Close to the Bone

33

‘I told you: I am not prepared to breach doctor-’

‘Patient confidentiality. Can you no’ change the record, Doc? This one’s like listening to paint dry.’ If DCI Steel slouched any further down in her chair, she’d disappear under the table.

On the other side, sitting in the full glare of the camera mounted on the interview-room wall, Dr Marks stuck his nose in the air. The bruise on his cheek was colouring in nicely, heading to a deep violet, giving a bit of life to his jumbo sausage features. ‘If you don’t like hearing it, stop asking.’

Logan opened DI Leith’s folder of photographs and laid a glossy eight-by-ten of Roy Forman’s fire-ravaged skull on the table. Then another one. Then one where the tyre was still burning. ‘Agnes Garfield did this.’

The psychologist shrank back in his chair. Looking anywhere but at the photos. ‘I don’t see what this is supposed to achieve. Did you really think I’d be prepared to abandon my professional ethics just because you show me these? Do you honestly believe I got where I am without recognizing blatant manipu-lation when I see it? ’

A sniff, then Steel jabbed a finger at him. ‘You’ll sodding well know the toe of my boot when you see it. Aye, and it’ll be coming out of your gob after I ram it up your arsehole.’

Dr Marks took off his big gold-framed glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘Genuinely: if you’re going to resort to threats, try to do it in a way that actually connects to the person you’re threatening. So far all you’ve done is reveal an anal fixation that borders on the manic.’

‘I’m no’-’

‘“Arse” this, and “arse” that. And you say I’m the one who needs to change the record. Then there’s all the “scrotum” threats: you’ll use it as a handbag; you’ll fill it with angry bees and sew it over my bumhole; you’ll make soup in it; you’ll make me wear it as a gimp mask. .’

‘Laz, show the good doctor your photos of Anthony Chung.’

Logan opened the other folder.

Dr Marks sat forward, one hand curled around his barely existent chin. ‘You never really got on with your father, did you, Chief Inspector? You always felt that nothing you did was good enough for him. Did he have a problem accepting your sexuality? He did, didn’t he? Always hoped it’d just be a phase you were going through.’

The first picture of Anthony Chung was of him lying on the kitchen floor, surrounded by Agnes Garfield’s Ring Knot, his skin coloured with mould and decay, his eyes rotted away to dark slits. Logan laid the photo on the table. ‘He would’ve bled to death, but she veerited him first. Wrapped a rope around his throat and twisted.’

‘It must be hard, keeping it up: the posturing, the swearing, the constant scratching. . You’re like someone’s stereotyped idea of a man. More manly than the men you have to work with. I imagine you consider yourself a bit of a womanizer too, don’t you? Always trying to compete. .’

She scowled at the psychologist. ‘Up your hole with a loo-brush, you saggy-chinned wee cockshite.’

Well, that was helping.

Logan placed the next picture of Anthony Chung next to the first. ‘Dr Marks, Agnes Garfield is probably a danger to herself, she’s certainly a danger to other people.’

The psychologist popped his glasses back on. ‘Your father always wanted a son, and you thought that was the only way to get his approval. So you’ve built this whole vile persona around the selfish wishes of a dead man. Did he ever-’

Steel slammed her hand down on the tabletop. ‘YOU LEAVE MY DAD OUT OF IT AND ANSWER THE BLOODY QUESTION!’

A sigh. ‘I can’t breach doctor-patient confidentiality. Even with a warrant. Even if they try to compel me in court. The people who come to me for therapy have to be able to trust me with their darkest thoughts, desires, and secrets. If they can’t, I can’t help them.’

Logan put down the next photo — a close-up of Anthony Chung on the cutting table, his chest opened up and hollowed out. ‘Where’s Agnes Garfield? ’

Dr Marks sat back again, looking at Steel over the top of his glasses, his voice soft and low. Soothing. ‘It must have been very painful for you, having to live up to so many expectations. But it’s not too late to be the real you, instead of this. . projection you’ve become. I’d love to help, I genuinely would.’ A smile tugged at one side of his sausagey face. ‘I’d give you one of my cards, but they confiscated them when they took my belt and my shoelaces. But I want you to know that you can get better.’

