Chapter 48
FIFE
Brodie was in DCI Alan McRae’s office with Art and Cameron sitting in chairs opposite him.
‘Give me the full rundown on the DCI McRae investigation,’ he said. He drank more coffee, feeling the tiredness creep into him.
‘Maurice Duvall, a property solicitor, reported seeing Alan just before Alan went on holiday. Technically, he wasn’t missing at that point. He was seen getting into a small blue Volvo. I asked his sister if she knew anybody who owned one. She did. Alan’s ex-wife.’
Brodie put his mug down as Art looked at Cameron for a moment.
‘As I already told you, sir, she told us he had met her at the trail car park outside Cupar. He was scared of something. I wish I knew what of. She told us that she was seeing Dick Drever, the bar manager at Windygates bowling club. When we returned to speak to her the following day, we found her dead in her car, as you know. Then we discovered Drever dead in his house. And that’s you up to speed, sir. ’
Brodie kept quiet for a moment. ‘The way you tell it, you’re either the unluckiest pair of bastards I know, or you’re a fucking jinx,’ he said.
‘I think we’re getting closer to something, sir,’ Cameron said.
‘You think something happened to McRae, and that what happened to his ex and this Drever character is also connected?’ Brodie asked.
‘It’s highly possible,’ Art answered, ‘but we don’t know what he was scared of.’
‘How straight of an arrow was McRae?’
Art hesitated for a moment. Alan was a friend of his as well as his boss, but he had started thinking just how little he might have known about him.
‘I would have trusted him with my life,’ Art said. ‘I’ve known him for a long time. I can’t see him getting into anything dodgy, but you never truly know somebody, do you?’
‘What’s the next step in the inquiry?’ Brodie asked.
‘I was going to say, I’d like to go and talk to Alan’s sister, Daisy, again, but as you say, somebody could be watching us. What if we put her in danger?’
‘I think it’s important to talk to her again. Call her and set up a meet in a public place, make sure you don’t get followed.’
‘What if somebody follows her?’ Cameron asked.
‘I doubt that will happen,’ Brodie answered. ‘If they wanted to harm her just like they did McRae’s ex and Drever, then they would have already done it.’
‘You’ve got a good point,’ Art said.
‘Tell her who I am and I’ll meet her.’ Brodie’s phone rang, and he nodded for the other two detectives to leave. He answered it when his door was shut. ‘Lucy. What’s happening?’
‘You’re never going to believe this, sir; we found two more in the cemetery. Right next to where Ivy Jack was found.’
‘Jesus. Do you think it’s a copycat?’
‘It must be, sir. There was a book left on top of her. We haven’t identified her yet.’
‘Was it a Bible?’ Brodie asked.
‘No, it was a John Sandford book.’
Brodie was sweating in this office, and he reminded himself to bring in a fan if he was going to be working here much longer. ‘That is completely different from the other one.’
‘It’s strange.’
‘Listen, I have another call coming in. I’ll meet up with you tomorrow morning before I come across here.’
‘Okay, sir. See you at the station.’
Brodie hung up and pressed the button for the other call.
‘Liam, it’s Ruth.’
‘Hey, honey, how are you doing?’ He listened for a second as she didn’t answer right away. It sounded like she had been crying.
‘I’d like to go and see the cottage. Can you take me there?’
‘Of course. Are you on your way up there now?’
‘I am. I’ll meet you there. Wait for me, will you?’
‘I will.’
‘My satnav says I should be there in about fifteen minutes.’
‘I’ll leave now, Ruth.’
He hung up and stood up from behind his desk. He called Art over and told him he had to run an errand.
‘Hold the fort while I’m away. If Breck is looking for me, tell him I won’t be long.’
‘No problem.’
Brodie took off from the car park.