Skinner’s round

Oh I'm sure there'll be some tax to pay, but it'll be manageable. Our accountant will make sure of that.'

Ski

‘But would you want your daughter to marry one?' said Myrtle White, with a smile.

He winced. He shot a quick glance at Sir James Proud, then looked back at the woman. 'My daughter's given up doing what I want, Myrtle.'

She smiled again. 'Don't be daft. They all go through that stage. If she's giving you problems, she'll come round.'

`Maybe, maybe not. Anyway, one more question. Did Michael ever mention someone called Mike Morton?'

Suddenly the smile faded from her face. 'Yes, he did. On a few occasions. He was supposed to be playing golf with him yesterday, wasn't he?'

`Yes, that's right. What else do you recall about him?'

`Well, Michael did say that he'd been difficult over the tournament. Hard to deal with. He mentioned a couple of times that he was having trouble with him, but I think that he had sorted it all out.

I remember he said once that he'd met a few people like Morton in business, and that mostly they'd been shady. "Shady" was probably Michael's strongest term of disapproval.'

‘Hmm,' Sir James Proud grunted. He still stood behind the woman, as if protecting her. 'He was a very generous man, your husband, in his view of his fellow beings. Many of us could learn from his example.' Ski

Unless there's anything else you can recall that might help us, Myrtle, we'll be off. I'm sorry that we had to intrude at all.'

Not at all, Bob. I welcome your presence, yours Jimmy, and yours too, Miss Rose.' She nodded to the Detective Inspector, who was seated at the other end of the long sofa. 'I was glad of the chance to be involved. I've never been good at sitting around. In fact, I had been thinking of phoning Lady Proud and inviting myself round for coffee'

`You do that very thing, my dear,' said the big, bluff Chief Constable, his composure fully recovered in the relief of knowing that the interview was over.

One thing, gentlemen,' said Myrtle White. 'When can I plan on having the funeral? I mean when will you release…'

Ski

`Thanks, Bob. That's good of you. There'll be a lot to arrange. I'd imagine that we might have quite a turn-out.' For the first time that morning, there was a catch in her voice, but almost instantly, her shoulders squared and she recovered herself. She stood up and the others followed suit.

Proud Jimmy led the way out to the hall, and to the front door, where Myrtle White reached up on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. She shook hands with Ski

`Thank you again for your help,' said the ACC. 'I'll keep you informed of any progress that we make.'

She shook her head as she opened the glass-panelled door. `No, Bob. Don't do that. I really don't want to know. I can't allow myself to be taken over by thoughts of revenge or retribution. The punishment end of it, that's your business, and I'm happy to let you get on with it.

`Michael's dead, and as you say, that chapter of my book is over. I'll give him a damn good send-off and after that I want to get on with the rest of my life, without looking back in anger.' She waved a farewell as she closed the door behind them.

`Some woman,' muttered Sir James Proud, as the three police officers crunched their way down the red gravel path.

Aye,' said Ski

And she's right: it's down to us to see he gets it.' He looked down at Rose, as he opened the garden gate. 'Those are the clients of our detecting profession, Maggie, the victims and their families, first and foremost. That's where our duty lies. We're their avenging angels.'

Ten

It was the silent hour when the rest of the force were at lunch. Ski

He gri

Aye, aye, Ruthie,' he said. 'Who's rattled your cage, then?' She tried to look puzzled by his banter, but failed, and gave up the attempt.

It's Superintendent Martin, sir. He's on the phone.'

Ski

`He said that it has to do with the Witches' Hill investigation. I told him that you were with Inspector Rose, but he said he'd hang on.'

She looked at him, enquiring, but with the apprehension gone from her eyes. Ski

He assessed his options for what seemed like an eternity to the two women as they watched him. He had made it clear that Alison Higgins was in charge of the Witches' Hill investigation. If he took the call it could be seen as undermining her authority, yet if he referred it to her it could be seen by Martin as a snub.

Eventually he swung back to face Ruth. 'OK, put him through.' The secretary left the room, and Maggie Rose, without being asked, stood up and followed her. Ski

A few seconds later the white phone on his desk buzzed, once. He picked it up. 'Mr Martin, sir,' said Ruth. There was a click. 'Andy, what can I do for you?' He held his breath, ready to read every inflection in Martin's voice.

The reply was cool and controlled. 'I'm sorry to disturb you, sir, but I thought you'd want to hear this. I had a call this morning from Kay Wilson, the editor of the Scotsman. She's had a very odd letter, and she thinks it might have some co

`Legally, she can run it tomorrow, and she's going to, but she's taken a copy and had the original delivered here. Want me to read it?'

Ski

`Very good, sir. I'll do that. I'm sorry to have bothered you.'

Ski