Skinner’s round

Thirty-eight

‘Miss Higgins, why didn't you cancel the tournament because of this incident?'

The questioner held a microphone across the table in the mobile police office, which had been parked on the edge of the tented village. The limited space was packed tight with journalists and cameramen. Alison Higgins sat, flanked by Andy Martin and Alan Royston, at a narrow table against the wall closest to the single entrance door.

I'll answer that, if I may,' said Martin. 'That decision was taken only after all the circumstances had been considered. The body was removed by eight o'clock, and the scientific team were finished their work by nine-thirty, so our work here is complete for the minute. The only practical reason for cancellation would have been public safety, and we're satisfied that there's no general risk. Postponement of the start for twenty-four hours was an option, but it was decided that since thousands of people would be on their way here already, it would be fairer all round to let play begin as soon as possible.'

`Who took the decision?' asked the journalist with the microphone.

I'm the area commander here,' said Martin, brusquely. John Hunter laughed, hoarsely. 'We know, that, Andy. I think the boy here's just a wee bit shy of asking if Big Bob didn't relish missing a day's golf!'

I'll treat that as a joke, you old scoundrel. The ACC's on leave this week, and for those of you who don't know, he's playing in the pro-am in Mr Michael White's place, at the request of Michael White's widow. As for what Mr Skinner did or did not fancy, I didn't fancy turning five thousand motorists away from the gate.

I believe that the PGA intend to stop play at one o'clock, when everyone's out on the course, for two minutes' silence, in memory of Mr White, and now of Mr Masur.'

`Have you established a link between the two deaths, Superintendent?' asked a young Sunday newspaper reporter, in a light Irish brogue.

`That's one for Miss Higgins,' said Martin.

Alison Higgins leaned forward with a brief nod of thanks. The answer is no. We are pursuing specific lines of enquiry in each case, but as yet they don't converge.'

Are you considering a connection with the kidnapping of Oliver M'tebe's father?'

`That's a separate investigation, being carried out by the South African police. So far they haven't established any connection with events here. And I can tell you that there has been no contact made by the kidnappers with Oliver or his management.'

`What about the letter to the Scotsman? Given the letter's allusion to witchcraft are you looking into the possibility that there might be a coven active today in East Lothian?' asked Julian Finney, of Scottish Television, a little bulldog of a man.

The Superintendent paused for a moment, considering her reply. When she did speak, she looked straight into the television cameras. 'Frankly we're following up every line of enquiry, however bizarre it might seem.'

`Your statement says that Mr Masur's body was found in the Truth Loch early this morning,'

Finney went on. 'Can you give us any more detail than that?'

'No.'

`Nothing on his injuries? May we take it that drowning was the cause of death?'

`That will be determined by the post-mortem, and will be part of our report to the Procurator Fiscal.'

`Were any extra security measures put in place following Mr White's murder?'

`There's been a police presence here throughout the day since Sunday, and private security in the exhibition area at night.'

`But individuals haven't been given police protection?' `No, but no one's been refused it either.'

`Will there be extra security after this second death?'

`Come on, Julian,' said Martin. 'That's a Command decision, not one for CID. We'll protect everyone here to the best of our ability and resources. But we've no idea who or what we're protecting them against.'

`You don't see a terrorist connection?'

`No, and neither do you, so stop trying to drum up an angle. Terrorists do it for the publicity.

There's been none of that, other than the Scotsman letter, and whatever that was, it sure as hell was not a terrorist communique.

`What we're investigating here are two unexplained, violent deaths, with no possibility of suicide in either case. An alleged murder mystery, to give you a non-prejudicial, legally correct headline.'