Ian Rankin - The Complaints
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Saturday 14 February 2009
They drove in silence for the first half-mile or so. Fox was behind the steering wheel, Breck in the passenger seat. Eventually, Breck found the right form of words for what he wanted to say.
What was that all about?
What?
Back there - you and Dickson.
Just wanted to check his centre of gravity, Jamie. Didnt think hed go down so easily. Fox made eye contact, then gave a wink.
Breck smiled, but he was shaking his head. Its not the way to play Dickson and Hall. Thats two enemies for life, right there.
It was worth it, Fox stated.
Suddenly youre Action Man...
Some of us dont have avatars to fall back on.
Breck turned his attention to the world outside the car. Where are we going?
My sisters.
Does she live in an underground bunker?
She lives in Saughtonhall.
Might not be protection enough. Billy Giles is going to want to talk to us.
Talk at us, you mean.
Okay, but hes going to haul us in if we dont go to him first.
Youre the guy who likes to take risks and show initiative...
And thats what you were doing back there?
Was I being passive?
Not really. Breck managed a short-lived laugh. So why are we going to see your sister?
Youll see.
But when they got there, Jude wasnt at home. Fox rang the bell next door and Alison Pettifer answered. She had an apron tied around her and was wiping her hands on a towel.
Sorry, Fox said. Is Jude with you?
She went to the shops. Pettifer looked up and down the road. Here she comes now...
Jude had seen them but couldnt wave, with one arm still in plaster and the other holding a full shopping bag. Fox thanked Pettifer and went to meet his sister, taking the bag from her.
What have you got in here? he asked. Coal?
Just some food. She smiled at him. Reckoned it was time I learned to fetch for myself.
Fox thought of something. How are you doing for money?
She gave him a look. Youre already paying for Dads care home...
Theres some to spare if you need it.
Im fine for now. But she leaned her head in towards his shoulder, her way of saying thanks. Then: I seem to know him... They were walking up the path towards her front door, where Jamie Breck was waiting.
DS Breck, Fox explained. He was on the inquiry team.
Was?
Long story.
Breck greeted Jude with a slight bow of the head as she unlocked the door. Lucky I got some coffee, she told both men. In you come, then.
Fox told her hed help put the shopping away, but she shooed him off. I can manage. And she did - filling the kettle and switching it on; placing her purchases in the fridge or a cupboard. Then she spooned coffee into three mugs and poured on the boiling water, adding milk.
When all three were seated in the tidied living room, Fox asked her how she was doing.
Im managing, Malcolm - as you can see.
Fox nodded slowly. He knew that people had ways of dealing with grief and loss. But keeping busy could lead to problems later, if all it meant was that you were in denial. Still, the lack of mess and empty bottles perhaps boded well.
You dont mind talking a little about Vince? he asked her.
Depends, she answered, starting to light a cigarette. Has there been any progress?
Precious little, Breck admitted. She turned her attention to him.
I remember you, she said, blowing smoke through her nostrils. You were here the day they dug up the back garden.
Breck gave another bow of his head, acknowledging the fact. Fox cleared his throat until she focused on him again.
Did you hear about Charles Brogan? he asked.
It was in the paper. Fell from his yacht.
You know he was married to Joanna Broughton?
So the paper said.
Did you know she owns the Oliver?
Jude nodded and removed a sliver of tobacco from her tongue. They showed her picture - I recognised her.
From your nights at the casino?
She was sometimes there. Always looked very glam.
How about her husband? Did you ever see him?
Jude was nodding. Once or twice. He sent us over a bottle of champagne.
Charles Brogan bought you champagne? Breck asked, seeking verification.
Didnt I just say that? Jude took a slurp of coffee. Casts coming off next week, she informed her brother.
Why? he asked.
Typical NHS balls-up. Turns out its a fracture - less serious than a break.
I meant, why did Charles Brogan send you over a bottle of champagne?
She looked at him. Well, both Vince and Ronnie worked for him, didnt they?
Not exactly.
She pondered this. Okay, she agreed, not exactly. But hed met them on the site; he knew who they were.
Was it good champagne?
Breck had asked the question, and Jude turned her head towards him. It was Mot ... or something like that. Thirty quid or thereabouts in Asda, so Sandra said.
More like a ton in a casino.
Well, its his wifes place, isnt it? I doubt he was paying full whack.
Fox decided to step in. It was a nice gesture, all the same. Did he come over and say hello?
Jude shook her head. Not that time.
Another time, though?
Now she was nodding. And Vinces friend Ronnie didnt want us to know, Fox thought. He handed Sandra and me twenty quids worth of chips - each, mind you. She paused. I think he was showing off.
Is that what Vince thought?
Vince thought he had style . When the champagne arrived, Vince had to go shake him by the hand. Brogan just patted him on the shoulder, like it was no big deal. She shrugged. Maybe it wasnt.
There was a phone ringing. It was Brecks. He apologised as he lifted it from his pocket and checked the screen. His glance towards Fox confirmed what Fox had already been thinking: Billy Giles.
Dont answer, Fox was saying, but Breck had already placed the phone to his ear.
Afternoon, sir, he said. Then, after listening for a moment: Yes, hes with me. And a few seconds later: Right ... yes ... understood ... Yes, I was there when it happened, but it was really more of a misund Breck broke off and listened some more. Fox couldnt hear what Giles was saying, but his tone was splenetic. Breck actually eased the phone away from his ear as the diatribe continued.
Sounds narked, Jude whispered for her brothers benefit. Fox nodded back. By the time the call ended, blood had risen up Brecks neck and into his cheeks.
Well? Fox asked.
Our presence is requested, Breck explained, at Torphichen, any time within the next half-hour. Any later, and therell be patrol cars out trawling for us.
Jude stared at her brother. What have you done? Is it to do with Vince?
Its nothing, Fox assured her, while locking eyes with Jamie Breck.
You were always a terrible liar, Malcolm, his sister remarked.
Torphichen: not an interview room this time, but Bad Billy Giless inner sanctum. The office lacked any whiff of personality. There were no framed family snaps on the desk; no citations or certificates on the walls. Some people liked to brighten up their drab surroundings, but Giles was not among them. You could tell nothing about the inhabitant of this space, other than that he was behind with his filing. There were boxes awaiting storage elsewhere, and a three-foot-high pile of paperwork balanced precariously atop the only cabinet.
Cosy, Fox said, manoeuvring his way in. The place was crowded. Giles was behind his desk, swivelling slightly in his chair and with a pen gripped in his hand like a dagger. Bob McEwan was seated next to the filing cabinet, hands clasped in his lap and with Caroline Stoddart alongside him. She stood with arms folded. Then there were Hall and Dickson. Dickson had given himself a wash and changed into a spare set of clothes, which looked like the result of a whip-round of the other officers in the station. The ill-fitting brown cords did not match the pink polo shirt, which in turn clashed with the green blouson. He was also wearing tennis shoes, and his furious eyes never left Fox for a second.
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