Doug Johnstone - Hit and run

‘Don’t you like me?’ she said.

‘I hardly know you.’

‘We got on well enough last time.’

‘I was interviewing you, it’s my job to be nice to interviewees.’

‘But you said yesterday you hadn’t come to interview me.’

‘That’s true.’

‘So we did get on?’

‘I thought so.’

She was focusing on the drinks, chopping a lime, pushing ice out of a tray.

She turned, handed him a drink and held his gaze.

‘You don’t seem very upset by your husband’s death,’ Billy said.

‘Let’s not talk about him.’

‘But I’m a crime reporter, that’s my job.’

‘You’re not here on official business, are you?’

‘Not if you don’t want me to be.’

‘I don’t.’ She raised her glass. ‘Now drink with me.’

They both took large slugs. Mostly gin, just a ghost of tonic.

Billy made a show of looking round. ‘Where is everyone?’

‘Magda has taken Ryan out for the day.’

‘Have you told him?’

Adele took a large drink. ‘I’ve tried. He doesn’t really get it. He’s more worried about Rebus, he misses that stupid dog like crazy.’

‘What about Dean? I get the impression he’s looking after you at the moment.’

‘He thinks he is.’

‘He’s been sticking to you pretty close. I’m surprised he let you out of his sight.’

‘Me too.’ Adele frowned. ‘He’s virtually moved in here. He seems to presume that because I was Frank’s wife, that somehow possession of me is just going to pass over to him or something.’

‘So where is he?’

‘He took off with his two stooges after the press conference. Said to wait here, not go out and not speak to anyone. Very charming. I have a feeling he’s about to stir up a lot of trouble.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘I think he’s looking for the Mackie boys. He believes they killed Frank.’

‘What’s he planning to do if he finds them?’

‘It won’t be pretty.’

‘Is he as nasty as he looks?’

‘Nastier.’ Adele touched her bruised eye.

‘He did that to you?’

She turned away. ‘Things are complicated.’

‘I don’t give a shit how complicated they are, it’s no excuse.’

‘It’s nice of you to care.’

She put her drink down on the worktop and moved closer to him, pressing against him. He could see her nipples through the blouse. She placed a hand lightly on his chest.

He heard a noise. Voices. Men’s voices. The sound of a key in a lock and the front door opening.

‘Dean, fuck.’ Adele was already pushing him towards the patio doors. ‘Get out.’ She pushed him through the doors and pulled them closed with a click.

The large spread of lawn seemed too exposed. He crouched against the back wall, breath hammering in his lungs, trying to calm down. He could hear conversation inside.

‘Where have you been?’ Adele sounded calm, annoyed almost.

‘Why, did you miss me, darling?’ Dean’s voice.

There was laughter — gruff, male. Dean’s goons.

‘Hardly. Just hope you didn’t get into any trouble.’

‘We’re not the ones in trouble, eh, lads?’

More laughter.

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘Nothing for you to worry your pretty head about. Just remember, me and the lads have been here with you the whole time since the press conference, OK? Understand? It’s important you don’t fuck this up.’

‘What did you do?’

‘Nothing, darling.’ Dean laughed. ‘I told you, we’ve been here all day.’

His voice receded as he left the kitchen. ‘Now, fetch me a beer, there’s a good girl.’

Billy launched into a crouching run, heading for the bottom of the garden, his heart thumping, not daring to look back.

His phone rang as he tried to keep his legs steady up Dalkeith Road. Charlie.

‘Hey, Bro, what are you up to?’

Billy glanced behind him at the Whitehouses’ back wall and The Crags’ car park. ‘Just walking.’

‘Does the name Jamie Mackie mean anything to you?’

‘One of the Mackie boys.’

‘Cunt’s just been hauled into A amp;E with suspected shotgun wounds. Looks like we’ve got ourselves a little vendetta going on.’

‘Christ.’

‘Exactly.’

‘How is he?’

‘Hard as fuck, by the looks. Took a hit to the leg and one to the arm, but has been sitting swearing his head off the whole time. He’ll be fine once he’s patched up.’

‘God.’

‘Might work out nicely for us, though.’

‘How do you figure that?’

‘Takes the heat off. Two big criminal gangs in the city taking potshots at each other. Tends to overshadow the original incident. Don’t you think?’

‘I can’t believe you’re talking like this.’

‘How should I be talking?’

‘You’re a cold bastard, Charlie.’

‘Cold doesn’t come into it. Just looking out for my little brother in his moment of need.’

‘Spare me.’

‘That’s what I’m trying to do. Spare you any more grief. Did you manage to get Rose to move you off the story?’

Billy thought about Adele’s hand on his chest. ‘Not exactly.’

‘Shame. Right, I’d better dash, lives to save and all that.’

Charlie ended the call. Billy stared at the phone in his hand. He flicked through the address book and called Rose.

‘Hey, Scoop. Thought I told you to get some rest.’

‘I’m fine.’

‘It doesn’t look too clever, my protege collapsing at a bloody police press conference.’

‘It was the heat. And the hangover.’ He forced a laugh. ‘I really want to get back to work.’

‘Well, I suppose you could cover something else. There’s a safe cycling initiative being launched in Granton later.’

‘Come on, Rose, don’t be stupid. This is my story, I got the interview with the widow.’

‘Haven’t been round there again recently, have you? Could do with another exclusive.’

Billy raised a hand and stroked the bump on his temple. ‘No, but I have got something for you.’

‘What?’

‘Jamie Mackie has just turned up in A amp;E with gunshot wounds to his leg and arm. Not sure if the police even know about it yet.’

Rose chuckled. ‘Holy shit, Scoop, why didn’t you lead with that? How do you know?’

‘My brother just called.’

‘Good God, you’re on fire at the moment.’

‘Thanks.’ Billy wondered where he was going with this, what he was doing. How long could it all go on? ‘So, what’s our next move?’

‘Come pick me up at the office.’ Rose sounded excited. ‘We’ve got a hospital to visit.’

‘Busy for a Tuesday lunchtime.’ Rose looked around.

Billy followed her gaze. It took a moment for his eyes to get accustomed to the gloom after the bright sunshine outside. A builder with his hand wrapped in a red towel. A gang of schemies, two of them flat out on chairs, seemingly unconscious. Several old people holding elbows or stroking knees, looking worried.

They waited a few minutes till the receptionist was distracted by an ambulance pulling up outside, then they walked through double doors into a long corridor with treatment tables, some cordoned off by white plastic curtains. Rose had an assertive swagger as she approached each occupied treatment area and peaked round the gaps in the curtains. Billy lagged behind, watching her in awe. She was so confident, so sure of herself. He couldn’t imagine ever being like that.

They were halfway down the corridor when Billy spotted his brother. Billy had never seen him at work. He actually wore a white doctor’s coat and had a stethoscope round his neck, like he was playing a dressing-up game.