Saints of the Shadow Bible by Ian Rankin

Author:Ian Rankin [Rankin, Ian]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: Orion
Published: 2013-11-07T00:00:00+00:00

15

‘The bullet is undergoing analysis,’ Siobhan Clarke announced to her team. They were gathered around her in an open-plan office on the first floor of Wester Hailes police station. There was a bit less room than any of them would have liked – competition had been fierce for the few comfortable-looking chairs. Hot-desking was necessary and no one had yet found a kettle. There were journalists outside on Dumbryden Drive, but not many. Shootings were rare in Scotland’s capital, but the demise of a minicab driver couldn’t compete with that of a senior politician. Fox didn’t doubt that the foul weather was also a factor. With a new cold front making itself felt, the rain was turning to sleet. And Dumbryden was not exactly salubrious – mesh grilles protected the cop shop’s ground-floor windows – meaning there would be no press conferences in new-build hotels . . . not until such hotels were constructed.

‘I can’t tell you a lot more than that at present. It’s a nine-millimetre calibre, probably from a handgun. Pathologist commented that it didn’t look shiny new, but I’m not sure what that tells us. Until Ballistics and Forensics get back to us, therefore, I want to concentrate on the victim’s movements from the night he went missing until he ended up in the canal. He must have eaten – most recent intake comprised a cheese and onion sandwich and a packet of ready-salted crisps, plus a bottle of Irn Bru . . .’

‘Sounds like a meal deal,’ Olivia Webster interrupted. ‘Sort of thing a garage or supermarket would sell.’

Clarke sought out Fox. ‘Any receipts among his possessions?’

Fox shook his head. ‘We don’t have his clothes, though – I suppose there could be something in one of the pockets.’

‘Can you check that?’ Clarke asked. Then, to the room at large: ‘We need door-to-door, starting at the locus and radiating out. The industrial estate will be part of that. They’re bound to have camera footage, or else night-time security we can talk to. Shops and petrol stations in the vicinity – get photos of Saunders out there.’

‘Local media?’ someone else asked.

Clarke nodded. ‘Newspapers and internet – TV if we can get it. Putting out a plea for anyone to come forward.’

‘There might be something on his phone,’ Fox said. ‘Doubtful – we already checked once with his mobile phone provider – but worth taking another look.’

Clarke nodded her agreement. ‘Inspector Fox here,’ she explained to the room, ‘has been helping the Solicitor General’s office form a case against William Saunders. Thirty years ago, Mr Saunders was charged with the murder of a man called Douglas Merchant. The case fell apart due to police incompetence . . .’

‘Incompetence or collusion,’ Fox corrected her.

‘Anyway,’ Clarke went on, ‘those files will be coming here as soon as I’ve cleared it with Elinor Macari. And as Inspector Fox is the expert, he’ll be the one to answer any questions you might have.’

‘A good starting point,’ Fox added, ‘might be the detectives who were responsible for the collapse of the case against Saunders.

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