The detectives were descending the path, heading back towards the stone outbuilding, when the groundsman stopped them. His mobile phone was out of sight now, but he was no less animated than he had been at the height of his earlier conversation. As the officers halted, directed by Malcolm Frizzle’s flailing arms, they observed his antics unfolding.
‘Right, you can’t go any further,’ he said, putting out his hands and splaying his fingers like he was keeping goal.
The comical scene prompted the officers to laughter. ‘Cool your jets, Groundkeeper Willie,’ said Valentine.
The man gave them a gummy smile and lowered his arms. ‘I’m just doing what I’m told.’
‘By whom?’ said the DCI.
‘My boss, Mr Coulter.’
‘Oh yeah, I’ve met him too. And was equally underwhelmed. Where’s the organ grinder? I’m sick of speaking to his monkeys.’
‘If you mean Mr Sutherland, he’s on his way now.’
Valentine observed Frizzle’s twitchiness and made a connection that he normally associated with a particular type. ‘Do I know you, Frizzle?’
‘No, not me.’
‘Are you sure? I think we might have met before.’
‘No we haven’t.’
‘Well, I never forget a face. I’m annoying that way. I’d hate to be proven wrong, mind you. That might not work out well for you in this current situation.’
Frizzle became noticeably more nervous, scratching his thigh through the pocket of his tracksuit. ‘I’ve never even seen you before in my life.’
Valentine turned to the others. ‘Detective Inspector Davis, get on the blower and run this scrote’s details through the system. If he’s lying to me, then please extend him the great honour of a shot in your nice shiny police car, all the way to the station.’
‘Yes, sir.’
As Valentine walked on he listened to Frizzle’s protestations and DI Davis’s much firmer shut-downs.
‘That wasn’t very nice of you,’ said McCormack as they went.
‘Police aren’t very nice, Sylvia, haven’t you heard?’
McCormack smiled. ‘Perhaps it’s for the best, when we’re sopping up the dregs of society on a daily basis.’
‘There can hardly be any doubts about that. It feels like we’ve descended to the bottom of the barrel.’
‘What do you think’s gone on here, boss?’
Valentine turned, his eyes narrowing as he took in the DI. ‘I’ve no references for any of this sort of thing, and everything I’ve gleaned from Davis so far is giving me nightmares.’
‘That reminds me.’ McCormack looked back towards the track. ‘You were going to tell me how things went with Hugh Crosbie.’
‘As interesting as ever,’ he said, as the pair continued to descend the trail. ‘He told me that the girl, Abbie, had something to pass on to me.’
‘Like a message?’
‘Yeah, something like that. He said she obviously thought I could help her in some way.’ Valentine turned to face McCormack again. ‘I wish I could believe that, because right now I have more questions than answers.’
As they reached the edge of the gravel path skirting the house, the sound of footfalls crunching in the scree came upon them. Two figures, both male, were approaching.
‘Is that who I think it is?’ said Valentine.
‘I’d bet money on it.’
When the figures neared the officers, and it became clear Ray Coulter had spotted them, their pace dropped and a brief, whispered exchange took place.
‘Hello again,’ said the DCI.
The security officer nodded and slunk back as his boss stepped forward. ‘I’m David Sutherland.’
‘I’m sorry for the disturbance to your property, Mr Sutherland,’ said Valentine. He wasn’t sorry in the slightest, but did his best to disguise the fact.
‘It’s a bit of a shock to come home to a three-ring circus on your lawn.’ Sutherland ran his fingers through a thick crop of unruly hair, but the overlong fringe disobeyed, flopping into his eyes once again.
‘I’m sure it must be, but you’ll appreciate we have to be thorough in such matters.’
‘My understanding is that the girl was knocked down on the public highway – the road doesn’t run through my estate, detective.’ He seemed pleased with his remark, a slight smile twisting the side of his mouth.
‘I’m concerned with what occasioned that event, Mr Sutherland,’ said Valentine. ‘Which is why we’re here.’
‘You can’t seriously believe that anyone on my property has anything to do with that.’
‘It’s not about what I believe, sir. It’s about the facts, which haven’t been established yet.’
