Maybe Alice had borrowed a phone from one of Shifty’s team and that’s why the number wasn’t recognised? That’s what happened when you got too drunk to put your mobile on to charge overnight.
‘Now, Ash, is that any way to talk to an old friend? One who has a proposition for you?’ Jennifer’s wink wasn’t anywhere near as appealing as the waitress’s. ‘And not a sexual one this time.’ She looked over her shoulder.
I followed her gaze.
Helen MacNeil was outside, standing with her arms folded, back against the railings, coat buffeted by the wind. Face like she was trying to stare down the world.
‘Thank God, right? I mean, can you imagine that in the nude?’ Jennifer faked a shudder. Then leaned forwards. Glanced left and right as if someone might be eavesdropping. ‘Six million pounds. I checked it out: Steve Jericho’s place got knocked over fifteen years ago. Hallelujah Bingo, cash-in-transit job. Official report was they made off with twenty grand, but unofficially Steve Jericho had got his hands on Nigel Cavendish’s stash — all the stuff he’d robbed from private collections and museums, going back to the seventies.’
‘Cavendish?’ Why did that name sound—
‘Hacked to pieces in his living room with a machete. Anyway, Helen says Billy “the Axe” Macgregor was the one who nicked Steve Jericho’s stuff. No one ever found the armoured car, or its driver.’ Jennifer’s eyes widened. ‘She says it’s still in Oldcastle, and she knows where.’
‘Did you follow me all the way here for that?’ I scrubbed my hands clean on the napkin. ‘Not interested.’
‘Four million for her and two million for us.’ A glistening pink tongue flickered around Jennifer’s lips. ‘That’s one million pounds each, all we have to do is find Gordon Smith. And you’re doing that anyway! It’s a win-win.’ She sat back and toasted me with her glass, before downing a mouthful.
Ding-buzz.
UNKNOWN NUMBER:
I didn’t want 2 let them arrest U but I had
2 run
grandad doesn’t like it when I talk 2
people
Wait a minute.
Wait a bloody sodding minute.
Ding-buzz.
UNKNOWN NUMBER:
We go 2 the Xmas market every year as a
treat but U was shouting at me & the
police was there & if they cot us he would
B V angry
I don’t want 2 make him angry
I scraped my chair back, grabbed the phone and stuffed it into my pocket. ‘I’m not going to do anything with you, Jennifer. Not now. Not ever.’ Gave her a smile as I hauled on my jacket. ‘And Helen offered me two million, so why the hell would I need you?’ Picked up my walking stick and Henry’s lead. Nodded at the half-eaten burger and chips. ‘You can finish that if you like.’
Dumped fifteen quid on the bar on the way past, and limped into the windy sunshine.
Fiddled my phone out again and hit the call icon at the top of the two unknown text messages. It rang twice, then disconnected.
Ding-buzz.
UNKNOWN NUMBER:
U can’t call me!!!!!!!! Grandad doesn’t no I
have this phone! He can’t find out!!!!! If
he finds out it’ll upset him & he’ll be angry
with me!!!!!!!
Holy shit. It was her.
Leah, tell me where you are and we’ll
come get you. You don’t have to be
scared, we can fix this if you tell me
where you are.
Send.
Ding-buzz.
UNKNOWN NUMBER:
I don’t no where we R! I’m frightened!!!
He’s bin there all my live & I love him but
he scares me so much
He’s coming back I have 2 go!!!
Right, there was only one thing for it.
Leah, I need you to keep your phone
switched on for me, so we can trace your
location. Turn the volume and the vibrate
setting off, and leave the phone switched
on.
We’ll find you, I promise!
SEND.
Soon as it went, I called Mother.
‘DI Malcolmson?’
‘It’s Ash. Remember...’
Helen MacNeil was staring at me.
By rights, I should go over there and tell her.
Tell her what? That her granddaughter isn’t safe and laying low in Edinburgh after all? That she’s been grabbed by Gordon Smith, and can’t get away because she’s terrified of him? That we had no idea where she was now? How exactly was that going to help?
Yeah. Maybe not.
I gave Helen a small wave instead and limped off down the High Street, towards the ferry terminal.
‘Ash? Remember what?’
Keeping my voice low, in case Helen decided to follow. ‘You really need to get that warrant out for Leah MacNeil’s mobile phone. She’s been in touch: Leah’s with Gordon Smith.’ I ducked around the corner — sheltering in the lee of an off-licence — out of the wind and Helen’s line of sight. ‘You still there?’
‘Ash, I hate to be a cynical Charlotte, but some might think this was a bit convenient, given your—’
‘Fine: I’ll forward you the texts. Hold on.’ I did, sending my replies on too. ‘She’s with him and she’s scared. If you get a warrant, we get her. And if we get her...?’
‘We get him.’ The sound went all scrunched, as if Mother had put a hand over her phone’s microphone. ‘John, whatever you’re doing, stop it and get a warrant for Leah MacNeil’s mobile phone location!’
DC Watt’s reply was too muffled to make out. Probably whingeing, knowing him.
And Mother was back. ‘Any luck IDing the Bute victim?’
‘Had to leave that to Franklin and a sergeant. The local Chief Inspector doesn’t think civilians should have access to missing person archives. Doesn’t allow dogs in his station, either.’
‘He sounds lovely.’
‘Nothing’s been digitised. It’s going to take them a long time to wade through everything. And the last ferry back to the mainland’s at seven.’
‘Hold on...’
‘Anything from Dotty and Elliot?’
Silence.
A couple of Russian tourists trundled their wheelie suitcases past, arguing about something.
A taxi stopped to let an old man, bent like a question mark, hobble into the off-licence behind me. Techno music vibrating out through the car windows.
‘I’m sorry if I’m boring you, but—’
‘There’s another ferry. If you go up to... Rhubodach? Am I saying that right? Last one from there sails at nine. Think Rosalind could be finished by then?’
‘No idea. Maybe?’
‘Let me know if not and we’ll get a B-and-B sorted. And keep all your receipts!’ With that, she hung up.
Henry thumped down at my feet, staring up at me as if I was the divine provider of sausages.
‘Better hope she gets us somewhere that takes greedy hairy monsters, or you’re sleeping in the car tonight.’
That didn’t seem to dent his enthusiasm any, instead his tail wagged even harder.
‘Scuse me?’ It was the waitress from the restaurant, arms wrapped around herself, grey hair flailing in the wind.