Farrell was marching down the corridor when DI Moore caught up with him.
‘A word, Frank?’
‘Sure, Kate. What’s on your mind?’ he asked, surprised when she looked unaccountably furtive.
‘Not here.’
They walked to her office in silence. Once the door was closed she gestured to him to take a seat.
‘This is really rather awkward …’
‘Best just to spit it out, Kate. I’m no mind reader.’
‘It’s John.’
‘What about him?’
‘I think he’s having domestic problems. No one else knows. I thought with you being such good friends you could maybe have a word with him, see if you can do anything to help? I think he’s really struggling, Frank.’
‘Have you tried talking to him about it?’
‘No, I couldn’t.’ She coloured. ‘And people generally don’t find it easy to confide in me. I know I come across as a bit aloof.’
‘Och away with you, Kate, you’ve got a warm heart and most folks round here know that. I take it you mean problems with Laura?’
‘He hasn’t said anything directly. John is loyal to a fault. However, she keeps demanding he go and pick up the kids when he’s working, that sort of thing. I get the impression that she’s out drinking with this new friend to all hours and that her and John are not getting on at all.’
Farrell was worried. He’d sensed something was up. However, given his past relationship with Laura, he felt sure that he would be the last person John would choose to confide in. In no way did he want to come between them.
‘I’ll try and broach the subject, but I may not be the best person.’
‘I know about yours and Laura’s previous history. I think that if anyone can get through to them, it’s probably you.’
‘I’ll have to pick my moment. Maybe we should team up and offer to babysit? I find them a bit of a handful on my own.’
‘Yes,’ she brightened. ‘They could go out for the evening, or even away for the weekend?’
The weekend? He wasn’t sure about that. Wouldn’t it be weird to spend so much time in each other’s company away from work? He squashed down the feelings of panic her suggestion had elicited.
‘Sure, why not?’
‘I take it you’re heading off to Kirkcudbright shortly?’
‘Starting to feel I could drive there in my sleep.’
‘Let me know if you hear anything pertinent to my investigation,’ she said, professional mask in place once more. ‘I’ve prepared a summary of what we already know for distribution to the key members of your team.’
‘Excellent, I’ll pass that round. By the way, Mhairi and I questioned that art consultant, Lionel Forbes.’
‘Oh?’
‘He was helpful enough but by the finish I thought Mhairi was going to bite his ankle. Mind you, she was hungry.’
‘Mhairi should learn not to be so judgemental,’ she said, looking annoyed. ‘He’s an incredibly accomplished man and very well thought of in the art world.’
Farrell stood up to leave.
‘I’m sure he is. I’ll keep you posted on any developments.’
His next port of call was Walker’s office. The Super had been extremely quiet of late apart from the odd snarky comment. He took with him summaries of the three cases.
He knocked on the door, and the voice inside bade him enter.
‘Have a seat, Frank,’ he said.
Okay, this was new, thought Farrell, doing as he was told.
The Super looked even paler than usual. His red curls, normally kept in check by a local barber, had grown into a fuzzy red halo that only served to highlight his bald patch.
‘Thought you’d like a written update on all three investigations, sir,’ said Farrell, placing them on the desk.
The Super glanced at them listlessly but made no effort to pull them towards him. Normally he crackled with energy, much of it malevolent, but today, nothing.
‘I suppose we should savour these,’ he said with a sigh.
‘Sir?’
‘Well, after Police Scotland comes into being in April, that’ll be it. We’ll be lucky if we’re allowed to investigate a stolen cat without the city slickers tanking down from Glasgow to stick their nebs in. Impotent, that’s what we’ll be, son, bloody impotent.’
‘It might not be as bad as you think, sir,’ he said.
The Super gave a snort of laughter.
‘I know the kind of cases you’ve been working on, laddie. Stolen cats aren’t going to hit the spot. You’ll be away back to Edinburgh in the twinkle of an eye.’
‘See, sir, every cloud has a silver lining.’
The Super smirked. That was better.
‘I’m getting too old for all this upheaval, Farrell. Reckon I’ll grab my pension and run for the hills. Let them get on with it. It’s the likes of DI Moore and DCI Lind I feel sorry for. Bloody fine officers, but there’s going to be nothing left here for them to get their teeth into.’
Farrell could find no crumbs of comfort. The imminent amalgamation of all the regional autonomous police forces in Scotland into one centralized force was going to completely change the way Dumfries and Galloway was policed.
‘Don’t let me keep you, Farrell, best get out there and solve these bloody cases. Show the bastards what real police work looks like.’