Dead And Buried

Seventy-seven

McIlhenney stared across his desk at his friend. ‘I know this isn’t the first of April. I know this isn’t Friday the thirteenth. So why the hell are you sitting in my office taking the piss out of me?’

‘Would that I were; it’s all too bloody true. On his QC’s advice, Eddie bloody Charnwood has withdrawn his statement. He’s saying that it was extracted under threats made against his wife. Now he’s pleading not guilty to everything and he’s going to trial. I’ve just had the Crown Office on the phone breaking the bad news.’

‘Shit. Just when I was starting to look forward to Christmas.’

‘Aye, but there’s worse.’

‘There can’t be.’

‘There is. The Crown Agent is getting nervous about the evidence. He’s saying that Charnwood opened the safe of his own free will, which doesn’t exactly point to guilt. He’s also pointing out that Big Ming was a work colleague and Joe Falconer was a relation, so his prints could have been on their premises from perfectly innocent visits.’

‘Nobody goes to the Wild West innocently, man.’

‘I know that and you know that, but a gullible jury might not.’

‘They’re not going to let him walk, are they?’

‘No, they’re going to trial, but what they are saying is that, just to make sure, we need a witness.’

‘We had three, but they’re all dead.’

‘Yes; that’s why they don’t count. The Crown Agent wants one who still has a pulse.’