‘For God’s sake!’ Aileen protested. ‘Do you think he was a quick pick-up?’
‘Not at all; hence the assumption. What else is he likely to say?’
‘Nothing beyond what I told you. And he’s going to leave for America tomorrow, a few days earlier than planned.’
‘He probably thinks that’s very wise on his part. I mean, hanging around in a city after being caught banging the chief constable’s wife, all sorts of misfortunes might come your way. But tell him not to worry, if he is worrying, that is.’
‘I will. And I’ll tell him as well that he’s probably done you a favour.’
‘What do you mean by that?’ he asked.
‘Isn’t it obvious? When you show up somewhere with another lady on your arm, everybody’s going to say, “Aw, is that no’ nice, after what the poor man went through.” I could even hazard a guess as to who she might be.’
‘Don’t bother yourself, Aileen. You just get on with your brilliant career. I wish you every success.’
‘And you get on with yours, my dear. And you remember what I said. Now you’re wedged in the Stratchlyde chief’s chair, you’ll find it impossible to leave. And when the new single force is created, and your case against it has been knocked back, as you know will happen, you’ll want that job too, because you won’t be able to help yourself. The one and only thing that you and I have in common, my dear, is this: we are both driven by ambition.’
‘You could not be more wrong. I have only one motivation.’
‘Oh aye,’ she said, mockery in her voice. ‘And what’s that?’
‘Love.’ He continued, cutting off her gasp of derision. ‘Send me your draft. I’ll be home in fifteen minutes.’ He ended the call.
He thought about his final exchange with Aileen for the rest of the journey to Gullane. Never before had he encapsulated his driving forces in one word, but he realised that it was entirely appropriate. He loved his children, all of them with equal intensity, and he loved Sarah. And he loved his job as well, because it was his vocation, and it enabled him to be the best he could be for all of them.
He had never loved Aileen. He realised that. He had been attracted to a personality as powerful as his own, but had discovered that they could not co-exist in the same union. Eventually each had sought to dominate the other and the marriage had broken apart. This was not to say that Aileen was incapable of love herself. She had her tender side, but she would always be a leader, never a follower, and her soulmate, if he existed, would have to know that and be compliant.
The draft joint announcement was waiting for him as an email attachment when he reached home and turned on the computer in his small office. He read through it, found it factual and unemotional, and forwarded it, unamended, in a message to Mitchell Laidlaw asking him to issue it to the media at 10 a.m. next morning through his firm’s PR company. He copied the mail to Aileen, then sent Laidlaw a text message from his personal mobile advising him that it was on its way.
He had expected no reply until the morning, but within a minute, his phone rang.
‘Bob,’ Mitch Laidlaw exclaimed. ‘What a shocker. This is completely out of the blue. This will shake a few people.’
‘Clearly you haven’t seen the telly news tonight. From what I’m told it has already.’
‘No, I missed that. We were watching a film. Why, has it leaked?’
‘Not in the way you mean, but. . go online and look at the Daily News website, you may find that explains a lot.’
‘Intriguing, but I will. There’s no chance of any. .’
‘No, chum; not a prayer. We both know what we want to say and we’re not backing off from it. When your PR people put it out, they can add that I’m making no further comment. What Aileen chooses to do is up to her.’
‘What about the legal side of it?’ the solicitor asked.
‘We haven’t discussed that. Look after my kids’ interests if it becomes necessary; that’s all the instruction I’ll give you at this stage.’
‘I will do. The fact is, you’re pretty much divorce-proofed after the last time.’
‘Ouch!’ Skinner winced. ‘You make me sound like a recidivist.’
‘Two’s above average in our community, Bob.’
He laughed. ‘I know, but I’m coming round to the view that the first one doesn’t count.’
‘Oh yes? What does that mean?’
‘Nothing; just idle banter. Now, go on with you.’ As he spoke his landline rang out, on his desk. He peered at the caller display. ‘Incoming from my daughter,’ he said. ‘I suspect she has seen the TV news.’
He killed the mobile call and picked up the other. ‘Yes, Alex.’
‘Pops,’ his elder daughter exclaimed in his ear, ‘what the hell is this about Aileen and tomorrow’s press? I’ve just had a call from Andy. He’s been watching. .’
‘I know. Kid, go easy on her; it wasn’t her fault.’
‘Wasn’t her. .’
‘Alexis,’ he said, using her Sunday name for added emphasis. ‘Stop and think back, not very far back, to a time when someone was out to make trouble for me, and you left your bedroom curtains open. You with me?’
‘Yes, Pops,’ she murmured. ‘I suppose I live in a glass house.’
‘We all do,’ he replied. ‘Fortunately, you’ve minimised the chances of a repeat by moving to a penthouse.’
‘I know. I suppose I’m only angry because of the effect her behaviour might have on you.’
‘Well, don’t be. While she was with Morocco, whose bed do you think I was sleeping in? Where did I go on Saturday, when I got free of the concert hall and Glasgow? Where did you and Andy see me?’
‘At. .’ she paused. ‘You and Sarah? You’re back together?’
‘Let’s just say we’ve got a hell of a lot in common, with three kids and a lot of personal mileage.’
‘Plus the fact that she loves you,’ his daughter pointed out, ‘and that’s the main reason why she came back from America and took the job at the university.’
‘Plus the fact that I love her,’ he conceded. ‘But the key word, darling, is “discreet”. Aileen will find out eventually, and the last thing I want is for her to get vindictive. So neither I, nor any member of my family or circle of friends, is going to say a single hard word about her. She had every right to be with Morocco, with or without the horror at the concert hall, but as it happens the guy was there for her when she chose to go to him. So be cool, promise me.’
‘I promise. What are you going to do?’
‘We, that’s Aileen and me, have done it already through Mitch, but you’re not to be involved. Don’t talk to anyone, not even people within the firm. Understood?’
‘Yes.’
He heard a sound, indicating that there was a call waiting. ‘On you go now,’ he said. ‘I’m in for a busy hour or so.’
‘Pops,’ she sighed. ‘Don’t be so Goddamned conscientious; do what anyone else would to and unplug the phone from the socket.’
‘Is that your legal advice?’ he chuckled.
‘No, it’s pure Alex, and I’m not advising, I’m ordering. Just bloody do it.’
‘Yes, boss,’ he replied, then, not for the first time in his life, did as she had told him.
Twenty
‘I think I preferred it when you were just another DI, and Max Allan kept you in the background.’ Scott Mann stared at the kitchen wall clock; it showed five minutes to midnight. ‘What the hell time’s this tae be comin’ in?’
His wife stared at him. ‘Don’t you bloody start,’ she warned. ‘The number of times I’ve asked you that question. That and “Where the hell have you been?” although it was always all too obvious.’
‘Ye’ll never let me forget, will ye?’
‘Bloody right I won’t; not when you start digging me up about my work. I’ve had the day from hell and I don’t need you narking at me. I didn’t ask to catch the shout to the concert hall last night, but I did and that’s the end of it. Okay?’ She barked out the last word.
He winced and glanced towards the ceiling. ‘Shh,’ he whispered. ‘Ye’ll wake the wee man. He’s no’ long asleep. He tried to stay awake for you. Ah made him put his light out at half nine, but he did his best tae hang on.’