Shona sat through the hour-long session of the Police, Fire and Rescue Sub-Committee with Dan’s words playing over and over in her head. She was determined not to let it get to her. Her results would speak for themselves.
As she left the meeting, she stopped one of the councillors, an upright man of military bearing, who she recognised as a STAC reception guest. She smiled, offering her hand and words of praise for his efforts on behalf of his community. When she asked about the suspect from the video, wondering if perhaps he was acquainted with the individual and knew his name, the councillor glanced at his watch, made a curt excuse and walked away. She stood processing this odd encounter when the answer came to her. The councillor in question had just received a drink-driving ban. It had been in all the newspapers. No matter what the topic, a police officer was the last person he wanted to chat to.
The CID office was quiet when she returned. Ravi was draped across a filing cabinet, his chin resting on folded arms as he chatted to Vinny Visuals. The surveillance expert dipped his head and got back to work when he saw Shona’s fierce stare. Ravi pulled himself upright and came over to Shona’s office. He tapped lightly on the door frame. ‘Boss.’
‘Hi, Rav, how’s it going?’
‘Aye, good. I can give you a progress report on Becca’s accident if you want?’
‘Go on.’
‘The families of the lads caught in possession all seem to be in the clear.’ He pursed his lips, pausing to see how she’d take the news.
Shona nodded. A local feud which had turned personal against an officer was often difficult to extinguish and had wider impacts on community policing. In pubs or shops, people would stop in mid-conversation, tyres would be slashed. She loved Kirkness, the community and the lifeboat. It would break her heart to leave. ‘Okay, can’t say I’m not relieved about that. Any other leads?’
‘Traffic have identified a suspect car, darkened windows, false plates. It popped up on the A75 then disappeared. There’s a watch out on it but if the driver swaps the plates again…’ He let sentence trail off. ‘What I can’t understand is why a car like that would have been on a wee dead-end farm road?’
‘Could have been passing thorough from England, heading for Stranraer. Stopped off looking for a pub, or a pee, and got lost.’
‘But to avoid the cameras afterwards?’
‘It’s not hard. With a map or a Satnav and some common sense, you’d know we can’t cover all the backroads here. Could even have swapped the plates soon after. There’s a Border Agency cop at Stranraer.’ She wrote down a name, tore the sheet from the pad and handed it to Ravi. ‘Worth asking if the suspect vehicle hopped on a ferry later that day,’ Shona said evenly, trying not to get her hopes up. She would dearly love to see the driver nailed to the wall but knew she might never get the satisfaction. The cop in question hadn’t got back to Kate over the child trafficking inquiry – this might also serve as a reminder.
‘Thanks, boss.’ Ravi smiled and pocketed the name. ‘How’s Becca doing?’
‘Good. Yeah, should be home soon.’
‘That’s brilliant.’ Ravi’s smile switched to full beam. ‘She’s a sparky girl.’
‘Well, you were a hit at the hospital too.’ Shona found her mood lifting, caught by Ravi’s good spirits.
‘Aye, mutual appreciation society there. She’s a top lassie, you’re dead lucky.’
Shona had a sudden vision of a few years in the future. Becca at Glasgow Uni, meeting up with Ravi and his mates, gay and straight, and going out on the town. She wondered if she should warn Hillhead police office. Glasgow wouldn’t know what hit it. She laughed. ‘Yes, suppose I am.’ She picked up her coat. ‘Although, sometimes…’
‘She’ll be fine.’ He touched her elbow and until that moment, Shona hadn’t realised how much she needed to hear someone else say it. ‘And,’ he continued, ‘we’ll get the bastard, don’t you worry.’
‘Thanks, Ravi,’ she said, and meant it.
‘You heading up there now?’ he asked. ‘I’ll come with you if that’s okay? Social call. Thought Bec and I could crack open a few beers, celebrate her forthcoming release from custody.’ He grinned at her.
‘Get on with ye, she’s fifteen and concussed.’ Shona pushed him out the door. ‘Which is what you’ll be if you don’t behave yourself, DC Sarwar.’ She laughed. ‘Come on then, Becca would love to see you.’
As they left the office, Vinny looked up from his keyboard, a goodnight on his lips. He hurriedly looked down again at the severity of the look Shona shot him.
Ravi chatted with Becca for fifteen minutes and Shona could hear the two of them laughing when she returned with coffee. She stayed another half hour and was pleased to learn that Becca was much improved and would be discharged tomorrow if the doctor okayed it.
As she drove back to Kirkness, she found herself humming along to Fleetwood Mac on the radio and planning her next free day with her daughter. Perhaps she could find someone from the Solway Yacht Club to take them out for a sail, if the weather held. Becca must be fed up with the stuffy hospital air.
The road dipped down into the village, the black mirror of the estuary reflecting the shore lights, doubled points of brightness in the dark. Shona pulled into the drive. The scent from the pine trees that gave the house its name filled the cooling evening air.
The lower floor of High Pines was dark and quiet. Normally the windows of the two ensuite rooms would be lit as people prepared to go out or relaxed after an early dinner. Shona came in through the back door and hung up her coat in the utility room. ‘Where are the guests?’ Rob was sitting at the kitchen table. It only took a moment for Shona to see how drunk he was.
‘Gone. Checked out early,’ he slurred.
‘Because of this?’ Shona said sharply, indicating the bottle and glass on the table. He shrugged.
Rob reached for the whisky, but Shona was quicker. She dumped the half-full bottle of Talisker Single Malt down the sink. ‘Becca’s coming home tomorrow. Do you want her to see you hungover, stinking of booze?’