Craig had dealt with them in London.

“Jees, you’re joking, Annette! They’re swopping their women? What do you think I’d get for swopping Danni?”

“A thick ear, if I tell her.”

Liam smiled sheepishly. “Ach now, you know I wouldn’t change her for the world. But tell me more about this wife-swopping. I have to get my thrills at arm’s length these days.”

“Well...apparently Murdock’s crowd are known locally as the White Waves.”

A confused look crossed Liam’s face.

“You know. Because of the boats.”

“And the Cocaine, I imagine, Annette.”

“Oh aye. I see now.”

Craig picked at his food thoughtfully. “It’s just gossip, but the drugs aspect is interesting.”

He thought for a moment. “We can’t dig deeper on the drugs without getting warrants, but it’s useful background. Follow it through carefully, Annette, and do a bit more digging on any complaints made against Murdock. But without contacting the Trust just yet please. Nicky and Davy are looking at the professional side, so work with them on it.

Look at Murdock being under the influence of anything at work; legal or illegal. But quietly, please. The last thing we need is a harassment charge, and he sounds just the sort. I’ll have another word with John and see what he knows on the drugs score.”

Craig stopped. “Liam, did Joe check McAllister’s alibi?”

“Aye, his wife confirmed he was home all night. But Joe said that she was wild shifty, wouldn’t look him in the eye at all. And wives
have
told wee lies for hubbies in the past, so I’ll dig a bit deeper there.”

“OK, go ahead. Just be aware that the marriage many be ropey.” He told them about McAllister’s ring and his suspicions. “His appointment to St Marys was before the murders started, so he’s not off my hook just yet. See what else you can get when you interview him, unless he insists on me.”

“Aye OK. Here, I’ve found out about the Private Surgery, the place they had their baby scans. It’s in the private patient’s wing of the M.P.E., up near the paediatric wards. The private wing has a contract with the Trust. I had a word with them and the scans were done by two different female doctors, both juniors at St Marys. I’ve put them both up for interview. But to be fair, anyone could have accessed the notes on the computer and known the babies were girls.”

Craig nodded. It was a dead end, he was sure of it.

“The man we need to talk to in the Drugs Squad is Karl Rimmins, boss. He knows all about Tommy’s little operations. He’s one of Andy White’s team.”

“Right, I’ll nip down and see Andy later.”

Annette interjected sheepishly. “Sir, I asked Jo about Beth Walker as well.” Craig raised an eyebrow at her.

“No, honestly - she really didn’t know why I was asking. Anyway, it seems that Beth’s well-liked by everyone, especially by her patients. But she gets a hard time from some of the higher-ups for her lifestyle. You saw the purple hair - well apparently it was green last year. And she’s very open about being lesbian. She hangs out at Sarajevo a lot - that’s a gay club in town. But there’s a steady girlfriend on the scene. She works in a bank. Shall I dig there a bit as well?”

“Yes...but softly Annette. Remember we have nothing firm on either Murdock or Walker yet. You’re interviewing Brian Murray this afternoon aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“OK. I know I don’t need to tell you, but be careful with him. The Kerrs said he was in a real state yesterday. The G.P. had to be called.”

“Will do, sir”

“What’ll I do, boss?”

“See if Karl Rimmins has anything on Murdock and Tommy Hill. And don’t you worry Liam. You’ll be busy enough, trying to stop us telling Danni what you said about swopping her!”

***

“Close that bloody door, McCrae. I don’t want that nosy cow next door listenin’ in. She spends her days doin’ nothin’ but hangin’ over her hedge. An’ her brother’s a bloody Peeler.”

Rory McCrae banged the front door shut and scanned the small, cold living-room. Its décor was sparse and beige, unchanged since the 80’s when Tommy went inside. It seriously needed a woman’s touch. Or a decorator’s.

A draught was sifting through the dirty net curtains and Hill was sitting on the room’s only chair, an old stuffed recliner. His cracked leather car-coat was pulled tightly round him. “Away into the kitchen an’ grab a chair, McCrae. An’ put the kettle on while you’re at it.”

McCrae returned a minute later gripping a hard-backed foldaway, with its tied cushion falling off. He turned it around so that his arms rested on the back. Only his inner thighs rested on the seat, their full muscles spilling over the edge. He was as large and wide as Hill was wiry, but his bulk didn’t give him any sort of edge. Tommy ruled by history and legend. People still stared when he walked down the street.

“I was wild sarry to hear about your Evie, Tommy – she was a real queen. How’s the babby? Wee girl I heard.”

He stared deferentially at the floor, focusing there while Tommy swallowed. Neither man said anything for a few minutes, until finally Hill broke the silence. He spoke so quietly that the other man strained to hear him.

“I need you to do some stuff for me, McCrae. The Pigs ar saying it’s suspicious.”

“Suspicious! God aye, Tommy, no worries. I’m with you. What kin I do to help? Whatever it takes. Do you know what happened? Is it one of them doctors not doing their job? Or...do...do they think its murder then?”

Hill sat forward so violently that his face nearly hit the other man’s.

“What do you fuckin’ mean, murder? Why wud anyone murder our Evie? She was brilliant. Ar you trying to say this is someone gettin’ at me, that it’s
my
fault she’s bin killed?”

Saliva gathered at the edge of Hill’s mouth, and his eyes burned into Rory McCrae’s face. McCrae reared back in fear, nearly falling off his chair.

“Fuck no, Tommy. That’s not what I meant. Honest to God Tommy, it wasn’t. It was just...when you said the Peelers was gittin’ involved. Sarry Tommy, sarry. God I’m sarry. Evie was a lovely wee girl. No affence meant Tom. Fuck no.”

A hostile stillness fell over the room, until eventually McCrae scraped his chair back, standing up as if to leave.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re goin’?”

The snarl in Hill’s words made McCrae sit down again rapidly. Tommy sat forward sharply and clasped his hands. Whiteness spread up from his knuckles throwing his forearm tattoo into focus. His voice was low and cracking.

“The Pigs is on the bloody slow track as usual. An’ I’m not waitin’ for them to drop the ball like they alays do. I’m sortin’ this out mysel’, an’ I need you and the lads to help.”

“Tommy, you know me, Gerdy and Coyler will be there. Whatever you need, just you say the word.”

Hill stared down at the worn carpet. “If someone delibertly did for my Evie, then they’re fuckin’ well dead. They just haven’t stopped breathin’ yet. But they will, as soon as I know their name. I don’t give a shite if they throw me in Maghaberry. It’ll be worth it to put a bullet in their fuckin’ hed.”

He glared at the younger man, saliva covering his thin lips. His hoarse voice was harder than Rory McCrae had ever heard it. “This is goin’ the whole length this time McCrae. I mean it.”

McCrae smiled. This was just like the good old days. “Now yer talkin, boss”

“It had to be someone who was with her last night. Gotta be. I saw al’ three of them docs ‘n nurses in an’ out of her room al’ evenin’. No-one else was there but her Ma. An’ she’d rather die than hurt our Evie. That wee shite Murray was there too. The first time the wee fucker had been there al’ week. He’ll need to be knocked off soon.”

McCrae smiled, hopeful of getting the job.