Murmuring the Judges

3

Detective Chief Inspector Maggie Rose looked up in surprise as Brian Mackie walked into her tiny office in the Haddington Police Station. She ran her hand over her red hair. . less vivid than that of Nathan Bennett, Mackie noted idly. . as she stared at the Divisional CID commander.

‘What are you doing back?’ she asked him. ‘I thought you’d be tied up in the High Court all day, and maybe into tomorrow. What happened? Did the defence case fold up?’

The tall, bald detective shook his head. ‘No,’ he replied, without the trace of a smile. ‘The judge did.’

‘Eh?’

‘Lord Archergait. He dropped dead on the Bench; right in the middle of my cross examination.’

Rose’s hand went to her mouth. ‘Oh no,’ she said, frowning. ‘Not old Archergait. That’s too bad.’ She hesitated. ‘What was it? Heart attack?’

Mackie nodded. ‘Yeah. A sudden massive coronary, the doctor said. He also said that he was surprised that it didn’t happen more often in the High Court, given the age of a few of the judges.’

He smiled suddenly. ‘Here, you’ll never guess who the doctor was. That guy Banks.’

‘What,’ his deputy responded, surprised, ‘the bloke that Andy Martin fell out with? The guy he had thrown off the list of force MEs?’

‘Aye, that’s right. He was giving evidence in a civil case on one of the other Courts. He was puffed up like a wee bantam cock at being called in to help.’

‘I’ll bet.’

She looked up at Mackie once more as he leaned against the window of the small room gazing out on to the main street of the little market town. ‘So what happens about the trial?’ she asked.

‘We begin all over again. . unless Kilmarnock recognises that he’s flogging a dead horse and offers a plea.’

‘Is that likely?’

‘Shouldn’t think so. He’ll fancy another go at me.’

‘What if he did offer a plea to a lesser charge? D’you think the Crown would accept it?’

‘Not if Andy Martin got wind of it. He’d raise hell with Mr Skinner, and he’d have a word with his pal the Lord Advocate. With one thing and another the Crown Office owes the Big Man a few favours.

‘No, Mags, Mr Nathan Bennett is going to be convicted of armed robbery, nothing less, and he’s going to get the ten- or twelve-year stretch that he bloody well deserves. Remember the old lady customer who fainted right at the start of the raid. Those bastards just left her lying there, while they got on with it, and she died of her stroke a week later.

‘Bennett’s on a reduced charge already as far as I’m concerned. If it was down to me, they’d be trying him for murder.’

Rose raised an eyebrow. ‘But what if he decides to co-operate with us?’ she asked. ‘What if he suddenly remembers the names of the other two guys who did the bank with him?’

‘What if he wakens up tomorrow with the power to heal the sick,’ said Mackie, ironically. ‘There’s about as much chance, I tell you. I’ve interviewed Bennett umpteen times. There’s no way he’s going to give those two guys up.’ Unexpectedly, he chuckled. ‘It’s nothing to do with honour among thieves, you understand. Bennett’s scared stiff of someone.

‘Whether it’s those two, or someone else: that’s the question.’

‘Hmm,’ Maggie grunted. ‘I know that’s what’s worrying DCS Martin.’

‘Speaking of our Head of CID,’ said the Superintendent, ‘I had a call from him in the car on the way back here. He’s called a briefing of Divisional CID commanders and deputies at Fettes, first thing tomorrow morning.

‘After today’s débâcle, there are no prizes for guessing what’ll be on the agenda.’