Autographs In The Rain Part 64

'What should you be sorry for?' he asked her gently, stroking her hair.

'For what my sister's done, for what I made do. For what she did to your daughter.'

'Shh, love. Lauren's seen worse than that in her short life. For one thing, she's seen her mother die. You have nothing to reproach yourself for, and don't ever let me hear you do it again.'

She looked up at him, tear-stained. 'I love you. D'you know that?'

He hugged her. 'I was hoping

'What's going to happen to her, Neil? What if I don't press charges?'

'Those are the least of them, honey,' he said, sadly but truthfully. 'Even if you don't, Lucy still has to answer to Ruth for the awful things she did to John McConnell. She still has to answer to Glenys for Clarence Sparrow.'

'But she's crazy. She must be.'

'There's crazy and there's crazy. The law has its own definition.' He paused, looking for and finding a handkerchief to dry her tears.

276.

AUTOGRAPHS IN THE RAIN.'Listen,' he murmured thoughtfully. 'Maybe I shouldn't tell you this but the boss would do the same if he was here.

'There's a guy called Kevin O'Malley; he's a psychiatrist. Call him tonight and put him on a retainer; it will be better for Lucy if he's on her

team.

'He's the best, and if he says that she is unfit to plead, or was suffering from diminished responsibility at the time the crimes were committed, the Crown is not likely to argue with him. If he wasn't working for you, he'd probably be on their team, telling them the same thing, but best to be sure.

'Whatever happens, Lucy's going away, love. It's a matter of where and for how long, that's all.'

He heard a diplomatic cough from the doorway, and swivelled round to see Bob Skinner, returned, standing behind them.

'I heard that advice, Inspector,' he said. 'You were dead right. So right in fact that I've already phoned O'Malley.

'Tell me something, Lou,' he asked. 'Have you got any of your own money in this production?'

'Not likely,' she retorted. 'I'm Scottish, remember. Anyway, if they've got me, they don't need my money. Why d'you ask?'

'Because the production's going to be on hold for a long time. It'll take them about three years to mend that broken window next door.'79.Bob Skinner was late for work on the following Monday morning. It was one of those rare days on which he felt slightly fragile, after the short notice dinner party which he and Sarah had thrown the night before for Neil and Louise, and Andy and Karen Martin.

He had just settled in behind his desk when his internal telephone rang.

'Come in and see me for a minute,' the Chief Constable asked. 'Unusual,' he thought as he crossed the hall. 'Why the summons?'

Proud Jimmy looked at him quizzically as he entered his office. 'Coffee?'

he invited.

'No thanks. I've got one across the hall.'

'Ah fine. Have you managed to mollify your pal the Lord President of the Court of Session?'

'Just about,' Bob replied. 'I spoke to him on Sat.u.r.day night. He's a bit upset about the mess in his Great Hall, but he's pleased that everyone walked away from it afterwards. The guy who's really p.i.s.sed off though is Warren Judd, the producer. He's having a h.e.l.l of a time persuading his insurance company to cough up for the reinstatement of the window. They seem to think that he should have been able to prevent anyone bringing live rounds on to his set.

'He's asked me to put in a word for him.'

'And will you?'

'Not for him, the little s.h.i.+t. I will for the window, though. It's a national treasure and it must be restored.'

'What news of the girl?'

'O'Malley needs more time with her, but provisionally reckons that the Crown will accept that she had diminished responsibility at the time of the offences. They'll take pleas on two charges of culpable homicide, and she'll go to hospital for however long it takes ... which as you and I both know, could be for ever.

'That'll not be the case with Dan Pringle's job, though. Three of them

278.AUTOGRAPHS IN THE RAIN.are going down for life for that girl's murder, and one for the attempted murder of McGurk as well, even though he didn't fire the shot.'

'How is the sergeant?'

'He's got a sore ear, but a change of underpants and the rest of the month off with his wife and kid should see him all right.'

Skinner frowned. 'What did you want me for anyway?' he asked. 'Or

was that it?'

'No,' said Proud Jimmy. 'I thought you'd like to see this.' He handed him a sheet of paper. 'The Scottish Executive Information Directorate are releasing it at midday. Take it away with you and read it over your coffee.'

Skinner nodded and left the Chief's room, walking back to his own.

Settled behind his desk he picked up his mug and read the note.

When he had finished, he began to laugh... and laugh... and laugh. He laughed so loudly that eventually his door opened, as Neil Mcllhenney and Ruth McConnell came unbidden to investigate.

'Read that,' he said, choking as he pa.s.sed the paper to the inspector.

Mcllhenney frowned, then did as he was told.

'Press release,' he began.

'EM Chief Inspector of Constabulary announced today that a.s.sistant Chief Constable Theodore Chase, of Edinburgh, has been appointed an a.s.sistant Inspector in his office, with immediate effect.

'Announcing the appointment, HMCIC Sir Ross Montgomerie said, "Although he has been in Scotland for only a short time, Mr Chase has impressed me greatly with his dedication to his duties and with his appreciation of the traditional values of police work. He is a fine addition to my team."

'Is this for real?'

Skinner nodded, still almost speechless. 'What an operator!' he said at last.

'Who?' asked Mcllhenney. 'Chase?'

'No, you daft b.u.g.g.e.r! The Chief! How I would love to know what the h.e.l.l he's got on Montgomerie to have managed to pull this one off.' He shook his head. 'What an operator!

'Oh, Neil,' he called out, his composure restored as his two a.s.sistants left. 'Ask Inspector Good to look in on me, will you, please.'I.80.The great bell rang midnight, amplified by loudspeakers all along Princes Street. 'Happy New Millennium,' saidNeil. 'Last year was only a rehearsal, you appreciate.' He kissed her, long and sweet, then kissed his daughter, and shook hands formally with his son. Above their heads fireworks exploded and cascaded from the Castle Rock.