Detective Clare Mackay 06-Old Bones Lie by Todd Marion

Author:Todd, Marion [Todd, Marion]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Suspense, Scottish Suspense, Police Procedural, Crime Thriller, Murder Investigation, Scotland
Publisher: Canelo
Published: 2022-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

‘You do know what’s meant by leading an interview?’

Clare had the grace to blush. ‘Sorry. I’ve said all along I thought the two killings were linked. I couldn’t let Alan go without asking about Maggie.’

Ben shrugged. ‘We’ll find out when we pick Devine up.’

‘About Paul Devine.’

‘Yep?’

‘If he didn’t know he was going to be sprung…’

‘Doesn’t matter,’ Ben said. ‘He’s not handed himself in so he’s as guilty as the gang who got him out.’

It was on the tip of Clare’s tongue to say escaping custody was hardly the same as abduction at gunpoint but she thought better of it. Instead, she said, ‘I’m not sure where that leaves my murder investigation. I started out thinking Devine killed Maggie White. But now I’m not so sure.’

‘I don’t see why,’ Ben said. ‘He could easily have done it. Dunino to your victim’s house can’t be more than, what, twenty minutes by car? He gets the gang to drive him over there, hides in the garden and waits for her to come outside. A few blows with a hammer – job done.’

‘I doubt the gang would have sprung him just so he could kill Maggie. It feels more like an opportunistic killing,’ Clare said. ‘Not planned.’

Ben nodded. ‘Yeah. Could be. Chance to settle a score.’

Clare was silent for a moment, mulling this over. Then she said, ‘Why do you think Gavin Gates disappeared?’

He shrugged. ‘Any number of reasons. He could have decided to go after the women himself. Or there could be something Alan’s not telling us. We only have his word for it Gavin disappeared in Dairsie. Either way, we’re still looking for a prisoner and a prison officer.’

‘And Anthony Devine,’ Clare added.

‘Of course.’

‘So what now?’

‘I’m going to update my team.’ He took out his phone and began tapping at it.

Clare wondered about that. Since Ben’s arrival they’d scarcely been in the station. ‘Where are they working from?’

‘Erm, Dundee mostly,’ he said. ‘Look, Clare, I need to get on. There’s not much more we can do tonight.’ And, with that, he strode off to his room, leaving her to wonder why he seemed so casual about this whole investigation.

She saw Max hovering.

‘Update on the Devines,’ he said.

‘Oh yeah?’

‘I spoke to the community liaison officer. Seems there were a couple of barneys. Usual stuff. Too much drink and they set about each other in the street.’

‘Were they lifted?’ Clare asked.

He shook his head. ‘No. First time given a talking to. Second time a formal caution.’

‘When was this?’

‘Last one was about eight months ago. Not long after Paul was convicted. Before that it was a couple of years.’

Clare considered this. ‘Might be significant. But it might just be one of those things. Families falling out. Thanks, Max.’

He hesitated. ‘How did it go? With Alan, I mean?’

‘Good question,’ Clare said, and she related the content of the interview.

‘Bit odd about Gavin Gates. If he’d decided to go after the gang himself, why wouldn’t he tell Alan?’

‘Probably afraid Alan would stop him. Remember they were warned the wives would suffer if they didn’t do as they were told.

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