Skinner's rules

72

And then the telephone rang.

‘Oh, fuck!’ Andy swore only in moments of extreme stress.

‘Not until you answer that bloody thing!’ She rolled away, reached out an arm and handed him the telephone.

Maggie Rose spoke. ‘We’ve arrived, sir. We’re in Earlsferry, in the East Neuk of Fife. The Harveys seem to have a weekend cottage here. McGuire called directory enquiries. They’re on the phone here. The house is called Earl’s Cottage. It’s on the beach.

‘It’ll be difficult to keep it under observation, and impossible from the car. But we can get a clear view from the beach. There are hardly any people about. Most of the houses must be holiday places; there’s no sign of life in any of them. No lights, no smoke from the chimneys.’

‘How long have you been there?’

‘Ten minutes, no more. Mario’s down watching the house now.’

‘Can you remember if the Harveys’ house has a chimney?’

‘Yes. It’s a newish place, two storeys. There’s a big picture window upstairs and a big feature chimney up one wall.’

‘Was it smoking when they arrived?’

‘It was, sir, it was! There must be someone else in there!’

‘Steady on, Maggie.’ He swung his feet out of bed and sat on the edge. ‘Don’t get too excited. There could be a local who comes in to light the fire before they arrive. Keep the house under surveillance, and I’ll contact DI Mackie. He and McIlhenney will bring up an overnight bag for you two. They’ll do tonight. You book into a hotel oraBand B or something, and relieve them again in the morning.

‘And, Maggie, book in on a Mr and Mrs basis. Remember this is a secret enquiry. I don’t want you looking out of the ordinary, and any couple booking separate rooms in a place like Earlsferry on a Saturday in winter will surely do that.’

Maggie snorted at the other end of the line. ‘McGiure’s just going to love that!’

‘You can handle it, Sergeant. Pull rank on him if you have to.’

‘Rank isn’t all I’ll pull!’ The line went dead.