Steel stared at him. ‘And you can get bent.’

The Police Custody and Security Officer printed ‘DR RICHARD MARKS’ on the board beside the door of cell number eight. Then frowned. Then smiled. She pointed. ‘Look: his name’s Dick Marks. What kind of parent calls their kid Dickmarks? No wonder he turned out a total knob. .’

‘Just make sure he gets noisy neighbours tonight, OK? Someone who likes to sing on one side, and someone with Tourette’s on the other.’

‘Do my best.’

Steel was standing just outside the back door, smoking her cheeks hollow and glowering at the rain. It bounced back from the roof of grimy patrol cars, sparkling in the rear podium’s security lights. ‘He fall down the stairs yet? ’

‘There’s going to be another victim.’

‘Little prick. Where does he get off with all that psychobabble, eh? Sod all wrong with me. .’ She took another vicious puff, the cigarette trembling between her lips. ‘He’s the one with bloody issues!’

‘Stacey Gourdon. Anthony Chung was sleeping with her behind Agnes’s back. No one’s seen her since Friday night.’

‘That’s all we sodding need. Media department are already getting phone calls about Chung and his magic circle. Some greasy bugger’s tipped off the papers.’

Brilliant. As if this wasn’t hard enough. ‘Do they know it’s him? ’

‘Will do soon enough: ACC’s doing a press conference at eight. Wheeling out Anthony’s mum and dad, so they can tell the world how they’re worried about Agnes and want her to be safe.’

‘It’s not her I’m worried about.’

A couple of uniforms slogged their way up the rear ramp, water dripping from the brims of their peaked caps. No point in hurrying, they probably couldn’t get any wetter.

One last puff, then Steel pinged her cigarette butt out into the downpour. It bounced off the Chief Constable’s Bentley, sparking against the paintwork. ‘And for the record: I don’t give a flying monkey’s willy-warmer what my father thought.’

A knock at the office door, then Chalmers slipped inside. ‘Guv? ’

Logan signed the last form in the stack and stuck it in his out-tray. Halle-bloody-luiah. ‘Where have you been? ’

‘Chasing down some leads on the Garfield case.’ She shrugged, gave him a half smile. ‘Nothing but dead-ends, sorry. But I wanted to ask if-’

‘If it’s not toe-curling urgent: go home.’ He stood, paused, then cricked his head to one side, then back the other way — something in his neck popped and creaked like a fistful of gristle.

‘I want to volunteer for the soup-kitchen job.’

‘Nothing to do with me: it’s DI Bell’s shout.’ Logan sat back down again. ‘Where are we with the GSM trace? ’

‘Still nothing. I got in touch with their phone companies: neither of them’s used their mobiles for a week and a bit. No outgoing calls or text messages.’

He swivelled his chair from side to side, staring up at the ceiling. ‘So they’ve not used their phones for a week, but Agnes Garfield still manages to get in touch with her therapist. .’

‘Probably just picked up a new pay-as-you-go SIM card. Bet Dr Marks has got the number though.’ A shrug. ‘If we could get him to talk.’

Whatever happened to the good old days, when you could batter a suspect around the legs and back with a length of rubber hose till they confessed? Still, with any luck Goulding was right and a night in the cells surrounded by drunken idiots would break Dr Marks like a stale biscuit. ‘Go home. Get some rest.’

‘But, Guv, the soup kitchen is-’

‘They don’t start serving till nine. Gives you nearly an hour and a half. Tell DI Bell I said you’re to help him out till midnight, no later. I want you in bang on time tomorrow. And look. .’ He picked Agnes Garfield’s stolen dittay book off his desk, then followed it with Chalmers’s report on its contents. ‘I’m taking both home to read tonight. Just make sure that next time, you hand them to me.’

‘Yes, Guv.’ She smiled, showing off those sharp little teeth of hers. ‘Thanks, Guv.’

‘Oh, and this soup-kitchen job: don’t think you’re getting any overtime for it, OK? ’

Standing in the corridor, Logan locked the office door. Closed his eyes. Rested his head against the cool wooden surface. Home. . Quarter to eight: forty-five minutes to get back to the caravan and get the lasagne in the oven.

