A Heart Full of Headstones by Rankin Ian

Author:Rankin, Ian [Rankin, Ian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Police Procedural, Suspense, Thriller
ISBN: 9781398709409
Publisher: Hachette UK
Published: 2022-10-12T13:00:00+00:00

18

Gaby Mackenzie was at the place she felt most comfortable and safe, The Elemental Club, setting everything up for later in the day. Downstairs from her DJ rig, staff were restocking the bar. Someone had decided that a bit of Bach cello suited the mood, and it was playing softly over the speakers. Gaby didn’t mind. She’d borrowed from classical music plenty of times, and she had an ear open right now, wondering if there was anything worth sampling. When her phone buzzed, she almost didn’t answer, but it was her mum, finally getting back to her. She slipped off her headphones and raised the device to her ear.

‘I left a hundred messages,’ she complained.

‘So I see,’ her mother purred. ‘Everything’s all right, though? C told me you were in a bit of a state. We can probably lodge a complaint.’

‘It’s not the police I was pissed off with. You’ve done something to my phone. I want it undone today, or else it goes in the bin and I make sure you don’t get anywhere near its replacement.’

‘What did the police want, Gaby?’ Her mother’s tone had changed, hardening several degrees. ‘You were there, weren’t you? Francis Haggard’s flat, I mean?’

‘You tell me, you’re the one bugging my phone.’

‘What happened, did you meet someone?’

‘As it so happens. And I was headed to the flat upstairs, where I could have mindless sex with a man whose name I hadn’t even caught.’ There was silence on the line for a moment.

‘And that’s all you’ve got to tell me?’

‘Yes.’

‘So you didn’t know Francis Haggard?’

‘What makes you think I did?’

‘He worked at Tynecastle.’

‘So?’

‘So some of his colleagues frequent Elemental, no?’

‘I didn’t know Francis Haggard.’ Gaby paused. ‘You did, though, didn’t you, you or Dad? One of you had to give him the tour of the flat.’

‘I suppose so.’ Her mother gave an all-too-audible sigh. ‘Reckless behaviour isn’t good for business, Gabrielle.’

‘I’m not reckless, I’m young – there’s a difference.’

‘Why that tenement, though?’

‘It was closest, that’s all. And now, if you don’t mind, I have to get my set ready for tonight.’

‘Will you eat with us first?’

‘Only if you promise to debug my phone.’

‘I just want you to be safe, darling. We all need to be careful.’

Gaby felt her shoulders slump. ‘I know.’

‘So I’ll see you later?’

‘Just make sure it’s vegetarian. And remember – chicken doesn’t count.’

‘It so nearly does, though, doesn’t it?’

‘Nearly,’ Gaby conceded with a tired smile. Then she put her phone down next to her, reattached her headphones to her ears, and concentrated on her music.

James Pelham was rising to his feet, readying to leave, when Fox arrived at the restaurant. Fox had been biding his time, not really wanting to sit down with the man. When he’d called ACC Lyon to ask for the Complaints files, she’d told him his timing was perfect and there was someone she wanted him to meet. She was having a drink with him that very afternoon at Peacock Alley.

‘It’s in the Waldorf Astoria,’ she had informed him.

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