Autographs In The Rain Part 60

'You're in luck, Bandit. She and I went to the same primary school in Motherwell; not only will I fix it, I won't even need to tell her that I got involved in your investigation after you threatened to lock up my secretary.'

Mackenzie sighed with relief. 'Thanks sir,' he exclaimed, 'I've been trying to imagine having to explain to my wife that I've wiped out our Christmas spending power by downloading p.o.r.no videos.'

'That's okay. I'll pull another string and have you set up with an untraceable AMEX account for the rest of it.'

'Ah,' said the inspector, 'I don't think I'm going to need much of it. This is where I get to the good news; I think I've got a result.'

Skinner, in his swivel chair, sat bolt upright. 'You've what? Son, I thoughtAUTOGRAPHS IN THE RAIN.

I'd probably sent you on the dirtiest wild goose chase of all time and you're telling me you've got something?'

'Yes sir.' The DCC could almost hear the young man beam. 'I found it on a website on your list called www dot mortestrellas dot ec.'

'Death Stars,' Skinner translated. 'What's the dot ec bit?'

'Ecuador, I think. The site narrative's in Spanish and English. It's desperate stuff, sir. A series of short videos of girls made up to look like pop stars being abused and then stabbed or strangled. There's an on-site disclaimer that says that all scenes of violence are simulated,' Mackenzie's voice grew grim. 'But they're not, sir, be sure they're not. l! 'Among these I found a series of videos offered for download, under the t.i.tle, Blue Star Falling, numbers one to six.

'So far, I've downloaded the first two. They're different, sir. The ...' he paused for a second, '... performers, are an old man and a young woman, both naked, and in action . . . her more than him, though. She's wearing a mask, but he isn't. The downloaded quality isn't all that great, and I've only seen old John McConnell once, on a mortuary slab after he'd been dead in his bath for a fortnight, but.. .'

'Good for you, Dave,' said Skinner. 'What are you going to do with it?'

'First off, sir, I want to show it to you. At some point I'm going to have to show it to Ruth to get an identification, and I'd like you to look at it first.'

'Charming. But I started you off on this, so I suppose that's only fair. I'll tell you what to do; download the rest, then link it all together. If you can transfer it to VCR then do it. If not, store it on Zip discs or whatever it takes and bring it through here. We can look at it with my technicians; I'll have them isolate an image of the old man and enhance it as far as they can.

We'll show that to Ruthie; nothing else.

Til get you a shot of the woman too. Mask or not, it might help.

'Come through here tomorrow morning, ten o'clock. We'll be ready; b.u.g.g.e.r jurisdiction now, Bandit. This investigation doesn't have any borders any more.'

He hung up. 'Would you credit that?' he said. 'The boy's got a result; he thinks he's found Ruthie's uncle starring in a South American p.o.r.no movie.'

'You rate that boy, don't you?' said Mcllhenney.

Skinner nodded. 'More highly with every encounter. He reminds me of a young bloke I knew once. He's got the gift.'

'What's that?'258.1.'Luck, and he pushes it.' He looked at his a.s.sistant. 'Lou's on a secure set tomorrow, yes?' Mcllhenney nodded.

'Come and meet him, once you've dropped her off. I don't relish watching what I think he's going to show us, so I wouldn't mind some company, Besides, another set of eyes might see something Mackenzie's and mine don't.'David Mackenzie leaned back in his chair and looked at Gwendoline Dell as she entered his office. 'Off the hook with the Super?' she asked.

'; He wiped his hand across his forehead in a mock gesture. Thank G.o.d,'

he said. 'Or thank Bob, at least.'

'Good for you. Now are you going to tell me what landed you in it in the first place, and what you've been doing all week while I've been running myself ragged trying to find John McConnell's grandfather clock, not to mention his girlfriend?'

'No,' the inspector replied, seriously. 'I won't expose you to it until I have to, and even then I'll think twice about it.'

's.e.xist pig!' she exclaimed. 'Don't you go treating me differently to a male officer.'

'Don't worry; I'm not. I wouldn't let anyone see this stuff unless it was absolutely necessary.' He swung his chair round to face the computer which sat on a table beside his desk. 'Now b.u.g.g.e.r off, Gwennie, and don't come in unless I call you.'

The sergeant turned and left, with a frown and a disdainful sniff.

Mackenzie pressed the start-up b.u.t.ton of the PC. He was waiting for it to boot up, when his phone rang. He picked it up. 'I thought I said no calls,'

he told the switchboard operator.

'This is one you said you would take, sir,' the man replied. 'Miss Mair.'

The inspector's eyebrows rose; he smiled. Tut her through.

'Miss Mair,' he said, heartily as the call was put through. 'Margaret.

What can I do for you?'

'Don't be familiar with me, young man. You can do nothing for me, I a.s.sure you. I, on the other hand

260.75.'What time do you have to be on set tomorrow?' Neil asked too casually.

'Why?' she smiled. 'Do you want rid of me, already?'

'Not for one second. But the boss has got someone coming to see him and he's asked me if I can sit in on the meeting.'

'In that case, my dear, you can drop me off any time you like.' Louise paused, as if she was considering something, touching her lips in one of the trademark gestures which were familiar to millions of movie fans around the world.

She caught him looking at her, and clenched her fist quickly. 'I can't stop doing that,' she said, 'not even on camera. Catherine the Great, one LA hooker, a lady brain surgeon, several stressed-out housewives and now a Scots criminal lawyer have all had that same mannerism.'

Til bet it suited them all too.'

'It looked pretty daft on Catherine the Great, I have to say. In this case, though, it was masking a brilliant idea. Do you think that the kids would like to come on set tomorrow? We're shooting the big surprise ending, but if we put them on Scouts' honour, or Guide's honour or whatever it is these days, I'm sure they'll keep the secret till the movie comes out.'

'Hey, could they do that? I've got this complicated arrangement for Spence, with the boss bringing him up town, and Mario ... That's my pal Mario McGuire. You haven't met him yet; he's head of Special Branch and his wife's a detective super... picking him up from Fettes and taking him to his mini-rugby at Murrayfield. But I'm sure that Lauren and Mark would love it. Wait a minute while I make a phone call.'

He went into the hall, returning a few minutes later. 'Sorted. Sarah will take them to Parliament House for ten o'clock, then she'll leave the two younger ones with Alex and go shopping. You are one popular lady right now, I'll tell you. Never mind the kids; the greatest gift you can give a mother with five youngsters on her hands is an afternoon of freedom in Jenner's and John Lewis.'As he looked at her, he saw a peculiar expression cross her face. 'What?'

he asked.

'Oh nothing. You just walked over my grave, that's all.' She tapped her chest. 'Once upon a time,' she said, 'one of my most secret dreams was to be able to take pleasure myself from a gift like that; to leave the kids with someone, indulge myself, then go home in the knowledge that they, and their dad, would be waiting for me.

'Long gone, that dream.'

He took her in his arms and held her close, rubbing his face in her hair.

There was much that he could have said to her, but not at that moment.

Eventually she looked up at him. 'What about Christmas?' she asked quietly.

'Yes. Come what may, suppose we catch this man tomorrow, the kids and I will come with you to Los Angeles. I'll book the flights tomorrow.'

'No,' she said firmly. Til book them.'

'Hey,' he protested. 'That isn't part of the deal.'

'Yes it is. It's my Christmas present to you. It's more than that, in fact; it's a very inadequate thank you for all you've done for me, for all you're doing, for all you're giving me. So please me by saying not another word about the subject.' She stopped his reply with a kiss.