Skinner’s round

I'm the area commander here,' said Martin, brusquely. John Hunter laughed, hoarsely. 'We know, that, Andy. I think the boy here's just a wee bit shy of asking if Big Bob didn't relish missing a day's golf!'

I'll treat that as a joke, you old scoundrel. The ACC's on leave this week, and for those of you who don't know, he's playing in the pro-am in Mr Michael White's place, at the request of Michael White's widow. As for what Mr Ski

I believe that the PGA intend to stop play at one o'clock, when everyone's out on the course, for two minutes' silence, in memory of Mr White, and now of Mr Masur.'

`Have you established a link between the two deaths, Superintendent?' asked a young Sunday newspaper reporter, in a light Irish brogue.

`That's one for Miss Higgins,' said Martin.

Alison Higgins leaned forward with a brief nod of thanks. The answer is no. We are pursuing specific lines of enquiry in each case, but as yet they don't converge.'

Are you considering a co

`That's a separate investigation, being carried out by the South African police. So far they haven't established any co

`What about the letter to the Scotsman? Given the letter's allusion to witchcraft are you looking into the possibility that there might be a coven active today in East Lothian?' asked Julian Fi

The Superintendent paused for a moment, considering her reply. When she did speak, she looked straight into the television cameras. 'Frankly we're following up every line of enquiry, however bizarre it might seem.'

`Your statement says that Mr Masur's body was found in the Truth Loch early this morning,'

Fi

'No.'

`Nothing on his injuries? May we take it that drowning was the cause of death?'

`That will be determined by the post-mortem, and will be part of our report to the Procurator Fiscal.'

`Were any extra security measures put in place following Mr White's murder?'

`There's been a police presence here throughout the day since Sunday, and private security in the exhibition area at night.'

`But individuals haven't been given police protection?' `No, but no one's been refused it either.'

`Will there be extra security after this second death?'

`Come on, Julian,' said Martin. 'That's a Command decision, not one for CID. We'll protect everyone here to the best of our ability and resources. But we've no idea who or what we're protecting them against.'

`You don't see a terrorist co

`No, and neither do you, so stop trying to drum up an angle. Terrorists do it for the publicity.

There's been none of that, other than the Scotsman letter, and whatever that was, it sure as hell was not a terrorist communique.

`What we're investigating here are two unexplained, violent deaths, with no possibility of suicide in either case. An alleged murder mystery, to give you a non-prejudicial, legally correct headline.'

Thirty-nine

Ski

`Yes Julian, what can I do for you?'

I know that officially you're on holiday, but I wondered if you could give me a quick interview.'

Officially and unofficially, son. No chance. Didn't Royston fix you up with Andy and Alison?'

`Yes, but Bob, I no more believe that you're not involved in this investigation than I believe your scratch score will beat Darren Atkinson.'

Ski

Fi

Ski

I'm not going to comment at all on our investigation. All I'll say to you — strictly off the record — is that if someone goes out and commits murder immediately after having a heated public argument with the victim, then he has to be either crazy or dumb. I know that Morton isn't dumb. Time will tell whether he's crazy.

`Now, go to the press office for any further information. I've got some golf to play, and I don't need distractions.'

Fi

Ski

Ski

Darren Atkinson stood beside Bravo on the tee, arms folded across his chest, staring heavy-browed down the first fairway. The muscles at the base of his jaw were clenched tight, and he seemed to Ski

`This is it, Bob,' he said softly. 'This is where the hard men come out to play. This isn't a matter of money, there's honour involved. No one but me is going to walk off with Murano's million quid, because only the best has the right.

As far as the team competition is concerned, remember that the best ball, mine included, on any hole registers the score. I'd be grateful if you'd look after Wales and the Jap. Make sure they pick up once they've had half a dozen whacks at any hole. I'll be concentrating so hard I won't even notice them.

`You're on seven shots against the course today, with your handicap. If you can pick up a nett birdie with each of them, you'll have done your part for the team. Your other eleven holes don't matter.'

Ski

The green-blazered a

The stands erupted in applause which faded only when Atkinson stepped up to the tee. It renewed itself as lie crushed a three hundred and ten-yard drive down the centre of the fairway.

Ski