Quintin Jardine: Skinner's ordeal

If you were, I'll take most of the blame. I set it all in motion. I overlooked something pretty obvious. Let's hold our horses, though. That's a coincidence, but it's no greater than your missile engineer in Cumbria having those materials in his workshop. We need a few more pieces in place before we get too ex-' He was interrupted by the harsh tone of his mobile phone. Martin, who was closer to it, reached across, picked it up from its charger and took the call.

`Yes?' he said cautiously. His tone changed at once. 'Of course, sir. Here he is.' He handed the instrument across the bed. 'It's the Secretary of State, calling from the Scottish Office,' he whispered.

`Thanks. Good evening, sir.' Skinner held the receiver to his ear, and listened for a few seconds. 'There's no doubt about that? You're one short?' He paused. 'Oh yes, sir, it's significant. Very significant. All I need now is one more fact to fit, and I think we might have the answer. Yes, I'll keep you in touch. Goodbye.'

He reached across and behind himself and dropped the phone back into its cradle. 'Another piece. Once we hear from our star witness, it could be that we'll have the whole bloody jigsaw. You did bring that tape recorder, didn't you?' Martin nodded, dipped a hand into his pocket, and produced a tiny electric notebook.

`Come on, Maggie, where are you?'

They had been sitting in virtual silence for five minutes, before the door opened and Maggie Rose's red head appeared. `Hello, boss,' she said, with a smile. 'I've brought that witness you asked to see. Come away in,' she said to a figure behind her as she threw the door wide.

Mark McGrath stepped into the room. He was wearing his Police Cadet cap.

`Hello, young man,' said Skinner. 'It's a bit strange seeing me here, isn't it?'

`Yes, Mr Bob. Are you all right now?'

I'm getting there, son, thanks very much. Andy, lift our guest up and let him sit on the bed.'

He pulled himself upright, adjusting the pillows at his back.

`Mark,' he began, 'your Auntie Alison told me, and I think I've probably heard for myself too, that you've got a terrific memory. You remember just about everything you see and hear.'

`That's right,' said the boy, puffing out his chest proudly.

`That's good, because we want you to do some remembering for us. I want you to talk into this wee tape recorder here, and tell us everything about the morning of the accident, from the moment that you and your daddy got ready to leave your house in London, to the moment that you got on the plane. Will you do that?'

The child nodded, solemnly. Martin switched on the recorder. 'Anytime you like, Mark.'

`We were at the flat in Dolphin Square,' he began. 'I had honey-coated Sugar Loops for breakfast. Mummy and Daddy had toast.'

`Can you remember what you all talked about?'

`Mummy and Daddy talked about her going to the dentist. She had lost a big filling the night before and had a 'mergency appointment in the morning. Daddy and I talked about Celtic. Then Victoria… she was Daddy's secretary… arrived, with the Red Box.' He gave the words great weight, as if he were pronouncing the capitals.

And after that?'

After that the buzzer rang. Victoria picked it up and said that it was the Government car to take us to the airport. Then she and Daddy and I all went downstairs. Only it wasn't..

‘Well, my friend,' said Skinner to Martin, as the door closed behind Maggie Rose and little Mark. 'In all my years I don't think I have ever heard a better or more reliable witness.

That's it. The whole story. Markie even gave us a motive, only thankfully he didn't realise what he was saying. There's a public meeting tonight, I believe, in the Assembly Hall at Stewart's — Melville. Our murderer will be there for sure, rather than at home. So, right away, send Mackie, McGuire and young Sammy to search those premises. They'll know what they're looking for.'

`What about a warrant?'

`They can call in on Sheriff Sinclair on the way there. He lives in Arboretum Road.

If he isn't at home…?'

`Then find him, Andy — him or any other bloody Sheriff. I want that place searched tonight, and if the troops uncover anything, I want to know right away. Once that's in motion you take Mcllhenney, and Adam Arrow, go along to Stewart's — Melville, and as soon as Leona's meeting is over, make the arrest. But take all precautions, and be very, very careful.

`From what we've heard today, and seen earlier, Marshall Elliot is a very dangerous man.'

‘You see, girls, it was the wrong box.' Skinner sat in an armchair in his room, playing happily with his gurgling son. 'We found Roly McGrath's Red Box at the crash scene in the Lammermuirs, and when we found what was left of the other one, we assumed that it must have been Colin Davey's. Only it wasn't.

I tell you, he's some chap, is wee Mark McGrath.' He lifted Jazz high above his head. 'I hope this one turns out like him. He's as bright as a button, and he has a tremendous memory for even the smallest detail. Listen to this.' He picked up Andy Martin's electric notebook, which was lying on the bed, and switched it on. Sarah and Alex sat in silence as the clear, piping voice rang out.

`… Only it wasn't the lady from the Government Car service. It was Uncle Marsh, with his big Rover 820 SDi.'

`That's very good, Mark, knowing the model,' said Skinner. I know the number too. L 511

QFT,' he recited. 'I always remember things like that.'

`You weren't expecting Uncle Marsh, then?' asked Martin.

`No. Daddy said to him, "What are you doing here?" and he said, "I was in London for a meeting at Central Office, so I thought I'd surprise you, and take you to the airport myself." He took the Red Box from Victoria and he put it in the boot of the Rover.

Victoria got in the car, in the back seat. Then he asked Daddy where Mummy was, and Daddy told him about her toothache.' The child interrupted his torrent of words to take a deep, gasping breath.

I was getting in the car when I heard him say something else to Daddy. He said, "You.. " He called Daddy a Bad Word. "You something. I know about you and Margie." That's my Auntie Margie,' he interposed confidentially. 'He said, "I know all about you two, you little something, and I'm going to finish you. It's not just that you had her," he said. What does that mean, Mr Bob?'

`Never mind, Mark. Just go on, exactly as you remember it.'

All right. Uncle Marsh said, "… but what you've done to her." He said that, then my Daddy pushed him away.'

`You're sure he said all that, Mark? You haven't made any of it up?'

I never make things up, Mr Bob. I just remember them.' The little voice sounded offended.

I'm sorry, Mark. Go on. What did Daddy say to Uncle Marsh?'

`He didn't say anything. He saw Mr Davey… he lives in Dolphin Square, too… and he shouted across to him. He was getting into his car. Daddy asked if he was going to Heathrow, and Mr Davey said he was. So Daddy said to him to send his car away, and come with us. Mr Davey said, "Are you sure you've got room?" and Daddy said, "Of course. Mark can sit on Victoria's knee. He'll like that." So Mr Davey and the other man came with us.'

Did the other man have a Red Box like Victoria's?'

`Yes, Uncle Marsh took it from him and put it in the boot with ours.'

`Who was in the front seat beside Uncle Marsh on the way to the airport?'

`Daddy was. He was the fattest.'

`Did they speak much?'

`Yes, but I couldn't hear what they were saying.'

`When you got to Heathrow what happened?'

`We were stuck in the traffic, so we were late. Mr Davey was getting angry, because he thought we would miss the plane. We got there in time, but we had to hurry. Uncle Marsh got the boxes from the boot and gave them to Victoria and the other man, and we all rushed away to check in.'