Hunter's Rules (The Edinburgh Crime Mysteries Book 6) Page 6

“Morning, Lucky. No, I brought the Merc today. It’s faster, and I want to get you home pronto.”

  “It may be faster, but it’s not so grand, is it?”

  “Lucky, do you want me to drive you home, or do you want to get the bus?”

  “Don’t be like that, Tim. Now don’t you go missing me too much Jessie,” he said to the nurse. He grabbed her hand and kissed it. “Will you carry my case, Tim? I’ve hurt my blasted foot.”

  “No. Now, I’m a busy man. Let’s go.” Tim pointed to his card that Jessie was holding. “If you ever need a punter put in their place, give me a call.” He smiled. Then Tim walked past Lucky’s suitcase and jumped into the driver’s seat.

  ***

  When they got back to Lucky’s estate, he offered Tim a coffee.

  “Thanks. I might as well, while we wait for the home security official to arrive. Surely he’s not going to tag you around the whole estate. He’d be here all week checking the readings.”

  “True enough.” Lucky rang the bell and asked a young girl who answered to bring coffee for two. “Proper coffee mind, not that instant grit, I’ve had quite enough of that. And some of Mrs Price’s home-made cookies if we have any.

  “No, the tag thing is only to kick in at 7.30 pm until 7.30 am. I’ve to stay within the main part of the house during that time. Of course, the front and back doors and all the French windows are to be taboo, so I can’t collect from a dealer. Ridiculous really. If I were desperate, I’d see my dealer at 7.25pm, wouldn’t I?”

  “I suppose so. Who’s your dealer now?”

  “Ha ha. You won’t trick me that easily, Tim. I don’t have one now. But rumour has it that, even from prison, Arjun Mansoor has this area pretty well tied up.”

  Tim watched as the coffee and biscuits were brought in and laid on the coffee table. Lucky dismissed the girl and poured the drinks. He watched Lucky add milk and lots of sugar and reach for two of the biscuits.”

  “These cookies are delicious.” He waved them at Tim. “Try one.”

  “I will. So, what’s with the beard, Lucky?”

  “I felt a change come over me in rehab and I wanted that to show it outside as well as inside me. I’ve always ridden, but I got back to that at the end of my rehabilitation programme. Can you believe I’ve also taken up running, going to the gym and doing yoga? There are some nice little coffee places and shops around the village. I even do a bit of cooking. I thought I might enter that TV show Who wants to be MasterChef, get that food out of here, or whatever it’s called.”

  Tim couldn’t help laughing. Lucky was an arrogant arse, but he was charming too.

  “Aren’t those cookies good?”

  “Yes they are, Lucky. Very good. You’ll need to get the recipe to make them on the show.”

  The young girl knocked on the door again to announce that there was a Miss Judy McCallum for home security to see Lord Buchanan. She stood back to let the woman in, and Lucky made the introductions.

  “You’re vouching for Lord Buchanan, are you?” she asked Tim.

  “No. I brought him home from rehab and waited with him until you got here. I can confirm that in that time he has had a cup of strong, sweet coffee and two homemade biscuits. Nothing else.”

  “Won’t you be living here?”

  “Definitely not,” Tim said.

  “Who will be with you on the premises, Lord Buchanan?”

  Lucky rolled off the names of his few remaining members of staff and their job titles. “My cousin Sir Felix Buchanan will also be staying here when he returns from his present business trip,” he added.

  “Where is he?”

  “Who knows? He went on a trip to do a gig in Ibiza, Tim. He hadn’t been there any time at all when I heard he’s on his way back. But I can’t raise him. He’s a damn pest these days. Totally unreliable.”

  “That’s the pot calling the kettle black,” Tim said.

  The woman explained how the security system worked. She attached the home curfew bracelet to Lucky’s ankle and found a convenient power point to plug in the monitor. She explained how it worked again so that there could be no doubt and instructed Lucky to walk to various parts of the house. That enabled her to test the strength of the signal. She stressed the times that his tag would be in operation and then gave him a card with a phone number to call if he had any problems. Then she left as quickly as she had come, telling him she had three more homes to visit before she was finished for the day.

