Next in Line by Marion Todd

Author:Marion Todd
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo
Published: 2021-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

‘We’re in luck,’ Chris said. ‘They released him ten minutes ago and he’s heading for the bus station. A couple of the lads were running him there so they’ll bring him here instead. I’ve said we’ll put him on a bus back to Leven.’

* * *

Zac arrived forty minutes later, accompanied by two officers.

‘We’ll take him from here,’ Clare said, thanking them.

‘Am I gonnae be needing a solicitor?’ Zac said, trailing after Clare to the interview room.

‘To be honest, Zac, I doubt it. You’ll still be under caution but I just want to check something with you. I’m happy to arrange for the duty solicitor to attend but it will delay things.’ She opened the interview room door and stood back for Zac to enter.

‘Go on, then,’ he said. ‘But if it gets heavy, I’m saying nothing.’

Clare began the interview with the usual formalities and started the tape. ‘Zac, you have agreed to be interviewed without a solicitor present, but we are happy to stop the interview to wait for one if you prefer.’

‘Aye, just get on with it.’

‘Okay. You told us previously that you came to St Andrews by bus with Abe McLeod last Friday evening.’

‘Aye, so?’

‘And that you received a text message asking you to remain in the town to collect a package.’

‘Aye.’

‘Do you mind telling us how you spent the night?’

He shrugged. ‘Suppose. Spent a bit of time with Abe…’ He tailed off and Clare guessed he wanted to avoid mentioning the stolen car again.

She chose her words carefully. ‘And when you and Abe… parted company, you went to the museum?’

‘Aye. Doubledykes Road, like I told you. Message said I was supposed to wait there and the parcel would be dropped off early morning.’

‘So you waited all night?’ Clare said. ‘Just inside the museum gates, off Doubledykes Road?’

He nodded.

‘For the tape, please.’

‘Aye, I waited where you said.’

‘But the person with the package didn’t appear?’

‘Naw. Waste of a night. Could have been home in my bed.’

‘You also said you hardly saw anyone,’ Clare continued. ‘I’d like you to think carefully about that, please. It might be important. Was there anyone at all? Particularly anyone you think might have noticed you.’

Zac sat back and rubbed his chin. ‘A few folk wandered past – Friday night – after closing time.’

‘Did you speak to them?’ Clare asked.

He shook his head. ‘A couple were chatty but I didn’t take them on. I was trying to keep my head down.’

‘Go on.’

‘Pretty quiet after that,’ he said. ‘Then, early morning, when it started getting light, ye ken, more folk came down the road.’

‘What sort of folk?’

Zac thought for a moment. Then he said, ‘Like folk heading for work. Couple of lassies in black skirts and white blouses. Hotel staff, I reckoned. That sort of thing.’

‘Did any of them look your way? As if they were looking for someone?’

He shook his head. ‘Don’t think so, although…’ he broke off for a moment, then said, ‘there was this one boy.’

‘Yes?’

‘I say boy, not that young.

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