The Dark Fear (20 page)

              ‘It was the photographs that prompted us to ask. There are lots of lovely ones of the children – Antonia and Sam? They were taken in the garden.’

              ‘Yes, they were friends with Adam and Claudia. The four of them would disappear all over the estate. We barely saw the children from sun up to sun down in the holidays.’

              ‘It sounds idyllic.’

              ‘So, it was their address in Chicago that you wanted?’

              ‘If you have an up-to-date one?’

              Adele sat perfectly still, making no move to get up. ‘Actually, I’m not sure I can help. Lynda informed me in her last letter that they were moving to another state. She’d forward her address when they got there. That was at Christmas. I’ve heard nothing since.’

              ‘Oh, okay. Not to worry, it was a long shot.’ Dani gathered the letters together again. ‘But perhaps you could answer a question? We found a correspondence from one of Tim Gascoigne’s work colleagues. He mentioned Lynda’s mother. Did she go to Chicago with them?’

              ‘Flora was a resident in a local nursing home. Lynda used to visit her a great deal. She depended very heavily on her daughter. I don’t believe there were any siblings.’

              ‘So what happened to Flora when the family left the country?’ Dani prompted.

              Adele turned jerkily, upsetting the coffee cup on her knee. A small amount of black liquid spilled onto the carpet. Both women ignored it. ‘I don’t actually know. It all happened so quickly. I never even thought about what might have become of Lynda’s mother.’

              ‘But she didn’t live with the Gascoignes at Oak Lodge?’

              Adele slid her gaze towards Dani. ‘Are you
investigating
us, DCI Bevan – is that why you and Mr Irving have come here?’

              Dani was surprised. ‘Why would I be?’

              She got shakily to her feet. ‘I’d like you to leave. If you wish to question me again, I will invite David’s lawyer to be present.’

              ‘There isn’t any need for that. Adele, let me help you clear away the cups first. That stain needs a rub.’

              ‘No. It won’t be necessary. I just want you to go.’

              Dani was genuinely stung by the lady’s words. She collected up the pile of papers and shoved them into her bag, mumbling an apologetic goodbye and rapidly showing herself out of the front door.

*

‘You’re kidding?’ James was aghast.

              ‘Nope. Lady March threw me out. Well, not literally, but she told me to go and didn’t see me to the door. By aristocratic standards, she might as well have put a Russell and Bromley court shoe to my backside.’

              ‘What had upset her so much?’

              ‘I think it was me mentioning Lynda Gascoigne’s elderly mother. Adele clearly didn’t want to talk about her.’

              James sat down at the kitchen table, knitting his hands together. ‘Can we track the lady down – do we have a name?’

              ‘Her first name was Flora. I can find out Lynda’s maiden name easily enough then do a ring around the local old folks’ homes.’

              ‘Thanks. I don’t want to take up police time on this. I’ve no idea if it’s even important.’

              ‘Don’t worry. I’ve got an instinct to check it out anyway. For some reason, Adele March thought that a DCI had been sent to investigate her family. I want to know why.’

Chapter 39

‘F
lora Demarco died at her nursing home in Dirleton in early 2000.’ Dani smiled as Joy handed her a glass of lemonade. One of the boys rushed past her feet, nearly knocking the glass flying.

              ‘Be careful, Jamie!’ Joy called to his retreating form.

              ‘Don’t worry,’ Dani cut in, ‘no harm done.’

              ‘So Lynda Gascoigne’s family were of Scots-Italian descent?’ Bill enquired.

              ‘I suppose so.’ Dani had already filled the Hutchisons in on what she and James had uncovered about the family who’d been the previous occupants of Oak Lodge. The DCI wanted Bill’s input. She knew he had great instincts about people. ‘The lady I spoke to at the home had owned the place for years. She remembered Flora well. According to her, the woman’s health declined very rapidly after her daughter and grandchildren left for the US. Lynda used to visit every other day whilst she was living on the Langford Estate. Once she was gone, her mother seemed to give up the fight. Flora slipped away within the year.’