  “I have to go too, Lucky, old man.”

  “Bring my bag in from the car will you, Tim? I’ve got this bad foot from my running, remember.”

  “Not a fucking chance. Come and get it yourself, now. Otherwise, I’ll take it with me and make a bonfire out of your designer briefs.”

  “Bastard. Where are you going anyway? Can’t you stay and keep me company for a while?”

  “No. Don’t whine. I have one stop to make on my way home.”

  ***

  When Tim drew up outside Thomson’s Top Cars, he looked around the showroom. No sign of Jamie. He wasn’t surprised.

  Frankie was on the phone in the office, and Tim waved to him and walked towards the help desk where Donna was sitting, flicking through a wedding magazine.

  “DC Myerscough, what can I do for you?” Donna said.

  “I really wanted to see how Jamie and Linda are. I should have worked out they wouldn’t be here.”

  “Linda never is, but anyways, she and Jamie are at the hospital waiting for them to give them more news on her sister. The doctors say it should happen today.”

  Frankie finished his call and walked towards them. “It’s right bloody awful. Some bastard took her eyes. Did you know that? How does anyone even do that? What’s going to happen to her? I don’t know.” Frankie shook his head.

  “God alone knows. But we’ll do our best to catch him.”

  “Make it sooner, will you? If Jamie gets to him first, I’ll need to find another best man for my wedding. He’ll be doing life.”

  “We’ll do our best. But on a happier note, you two are planning your wedding already I see.” Tim nodded towards Donna’s magazine. “Set a date yet?”

  “Nah. Not till Uncle Ian’s out. How’s yer pop?”

  “Still driving me mad.”

  “Much like Uncle Ian, then.” Frankie grinned.

  ***

  I can’t help being a bit worried that this one lived. There seems to be a connection between her family and the police. It would have been so much easier of she’d died like the others. Because she was young and pretty, there is too much sympathy for her. I don’t like it.

  It’s not just that, but the newspapers are full of identikit photos of me, but luckily not one of them bears any resemblance to me. Maybe I should shave my beard off, or would that be too obvious?

  “Anyway, I’ve got a great alibi, and I can’t be two places at once. Nobody can, can they?”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “How on earth can you park in such tight places, Nadia? I’d need at least an extra couple of yards.”

  “It comes from doing deliveries for my uncle’s restaurant, otherwise I’d end up walking miles every shift.”

  “I am benefitting from your laziness, then.”

  “Cheers, Colin. Kindly said.”

  “Kindly meant. Shall we go in and see if we can find the manager? The hotel’s own CCTV should provide us with some answers.”

  “I hope so. Let’s go.”

  They walked up the steps into the foyer of the hotel and gazed at their surroundings in silence. It was almost as bright inside as outside because the light from the chandelier bounced off the gleaming surfaces.

  “I wouldn’t like to be in charge of the dusting here,” Nadia said.

  “I wouldn’t want to have to change those lightbulbs,” Colin whispered.

  A supercilious voice crossed the space towards them. “May I help you.”

  They moved towards the voice and found the owner to be a tall man of
late middle age who worked behind the reception counter. Colin pulled out his identity card and the man examined it as if it were a priceless gem before returning it with a sneer.

  “How may I be of assistance, Detective Sergeant Reid? And you are?” he asked Nadia.

  Nadia handed him her card too. “DC Nadia Chan. We wondered if we might have a word with the manager, please.”

  “He is rather busy right now. May I be of service?”

  “We’re here about the attempted murder that occurred here on Saturday. I think that takes priority over whatever he has going on,” Colin said. He spoke deliberately loudly.

  “Murder?” asked an elderly lady who was standing next to him. “Ooh, how exciting! I do like those murder mystery parties. Is that it?”

  “The gentleman will have his little joke, Mrs Haverstock.” The man attempted to laugh.

  “The last time I thought about it, murder was no laughing matter,” Colin said.

