The Dark Fear (6 page)

              Andy pulled back, stopping in a layby to allow his quarry to finish the journey alone. If he carried on following, his presence would be far too obvious.

              He took a phone out of his pocket and punched a few names into a search engine. Calder had spent an hour in the Bass Rock lounge bar, listening to conversations and observing the staff. He used the Police Scotland database to look up the addresses of a few of them. He’d check out their activities later.

              Yawning, Calder flicked on the wipers, as the evening drizzle began to set in. Just as he was about to turn the car around and head back to his hotel, a white Land Rover Discovery whizzed past on the narrow track. Andy was certain that he caught a glimpse of Alex Galloway at the wheel. Calder slammed into gear and swept onto the road behind it. Determined to see where the guy was off to at such a speed.

              Instead of going back in the direction of North Berwick, Galloway headed north. Before long, they were rocketing along the road which ran parallel to the Longniddry Bents. Calder suddenly got the feeling that Galloway might be aiming for one of the car-parks along this stretch. Sure enough, the Discovery made an abrupt right turn, disappearing into the overgrown foliage.

              Andy couldn’t follow him into the car-park. He’d make his presence far too obvious. So he pulled into one of the semi-circular entranceways to the wooded estate dominating the coastline to the west. The gates were firmly shut, but Calder was able to park up against the stone wall, out of sight of the road, and continue the rest of the way on foot.

              He jogged along the roadside for a bit before cutting into the vegetation which created a bulwark between the carriageway and the beach. It also provided him with a cover from which he could approach the car-park.

              Calder kept low, feeling the bracken and brambles scratching his face. Finally, he could make out the elliptical opening in the scrubland which constituted car park number three.              

              At this time in the evening, there weren’t many vehicles in it. Galloway’s bright white Discovery was extremely conspicuous amongst them. He quickly spotted the man himself, standing along one of the sandy footpaths which led to the shore.

              Another man was with him. They appeared to be having an argument. Calder knew he shouldn’t try to get any closer. They would be bound to hear him approach.              

              Without warning, the other man took something out of the inside of his jacket. It was impossible to see what it was, but Galloway’s reaction was to stiffen with fear.

              ‘Holy shit,’ Calder muttered under his breath, debating whether he should call for back-up. Did he need armed response? Andy decided they’d never get there in time, so he moved forward instead, feeling his heart pumping loudly in his chest.

              As he got closer, he saw that the man with the gun had forced Galloway onto his knees. He was saying something inaudible and had the barrel of the pistol resting on Galloway’s forehead.

              Sensing that he needed to act fast, Andy crouched behind one of the concrete tank traps and shouted, ‘Police! Stop what you’re doing right now and place the gun down!’

              Calder wasn’t sure what happened in the following few seconds. Almost instantaneously, he heard a gunshot ring out. He went to stand up but before he could do so, received a sharp blow to the back of his head, slipping immediately into unconsciousness.

Chapter 10

D
S Sharon Moffett stood a few feet back from her DCI, who was examining the body, along with the pathologist. She turned and surveyed the scene. The wind was blowing in off the sea, the tall grasses bending in the breeze.

              Moffett could see where the DC from Glasgow had witnessed the murder from behind the tank trap. He was currently at the Infirmary, being treated for a head wound and the symptoms of exposure. Sharon turned back to her superior officer and moved forward.

              DCI Bob Gordon rose from his crouched position. ‘He’s been dead since 8pm last night, if we accept the Doc’s readings along with DC Calder’s statement. Death was instantaneous, as a result of a gunshot wound to the temple. His blood and brain matter are scattered amongst the bracken down here, at the side of the path. We’re lucky the tide doesn’t come in this far, otherwise we’d have nothing, not even a body.’

              ‘It looks as if he was on his knees when the shot came. Execution style?’

              Bob nodded. ‘Aye, we’ll need to get the bullet processed at the lab, but it’s got the hallmarks of a gangland crime.’

              ‘Any more witnesses from the car-park?’

              ‘Only the couple who found the body, when they returned to their car from a walk on the shore. They saw nothing of the killing itself and never heard the shot. The sound must have been carried away on the wind.’

