AS MAX PULLED up at Janie’s tenement in Stockbridge, his phone began to buzz.
‘Ross?’
‘Is that fucking joker Met twat Hastings with you?’ Ross’s voice exploded out of the speakers.
‘No, he’s made his own way, why?’
‘He drew a small cock alongside every bloody signature he did on my health and safety forms. The cheeky bastard. I’m sick of bloody Met cowboys with their stickers and crudely drawn phalluses on official forms. Tell him I’m after him.’ The phone clicked.
Max and Janie both laughed uproariously.
‘Good to see old Met traditions haven’t gone away. You could never leave anything alone in a Met station. Leave a hat, pocketbook or important document around for even a minute and someone would draw a cock on it,’ said Max, smiling widely.
‘My respect for Niall has just soared,’ said Janie, still laughing.
‘I’ll pick you up in the morning. You ready for it all?’ said Max.
‘Yeah, I guess. We need a big dollop of luck and for Niall to be on top of his game. We’ve basically sod all evidence against Gray.’
‘Not right now, but I’m convinced it’s down to her. You know what they say. The harder we try, the luckier we’ll get.’
‘Aye, I suppose so.’ Janie yawned.
‘Look out, you’ve a welcoming committee, pal,’ said Max, nodding towards her front door. Melissa was smiling and waving excitedly whilst jogging down the path. She was dressed in joggers, a rugby shirt and fluffy bunny slippers. She almost skipped to the car and yanked the door open. ‘Babes.’ She threw her arms around Janie’s neck and hugged her.
‘Hey, Max, I’m amazed you’ve brought her home and it’s still light. It’s normally midnight or worse. I was thinking today that I don’t like you much, but now Janie’s home in time to eat the fabulous food I’ve created, I’ve forgiven you and now like you again. How’s your gorgeous wife?’
‘She’s fine, and I’m glad you like me again.’
‘I do, but keep her at work too late, too often and I’ll go off you again. Come in for a drink?’ she said.
‘I’d love to, but I’ve promised Katie I’ll come home with food,’ he said.
‘Well, then get away, man. You need to look after her. You’re definitely batting above your average with her.’
‘Right, I’ll do that. See you tomorrow morning, Janie.’
Melissa had thrown her arms around Janie’s neck again, hugging her tightly.
Max was pleased that after years of dating disasters with both men and women that Janie seemed to be genuinely happy.
He had a feeling that things were about to get busy at work for a while if the plan came to fruition, so he was looking forward to a nice meal at home with Katie and Nutmeg.
Tomorrow would bring challenges – the stakes were high and the consequences of failure didn’t bear thinking about. He engaged the gear shift and drove away, his mind on DCI Marnie Gray.
He remembered their confrontation at the PM suite at Raigmore Hospital. There was something in her jade-green eyes that was hard to read. They were disconcerting and disturbing.
Were they the eyes of a killer?