  “Of course, not, sir. Not just now, Mrs Haverstock, but shall I put it in the suggestion box?” the man asked. Then he turned back to Colin. “Please keep your voice down, will you, DS Reid?”

  “May we speak to the manager now?”

  Colin and Nadia watched while the man picked up the phone and dialled. He turned his back and whispered into the mouthpiece.

  “The manager will be with you shortly. Now I must help Mrs Haverstock. May I assist you further dear lady?”

  They watched while the woman glowed under the attention of the hotelier.

  “Some people are easily pleased,” Nadia said.

  “True, but they are not usually the patrons of The Waldorf Astoria. I am the manager here, Vikram Mandal. I understand you require my assistance. Follow me, and we’ll talk in my office. Will you take tea?”

  “No, no tea thank you, Mr Mandal,” Colin said.

  The office was small, but well-appointed and contained a large desk and more power points than Nadia thought possible, never mind necessary.

  Colin explained to the manager that his staff had assisted them by providing their recollections of what the attacker looked like and asked if they might study the CCTV of the relevant day.

  “Indeed, this person must be apprehended as a priority. The attack is such bad publicity for us at The Waldorf Astoria. Come this way. I’m afraid the room that houses the CCTV is rather small, but we do keep our film for at least thirty days. Which areas of the hotel do you want to see?”

  “Probably just the foyer, the bar, and the restaurant, unless there is CCTV in the lifts.”

  “Sadly not. That is an improvement planned for next year. It may be advanced now, of course.” The manager’s expression was solemn. “This attack is an appalling slight on our brand. Nothing like it has ever happened to one of our guests, not anywhere in the world. The publicity is most unwelcome. Please let me know if there is anything I or any member of my staff can do to bring the perpetrator to justice.”

  “I’ll be sure to tell the victim you’re thinking of her, Mr Mandal,” Nadia said.

  “Be assured that we are. We have sent flowers. They are cheerful. Very colourful.”

  “She’s blind, Mr Mandal. She can’t see the colours. Now, could you send in a member of staff to show us how your system works? Then just leave us to do our job.”

  ***

  “Colin, this is hopeless. So far I haven’t found a single person who matches the general description coming into the foyer. I hope you’re having better luck in the bar.”

  “Well, I’ve found the boss. He’s sitting waiting for Meera, and there’s a bottle of champagne on ice next to his table.”

  “That’ll cost a pretty penny in here. I wonder what they’re celebrating. On this section, Meera keeps looking at her left hand.”

  “Ooh, now, I wonder if he finally proposed. That would be a fun fact, but we better keep that little piece of deduction under our hats.”

  “I’m not wearing one. Wait, Colin, this could be our man. Tall, dark hair, and I can’t tell if that’s a beard or a shadow because of his large hat. Who wears hats like that nowadays?”

  “A man avoiding detection, perhaps. Slow it down.”

  “It is slowed down. I still can’t see him properly,” Nadia said.

  “What about that woman? She’s covered from head to toe, but look at her shoes. They’re not at all feminine, and they’re huge.”

  “Give it up with the big feet. My niece wears a size nine.”

  “A nine? Goodness, and here’s you with your dainty size threes.”

  “You’ll get my size three up your arse if you’re not careful. Then tell me how dainty it feels.”

  “Funny girl. How about that guy? I know he’s limping, but he’s definitely got dark hair and a beard.”

  “Yeh, he seems tall too. I just can’t see his face because he’s got his head down all the time. It’s almost as if he knows where the cameras are.”

  “Look, there’s our victim joining him in the bar. Let’s see if any of the staff can identify him from the CCTV shot and our mugshot book.”

  “I thought Tim was doing mugshots.”

  “Yes, but he didn’t have the CCTV,” Colin said.

  ***

  The newly-seconded DC Larkin was thrilled to have a task of his own. He called HMP Edinburgh and found that Arjun Mansoor was still incarcerated, but he did get out on day release as he was nearing the end of his sentence. He had been out on the day in question, but the times didn’t match up with when the attacker met Eileen for dinner.

