‘That’s a long time, by current standards. But I don’t blame you, not rushing into things, especially since he must have been on the rebound when you met.’
‘On the rebound? No, his marriage was over well before we got together. I’d have been wary otherwise.’
‘Does he ever talk about his ex?’
‘Now and again. He says she was a cow and he doesn’t know why he ever married her.’
‘He’s well out of it, then. But, actually, I wasn’t talking about her. I meant he was on the rebound from Sugar.’
‘Who?’
McIlhenney studied her face: she seemed genuinely bewildered. ‘DI Stallings meant Sugar Dean,’ he said. ‘He was engaged to her before you.’
‘Sugar Dean?’ Grey repeated. ‘The girl that was murdered. Her whose picture’s all over our station?’
‘That’s the girl.’
‘Theo was engaged to her?’
‘He never told you?’
She bit her lip, and shook her head.
‘Maybe you just didn’t realise they were engaged,’ Stallings suggested gently. ‘Maybe he just didn’t make himself clear.’
‘No. I never heard of Sugar Dean until last night, on the news on Talk 107.’
‘Did he ever mention anyone else, other than Lisanne, his ex-wife?’
‘No.’
The inspector frowned. ‘I’m sorry to have to ask you this, Mae, but when did you and Theo first have sex?’
She glanced at McIlhenney: he was staring at a point on the wall. ‘More or less as soon as we started going together.’
‘Were you seeing anyone else at the time?’
‘You mean was I sleeping with anyone else?’
‘Yes, I do.’
‘No, and I hadn’t been for some time.’
‘This is where it gets even more delicate. About two years ago, maybe just before you were engaged, did you contract an infection?’
‘I had the flu.’
‘I didn’t mean that kind of infection.’
The constable stared at her; then her face reddened. ‘No!’ she protested. ‘Certainly not!’
‘Thank God for that. But Theo did: he told us so and we’ve confirmed it. That was why his engagement to Sugar ended.’
‘You mean the bitch gave it to him?’
‘No. Other way around.’
The woman seemed to rock back in her seat, stunned by the news. ‘The bastard,’ she hissed. ‘Wait till I see him!’ She thought for a few moments. ‘Of course,’ she went on, ‘it was unlikely that I’d get it, because we always use rubbers. Theo’s always on at me to go on the pill, but I won’t. I don’t fancy the health risks.’
‘I can understand that,’ said Stallings.
‘This disease: did Theo say where he got it?’
‘I think that’s something you have to ask him.’
‘Right now, I’m not sure I want to ask him anything.’
‘Do you find him possessive?’ the inspector asked.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Jealous.’
‘No, but he’s got no cause to be. Mind you, he’s always asking about the job, who I’ve been working with and such. There was one time I was out on patrol in Livingston and I saw him. I asked if he was following me, and he laughed.’
‘How’s he been lately, Mae?’ McIlhenney asked. ‘His usual self?’
‘Randy as ever.’
‘I know your listed address is your folks’ place, but do you actually live with Theo? No comeback if you do, you can be frank with us.’
‘No,’ she replied. ‘I’ve suggested it a couple of times, but he’s always said it’s better to wait until we’re married.’
‘Do you have a key to his house?’
‘No, and now I can understand why. You asked how he’s been. Normally Theo’s easy-going, as long as I don’t put pressure on him. . he’s not a guy you nag. . but about three weeks ago I was at his place, and I could tell there was something wrong. Eventually I asked him. At first he said it was nothing, but I could see it wasn’t. So I asked him again, and he said, “She’s a fuckin’ bitch and I could kill her.” I don’t know what Lisanne had done, but it had really got to him.’
‘We don’t think it was Lisanne, Mae. According to his statement, they’re still on intimate terms. We think it was Sugar.’
‘And you think. .’ the woman gasped.
‘Let’s just say that we’re looking into the possibility,’ Stallings told her. ‘That’s all for now, Mae.’ She took a card from her pocket and slid it across the desk. ‘We’ll contact you if we need to speak to you again. If anything else occurs to you, at any time, that’s my mobile number. Don’t hesitate to use it.’
Thirty-two
‘Where are we? We’re just crossing the border at a place called Cerbère. Aileen’s driving, to the car’s great relief. We’ve been up in France and now we’re taking the long twisty way back.’
‘Day-tripping?’ said Andy Martin. ‘That’s not like you. I thought you hardly went the length of yourself when you went on holiday.’
‘This was a special case; just doing a favour for our friends Mario and Neil.’
‘What the. .? You’re a workaholic, man.’
‘No, I’m not, honest,’ Skinner assured him. ‘My sabbatical’s cured me of that. It was something that needed doing and the easiest way was for me to do it. Now listen, this call’s costing me a bomb: you’ll have heard from Jimmy by now, yes?’
‘Yes. A few hours back.’
‘And you agreed to what he asked?’
‘He talked me into it.’
‘That’s good; I need the best for this.’
‘I’m not sure you do. It’s cut and dried. I interview people, with Mackenzie alongside me as back-up. I’ve checked that it’s okay to use him, and it is, since he was off sick when all this stuff happened, and not involved in any of it.’
‘Do it formally, on tape.’
Martin laughed. ‘Of course I will; it’d be fucking “Tea and biscuits, how’re you doing?” otherwise. But I know most of the people in the Crown Office, apart from this guy Dowley. They’re all sound.’
‘You start with that bastard. He’s the reason for all this fuss. Plus, he pissed off Jimmy and tried to bully Neil.’
‘Silly man, twice. But, Bob, I don’t have to point out to you, do I, that this is an independent inquiry?’
‘Sorry, you’re right,’ Skinner conceded. ‘You’ll have to interview me before it’s done.’
‘Not if I find a leak first. How do you rate my chances?’
‘What did Muhammad Ali say? “Slim and none, and Slim’s on vacation.” There probably isn’t a leak. This may not be a copycat at all, whatever the Glimmer Twins think. There are two suspects directly linked to the Dean girl. We’ve got the likelier one in our hands and we’re looking for the other.’
‘Then why do you need to haul me down from Dundee?’
‘Because I want you to exceed your brief. Fulfil it, yes, but while you’re at it, I’d like you to review the whole story, everything that led up to the row with the Crown Agent. Are you up for that?’
‘From the beginning?’
‘Yes, the Ballester murders, Stevie Steele’s death, right through to the Sugar Dean case. I want you to look at it all, to see if anything strikes you that we haven’t hit on. That’s the real reason I want you in Edinburgh. I could handle Dowley myself, but I don’t want to do that. He’s done me a favour: he’s given me the chance to bring you on board. I want you to do what you do best: I want you to think outside the box.’
Martin chuckled. ‘Just like old times?’
‘Just like old times,’ said Skinner. ‘I’ve missed you, son.’
‘Okay. I’ll do it. Will anyone else have to know?’
‘Mario. And if you tell him, his blood brother had better be in the picture as well. But that’s all. Mackenzie’s in on the leak inquiry, but not this.’
‘Fine. I’ll be there tomorrow.’
‘That’s good. I’ve fixed it for you to use my office till I get back next Monday.’ Skinner paused. ‘Hey, did Jimmy tell you anything else?’
‘He told me he’s leaving next month. Decision time, Bob. Are you going for it?’
‘Decision made. Answer, yes.’
‘In that case, you should know I won’t be getting in your way.’
‘That’s entirely your decision. I’ll understand if you do apply.’