Craig Robertson - Snapshot

‘Funny, funny. Why don’t you do something useful for a change, wee man?’

Addison lowered his voice.

‘Go and see if you can smuggle me in a can or two of Guinness? Purely medicinal, you understand. And how about getting me some proper food, maybe a cheeseburger and fries? I’m starving.’

‘Addy, you’re always fucking starving.’

The sound of the October rain lashing against the window just made it all the better to be inside. Rachel was standing by the window with one of Tony’s shirts on, watching the cars go by on Highburgh Road down below. Winter was lying naked on the bed looking at her, in no doubt that he was the one with the better view.

He stole quietly from the bed and padded over, hoping to sneak up behind her but, ever the detective, she saw him coming in the reflection of the window.

‘Hey, you,’ she smiled at the glass.

‘Hey.’

He snuggled in behind her, pressing himself against her and letting his lips fall onto her neck. She purred appreciatively and thrust back against him. He reached round with both hands and fondled her through the shirt.

‘Hey,’ she said again. ‘Who said you could do that?’

‘It’s my shirt, remember.’

‘That’s a very good point. Carry on.’

Winter didn’t need to be asked twice, squeezing at her, running her nipples between his fingers and gently biting at her neck. He was rising to meet her and she was beginning to moan. Then suddenly the name came from the television and they both froze. Winter tried to pretend he hadn’t heard it but she eased herself out and away from his grasp.

‘Leave it,’ he urged her.

‘No. I want to hear this.’

She pulled his shirt over her head once she was away from the window and threw it aside, sprawling out on the bed to watch the news. He sat down behind her, no less interested in what was happening.

‘… a spokesman for the Crown Office said that Detective Sergeant Monteith has been charged with thirteen counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder. He has also been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice and unlawful possession of a firearm.

‘The Crown Office spokesman listed each charge individually. They were namely the murders of Cairns Caldwell, Malcolm Quinn, Steven Strathie, Mark Sturrock, Alasdair Turnbull, James Adamson, Andrew Haddow, Inspector Graeme Forrest, Detective Sergeant Jan McConachie, George Faichney, Benjamin Honeyman, Harvey Houston and Jacob Arnold. The attempted murders were of John Johnstone, Detective Inspector Derek Addison and civilian worker Anthony Winter.

‘The Crown intimated that it intends to offer both witness testimony and video evidence to prove that Detective Sergeant Monteith carried out the killings. The case attracted global publicity and it is thought that media from many countries will attend the trial which is expected to last several months.’

‘That’s what they think,’ murmured Rachel.

‘He’s definitely going to plead guilty then?’ Winter asked.

‘So he says. And there’s no reason not to believe him. He’s adamant that’s what he’ll do and he’d gain nothing by changing his mind at the last minute to throw the prosecution. He’s bang to rights and he knows it.’

‘And he’ll cough to the lot of them?’

‘Yep. He’s a mad bastard but he’s sane enough to know that he’s as well being hung for a sheep as a lamb. And he still thinks that he should be getting some kind of reward for getting the scum off the street. He wants every bit of credit that’s going.’

‘That’s just so wrong.’

‘Is it? Maybe it suits everybody.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘It doesn’t matter.’

‘Of course it does. After all this shit, everything matters.’

The news presenter broke into the conversation again when he mentioned the name Chief Superintendent Alex Shirley.

‘… of Strathclyde Police said that his force was fully satisfied with its performance during a “difficult and extremely complex” case.’

The camera cut to Shirley looking suitably grave.

‘This has been a very trying time for Strathclyde Police and for the city of Glasgow,’ he said to camera. ‘Given legal constraints, I am clearly limited as to what I can say on this matter at the current time, however I will say that it is with deep regret and personal sadness that I learn of the confirmation that a serving member of this police force has been charged in connection with this series of killings.

‘Strathclyde Police pursued this case diligently and vigorously. If we had known that it was one of our own that was involved then we would have been no less conscientious in doing so. It was not until after the shooting of John Johnstone that, through good old-fashioned police work, we began to suspect DS Monteith’s involvement. Until that point, we were keeping all our options open.’

Winter turned Rachel round so he could see her face.

‘What the fuck? He’s talking bollocks.’

‘Maybe. He’s smart enough not to say anything that could come back to bite him on the arse later. He’s worded that very carefully and the truth’s probably in what he’s not saying.’

‘Such as?’

She pulled her bottom lip over her top one and shrugged.

‘McKendrick? He knew?’ Winter asked her.

Rachel shrugged again.

‘I don’t know for sure. He’s hardly going to let me in on it, is he?’

I’m surprised you’re letting me in on it, Winter thought to himself.

‘But you think he did? Or might have?’

‘Might have,’ she nodded. ‘The look on his face when I told him it was Monteith wasn’t just someone who was surprised. It was way more than that. And it wasn’t just someone who thought he’d get his bollocks fried because one of his officers had done what Monteith did. He thought I was wrong and wanted to tell me why but he couldn’t. He’d thought it was someone else. I’m guessing he’d thought it was McKendrick.’

‘But how could he have known?’

‘Christ, any number of ways. No offence, Tony, but you found out so it should hardly be beyond the bounds of possibility that a detective super could do the same. Even if he hadn’t found out on his own.’

‘Fucksake.’

‘Couldn’t have put it better myself.’

‘So the obvious question is that if he’d thought it was McKendrick

…’

‘Then the obvious answer…’

‘Is that he was singing from the same hymn sheet as Monteith.’

‘Except that he just hummed the tune and didn’t go on to actually kill anyone.’

‘He might as well have done.’

‘But he didn’t,’ she said flatly. ‘And the media and the streets are full of people who think that Monteith didn’t do the worst thing in the world. They think that the people he killed did far worse. My guess is that he will be out in ten years. Probably less.’

Before Winter could answer, the news programme butted in again.

‘And in other news, the funeral took place today of a Scots naval officer who displayed what has been described as “outstanding bravery in defence of his country”.’

‘Leading Hand Ryan McKendrick from Dennistoun in Glasgow was cremated in a ceremony accompanied with full military honours.

‘A lone piper played the lament “Flowers of the Forest” and naval colleagues formed a guard of honour as his coffin was carried into Our Lady of Good Council, and then on to Lambhill Crematorium.

‘Lieutenant Commander David Wallace told the congregation that they had lost a brave and determined young man who had suffered personal family loss but found the strength to act in the interests of others. He said that he could not give precise details of LH McKendrick’s actions for reasons of ongoing national security but said that his family and friends could be assured that he had shown conspicuous courage and decisiveness and was a shining example to other young men and women.