All That's Dead by Stuart MacBride

Author:Stuart MacBride [Stuart MacBride]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2019-04-09T16:00:00+00:00

25

It was getting crowded in King’s MIT office as Superintendent Young’s promised extra bodies milled about, making the place look untidy. Far too many of them for the manky wee room. Which meant Logan had to squeeze and ‘pardon me’ his way over to where King stood staring at one of the two new whiteboards.

‘God, it’s like a rugby scrum in here.’

‘Hmm?’ King kept his eyes on the board. Someone had stuck photos of Professor Wilson, Haiden Lochhead, and his dad, Gaelic Gary, to the white surface with little magnetic dots in cheerful colours. Red lines connecting the three of them, a printout of the crime scene report, and lots and lots of question marks. ‘Thing is, what if there isn’t a connection?’

‘The fact Haiden posted Wilson’s hands to the BBC does kinda suggest there is.’

‘Not what I meant.’ King poked Haiden’s photo with a finger. ‘If he targeted Wilson just because he’s a high-profile anti-independence figure, then there’s no real connection connection, is there? Maybe they never met at all, and who Wilson is isn’t as important as what he represents. He could be anyone. Haiden doesn’t—’

‘Boss?’ It was Heather, mobile phone clamped to her chest. ‘There’s some woman downstairs in reception, won’t give her name. Says it’s urgent and she has to speak to you.’ A shrug. ‘Well, you or Inspector McRae.’

Interesting.

Logan raised an eyebrow at King. ‘Perhaps we’d be better together?’

He got a scowl in return. ‘I’m not going to dignify that with an answer.’ King pushed his way through the crowd, making for the door. ‘H: Make sure everyone’s got something productive to do.’

‘Boss.’

King stopped on the threshold and looked back at Logan. ‘Well? Are you coming or not?’

Fair enough.

Logan skirted a knot of plainclothes officers and joined him. ‘Wonder what this mystery woman wants.’

‘Bet it’ll be a waste of time.’ King shoved the door open and they stepped out into the corridor.

And froze.

Steel was meandering away from them, mobile phone pinned between her shoulder and her ear, leaving her hands free for a big cup of coffee and a Danish pastry. Nibbling and sipping as she went. ‘Did he? … Yeah … Well, that’s what happens when you smear Nutella on—’

‘You!’ King pointed at her. ‘What the hell are you doing here?’

‘Oops. Call you in a sec.’ She balanced her Danish on the coffee’s lid, stuck her phone in her pocket, turned, and graced them with a pastry-flaked smile. ‘Just coming to see you, Guv.’

‘You’re supposed to be in Peterhead, interviewing Haiden Lochhead’s cellmates!’

‘No I’m not.’

King’s eyes bugged. ‘I told you to go!’

‘No, you said “someone has to go speak to Haiden’s cellmates”, so I sent DC Harmsworth. He’s a miserable git anyway, might as well give him something to be miserable about.’

He just stared at her.

Another nibble of pastry. ‘I can start recording our conversations, if that makes things any easier?’

‘Fine.’ He marched past her, heading for the stairs. ‘Then you can make yourself useful: with me. Now!’ He battered through the double doors, leaving Logan and Steel alone in the corridor.

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