The Complaints

‘The artist’s name is Alison Watt,’ Charles Brogan said. ‘I know a bit about art, Inspector.’

‘Must’ve been a wrench to sell it all…’ Fox turned his head and found himself looking at the drowned man. Brogan had removed a lumberjack-style hat, revealing that his already thi

‘Did the missus do that?’ Fox asked.

Brogan ran a hand across his skull. He was wearing fingerless black woollen gloves. He looked to have lost some weight and his skin was sallow. He finished rubbing his head and dragged his fingers down around his jaw. He hadn’t shaved in a while. The black workman’s jacket could have been borrowed from one of his building sites. The denims had seen better days, as had the scuffed boots. As disguises went, it wasn’t bad.

Then again, it wasn’t great.

‘You weren’t followed,’ Brogan said. ‘And you didn’t bring the cavalry with you.’

‘How come we didn’t spot you at Waverley?’

‘I was on the overhead walkway. When I called on the phone and saw you answer, I knew you were my guys.’

‘Except we’re not your guys,’ Breck corrected him.

Brogan just shrugged. Fox turned his head a little and fixed him with a stare. ‘What happened to Vince Faulkner?’ he asked.

Brogan was quiet for a moment. He turned his attention to the painting. ‘I’m sorry that happened,’ he said at last.

‘You sent him to meet with Terry Vass, didn’t you?’

Brogan nodded slowly.

‘And Vass decided to send you a message,’ Fox stated.

‘If I’d gone to the sauna…’ Brogan’s voice drifted off.

‘That was the deal, was it? Vass was expecting to see you, but Vince turned up instead?’ For the first time, Fox felt a pang of sorrow for Faulkner’s fate. Brogan had found out about the man’s history of violence, and had thought him a useful ‘soldier’. Vince would have loved playing that role. Maybe he’d goaded Terry Vass, and maybe not. But he had died horribly.

‘You knew from Vince’s perso

‘I was desperate,’ Brogan muttered.

‘The cabbie who dropped him near the sauna says he nearly changed his mind about going – he was sobering up fast and he was scared.’

‘Then he shouldn’t have played the tough guy.’ Brogan managed a quick glance in his tormentor’s direction.

Fox was thinking again of Vince Faulkner. With his hidden stash of money at home, payment for past services rendered…

‘Was he killed at the sauna?’ Breck interrupted. ‘Maybe Forensics could take a look.’

But Brogan shook his head. ‘They took him somewhere else… kept him there.’

‘How do you know?’ Fox was giving Brogan his full attention. He watched the man swallow before he answered.

‘They phoned me. They put Vince on…’ He squeezed shut his eyes, trying to block out the memory. ‘I never want to hear anything like that again.’

‘You might,’ Fox said. ‘When they come for Joa

Brogan opened his eyes and glowered at Fox. ‘I’d kill them,’ he spat. ‘They know that.’

‘Maybe.’

‘And if I didn’t, Jack would.’

‘Jack’s what all this is about, isn’t it?’ Fox asked. ‘You were doing something you thought might impress your father-in-law – playing money-man for the big boys. I’m not saying Jack Broughton knew, but you were thinking maybe it would get back to him some day and he’d start to respect you just a little bit more.’

Brogan’s face tightened, and Fox knew he’d struck a nerve.

‘But here’s the thing, Charlie,’ Fox went on. ‘When they come for Joa

Brogan seemed to consider this. ‘I’m in hell,’ he said weakly, eyes back on the painting.

‘That’s why you’re here,’ Fox said. ‘You know we’re your only chance.’

‘What can you do?’ Brogan was bowing his head as if in prayer.

‘I don’t know.’

With head still bowed, Brogan turned his neck so he could watch Fox’s face.

‘I really don’t,’ Fox stated with a shrug of the shoulders. Then, to Breck: ‘Have you got any ideas?’

‘One or two,’ Breck replied after a moment’s consideration.

‘That’s all right, then,’ Fox said. ‘But Charlie… you’re going to have to tell us everything. And it’s got to be done properly.’

Brogan considered this. ‘I really thought it would work,’ he muttered to himself at last.

Fox gave a snort. ‘Vince’s body was found Tuesday afternoon; a few hours later you’re suddenly checking your will at your solicitor’s office, and by Thursday you’re supposed to be dead?’ He shook his head slowly. ‘No, Charlie, it was never going to work.’

‘The deck shoes were a nice touch, though,’ Breck conceded. ‘Left bobbing about on the water like that…’

‘They were Joa

‘And she helped you come ashore, too?’ Fox guessed. ‘Dinghy, was it?’

‘I swam.’ Brogan puffed out his chest a little. ‘Time was, I could have swum the whole estuary…’

‘Good for you,’ Breck said.

Fox had thought of something else. ‘The money from the paintings… it was to tide you over, right? Did Wauchope find out you were holding on to it? Is that what finally blew his fuse?’

‘Men like Bull Wauchope, their fuses are long blown.’

‘You know Glen Heaton, don’t you? When I started sticking my oar in, did you have Joa

Brogan gave a resigned smile. ‘You said it yourself, Inspector – you’re the one card left in this lousy hand I’ve been dealt…’

There was the sound of someone clearing their throat nearby. All three turned, expecting trouble, but it was only the cleaner.

‘Sorry,’ the man said, ‘but I’ve got to lock up now. Don’t blame you for loitering, though.’ He nodded in the direction of the painting. ‘It’s a great thing, isn’t it? So true to life…’

‘True to life,’ Fox agreed. But it was a shroud, and it reminded him of Vince Faulkner’s ice-cold corpse, lying in the darkness of a mortuary drawer. All because of the shaven-headed fat man who was staring at the painting one final time.

All because Charlie Brogan had something to prove to the world.

It was A

‘The debts are piling up,’ Breck commented to Fox.

‘Let’s get on with this,’ Fox replied.

An hour later, they had as much as they needed. Fox pocketed both sets of tapes and they left the station without seeing anyone. There was a locked patrol car outside. Fox looked to left and right, thinking back to the day he’d taken that first walk with Jamie Breck.

‘What now?’ Brogan asked, fixing his hat to his head.

‘Is it safe, wherever you’re staying?’ Fox asked him.