Skinner’s round

Martin shrugged his shoulders. 'I'm going to leave that to the Fiscal. They haven't admitted to having sex with the kids on other occasions, and we stopped them short of that last night.

Chances are, all we can get them for is indecent exposure. But if we charge them with that, the local Fiscal might feel the need to prosecute the youngsters as well.'

Ski

I'll have to tell the parents though.’

`Sure, and send a report to the Education Department at once. If the mums and dads can be sure that the man's taught his last class, I doubt if any of them will cause a public row.'

The ACC paused. 'Did you question the Golspies about the Scotsman letter?'

Of course. They denied any knowledge, and I don't think they were lying. They're not interested in witchcraft, just nooky.'

Ski

He looked across to McIlhe

Fifty-five

The exhibition tent was smaller than Ski

The policeman wandered from stand to stand, testing the balance and weight of the high-tech clubs on show, continuing his impossible quest to find the ideal putter, and judging the effectiveness of the rainproof garments which make year-round golf possible in Scotland.

Eventually, just after 11.30 a.m., he settled on a pullover-style garment which proclaimed itself `Made in Scotland' and 'Guaranteed Weatherproof.

He had just paid for his purchase and stepped off the manufacturer's stand when he was hailed from the other side of the tent. 'Bob, hello!' He turned to see Henry Wills making his way through the crowd.

`Henry. What are you doing here? I thought that you were detecting this morning in New Register House.'

`Yes, I was. I made an early start, and I was completely successful.' Henry Wills, in a grey three-piece business suit, looked completely out of place among the garish colours which were normal dress in the big tent. 'I was looking for Miss Rose, but since you're here, I'll tell you all about it.'

Ski

Wills looked only slightly crestfallen. `Can you tell me where she is?'

The ACC glanced at his watch. `Probably well into the back nine by now. She's walking round with the Nakamura team.'

`Back nine? Nakamura? I'm terribly sorry, Bob, but all this is virgin territory to me. I know nothing about golf, I've never been to one of these events in my life before, and the only player I could name is Young Tom Morris, because I saw his grave once in St Andrews Cathedral and read his sad story. You couldn't just tell me a place where I might find Maggie?'

Ski

`Reginald!' Wills's start and his sudden shout, took Ski

The only familiar figures were Sandro Gregory and Darren Atkinson, twenty yards away and deep in conversation as they stepped down from the Shark's Fin golf equipment stand, to disappear among the throng.

`Bob, how rude of me to interrupt you,' said Wills. I'm terribly sorry; it's just that for a second I was certain that I saw an old student of mine across there. I must have been wrong though, he didn't react at all. It has been around fifteen years since I taught the chap. But I was so certain; it was just an instinctive thing. That's why I shouted; I couldn't help myself.'

Ski

Wills nodded. 'I suppose so. But come to think of it…' he raised a finger in an almost theatrical gesture… I recall now that he hated the name. It would a

`So, should you have called "Reg", or "Reggie"?'

`No, that wouldn't do either. He went by one of these awful modern pop-star corruptions, but it quite escapes me. I refused to use it, any more than I would have allowed anyone to call me

"Hank", or the like.

Anyway, back to Miss Rose. Be in the stand in around an hour, you say?'

`Yes. Wait for the first match coming in and look among the gallery. You should find her there.'

Wills looked perplexed once more. I'm sorry Bob, but which gallery is this? Is it beside the stand?'

Ski

Fifty-six

The third-day matches were going out in leader-board order, at half-hour intervals, and so it was 1 p.m. when Darren Atkinson led his team on to the first tee, before a gallery which had swelled into the thousands.

The day was as hot and humid as the morning had threatened, gasping for want of a breeze.

As Ski

Atkinson gri

You're not worried, are you?' asked Ski

`No. My game's in good nick, and the boy's too far back. Still he should be second. A tasty percentage for DRA Golf 'Management. My dear brother will be pleased with us both.

All I have to do now is to play the golf. Of course the same goes for you, with the amateur prizes to shoot for.'

Ski

`Yes, sir,' McGuire muttered. 'I don't see any cause for concern.'

`Neither did Bravo, or Masur, or White,' said Ski