CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The fine weather broke on Wednesday night. Storm clouds blew in from the east and drenched the capital in a torrential downpour. It was still raining on Thursday morning, hammering against the windows of the briefing room.
There were five people in the room, including Jane Talbot and Robert Carter. Carter was sitting at the back, away from the others, and they in turn were tactfully allowing him space to settle back into the routine of his working life. Jane stood at the front of the room. She had given dozens of briefings in the past, but couldn’t shake off the feeling that this one was different.
Raj Kumar glanced across at the rivers of rain rushing down the windows. ‘Did you order this specially, Jane?’ He had become accustomed to the harsh climate of Afghanistan recently, and the moderate and unpredictable British weather was still confusing.
The others laughed, except for Carter who was reading through the thick file given to him by Martin Impey before the meeting started. He had been received with friendly affection by everyone in the building, from the people in reception to his colleagues in this room. He hadn’t yet seen Crozier but he was ready for that occurrence. John McKinley had shaken his hand but kept flashing glances in his direction, obviously uncertain why he was here.
‘Doesn’t bode well.’ This from McKinley, who was a tall black American whose large frame seemed uncomfortable, curled in his seat. His deep voice resonated like the bass lines in a complex jazz composition.
‘It’s only a drop of rain, John,’ Kirby Grant said. ‘It won’t hurt you.’
‘Try telling that to my sciatica,’ McKinley said. ‘Give me sunshine any day.’
Conversation stopped as the door opened and Simon Crozier stepped into the room, accompanied by Jessica Anderson. He introduced her. ‘Jessica is here to represent the Kulsay Development Corporation,’ he said to the room. ‘She’d like a few words with you before you leave.’ Inevitably his eyes met Carter’s; it was the first time they had been in the same room since Jane reported her success with him. Carter raised his eyebrows in an ironic gesture of welcome, which made Crozier look away. He turned to Jessica Anderson. ‘Jessica, over to you.’
‘Thank you, Simon,’ she said, and stepped forward. ‘I’ll keep this brief. I know you want to get on with the job. I’d just like to say that we of the Kulsay Development Corporation would like to thank you in advance for your help in trying to solve this dreadful mystery. The poor wretches who disappeared from Kulsay may still be alive…they may of course be dead, but we pray that isn’t the case. We have every confidence that you will get to the bottom of this one way or another.
‘As I speak, the Manse on Kulsay is being readied for your stay. You’ll find that every possible convenience has been provided, as well as a freezer full of food. Each of you will be issued cell phones. We’ve installed a signal amplifier recently, so you shouldn’t have any trouble with them, but as a safeguard we’ve also installed a radio transmitter with direct links to the KDC and to the Department. If you feel it is necessary, make contact and a helicopter will be sent from Aberdeen to airlift you off.’
Raj cleared his throat. ‘I seem to remember that scenario. Didn’t you lose a helicopter the last time?’ His dark eyes were hooded, cloaking the intelligence that swam behind them.
For a split second Jessica Anderson glared at him, then her face relaxed and she let a smile curl her lips again. ‘I don’t believe that lightning strikes twice in the same place,’ she said.
‘Fingers crossed,’ Kirby said, and her ready smile lightened the meaning.
Sensing the tension that had suddenly enveloped the room Crozier smiled and said, ‘Jane, for Jessica’s benefit perhaps you’d like to introduce the team.’
She was taken aback, not least by Crozier’s overtly courteous manner. ‘Oh, okay, fine,’ she said. ‘From the left then. Raj Kumar and Kirby Grant.’
‘Sound and Vision,’ they said, almost in unison.
Jane smiled. ‘It’s their job to record any phenomena we witness on the island, both visually and aurally.’
Kumar was a tall, slim Indian, early thirties, a very private man, with nervous, fluttering fingers, long black hair and a wispy goatee.
‘I take the photos,’ Raj said. ‘Kirby records the screams.’
‘Is that an attempt at humor?’ Jessica said, clearly unimpressed.
‘A very poor one,’ Kirby said quickly, shooting Kumar a look. She had been watching Jessica and her appraisal of the team had reminded her of farmers back when she lived with her parents. They ran a farm, and the monthly cattle market attracted people who viewed the animals with a similar dispassionate stare.
‘This is John McKinley,’ Jane continued, walking across and laying a hand on the tall man’s shoulder. ‘John’s just come back from India where he was overseeing an investigation into a case of apparent demonic possession.’
‘A crock,’ McKinley said. ‘But the weather was better there.’
‘If you’ve read the file you will have seen that not only is John a leading parapsychologist, but also one of the most gifted sensitives in the country, if not the world.’
‘I also play a mean game of pool and make an excellent fourth at bridge,’ McKinley said with a sardonic smile.
The expression on Jessica Anderson’s face didn’t change. Jane moved quickly on. Jessica Anderson was not a woman that people would immediately warm to. Clearly she must have been aware of that fact, though it didn’t seem to bother her.
‘Kirby Grant,’ Jane said, standing behind a girl who looked no more than nineteen, but was actually in her mid-twenties. Small and slight with olive skin and a shock of wayward coal black hair. ‘Kirby records all our findings and tries to put them into a semblance of order.’
‘I’m also the catering manager,’ Kirby said, deadpan.
‘Ah yes,’ Jane said. ‘Kirby is a culinary wizard. She keeps us fed and watered, performing small gastronomic miracles with the most basic ingredients.’ She spoke with a humorous flourish but trailed off when there was no reaction from the American.
Jane moved to the back of the room. ‘Robert Carter,’ she said.
‘You don’t need to introduce Mr. Carter,’ Jessica said. ‘I’m fully aware of his talents.’ She walked across the room, hand extended. ‘I’m indebted to you, Mr. Carter, for agreeing to come on this mission. Mission…is that the right word? I’m sure if anyone can get to the bottom of this it will be you. If there’s anything you need, anything at all, don’t hesitate to contact us. I’m sure we’ll be able to accommodate you.’
Carter shook her hand and glanced across at Jane. She looked annoyed. ‘Thank you, Ms. Anderson, but Jane is leading this assignment. She’ll be the one making contact.’
Jessica Anderson leaned into him. ‘Very gallant,’ she said softly, so the others couldn’t hear her, then let his hand drop and turned back to Jane.
She couldn’t fail to hear Carter’s murmured, ‘Bitch.’
‘And that’s it,’ Jane said. ‘The team.’
‘And of course yourself,’ Jessica said.
‘Jane Talbot,’ Jane said. She wasn’t going to give any further information just to see if it irritated Jessica Anderson. Jane realized all her details were on file, and knew the American would have already seen them.
As if confirming this Jessica said, ‘I’ve read a lot about you, Jane. Your file is impressive.’
‘I’m flattered.’ Jane knew she was being made aware of the pecking order. Jessica was in charge.
‘Flattery doesn’t come into it,’ Jessica said. ‘I know from experience how hard it is for a woman to advance in what is essentially a man’s world.’
‘I wouldn’t say…’