Sutherland rolled his eyes towards the sky, his agitation obvious. However, much as this might have enjoined his staff, or a wine waiter, to act in his favour, it had the opposite effect on Valentine.
‘I’d like to take a look inside your property, Mr Sutherland,’ said the DCI.
‘Do you have a warrant?’
‘No.’
‘Then it doesn’t really bother me what you’d like to do, detective.’
‘I’m sorry to hear you say that.’ Valentine ushered DI McCormack onto the road. ‘I’ll be leaving a few officers here for now, Mr Sutherland.’
‘What?’
‘Yes, I’m afraid so. I’ve declared your outbuilding a crime scene, so they won’t be going anywhere. I’d also like to extend an invitation to you to join me down at the station, in your own time of course, as there’s a few questions I’d like to ask you.’
‘You can’t be serious.’
‘Oh, I’m very serious indeed, Mr Sutherland. I definitely do not make jokes about matters of life and death. Shall we say you can make yourself available, within the next forty-eight hours, at King Street station.’ He nodded and moved on. ‘Call in advance when you have a suitable time in mind and I’ll make myself available.’
As Valentine and McCormack made their way to their cars, the DCI felt like a laser sight was being drawn on the back of his head. The encounter with David Sutherland had not gone to plan, or been conducted with any degree of civility, but he had succeeded in setting the ground rules. He was not going to be pushed around or intimidated – any bowing and scraping could be left to the chief super.
DI McCormack was pinching her lips and emitting a low whistle as she removed her car keys. ‘We’re really winning friends and influencing people today, sir.’
‘Is it just me or does that type get up everyone’s nose?’ said Valentine.
‘Comes with the territory.’ McCormack waved her hand over the rolling lawns. ‘I suppose it’s hard not to feel a little superior when you wake up to this view every morning.’
‘What happened to preaching that we’re all equal?’
‘Nobody really believes that nonsense.’
Valentine tipped back his head. ‘Well Sutherland certainly doesn’t.’
‘Why didn’t you just pull him in, boss?’
‘I want to get the lab reports first, perhaps we’ll have something on him by then.’
McCormack’s phone pinged, and, as she stared at the screen, her mood seemed to rise. ‘Result!’
‘What is it?’ said Valentine.
‘It’s Phil. DVLC came up trumps – we’ve found our missing social worker.’
‘Jean Clark?’
‘The very same.’
The DCI tapped the roof of his car. ‘Good work, Sylvia. Let’s pay her a visit first thing in the morning.’
‘Yes, boss.’
The detectives were getting into their cars when DI Davis appeared on the path, a distressed Malcolm Frizzle trailing behind him and remonstrating loudly. When they came level with the officers’ vehicles on the driveway, Davis placed his hand on Frizzle’s chest and halted him. Two others were following on the path behind them, Sutherland and Coulter stopping shy of the commotion to observe.
‘What’s going on?’ said Valentine, stepping out of his car.
‘Your suspicions were accurate, sir,’ said Davis. ‘This is indeed a lying toe-rag. And, not only is he in possession of a list of previous that would make your eyes water, but it looks like he’s breached an existing probation order.’
‘How the hell did you work that out?’ said Valentine.
‘Phil ran his details and discovered that the name tallied with the statements from his teenage trespassers. It looks like Malky Frizzle here has some questions to answer.’
‘Sounds like Phil’s had a busy day all round.’ The DCI pointed to the rear of his car. ‘Put him in the back, we’ll see what he has to say for himself when he gets down the station.’
‘I didn’t do anything,’ said Frizzle.
‘Shut up, Malky,’ said Davis. ‘You can forget about making the gym tonight, mate.’
As the officers pulled out, Sutherland and Coulter stood side by side watching as one of their own was driven away. Coulter seemed the most concerned, peering at his boss and turning down his mouth like a scolded child. Sutherland’s expression was harder to decipher, his features being granite-firm and unmoving, only his eyes turned towards the road. He followed the police until they had left his property and then strode briskly in the opposite direction.
‘Did you see that?’ said Valentine.
‘Not chuffed, I’d say.’
‘I think you’re right.’