The Dark Isle Page 7

  Dani leant down and brushed her lips across his. “Why the hell not? It’s rather nice to be wanted.” She sighed, “I expect Carol feels the same, though. I don’t know when I’ll be able to return Andy to her.”

  “And Alice has Fergus now, don’t forget. Your team are becoming increasingly domesticated.”

  Dani smiled. “Alice isn’t the domesticated type.”

  James shrugged. “You never quite know. People change.”

  Dani became thoughtful. “I wonder if Juliet can have changed as much as she appeared to. The DI Lowther I knew was a workaholic who abused her body with alcohol and nicotine. She liked expensive cars and gourmet meals. The Juliet Lowther we found dead on Ghiant was a fitness freak; a born-again Christian who lived the kind of frugal life a nun would be proud of.”

  James shifted around in his seat. “You and Phil were convinced it was the bus bombing that changed your old DI. But she was still living that same lifestyle in Glasgow for several years afterwards. Perhaps it was something else that changed things for her. Perhaps she was forced to alter her lifestyle because of a physical illness. That can give folk a wake-up call.”

  Dani dropped into the seat beside him. She knew her boyfriend was speaking from experience. His mum’s cancer diagnosis and treatment had shaken the whole Irving clan. “Juliet’s PM and medical records indicated no serious health complaints. If she hadn’t been savagely stabbed to death, Juliet would have lived on for decades.”

  “Then maybe it was the ill-health of somebody else she knew that caused the shift in lifestyle. When you see a person you love suffer, it can affect you deeply.”

  Dani furrowed her brow. “Juliet’s mother died not long after she’d left the force. Perhaps it had something to do with that. I don’t think there was anyone else in her life that Juliet ever really cared for.”

  “Then take a closer look at her mother’s death. It might provide you with some more background info, at least.”

  Dani hugged her coffee cup. “Yeah, I’ll do that. Because whatever caused Juliet’s change of heart, I’m convinced it holds the key to why she was killed.”

  Chapter 15

  Andy glanced around the hallway of the Celtic Thistle Bed and Breakfast. The décor was as twee as the name of the establishment. The thick carpet was patterned with a purple tartan from no identifiable clan. Amateur framed watercolours of stags in various poses lined the walls.

  A lady with a chintzy apron tied around her middle stepped out of a side room. She had a guest book lying open in her hands.

  “Mrs and Mrs Hutchison checked out two days ago, Detective Sergeant. They informed me over breakfast that morning. Their next destination was Rum. Bill was planning to do the Cuillin Ridge walk whilst Joy explored Kinloch Castle.”

  Andy nodded. At least the couple’s story didn’t vary too wildly from his own. “And they left with all their luggage?”

  “Of course,” the landlady answered indignantly. “I would have contacted them immediately if they’d left anything behind. I took their mobile phone number, just in case.”

  Andy knew that was useless. It’d been switched off since their voyage to Ghiant. “Did you see them when they departed the premises?”

  She crinkled her brow. “Well, they settled the bill after breakfast, but I don’t believe they actually left for another couple of hours.” She turned her head in the direction of the rooms that lay at the rear of the ground floor. “Alec!” She boomed. “Can you come here a minute?!”

  A small man with a wide stomach and thinning hair shuffled along the corridor, a newspaper clutched in his hands. “What’s the to-do?”

  “This is a detective, Alec. He wants to know if we saw the Hutchisons before they left on Wednesday.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “Marie was cleaning the rooms. I saw the couple out. Is there a problem?”

  Andy shook his head affably. “Not at all, sir. We just need to verify the Hutchisons’ whereabouts. They aren’t in any trouble, but the couple were present on the island when the body was discovered. They were interviewed as witnesses. We really need to keep tabs on their movements.”

  The man raised his eyebrows. “Well, if you believe that harmless pair had anything to do with a murder, I don’t have much faith in your investigation.”

  “No, they aren’t suspects. This is purely routine.”

  He scratched his blotchy scalp. “They were damned fit for their age, I’ll say that much. They both headed out in full walking gear. Bill had the type of backpack on that you’d only need if you were going to be living out in the wilderness for a fortnight.” He chuckled heartily. “Ah, well, I suppose it pays to be prepared. We’re always complaining about tourists who climb the hills without the correct equipment. It could hardly be said about them.”

  Andy felt his suspicions were being verified. