Ian Rankin - The Complaints

‘I don’t see your car,’ he commented.

‘I left it round the corner,’ Cartwright explained. ‘Didn’t want anyone seeing it here.’

‘Probably wise.’ Fox glanced up from his reading.

She was checking her watch. ‘I’ve got to get back. Doesn’t normally take me this long to buy a sandwich.’

‘Thanks for all this,’ Fox said.

‘I just hope it helps.’ She slung her bag over her shoulder. Jamie had already left the room and opened the front door for her. Fox couldn’t make out what was said, but he heard a final wet-sounding kiss before the door closed. Breck came back into the room and watched her from the window.

‘She’s too good for you,’ Fox told him.

‘Don’t I know it.’ Breck turned and came back to his chair.

‘She’d stand by you, I’m sure of it,’ Fox went on. ‘If you told her, I mean. She wouldn’t believe any of it.’

‘I’ll do it in my own time, if that’s all right with you, Inspector.’ Fox took the hint and held up his hands in surrender. Breck rubbed his own hands together.

‘So,’ he said, perching himself on the arm of the chair, ‘what have we got exactly?’

‘Your guess is as good as mine.’ Fox paused. ‘Have you contacted your credit card company about that debit?’

Breck stared at him. ‘What makes you ask all of a sudden?’

‘Just popped into my head.’

‘I’ve been on to them. The payment to SEIL was an online transaction, so there’s not much they can say.’

‘Anyone with your card details could have done it?’

‘As long as they knew the security number, plus maybe my address and postcode.’

‘So we’re not really any further forward?’

‘I can’t prove it wasn’t me, if that’s what you’re suggesting.’ Breck got to his feet again. ‘Still got a nagging doubt, Malcolm?’

‘No.’

‘Try to sound a bit more convincing.’

Before he could answer, Fox’s phone rang. It was Annie Inglis. ‘Hey, Annie,’ Fox said, ‘what can I do for you?’

‘Nothing really.’

Breck had gestured that he would leave the room. Without waiting, he was already on his way. Fox leaned back in his chair with the phone to his ear, then recoiled in pain. His back throbbed a fresh complaint.

‘How are things at the Chop Shop?’ he asked through gritted teeth. ‘Have they given you a replacement for Gilchrist yet?’

‘Still working solo.’

‘That can’t be good.’

‘It’s not.’

‘How’s Duncan?’

‘He’s fine. How about you, Malcolm?’

‘I’ve got my feet up.’

‘Really?’

‘Well, sort of.’ He listened to her laugh.

‘How soon will you be back at work?’

‘That’s up to Grampian.’

‘I’ve met DI Stoddart. She seems very… efficient.’

‘Was she asking you about me?’

‘Just in passing.’

‘I was supposed to come in today for another session on the rack.’

‘So she said.’

‘I told her I was ill.’

‘But you’re all right really?’

‘Actually, I’ve got a few aches and pains.’

‘This time of year, who hasn’t?’

‘A bit more sympathy wouldn’t go amiss.’

She laughed again. ‘Do you want me to drop by after work? Bring you some grapes and Lucozade?’

Fox was touching his fingers to his bruised and battered face. ‘It’s a tempting offer, but no thanks.’

‘Don’t say I didn’t ask.’

‘I’ll be fine in a few days, Annie. Listen, there’s something I wanted to ask you. A while back, you warned me that the Australian police were getting ready to pounce on Simeon Latham. When I talked to Gilchrist about it, he said much the same.’

‘Yes?’

‘Well, the cop you put me on to in Melbourne seems to have other ideas.’

‘You know I can’t talk about this, Malcolm.’ Inglis’s voice had hardened.

‘I’m just wondering who it is that’s lying to me, Annie.’ Breck had stuck his head round the door and was indicating that he was about to leave. Fox shook his head and listened as a beep in his ear told him Inglis had hung up. He snapped shut the device and waved Breck back into the room.

‘DI Stoddart,’ he said, ‘has been pumping Annie Inglis for information. ’

‘She’s thorough, if nothing else,’ Breck commented.

Fox was thoughtful as he let his fingers drift across his swollen cheek. ‘You shouldn’t be part of this, Jamie. What you should be doing is clearing your name.’

‘And how do I do that without them realising you must have tipped me off?’ Breck shook his head slowly. ‘Got to clear your name before I can clear mine – so what’s next on the day’s agenda?’

Fox looked at the front of his phone – three o’clock had come and gone. ‘Lunch?’ he suggested.

‘Another supermarket run?’ Breck guessed. Fox nodded, reaching into his pocket for money.

‘My shout,’ he said. ‘You paid for breakfast…’

Breck took the ten-pound note but stood his ground. ‘And after?’

‘Dundee’s an option – but again, it’s something I can do for myself. ’

Breck pointed at Fox’s face. ‘I’ve seen the results of your solo efforts. So you won’t mind if I tag along?’

After Breck had gone, Fox rose to his feet and walked to the window. He stared out at the street, his mind dazed. Then he went to the kitchen and helped himself to more painkillers. Annabel’s glass was waiting to be washed. There was a pale smear of pink lipstick on the rim. Was her boyfriend too good to be true? Then again, was she? Could she be feeding titbits back to the inquiry? Handing Malcolm Fox to Billy Giles on the understanding that Giles would then go easy on her lover? The list of people Fox felt he could trust was short, its margins filled with ifs and buts and question marks.

Back at the coffee table, he picked up a sheaf of photocopied sheets – the transcript of the cabbie’s interview. It struck him that Vince might have had good reason for hesitating before leaving the taxi. He’d been agitated. He had a location in mind but showed some reluctance. At Marooned he’d tried picking a fight, then at the bus stop there had been a second confrontation. The doormen at the Oliver shouldn’t have let him in, but did. Why was that? Jamie Breck had said that Joanna Broughton didn’t want the place getting a reputation, yet Vince Faulkner was allowed to drink himself into a near-stupor. Two to three hours he’d been there… When Vince’s body had been found, he’d had only a few notes and coins in his pockets. Had he gone to the Cowgate to borrow money, or because he’d suddenly come into some?

Sifting through all the material, it struck Fox that here was another huge favour Annabel Cartwright had done him, without even really knowing him. She was helping because he was Jamie’s friend…

‘I trust you, Annabel,’ he said to himself. Then, after a moment: ‘Okay, maybe eighty per cent.’

He was back in the kitchen, pouring more tap water into his glass, when he realised his old mobile was ringing and headed through to the living room to find it. But whoever was calling gave up before he got there. Fox checked the number – another mobile – and called back.

‘I just missed you,’ he said when the phone was picked up at the other end.

‘It’s Max Dearborn.’

‘How are things with you, Max?’

‘Nose to the grindstone.’

‘Any sign of the errant developer?’

‘No.’

‘But that’s what he’s become, right? Errant rather than deceased?’

‘It’s one possibility among many.’

‘I can only think of five, Max. He’s dead and it was an accident; or he topped himself; or someone took care of him.’

‘That’s three…’