His phone buzzed in his pocket: text message.

Do U want me 2 pick up some wine or something?

Logan thumbed in a quick reply, then froze.

A voice behind him: ‘Guv? ’

He slipped the phone back into his pocket. ‘Rennie, unless your head’s on fire, I’m not interested.’

‘Got something for you? ’

Probably another moan. He took the keys out of the lock and dumped them in his pocket. ‘Thought you were back on days now? ’

‘No, you’re going to love this one. .’

Logan turned, slumped back against the door. ‘I swear to God, if this isn’t good, I’m going to knee your testicles into orbit. Deal? ’

Rennie grinned. ‘You know you’ve got Chalmers looking for Stacey Gourdon? Well, guess who I found? ’ He contorted his face into a Popeye wink. ‘Go on, I bet you can’t. .? ’

The cell block reverberated with the sounds of what could almost be called singing. As long as you didn’t care too much about lyrics, melody, or adhering to any one key.

Kathy the PCSO led the way to the block of cells where they kept the female prisoners. ‘Still haven’t found anyone with Tourette’s, but the night’s young.’

She stopped outside the cell at the end of the corridor. Then slid the hatch open. ‘Stacey Gourdon: breach of the peace. Otherwise known as staggering blootered down Belmont Street at three in the afternoon with her dress hoiked up around her armpits and no pants on, shouting at random strangers to, and I quote, “Taste the rainbow of fruit flavours.” Uniform turned up and she tried to stab them with her high heels.’

Classy.

Rennie hooked his thumb at the cell door. ‘See? What did I tell you? ’

Logan stepped up and peered inside.

A young woman sat on the edge of the blue plastic mattress, holding onto the bed, staring at the other side of the room, mouth hanging open, blinking in slow motion. Her short black dress was rucked up on one side, her knees scraped red and speckled with scabs. Bruises made a violet tattoo on her bare shoulder. Short black hair sticking out in all directions, like a punk pixie.

Not dead then.

Logan knocked on the metal door. ‘Stacey? You up to answering a couple of questions? ’

Her voice sounded as if it belonged at the bottom of a well. ‘I didn’t do it.’

‘Didn’t do what? ’

‘Whatever it is you’re trying to pin on me. That’s the “what” I didn’t do.’

‘Anthony Chung.’

She turned to look at the hatch. Her mascara and lipstick was all smeared to the right, as if her head was suffering from motion blur. ‘Now that I did do.’

Stacey Gourdon sat on the chair with her knees up against her chest, picking away at her scabby knees. ‘This whole interrogation gestalt is so passe, isn’t it? What happened to the good old-fashioned smoky room, with the single light bulb? Sometimes there’s comfort in cliche, don’t you think? ’

Building Maintenance had given interview room two a fresh coat of paint. It was a bit like putting an Elastoplast on a tumour.

Logan sighed. ‘For the last time: you can’t have a cigarette.’

‘But I can have a lawyer.’

‘If you want one. But I’m not interested in you, I want to know about Anthony Chung and Agnes Garfield.’

‘Gagh. .’ Stacey’s mouth opened wide and down, as if she’d just swallowed something bitter. ‘They are so high maintenance. A sweet couple, but just. . completely. .’ Stacey stopped picking and twirled a forefinger at the side of her head instead.

‘You know they’re missing? ’

‘You’re not asking the right question.’

OK. . ‘What’s the right question? ’

‘Do I know where they are now? ’

Logan sat back in his seat. ‘And do you? ’

‘Nope.’ She went back to picking. ‘Next question.’

‘You haven’t heard from them at all? ’

A chunk of brown scab came loose, the skin beneath it pink and shiny. A dot of red oozed to the surface. ‘Of course, Anthony treated poor Agnes appallingly. She was obsessed with him and he wrapped her around his little finger. And you know what? She was just as bad.’ Stacey popped the liberated chunk of scab in her mouth and chewed. ‘Now, your next question is, “Did she know I was shagging dear Anthony at the same time?” And the answer is: of course she did. He told her.’

