The Big Chill by Doug Johnstone

Author:Doug Johnstone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orenda Books
Published: 2020-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

33

HANNAH

The whisky burnt her throat, made her feel alive, stopped her from jumping out of the window. The ops room was busy and she wasn’t the only one drinking. Normally she wouldn’t touch this stuff, but with what just happened, she needed it. They didn’t know the details yet. Indy was at the table with her, along with Dorothy, the almost empty bottle of Highland Park between them. Einstein wagged his tail at Dorothy, not picking up on the vibe at all. Schrödinger kept his distance, over at a window seat, licking a paw and stretching. Mum and Liam were there too, staring out of the window, and Jenny looked like she was about to cry. She scanned the horizon as if the prison van might trundle across Bruntsfield Links any moment.

The tension in the room was painful. Indy smiled at Hannah, a look that said she knew everything was fucked but loved Hannah anyway. Hannah was getting used to that look. She wished she could see her girlfriend with just a simple smile, one that said the world was going to be OK.

Thomas came in from the hall where he’d been on the phone to the station. He ran a hand through his hair. His body language was not promising.

‘They found the van,’ he said.

‘Thank fuck,’ Jenny said.

Hannah sensed something was up.

‘Where?’ Dorothy said.

Hannah shook her head and laughed. ‘He’s not in it, is he?’

Thomas looked at her for a beat. ‘No. He seems to have escaped.’

Einstein gave up on Dorothy and slumped to the floor at her feet.

‘How the fuck?’ Jenny said. She had her arms crossed, Liam hovering behind.

‘The van was found in an industrial estate off Sir Harry Lauder Road in Portobello.’

Jenny stared like she might tear Thomas’s head off.

‘There’s a bus park there, railway sidings, factories and offices.’

‘Get to the point,’ Jenny said.

‘Jenny,’ Dorothy said, and it carried a weight that Hannah recognised. ‘Please. Thomas is trying to help.’

‘He’s police, isn’t he? The police have lost a murderer.’

‘In our defence,’ Thomas said, ‘prisoners are the responsibility of the prison service until they’re in court. In transit that’s down to GEOAmey.’

‘Who the hell are they?’

‘Contractors,’ Thomas said. ‘It’s all privatised now.’

‘Well that’s worked out great,’ Jenny said.

‘We’re lucky we found the van so quickly,’ Thomas said. ‘A guy from a nearby office got nosy, went out for a look. He heard banging from inside.’

‘Who was it?’ Hannah said. She took another hit of whisky, felt it going to her head already. She wasn’t used to the alcohol.

‘The driver and one of the guards,’ Thomas said. ‘Hands, feet and mouths taped.’

‘And no Craig,’ Jenny said.

Thomas looked around the room. ‘The other guard is missing.’

Dorothy shifted in her seat. ‘You think Craig did something to him?’

Thomas looked uneasy. ‘Her. The guard is a woman.’

Hannah felt her stomach tighten, knew what was coming.

‘Here we go,’ Jenny said.

‘The driver said that she helped Craig escape. She let him out of his handcuffs and he assaulted the other guard. She helped tape the guard up.

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