‘Well, the highlight of my month is that Charlie Johnston’s two weeks off retiring. He’s a nice guy, but a throwback. He’s the original plodder after whom we’ve all come to be named, and he’s been filling in his time, drawing his pay and waiting for his pension from the day he joined the force.’
‘He’s reliable, though. He doesn’t make mistakes. His problem is that while he does everything by the book, he does it all very slowly.’
‘Tell me about it,’ Chambers grunted. ‘He seems to have an effect on time itself. If he’d boiled that kettle it would have taken ten minutes.’
Steele laughed. ‘True. Mind you he does have one virtue that you’ll miss. He knows everything. Nothing goes past Charlie, not a single fact, or piece of gossip, about what’s going on in the office. When I was here, if there was something that I couldn’t quite pin down, I always asked Charlie, and he always came up with an answer. Has he said what he’s going to do when he retires?’
‘He’s been talking about applying for a security job in one of the museums or art galleries.’
‘Tell him that I’ll give him a reference if he does. Tell him also that if he fancies the idea of being re-employed as a civilian clerk, he should give me a call and I’ll see what opportunities are available.’
‘What?’ the superintendent exclaimed. ‘Do you want the paper trail to grind to a halt?’
‘Alan Royston, the force media manager, has a vacancy. While Charlie has a nose for gossip, he never gives anything away. He might be a good guy to have mixing with journalists.’ She sipped her tea. ‘OK, Charlie’s departure’s the highlight. What about the rest?’
‘We’ve been quiet. There’s been an increase in call-outs for shoplifting, a by-product of the economic slump, I suppose, but otherwise we’re not over-stretched.’
‘Got everything you need?’
‘Apart from a new building, you mean? That apart, for the moment we’re fine.’ She paused. ‘Ach,’ she resumed, ‘I go on about this place, we all do, but it works. We do a decent job here, so we can go on with it for a while.’
‘Don’t be too quick to tell me that, or anyone else in the command corridor. Do that and you’ll stay a low investment priority. Complain, Mary, complain.’
Chambers smiled. ‘If you insist. Charlie Johnson says that the gents’ toilets are what he’ll miss least about this place.’
‘That’s a surprise; he’s spent a good part of his career in there. But act on it; ask the guys, and if they agree, drop me a memo. If we refurbish the gents’, the ladies’ will be done at the same time, automatically. From what I remember, they’re not too fresh either. Right,’ she said, ‘that’s what you need. Now, is there anything you want to ask me?’
She waited. ‘Well,’ the superintendent replied, finally, ‘there’s the job, this job, the one I’m in. I’m still only acting divisional commander, and I’m way down the list for promotion to chief super. What’s my situation?’
‘That’s with Brian Mackie and the boss, but do you want it permanently? You have the option of going back to CID.’
‘I’d be a spare wheel there, in this division at any rate. Becky Stallings may only be a DI, but she’s bloody good; besides, with the new structure, and her reporting to Neil McIlhenney, my old job doesn’t seem to be there any more. So for now, if there’s a chance, I’d like to stay here.’
‘In that case, I’ll fix it. You’re right in that I can’t swing an early promotion, but I’ll speak to the chief, and tell him I want you here.’
Chambers looked at her gratefully. ‘Thanks, Maggie. I appreciate that; I’ve been feeling in limbo lately, at work at any rate.’
Steele looked at her. ‘I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t believe it was best for all of us; you, me and the force.’ Her expression softened. ‘Going back to CID, how’s young Sauce getting on? He’s been an unofficial protégé of mine ever since he was the rawest of probationers, under the warm and comforting wing of PC Johnston.’ She shook her head. ‘I still can’t get over my predecessor putting a rookie at risk by sending him out with Charlie.’
‘From what I see, and hear, he’s doing bloody well. Jack McGurk told me the other day that the lad keeps him on his toes, and Jack’s a hard guy to please.’
‘That’s good to hear. It doesn’t surprise me, though; that kid’s got “high-flyer” written all over him.’ She grinned, then performed one of her trademark switches of subject. ‘You’ve been in limbo at work, you said. Should I read anything into that, away from the office?’
For a few moments, Mary Chambers’ plain square face took on an expression that might almost have been described as coy. ‘Well,’ she began, ‘you know my relationship broke up a wee while back?’
‘Yes, I was sorry to hear it. I thought it was pretty stable.’
The superintendent shrugged her shoulders. ‘It had run its course. It was mostly my fault. Cop’s disease; I got so wrapped up in the job that I was never really at home, and my other half finally got fed up with it and found other interests.’
‘I know that one,’ Steele admitted. ‘It was what happened to Mario and me. So how are things now?’
‘Getting better. I’ve met somebody, somebody new.’
‘Good for you. Is it public knowledge yet?’
Chambers shook her head. ‘No, not yet. It will be soon, though; I’m planning to do something really reckless, and take her to the divisional dance on Friday. It’ll ensure a lively evening, if nothing else.’
‘I’ll look forward to meeting her.’
‘Are you going to be there?’
‘For a while. So’s the chief, each of us unaccompanied.’
The other woman looked alarmed. ‘Is he? Oh my God, I’m not sure I’m brave enough for that.’
‘Don’t be daft,’ Steele declared. ‘One thing about Bob Skinner: he’s as liberal as they come. . apart from where his daughter’s concerned, and there isn’t a cat’s chance in hell it’s her you’re taking to the ball.’
Six
‘This is a great day,’ said Bob, as he slid into his seat in the rooftop restaurant, and the waiter who had shown him to the table withdrew. ‘It’s barely ten years since we were sweating over your Highers results, and here you are with a partnership in one of the biggest law firms in Britain.’
‘Size matters, Pops,’ Alexis Skinner replied, with a grin. ‘In business law, at any rate. When I graduated, I seem to remember you wondering whether I might have been better joining a smaller practice. If I had I’d still be at least three years away from where I am now, and the money wouldn’t have been nearly as good.’
‘It was still a gamble, though.’
‘I was betting on myself. Yes, I might have stayed submerged in the talent pool, and never made it beyond senior assistant. Yes, I might have been a bigger fish in a smaller river, but if I’d settled for that, I’d always have been casting envious glances out to sea. Also, I’d have been doing broad-based work; I’d have been a general legal labourer, if you like, a bit of conveyancing, a bit of family law, a bit of litigation. In a big firm you can specialise, focus on what you’re best at. . and I’m best at corporate law.’ She picked up the menu, then looked up at him again. ‘I could argue that I’ve followed your example.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean that you could have been a chief constable years ago, if you’d been prepared to go to Dumfries, or Inverness, or Penrith, or Portishead. But you didn’t; you stayed in Edinburgh, where you could specialise in crime and where you could eventually carry that specialism into the top job, as you have done. You didn’t just do that either; along the way you’ve trained a whole line of cops in your own image, people like Maggie, Mario, Neil. .’ She stopped short. ‘You know what I mean.’
‘I know what you mean, and I also noted the name you left off that list. . Andy Martin. Have you heard from him lately?’
‘No,’ said Alex, firmly. ‘I didn’t expect to, and I certainly won’t be in touch with him.’
‘Good; there would only be grief in it for you.’