              ‘It was the team responding to the couple’s 999 call who found DC Calder up on the hill. What was he doing there in the first place, sir?’

              ‘He was investigating Alex Galloway for DCI Bevan. I thought you’d have known all about it?’ Bob looked at his officer with curiosity.

              Sharon did her best to mask her surprise. ‘Well, this certainly changes the complexion of our disciplinary case.’

              Bob tilted his head to one side. ‘Not necessarily. I’ve worked this area for a long time, Sharon. In my opinion, Alex Galloway had this coming for years.’

              The DS was inclined to agree, but the timing still struck her as something of a coincidence.

*

DCI Bevan met Andy in the lounge of his hotel. Her DC had been discharged from hospital that morning. She thought he looked a little pale, but otherwise unaffected by his ordeal.

              Dani put her arms around him. ‘I’m so sorry, Andy. I shouldn’t have dragged you into this. You aren’t even supposed to be on active service.’

              ‘I’m fine, Ma’am. It’s just frustrating that I wasn’t able to stop the murder.’

              ‘The guy had a gun. If you hadn’t been there, we wouldn’t even have a witness.’

              ‘If this is gangland, why did they leave me alive?’

              Dani ordered a pot of coffee from the waitress. ‘Killing a cop isn’t a good move. The big Edinburgh firms will know that. If you hadn’t drawn attention to the fact you were the police, I expect you would be dead.’

              Andy nodded. ‘I still saw the guy, you’d have thought that would sign my death warrant, cop or not.’

              ‘But you didn’t witness the moment the shot was fired?’

              ‘No, and the perp was dressed in dark clothing and it was dusk. They were some distance away from me. I couldn’t offer much in the way of an identification.’

              ‘Could the shooter be the same person who attacked you?’

              ‘No, impossible. The shot was fired only a second before I was hit. There must have been someone else waiting in the car. When I shouted for the man to drop his weapon, it drew this person out. There were at least two of them.’

              ‘But Galloway was there alone? It was risky for him, don’t you think?’ Dani accepted the pot and began pouring.

              Andy shrugged. ‘He must have known the guy. Worked with him in the past, maybe. Although it was getting dark, the car-park and beach certainly weren’t deserted. It was a bold move by the shooter to choose that particular location.’

              ‘Perhaps the meet went wrong in some way, it wasn’t intended for Galloway to get shot.’

              ‘Well, the guy got his gun out quick enough and none of his associates hurried over to stop him finishing Galloway off.’

              ‘How does this fit into the Stuart Lamb investigation?’

              Andy sipped his coffee thoughtfully. ‘Maybe it doesn’t. Alex Galloway had his finger in a lot of pies. He must have over stepped the mark with some rival organisation, got himself executed.’

              Dani sighed. ‘Well, it’s unlikely we’ll be able to find out if Galloway set Stuart Lamb up now. There’s no one left to ask.’

              ‘Have you spoken with Lamb himself, yet?’

              ‘He’s supposed to be our final witness. I’ve read all his files.’

              ‘Do you want me to pay him a visit?’

              ‘Liaise with DCI Gordon first, we don’t want to step on anyone’s toes.’

              ‘Of course,’ Andy replied evenly. ‘I’ve got to go to his office later to answer some more questions anyway.’

*

When Dani got back to the Marchmont flat, there was even less room to move about. Tea chests were positioned around the place. The shelves and drawers half emptied.

              James stepped out of the kitchenette. ‘Hi. I got a call from my land agent today. We should exchange contracts in the morning. I’ve taken a couple of days off to move into the lodge, once the paperwork goes through.’ He produced a bottle of champagne and two long stemmed glasses.

              Dani dropped her briefcase onto the sofa and took the flute she was offered. ‘Great news. I hope it goes well for you.’

              James’ face suddenly flushed red. ‘I was rather hoping that it was something for
both
of us to celebrate. I’m getting a bit tired of hearing you talk to me as if I’m some kind of distant acquaintance. Is this just a game for you?’

              She was shocked. ‘Of course not. I’ve had a difficult day, that’s all. I’m used to coming home to silence. I don’t know how to use the right language. You have to understand, I’m not accustomed to company.’ Dani was aware how stilted this sounded.

