Skinner’s round

"S no one of the golfers, is it?'

`Certainly not. Just be patient for a few minutes more and we'll have something for you.'

Anything else you can tell us, then? Like, is anyone in custody?'

`No, I'm afraid not. The victim went off to take a bath after playing golf, and the body was found by a member of staff half an hour later. We're still taking statements from everyone who was on the course at the time.'

Aha,' said John Hunter, dramatically. 'Golfing, eh. That tells us it's no' the Marquis, anyway.'

He paused as a thought crossed his mind. 'Here, it's no' Michael White, is it?'

`See you later,' said Ski

`How's Andy? From what I hear, he's settled in OK. Roy Old has moved big Mcllhe

`Jimmy's appointed himself as a sort of unofficial emissary between us, sounding me out, sounding Andy out. He tells me that Andy isn't in the mood for any olive branches. Says he never wants to see another Ski

`So I shouldn't invite him to supper just yet?'

I don't think that would be a brilliant idea. More to the point though, have you had any joy in tracking down that daughter of ours?'

`No. Her band's management company gave me a list of venues, but they wouldn't go any further than that. I pushed them, but eventually the girl there got rude and told me that they weren't there to act as a contact service.'

`Cheeky sod! Give me the number, and I'll ruin her day.'

`No, my darling. You've done enough of that. I'll write to Alex at each of the venues on the list, just asking how she's doing. Just letting her know that I'm thinking about her. Don't worry, honey. She'll get in touch.'

He looked at her mournfully. 'What makes you so sure?'

She laughed. 'She might have fallen out with you; with me even; but before long she'll realise she's missing her kid brother.

`Just be patient. We'll hear from her. And when we do… we'll just take it from there.'

Seven

‘How did she take it?'

`Just about as you would expect of Myrtle White. Very calmly, at first. Then as it sank in she began to shake. No tears, just this violent shivering as if the room was very, very cold.'

Sir James Proud gave a slight shudder himself, as the memory chilled him, too.

Of all the jobs I've ever had to do in the police service,' he said quietly, 'breaking bad news is the one which I've hated more than any other.'

Ski

`But that's the first time I've had to face the widow of a friend.'

`How close were you and Michael White?'

The grey-haired Chief Constable reflected for a moment. `Fairly close, but not confessors, if you know what I mean. But Chrissie and Myrtle have been best friends for years. They'd come to us for di

Michael and I didn't socialise without our wives, but they went shopping together so often that they had their own table in Je

`Chrissie volunteered to come with me yesterday. I was glad of her presence, I tell you. I let her get on with the task of comforting, while I called the doctor in to give Myrtle a sedative. Then I phoned their son-in-law, Gavin, and gave him the job of contacting the rest of the family. I arranged for him to go into the mortuary this morning too, to make the formal identification.'

`Yes, that's good. I suppose you or I could have done it, but it's better if it's a family member.

Neither you nor I should be called as identification witnesses when this gets to trial… if it gets to trial, because we've got next to bugger all to go on.'

Ski

He turned back towards the Chief. 'I don't suppose you asked her any questions yesterday.'

Proud shot him a quick glance and shook his head.

`Not a chance. She wouldn't have heard a word I said, even before the sedative took effect.'

`You know we have to talk to her?'

Proud Jimmy leaned back in his chair. 'Oh yes. I haven't been behind a desk so long that I've forgotten that. And I know we can't leave it any longer than today.'

Ski

The Chief Constable picked up a biscuit from the plate on Ski

The ACC sat behind his desk smiling. 'I should really interview you too, shouldn't I?'.

'Christ, I suppose you should at that! Fire away then.' Proud Jimmy lowered himself back into his seat.

'Well, as a good friend of the Whites, have you heard anything that might make you think someone had a fatal sort of grudge against the man? What do you know of his business dealings?'

Proud's ruddy face was serious as he considered Ski

Did you ever hear him talk about the Witches' Hill project?'

The Chief searched his memory. 'Yes, I did, as a matter of fact. He brought it up one night when we were at their place for di

`How much was it?'

`Three million, he said. Half equity, half loan.'

Was that the only time he discussed it with you?'

`No. I asked him about it at our party last Christmas. Just before you arrived, as I recall.

Asked him how it was going. Very well, he said. So much so that all sorts of people had approached him wanting to buy into the project.'

`Mmm; Ski

`Yes. He said that he and Kinture had decided that if they let one in it'd be open season, and that before they knew it it wouldn't be their course any more. So they thanked everyone for their interest, but very politely they refused them all.'

Did he mention anyone in particular?'

The Chief paused again. 'Yes, he did mention one name. That big promoter fellow. What's his name again? Like a football club… Yes! Morton, that was it. He told me that they had asked Morton to set up their tournament, and that he had said that he would only do it if they would give him — give him, mind you — twenty-five per cent of the equity.