`Well, Michael did say that he'd been difficult over the tournament. Hard to deal with. He mentioned a couple of times that he was having trouble with him, but I think that he had sorted it all out.
I remember he said once that he'd met a few people like Morton in business, and that mostly they'd been shady. "Shady" was probably Michael's strongest term of disapproval.'
‘Hmm,' Sir James Proud grunted. He still stood behind the woman, as if protecting her. 'He was a very generous man, your husband, in his view of his fellow beings. Many of us could learn from his example.' Skinner looked up at the Chief, and was astonished to see a moistness in his eyes. He sensed that it was time to go, before grief could force its way through the calmness of the room.
Unless there's anything else you can recall that might help us, Myrtle, we'll be off. I'm sorry that we had to intrude at all.'
Not at all, Bob. I welcome your presence, yours Jimmy, and yours too, Miss Rose.' She nodded to the Detective Inspector, who was seated at the other end of the long sofa. 'I was glad of the chance to be involved. I've never been good at sitting around. In fact, I had been thinking of phoning Lady Proud and inviting myself round for coffee'
`You do that very thing, my dear,' said the big, bluff Chief Constable, his composure fully recovered in the relief of knowing that the interview was over.
One thing, gentlemen,' said Myrtle White. 'When can I plan on having the funeral? I mean when will you release…'
Skinner interrupted quickly. 'Strictly speaking, that's for the Fiscal to say, but in the circumstances, I'd say the beginning of next week would be OK. Monday or Tuesday. I'll speak to Davie Pettigrew myself, and let him know that's your intention.'
`Thanks, Bob. That's good of you. There'll be a lot to arrange. I'd imagine that we might have quite a turn-out.' For the first time that morning, there was a catch in her voice, but almost instantly, her shoulders squared and she recovered herself. She stood up and the others followed suit.
Proud Jimmy led the way out to the hall, and to the front door, where Myrtle White reached up on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. She shook hands with Skinner and Rose.
`Thank you again for your help,' said the ACC. 'I'll keep you informed of any progress that we make.'
She shook her head as she opened the glass-panelled door. `No, Bob. Don't do that. I really don't want to know. I can't allow myself to be taken over by thoughts of revenge or retribution. The punishment end of it, that's your business, and I'm happy to let you get on with it.
`Michael's dead, and as you say, that chapter of my book is over. I'll give him a damn good send-off and after that I want to get on with the rest of my life, without looking back in anger.' She waved a farewell as she closed the door behind them.
`Some woman,' muttered Sir James Proud, as the three police officers crunched their way down the red gravel path.
Aye,' said Skinner. 'It sums up police work, what Myrtle said. Michael deserves retribution.
And she's right: it's down to us to see he gets it.' He looked down at Rose, as he opened the garden gate. 'Those are the clients of our detecting profession, Maggie, the victims and their families, first and foremost. That's where our duty lies. We're their avenging angels.'
Ten
It was the silent hour when the rest of the force were at lunch. Skinner sat at his desk, checking the note of the interview with Myrtle White which Maggie Rose had dictated on their return to the Fettes Avenue headquarters building. The Detective Inspector sat facing him, like a schoolgirl awaiting an exam result.
He grinned at her. Ten out of ten, Maggie. Have two copies made, one for the Chief, and the other for Alison Higgins.' There was a knock on the door, which lay ajar. 'Yes,' Skinner called, and Ruth McConnell stepped into the room. 'All lips, legs and self-assurance,' was Andy Martin's classic description of the ACC's confident, capable secretary, but now she wore an air of uncertainty which Skinner had never seen before. He could tell that she had something to say, but she was hesitant, as if she was fearful of his reaction.
Aye, aye, Ruthie,' he said. 'Who's rattled your cage, then?' She tried to look puzzled by his banter, but failed, and gave up the attempt.
It's Superintendent Martin, sir. He's on the phone.'
Skinner's eyebrows rose. He felt an involuntary tug in the pit of his stomach. see.' He smiled at her, to put her at her ease. 'What does he want?'
`He said that it has to do with the Witches' Hill investigation. I told him that you were with Inspector Rose, but he said he'd hang on.'
She looked at him, enquiring, but with the apprehension gone from her eyes. Skinner leaned back in his chair and stared out of the window. Five people in the world knew the truth of the explosion between the two men, and Martin's transfer had been presented as routine police business, but he knew full well that rumours of a rift were circulating and being accepted as fact.
He assessed his options for what seemed like an eternity to the two women as they watched him. He had made it clear that Alison Higgins was in charge of the Witches' Hill investigation. If he took the call it could be seen as undermining her authority, yet if he referred it to her it could be seen by Martin as a snub.
Eventually he swung back to face Ruth. 'OK, put him through.' The secretary left the room, and Maggie Rose, without being asked, stood up and followed her. Skinner thought that both were suppressing smiles.
A few seconds later the white phone on his desk buzzed, once. He picked it up. 'Mr Martin, sir,' said Ruth. There was a click. 'Andy, what can I do for you?' He held his breath, ready to read every inflection in Martin's voice.
The reply was cool and controlled. 'I'm sorry to disturb you, sir, but I thought you'd want to hear this. I had a call this morning from Kay Wilson, the editor of the Scotsman. She's had a very odd letter, and she thinks it might have some connection to the White murder. It's handwritten, and it was left on the counter of their front office. Their receptionists were both away from their desks, so they didn't see who left it.
`Legally, she can run it tomorrow, and she's going to, but she's taken a copy and had the original delivered here. Want me to read it?'
Skinner considered his reply for a moment or two. 'Don't you take this the wrong way, Andy, but I don't. I've told Alison that this is her investigation. I've got myself involved in it once already today, so on this one I've got to give her her place. Whatever you've got there you should show to her. She's based at the club just now. Sarah and Jazz are out at the cottage in Gullane all this week, so I'll be calling in on Alison on my way home. She can show your letter to me then… if she chooses.'
`Very good, sir. I'll do that. I'm sorry to have bothered you.'
Skinner sighed. 'Andy… Andy, my friend, this stops now. I've been keeping clear of you to let you cool down, but the time has come. We've been mates for far too long. I admit it, I made an absolute arse of myself that morning. My mouth overrode my brain completely, and it all got out of control. I said and did some wild things, and I'm sorry for them.'
`So did Alex, Bob, but she isn't.'
'Hah, don't I know that! If it's any consolation, I'm in the doghouse too. Look, I don't know what happened between you two after I made my theatrical exit. But I guess that when I upset her, she took it out on you.'
`Something like that. I lost it a bit, too.'
`Yeah, well, as I said, I'm sorry, as sorry as I can be. It's all down to me.'
`No it isn't, not all of it. You were right about one thing. I should have spoken to you a lot earlier. At first, you weren't around, then when you were back and I was going to say something, I let Alex talk me out of it… even though I knew she was wrong. The trouble is, she's proud of being a nineties woman, but you and I, we're eighties men.'