Quintin Jardine: Skinner's ghosts

'As for an injunction, I'm afraid that we just don't have time to injunct successful y. By the time we had drafted it, and rounded up a judge, the article would be in the hands of the broadcast media, and I suspect in the hands of the Spotlights sister publications.'

Skinner growled. 'You mean there are more of these damn things?'

'Oh yes. This isn't the first time I've had to deal with this magazine on behalf of angry clients. There's an American version, one in Australasia, and issues in French, German, Spanish and Japanese.

The chain is US-owned, and each version is marketed purely through supermarkets, at checkouts and at in-house newsstands.'

'Okay, if we can't stop them, can we sue the bastards?'

On the other end of the line, he heard Laidlaw take a deep breath.

'Can I ask a very delicate question, Bob?'

'If you have to.'

'I do. Are you completely confident of Miss Masters' integrity?'

'One hundred per cent,' the policeman replied without hesitation.

'Good. In that case, I'd say that she has a very strong case in an action for defamation. The paper implies beyond challenge that her relationship with you is motivated by a hope of personal advantage.

Tell me Bob, what was the sequence of events here? How did the relationship – which Alex says you don't deny – how did it develop?'

Skinner reflected for a few moments. 'Let's see. The first time I ever met Pam was when I chaired a promotion board for prospective sergeants. It was a twenty-minute interview and she passed unanimously.

'A few months later, my Executive Assistant was promoted and I was looking for a successor. I remembered Pam, interviewed her and gave her the job. My marriage was in trouble before that. In fact her appointment virtual y coincided with my moving out.

'We worked together well and amicably for a while. We had a few late shifts, which led to a few meals together. I realised early on that I was attracted to her, but our physical relationship didn't develop until after Sarah had taken our son to the States. We spent two nights under the same roof, once at her place when I was snowed in, and once in Gul ane. But we didn't actual y sleep together until my separation from Sarah had been legal y recognised. I can give you dates later, Mitch, but that's the sequence of events.'

'That's good,' said the lawyer. 'Now what about Miss Masters' post as your assistant?'

'As soon as I saw how things would develop, I moved her out of my office. I transferred her to Andy Martin's personal staff, and took Sergeant Neil Mcllhenney as her replacement.'

'Ah!' said Laidlaw. 'So because you and she were entering a physical relationship, Miss Masters actually lost her important, fast-track job as your Executive Officer?'

'Absolutely.'

'Then al she has to do to pursue a defamation action is to decide on the quantum of the claim. That is, how much the accusation that she was prepared to sell herself for advancement is worth to her, or 38 at least how much a court is likely to think it worth.'

'What do you think?'

'Hmm.' Mitch Laidlaw contemplated. 'She has good career prospects, yes?'

'Yes. She was a late entrant, but she can expect to make Chief Inspector, as a minimum.'

'Well in that case, I think they'd settle out of court for at least a hundred and fifty thou. Maybe two hundred. Plus costs, of course.'

The solicitor paused again. 'She'll need to instruct me personally if she wants to proceed, but that can be done tomorrow.

'Now. About your own case. That's not so clear-cut, I'm afraid.'

'Why not?' Skinner protested.

'For a couple of reasons. First, you are a very senior officer. Even if Miss Masters sues successful y, the defence against an action by you could be that you used your position, a glamorous and powerful position, to turn the lady's head, or to pul her, if you want a Thursday-night term. Second, you may be separated legal y, but you are stil married.'

'Hold on, Mitch,' Skinner protested. 'The article says that Sarah went to the States on holiday and that I've been having it off behind her back.'

'No, Bob. You read it that way, but it didn't actual y say so. The phrase used was "staying in the US with her parents". In any event, their defence would be that an action for adultery would succeed, and if one was lodged and decree granted before your case reached the Court of Session we wouldn't have a chance.

'To sum up, if you instruct me I'll lodge a writ for defamation on Monday, but with no great expectation of success. In that case, any short-term benefit which may accrue to you would be lost when you were forced to drop your action and meet defence costs.'

The big policeman sighed. 'So what do you recommend?'

'I wil issue a statement on your behalf, saying that your relationship with Miss Masters is private and personal, with no professional overtones, and that it began after you and your wife entered a formal separation agreement. I wil say also that I have advised you of the potential for an action for defamation, and that you wil consult with me on Monday to determine the course of proceedings.

'That'l put the Spotlight thing into some sort of perspective, and it'll make the rest of the media think carefully about carrying on the story.'

Skinner grunted agreement. 'Okay. I know I couldn't be in better hands, Mitch. So you do as you advise. How wil you go about it?'

'I'll give the statement to our marketing officer, and tell her to issue it in an hour. We'l say that you have nothing to add to the statement, but you'd better make sure anyway that your force press 39 people are briefed to refer to us all callers who come on looking for you or Pamela. If Alex has my home number, she'll have the marketing lady's as well.'

'Okay,' said Skinner. 'I'll alert everyone. Look, thanks again Mitch.

We'l speak on Monday.'

'Earlier if necessary,' said Laidlaw. 'Incidentally, Bob,' he added.

'I'm very impressed with that daughter of yours. We haven't allocated her to a department as yet, so I think I'll take her into mine.'

Skinner smiled across at Alex, who stood by the window, watching him. 'Be careful about that, mate. She could wind up ruling your life too.'

'My goodness, Bob, what a position to find yourself in. Mind you, I have to say – as I'm sure no-one else will have – that you've only got yourself to blame.'

'What for. Jimmy? Not pul ing the bedroom curtains?'

Skinner and the Chief Constable were alone in the Proud sitting room. Lady Proud, at her husband's suggestion, had taken Alan Royston to the kitchen, to make coffee. The DCC had watched his commander's face grow increasingly red as he had studied the Spotlight exclusive.

'Don't be flip with me, man. You have to know that public figures are always in the spotlight… no pun intended.'

The big detective growled. 'But not to that extent, surely.'

'Obviously they are, Bob,' said the Chief, waving the newspaper.

'Much as I regret it, this sort of media behaviour is still legal in this, and in most free countries. However much I might deprecate this man Salmon and his rag, you were there for him to see, and to photograph.

'I have nothing against Sergeant Masters, Bob, but I am very fond of Sarah, as you know, and I am heart sorry to think of her on the other end of this situation.'

'So am I, Jimmy, but at least I've got time to warn her.'

'Confession rather than warning, I think,' said Proud, sadly now.

'Tell me, Bob, why? What did you see in this lass?'

Skinner sat in one of the Chief's big armchairs. 'Have you ever been lonely, Jimmy?' he asked, then continued, without waiting for an answer. 'Well I have. For about fifteen years, after Myra was killed, I had this big, cold streak inside me. I brought up my daughter, I did my job as hard and as best I could, I socialised with the lads. But always it was there – that big, cold lump that set me apart from the rest.