              ‘Neither am I,’ he replied brusquely. ‘But I can still make an educated guess as to how to share my life with another person.’ James walked back into the kitchen, facing the sink to finish off his bubbly.

              Dani came up and rested her hand on his back. ‘I’m sorry. We had an incident today. Alex Galloway was shot dead in a car park on the Longniddry Bents. It was less than a mile from the house you’re buying. I suppose I’m just concerned that you might be making the wrong decision. You know I’ve never been a hundred percent sold on the venture, but you’ve gone ahead anyway.’

              James turned round. ‘Bloody hell. Dad will be shocked.’ He rubbed his forehead. ‘I suppose you’ve got a point. I know you’re reticent about Oak Lodge, but I’ve acted as if it was my decision alone to buy the place.’

              ‘It’s a lovely house and a once in a lifetime opportunity. I genuinely don’t want you to hold back on my account.’

              ‘I do realise that some of those car-parks are dodgy at night, but the estate has excellent security systems.’

              Dani nodded. ‘I know. But it’s a good sign I’m worried about your safety, isn’t it?’

              ‘Yes, it is.’ James put down his glass and removed Dani’s from her hand. He guided her towards the partition wall that separated the kitchen from the living room.

              Deftly and deliberately, he unzipped her pencil skirt and let it fall to the tiled floor. James pressed her flat, letting his lips move down from her neck to the gentle curve of her cleavage.

              Dani sighed quietly, allowing James to lower the straps on her bra and cup her breasts in his hands. Within moments, they were moving together to a sharp, staccato rhythm. There was always an electric energy to sex that followed an argument, Dani thought.

              Still not satisfied, James hoisted her up into his arms and shifted sideways towards the sitting room. They both stumbled to the carpeted floor, continuing to make love until they reached orgasm together, in an audible, noisy way that they’d never dared to do before.

              But what the heck, Dani decided. They’d both be gone from this tiny flat tomorrow.

Chapter 11

C
alder had travelled down towards the English border to reach the Berwickshire town of Duns. The Lambs had an unassuming semi-detached house on one of the small town’s quieter streets.

              He’d arranged to meet DCI Lamb at his home at 10am. Andy knocked on the door and peered through the glass panel.

              A tall, broad shouldered man in his mid-forties opened up. ‘You must be DC Calder. Please come in.’

              The house was neat and tidy. It was a sunny morning and Stuart Lamb led his visitor out through the patio doors into a generous garden, where he’d obviously been sitting at a table, reading the paper.               ‘Would you like a drink, Detective?’

              ‘Coffee, thanks.’

              The man returned a few minutes later, setting down two mugs.

              ‘You’re keeping up with the news?’ Andy tipped his head towards a copy of the Scotsman which was flickering violently in the breeze.

              ‘Aye. But I know about Alex Galloway anyhow. Bob Gordon and Sharon Moffett came to see me yesterday.’ Lamb encircled the cup with his large hands, hugging it tight. ‘They asked me where I was on the evening he was killed. To save you the trouble of asking, I was here at home with my wife. Most honest alibis don’t get any more elaborate than that, I’m afraid.’

              Andy nodded. ‘I’m not here investigating Galloway’s murder. That’s DI Gordon’s job. I’m here to talk to you about the disciplinary case against you. It will be harder to prove your innocence now that Galloway is dead.’

              Stuart sighed. ‘Maybe, maybe not. I wasn’t holding out any great hope of vindication, not after the division got hold of my bank records.’

              Andy narrowed his eyes. ‘So you admit to receiving money from Alex Galloway?’

              He shook his head sadly. ‘I’m not saying that. When I saw those deposits in black and white, staring out at me from my statement, I realised that I was in serious shit.’ Stuart sipped his coffee and leant forward. ‘Nobody looks closely at the money going
into
their account, DC Calder, only what goes out. Those deposits were very inconspicuous. The amounts were relatively small and spaced out over several months, or even years in some cases. They were accompanied only by a numerical code. City and Borders had to follow a digital trail to trace that money back to one of Galloway’s operations. You won’t believe this, but I had no idea about the money until the investigating officers confronted me with the information a couple of months back.’