              ‘It’s very sad.’ Joy sipped the fizzy drink, grimacing. ‘I hope it isn’t too sweet. I make it to suit the boys.’

              ‘It’s lovely,’ Dani replied. ‘I just think it’s odd that Lynda would have left her mother like that. Not after being so attentive for all those years.’

              ‘Yes,’ Bill mused. ‘It’s certainly out of character. The letter sent by the work colleague suggested that the Gascoigne’s move was very sudden. Not even their close friends knew it was on the cards.’

              ‘What do you think, Bill? Why are the Marchs so touchy about the subject?’

              He sighed. ‘Something must have happened between the two families. At one time, they were hand-in-glove. The parents partied together and the children were great pals. But then it went wrong. For some reason, the Gascoignes felt they simply couldn’t stay on the estate any longer.’

              ‘But to go so far away – to emigrate, it seems a little extreme.’

              ‘And to leave your mother behind, knowing she’d be without any support. It’s positively cruel,’ Joy added.

              Bill looked thoughtful. ‘It couldn’t have been a simple fall out. Whatever passed between the two families must have been worse than that. To cause the Gascoignes to flee abroad so swiftly, it must have been criminal.’

              ‘Which would explain why Adele thought I might be investigating them.’

              ‘Is there any way of speaking with this Gascoigne family?’ Joy topped up their glasses.

              ‘I’m trying to track them down. I’ve got a couple of contacts in the States. We’ve had no luck so far.’

              ‘The children will be grown-ups by now. They may have even returned to the UK.’

              ‘That’s a good point, Bill. I can check that out.’

              ‘And what about the shooting on the bents – how is the investigation progressing there?’

              Dani shrugged. ‘It’s DCI Gordon’s operation now. They’re currently looking into all of Galloway’s underground associates. It’s getting less likely that the shooter will be found. That’s the nature of organised crime.’

              ‘Keep the case in mind.’ Bill leant forward. ‘There was the incident of the fisherman’s two boys, shot on that beach in 1943 and then Alex Galloway in 2015. You are investigating an episode that may have occurred within a few kilometres of that very spot in the late nineties. It seems likely it was also criminal. I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a link.’

              Dani furrowed her brow. ‘I don’t see how that could be at all possible.’

              Bill was about to answer when the two lads came hurtling towards them, apparently both chasing the same football. One of the boys barged the table, upsetting the contents and sending the glass jug of homemade lemonade crashing to the paving stones.

              ‘Jamie! Ben! Could you
please
just calm down!’              

*

‘Guns,’ Dani repeated, as she turned back to prepare the dinner. ‘That’s what Bill said the connection was. The two young men coming in off the boat were shot and so was Alex Galloway. At one point in history, the entire estate was brim-full with ammunition of various types. He thinks we should concentrate on that.’

              ‘Has Gordon come up with anything on the Galloway murder weapon yet?’ James took a couple of plates out of a top cupboard.

              ‘The team discovered there was one gang operating out of Edinburgh that began their criminal days using refurbished vintage weapons. He and Sharon are looking into possible links to Galloway. Bob reckons the use of the Browning may have been a kind of signature – a gesture that others working within the underground circuit would recognise.’

              ‘But none of their informants were familiar with the use of the HP 9mm in gangland crime?’

              ‘No.’

              James poured the wine. ‘Then maybe Bill’s idea is better than City and Borders’. The MIT should be looking closer to home, concentrating on the historical significance of the murder site itself.’

              ‘I don’t think I’d be able to persuade Bill of that. It just seems far-fetched.’ Dani was about to dish up when there was a knock at the back door. She glanced at her companion. ‘Are we expecting anyone?’

              He shook his head. ‘Stay here, I’ll go.’

              A few seconds later, James returned, with his father following along behind.

              ‘Mr Irving, what a lovely surprise.’

              ‘Call me Jim, please.’

