Stay of Execution

8

Vernon Easterson, the general manager of the Scottish Farmers Bank, stared across his desk. Detective Sergeant George Regan knew the look of disbelief in his eyes well enough. He and his detective constable companion, Tarvil Singh, had seen it countless times, from their earliest days in the force, when they had been sent to break the news of bereavement to the unsuspecting bereaved.

‘He’s what?’ the banker gasped, as he gazed at the photographic driving licence in his hand. It had been taken from Ivor Whetstone’s wallet.

‘He’s been found dead, sir, hanged from a tree in the Meadows.’

‘Suicide?’

‘I can’t say that, sir,’ Regan replied. ‘We’re at an early stage in our investigation. What can you tell me about Mr Whetstone?’

‘He was a most valued colleague,’ said Easterson, firmly. ‘He transferred to the business banking division a year ago from Kelso. He was our branch manager there, and I think he’d hoped that he would be able to see out his working life in the town. His main customers were landowners and farmers, and so many of his business meetings took place on the Roxburgh golf course. . he was a very keen golfer.’

The man frowned. ‘That wasn’t to be, though. Thing is, personal banking as Ivor knew it is doomed. The days of the “financial GP” are over. Many of our high-street branches have been rationalised. .’

‘You mean closed, sir?’ asked DC Singh.

‘Correct. Private customers are being directed, wherever possible, towards our new telephone and Internet banking options. I could see Ivor didn’t like it at first. It took him time to get used to the idea, but eventually he agreed to accept the job of associate director of Commercial Banking, here in Lothian Road, at our head office. I persuaded him that the primary business of the modern banker is lending money. While the personal-mortgage and hire-purchase sides are important, the main growth has to be achieved through expanding the base of business customers, financing new-start companies and helping those already established on to the next stage. Those were the marching orders handed down to me by the board, and it was up to me to find the brightest, the most experienced and the best to carry them out. Ivor was very definitely among them.’

‘He was successful?’ asked Regan.

‘Very. There were several associate directors, all reporting to our senior director of Commercial Banking, Aurelia Middlemass. She’s in her thirties; she came here from a career abroad. She’s very highly rated and there are those who say she’ll become the first female chief executive of a Scottish bank before she hits forty. A slight exaggeration, perhaps,’ Easterson murmured. ‘Aurelia’s a hard driver: she handed each of her people very steep lending targets to sort the wheat from the chaff. We had one resignation and one emotional breakdown within six months, but, within that same period, Ivor attained his lending target for the full year. Before his posting to Kelso he had done time in branches in London, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh, and he had maintained nearly all of the contacts he had made in each city. He had a ready-made network, and he put it to effective and profitable use. He was rewarded: he was made director of Commercial Banking, reporting directly to me, and he was given a raise and a better bonus scheme. He’s never looked back since. He and Virginia had even bought a bungalow down in Kelso, for his retirement when it eventually came.’

‘When did you see him last, sir?’ asked DS Regan.

‘Last night. He was still here when I left, but that wasn’t unusual. Ivor was often first in last out.’

‘Would you have known if anything was troubling him?’

‘I’m sure I would. He and I were basically old school; we’d both adapted to the modern world, that’s all.’

‘Can you tell us anything about his family background?’

‘Well, there’s Virginia, his wife, and there’s one son, Murphy. He graduated a couple of years ago; he works in the US; something with Jack Daniel’s, Ivor said.’

Regan pulled himself out of his chair; his colleague followed. ‘Thank you, sir,’ he said. ‘That’s been helpful.’

‘Are you going to see Virginia now?’ the banker asked.

‘Oh no, sir. That job’s not for us: our bosses draw that short straw.’

‘What should I do now?’

‘That’s up to you. But if you come across anything you think might help our investigation, please let us know.’

‘You can count on that,’ he called after them as they left.

‘Would that be as the banker said to the actress?’ Singh muttered to Regan.