Skinner's rules

41

‘That’s it. That’s the itch I’ve been trying to scratch! That’s what was wrong with the Mortimer and Jameson situations … their cases.’

Bob was so excited that Sarah forgot to be annoyed that his mind had gone back to work, and to the Yobatu Affair.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Look, Mortimer’s case was one of those combination jobs. And when we found it the lock was set. I’ve got one of those things. So have you, and so have quite a few other people we know. Do you ever set the combination for short journeys like office to home?’

‘No, I don’t suppose I do. I can never remember combinations anyway, I just keep it zeroed.’

‘Right. So there’s Mike Mortimer, on a short walk home in the middle of the night, yet the locks on his case were set!’

‘Come on, Bob, that’s a long shot.’

‘No it’s not. It’s an unusual circumstance, and they’re the first things you look for in a criminal investigation. Things, even tiny things, that don’t fit a normal behaviour pattern. And even if it is a long shot on its own, taken with the Jameson situation it adds up.’

‘What about her?’

‘Her case wasn’t there! The report of her death listed everything she had on her, yet there was no mention of a case. And I didn’t pick that up. I’m so dumb I should be a Transport copper. The woman had just finished a major criminal trial, away from Edinburgh. Of course she would have had a document case with her, and probably a big one at that.’

‘But what does it all mean?’

‘Christ alone knows, but I’m going to find out.’

‘Isn’t it all closed. Official Secret and all that?’

‘That’s not going to stop me. I’ll just have to play it a bit quiet, that’s all. Poor old Andy! What’s her name’ll give him hell when he tells her he’s working on New Year’s Day!’