Murmuring the Judges

47

‘I’m very pleased to hear that you’re staying with us for a few more weeks, Mr Ankrah,’ said Skinner. They were in the main communications room at Fettes, as the DCC finally completed the tour of the headquarters building which he had scheduled for the day of the visitor’s arrival.

‘It’s a privilege for me,’ said the African. ‘Already I am learning a great deal about how methodical your detective work is.’

‘Boring, some would call it,’ the DCC retorted with a grin, as they left the radio room and began the walk back up to his office. ‘It has to be, though. We lay heavy emphasis on the rights of the accused person, as well as the victim. Our prosecution service demands meticulous attention to detail in preparing a case for court, so we have to make sure that every witness is interviewed exhaustively, and that answers exist to every possible question which the defence might ask in Court.’

Ankrah nodded. ‘We aspire to such standards too in my country. But I envy you all these facilities and your many trained officers. We have to rely much more on our instincts.’

‘Good for you, mate,’ said Skinner, sincerely. ‘A nose for the job is just as important to us as all the stuff you see here. When detectives stop following their instincts, by and large they’re no good to me.’

As they reached the top of the stairs which led to the command corridor, Andy Martin was waiting for them. ‘This is the pathologist’s report on the West Linton murder,’ he said, holding up a document.

‘I know what’s in it,’ said Skinner, leading the way into his temporary office. ‘Sarah told me. The man was tied up and shot once in the back of the head.’

‘That’s right,’ the Head of CID confirmed, looking at Ankrah.

‘If it was Sturrock he was very efficient. One shot and the man was gone. The only oddity was a small stab wound in the middle of the back. I can’t figure out why he did that.’

‘I think I can tell you,’ said Kwame Ankrah, quietly, and for once unsmiling. The two Scots looked at him, surprised.

‘Before I came here,’ the Ghanaian began, ‘I paid an official visit to the People’s Republic of China. While I was there, my hosts were kind enough to take me to see an execution. Ten executions, to be more accurate.’ He grimaced, and shuddered slightly.

‘There was no ceremony about it. The condemned people. . two of them were women. . were forced to kneel, and shot in the back of the head with a single bullet, just like this man Saunders. But in that position, the natural reaction is to pull the head down and to cringe away from the bullet.

‘So, when the marksman was ready, another person would put a knife into the back of the criminal, very quickly and without warning. That made him straighten and pull his head up. As he did so, the executioner would fire.

‘They used big, heavy, soft bullets,’ he said. ‘Very messy, but they did not waste a shot.’

The Ghanaian shivered again. ‘I think perhaps, that Superintendent McGrigor should be looking for Mr Sturrock’s knife, as well as his gun.’

Skinner smiled at Martin. ‘I told you we could learn from this man. Kwame, welcome to the team, even if it’s only for a month. It’s good to have you around.’