‘He told her? ’

‘Oh, he did more than that: Anthony arranged a three-way. Me, him, and fiery little Agnes.’ Stacey smiled at Logan, long and slow. ‘You might not think it to see me now, but I do scrub up very nicely.’

‘And Agnes was OK with that? ’

‘Well, she wasn’t really into the whole girl-on-girl part of proceedings, but she did her best. For him. And she did have a lovely little body. .’ Stacey sighed, then popped another scab into her mouth. ‘We met up every couple of weeks after that, until Anthony got bored. Always fluttering from one thing to another is our Anthony, like a little American butterfly with Attention Deficit Disorder.’

Logan frowned. OK, right now Stacey looked as if she’d slept in a skip and smelled like the floor of a pub after a rowdy night, but under the stale alcohol haze, the smeared makeup, messy hair, and scabby knees she probably was a very attractive young woman.

‘Agnes did it to please Anthony Chung, but what was in it for you? ’

A grin lit up her face. ‘Darling, he has the most wonderful weed you’ve ever smoked in your life. And it pissed Daddy off no end that I was shagging a Chinaman.’

Maybe not so attractive.

‘Well, your dad can rest easy: Anthony Chung’s dead.’

‘Ah. .’ The grin faded from Stacey’s face. ‘In that case, I think I will take that lawyer after all.’

DI Bell stopped in the middle of the corridor. He tightened his grip on the folder under his arm and narrowed his eyes. ‘What are you doing here? ’

‘And hello to you too.’ Logan locked his office door. Again. Second time lucky.

‘I don’t need you checking up on me, I’m perfectly capable of organizing a simple op at a soup kitchen. I was a DI long before-’

‘I’m going home, OK? Had to process someone who was sleeping with Anthony Chung. And Agnes Garfield.’

Ding-Dong sidled closer, big hairy paw fidgeting with the knot on his tie. ‘Why? ’

‘Because soon as she heard Anthony was dead, she clammed up and demanded a lawyer. Sound suspicious to you? ’

‘And you think this woman and Agnes are in it together? They both killed Anthony Chung and Roy Forman? ’

Logan stuck the keys in his pocket. ‘Or she’s just messing with us, because that’s the kind of thing she enjoys. Either way, I’m going home.’

Ding-Dong took a step back, looking away down the corridor in the vague direction of the cell block. ‘You think I should have a pop at interviewing her? ’

‘You can if you want, but it’s. .’ A frown. Wait a minute. . DI Bell’s suit looked immaculate, as if it’d just been pressed, the shirt freshly ironed. His shoes shone like new buttons too. And what was that smell? Logan sniffed: aftershave. Ding-Dong never wore aftershave. ‘What are you up to? ’

‘Nothing wrong with being a team player.’

‘Yeah, but you’re being all possessive about this soup-kitchen thing — a lead I turned up, by the way — you want to interview Stacey Gourdon, you’re dressed up like you’re off for a job interview, and you smell like a tart’s underwear drawer. . What have you heard? ’

A blush coloured his freshly shaven cheeks. ‘I don’t see what’s wrong with-’

‘Making a good impression? It’s Steel, isn’t it? You’re angling for the DCI’s job.’

‘Now you’re just being-’

‘What’s the ACC told you?. . They’re looking to get shot of her, aren’t they? They think she’s not up to the job and you want to take her place.’

Ding-Dong raised his chin, letting a tuft of black fur poke out over his shirt collar. ‘I’m not going to dignify that with a response.’

Logan stared at him for a couple of beats. ‘OK, fine. Whatever. Nothing to do with me: I’ve got an appointment anyway.’

‘Good.’ He turned and lumbered down the corridor, broad shoulders rolling beneath the straining shirt.

‘Watch your back, Ding-Dong. She’s bloody vicious if you cross her.’

DI Bell stopped with one hand on the door handle. ‘I’ll bear that in mind.’ And then he was gone.

Logan’s phone vibrated in his pocket. Another text message.

Where R U? Thot we sed 8:30?

Speaking of which. .

He picked out a reply on the mobile’s little keyboard.

On my way now. See you soon.

After all, it wouldn’t do to keep a lady waiting. Especially not one that could kick his arse from Grampian to Strathclyde.