              ‘Sit down and join us. We were about to eat.’

              ‘Thank you, I had dinner at home but carry on. I simply want to talk to you both.’

              Dani continued to lay out the meal. They all sat around the table and James set out an extra glass, into which he poured a small burgundy.

              ‘How did you get past the gates, Dad?’

              ‘I spoke to a man on the intercom. I explained who I was and he opened up.’

              So much for the great security, Dani thought.

              Jim shifted about in the seat. ‘I didn’t like the way we left things the other day. There’s more I’d like to say.’

              ‘Go ahead.’ James made the request sound vaguely hostile.

              The older man turned to Dani. ‘I didn’t tell you everything when we spoke after Galloway’s funeral. He
did
contact me more recently.’

              ‘To talk about his son?’

              Jim looked puzzled. ‘Yes.’

              Dani nodded. ‘Galloway had become pre-occupied with the accident recently. It makes sense he’d want to speak with you.’

              ‘Alex told me he had been interviewing witnesses. Pupils who had been up on the tower on the day it happened. He said that he was no longer sure it
was
an accident. Galloway was starting to think it might have been murder.’

              James screwed up his face. ‘Who had he talked to? He certainly didn’t come to me. Would any of the boys who were up there really remember what went on? The main players are now dead.’

              ‘According to Alex, a good number of the boys, now grown men living and working around the UK, had an excellent recollection of the events.’ Jim twisted towards his son. ‘What I learnt from my years as a defence lawyer is that certain people make superb witnesses, even twenty or thirty years after a crime. They can describe the way things happened perfectly.’

              ‘I’ve noticed that too. Someone will recognise an object or a face they’ve not seen in decades and be able to pin-point its significance accurately. I had something similar occur in my last case. The justice system relies on these eagle-eyed folk.’

              ‘I don’t think I’m one of those people.’ James took a gulp of wine.

              ‘The upshot,’ Jim continued. ‘Is that Alex was becoming obsessed with the circumstances surrounding his son’s death. We ended our last conversation on bad terms. I told him to drop his investigation, it would do no good and he needed to let the issue go. He became angry. Galloway shouted that I’d said that twenty five years ago and he shouldn’t have listened then and he damned well wasn’t going to listen now. That was the last I saw or heard from him, until I found out he was dead.’

              ‘You need to tell DCI Bob Gordon’s team all of this. He will want a signed statement.’

              ‘Of course. I’ll go in first thing in the morning. I genuinely didn’t believe it was necessary before.’

              ‘You’re so used to keeping things hushed up, Dad, that you’ve lost sight of what’s important. Every piece of information is significant in a murder case.’

              Jim nodded solemnly. ‘You are absolutely right, James. I’m retired now and I don’t need to still be keeping secrets for evil men.’ He reached forward and touched his son’s arm. ‘Is it possible for us to start again? You and your mother have always been such good people. I never wanted to trouble you with the dark places that my work took me. In my own flawed way, I thought that the lies would protect you.’

              James stood up, moving across to put his arms around his father’s shoulders. ‘I think I’m starting to understand. But give me time, you’ve sheltered me from this stuff for so long that I’m going to find the truth overwhelming for a while.’

              ‘Take as long as you like. You both know where I am.’

Chapter 40

S
haron Moffett made another trip to her post office box in Waverley Station. The list of names inside the envelope she found there meant little to her, but DCI Bevan had requested them so she would type up a report back at Knox Street and pass it on. The information she was receiving from Stuart Lamb had already proved useful.

              In addition to providing them with Henry Acheson’s name, Lamb was also aware of several businesses in the East Lothian region that were propped up by drug-money. Sharon hoped his cooperation would encourage the court to go easier on him. She knew he’d never return to the force and had lost his pension, but Sharon didn’t want the man to go to jail. It would benefit no one.

              The DS jogged to the top of the taxi ramp, just at the foot of the Royal Mile. She hailed one of the drivers, jumped inside and headed straight back to headquarters.