Ewan ‘Sooty’ Soutar was beside the bed when I opened my eyes. I’d been drifting in and out since the doctors checked me over. My chest was tight, skin stretched across bone. A reaction to what had happened. I was in shock. So they said.
‘Jesus fuck, Steed,’ Sooty said. ‘Every time we talk, you’re in the shite.’
No kidding.
Sooty looked the same as ever: dangerous. Big. More muscle than fat, although you might be forgiven for thinking otherwise in the wrong light. He shaved his head, had a goatee that gave his face a hard edge. Looked like a bouncer more than a cop. Used to moonlight as one, in fact. But since he got promoted to DI, he’d devoted his whole life to the force. Seemed happier for it, too. Happy as Sooty could seem, anyway. He wasn’t much of one for smiling. Not around me, anyway,
‘Guess I’m just unlucky,’ I said. Each word ripped the back of my throat. I wanted to cough up the lining.
‘Aye, right.’ He took a deep breath, pulled out his notebook. ‘So let’s have it, then. What happened?’
‘Kellen?’
‘She’s fine. Just had a wee chat with her.’
‘And?’
‘And now I’m having a wee chat with you. You know how this works, Steed. So answer the questions. Then we can catch up. But if you’re interested, she didn’t ask how you were doing.’
Sure.
‘The question?’ I said. My memory was fritzed. There was a ringing in my ears. Somewhere just beneath that, I could hear the echo what might have been a scream. Sounded a lot like Rabbie Burns on fire.
‘Just tell me what happened tonight.’
‘The car blew up.’
‘Aye, we get that. You know that this is the second time you’ve been found in the presence of an incendiary device attached to a motor vehicle? Once is unlucky …’
‘Last time it was Molly came to see me.’ Meaning DI Molly Mollinson. Hard man, despite the name. Suffered from ‘Boy-Named-Sue’ syndrome, but still a good copper. ‘He’s given up on me, then? Or was it just that you drew the short straw this time?’
‘You always had an attitude. Lately it’s been worse, though. Something you want to talk about?’
‘Not really. We were never that close, Sooty. Even before you tried to rip my head off.’ Sooty’s temper could get the better of him. When he thought I was responsible for landing a senior officer in a coma, he hadn’t even asked me to explain myself.
‘Then let’s talk about the bomb.’
‘Someone placed it while we were in the club.’
‘Meaning they knew you were there?’
‘Guess so.’
‘Meaning they knew Robert was there?’
‘He’s the likeliest target.’
‘I don’t know, Steed. I can think of more than a few people who’d like to blow your arse into a million pieces.’
‘Most of them cops.’
‘Aye, that’s the problem.’ He shook his head. ‘But, for the sake of expediency and all that shite, I’m going to assume this wasn’t a copper.’
‘I wouldn’t assume anything. Wouldn’t even let you off the hook right now.’
He looked ready to say something but held back. Maybe remembering how the last few times we’d talked, I’d been the man he blamed for fucking over other officers.
Safe to say that me and Sooty were never going to be friends.
‘You need to tell me anything. Did you see anyone hanging around the car before the incident?’ He was keeping it calm. Professional. What’s it that they say about flies and honey?
‘Other than Kellen?’
Again that catch in his expression. ‘Other than Kellen.’
I thought about it. Back before the explosion. It was tough. My memory was caught in a groove, like an old vinyl with a deep scratch and the needle stuck in place.
I jerked the needle.
The track jumped back too far.
In the club. Getting between Robert and the big guy. The hint of fear as everything was about to kick off.
Jesus, the fucker could have broken my neck with his pinkie. Who would have thought false bravado and sobriety would win the day?
I jerked the needle again. Caught another groove. Closer this time. Before the explosion. Before Kellen.
The woman I’d thought was a little drunk. That smile playing around her lips. Flirtatious. But gently mocking.
You boys have a blast.
Don’t tell me there’s no such thing as a coincidence.
‘Anyone?’
I shook my head. ‘No one.’ My voice sounded thick, and I was in danger of biting my own tongue when I closed my mouth. Like the first signs of drunkenness creeping in. But I hadn’t touched a drop all evening.
The drugs kicking in. Finally. My body too light. My eyes too heavy.
I said. ‘I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.’ Struggling to remember the words.
Sooty didn’t believe me. I had this idea that I was a good liar, but anyone would be off their game when they’d just been blown off their feet by a car bomb.
Still, he didn’t push it. Maybe wary after our last few encounters. Not sure if he’d want to murder me when I told the truth.
‘Play it your way,’ he said. ‘Watch the wall while the gentlemen go by. Pretend you know nothing. But don’t expect any favours from me.’
‘I never would.’
‘You’re playing a dangerous game. You know that much. Right?’
‘Aye. The game’s always dangerous.’
He shook his head, closed the notepad and stood up. ‘We’ll talk again.’
‘I look forward to it.’
‘Oh.’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘I doubt that, Steed. I really do.’