  He had better luck with Lord Lachlan Buchanan. He was still enrolled in his rehab centre, but had been out, with permission, late into the evening. The nurse Neil spoke to said Lord Buchanan was training for a marathon and preferred to run in the evening when it was cooler.

  Neil then called Lord Buchanan himself. He wanted to establish if his story would match the nurse’s. He was confused when Lucky said little about that except to confirm that was also his recollection, then went off on a rant about being unable to contact his cousin, Sir Felix Buchanan.

  Lucky explained that Felix was meant to be living with him, but he didn’t know where he was. Felix had a habit of going off and doing his own thing, it wasn’t unusual. Lucky emphasised that he had no idea where the bounder was, and that was why he had asked his friend DC Tim Myerscough to sign him out of rehab and bring him home.

  What a lot of nonsense he had to listen to in this job, Neil thought. However, he thanked Lucky and made a note to check that story with Tim later.

  The last person on Neil’s list was a former DC, John Hamilton. Neil knew this guy had a reputation for being prickly, so he would have to tread carefully. He called the number he had been given for John but was disappointed when a woman’s voice told him that John had moved.

  “Gone down to North Berwick, I think, cos he’s working with his brother down there. Estate Agents they are. Sorry I can’t be more help.”

  Neil thanked the woman and stared at his notebook. Then he began to Google Estate Agents in North Berwick on his phone.

  ***

  There is no doubt that eyes are fascinating. Did you know that the way the eyes work mean that we see everything upside down? They think babies see upside down and can’t see things the right way up for the first few days of life until their brains work out that they need to flip the images they’re getting to make sense of them. Personally, I doubt babies can focus on anything very much, except their mother’s nipples. I can understand that.

  In fact, any image focussed by the eye on the retina is always inverted, so we see things upside down and back to front. It is said that eyes are the mirrors of the soul, but they are just mechanical parts of the body, transferring the images from inverted pictures to information each person can use is simply due to the way the eye and its lens system works. The front of the eye is curved. That means it bends light, and this creates the upended image on the retina. The retina is a complex part of the eye. Its purpose is to turn light int
o signals and pictures that the brain understands and can use to navigate the world.

  On top of all that there is a beautiful array of colours of eyes. Some are rare. Those are the ones which need to be added to the collection.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Right,” Hunter said, as he banged the desk in front of him with a folder. “A little quiet, please. He pointed to the white board. “Eileen Maguire, what did she have to say for herself, Rachael?”

  “She has been woken from her coma and knows that she has lost her eyes. She’s been told that she’ll never see again.”

  “That will take some time to process.”

  “Yes, boss. She told Mel and me that she met her date online. I said it might not have been him who attacked her, but she dismissed that as incredible, and I’m inclined to agree with her.”

  “So am I. Meera and I must have come across her shortly after the deed was done, and there was no sign of the date then. He must have attacked her and scarpered.”

  “Miserable rotten coward,” Neil said.

  Rachael nodded and then went on. “She said he’s white, but then she gave us two descriptions of the man. In the photos on the dating site he was pictured at an angle that made his legs seem long. He appeared to be muscular, and Eileen used the word ‘sexy’. He was pictured on the beach at North Berwick with Bass Rock behind him, and he had a dog. She thought it was a golden Labrador.”

  “She’ll be needing her own dog, soon,” Nadia said.

  “Long waiting list for a guide dog,” Colin commented. His picked up the half-eaten apple that lay on the desk beside him and took another bite.

  “Maybe not too long,” Tim whispered in Colin’s ear.

  “We’re getting side-tracked. I make it a rule not to get side-tracked. What was the other description, Rachael?”

  “Well, she said when they spoke on the phone, she could always only see his face. He had dark hair and a dark bushy beard, but there was no red in the beard.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, I’m no expert, boss, but most white men I know who have dark hair have some red colour through their beards, and I wondered if it might be a fake if it was uniform dark-haired colour.”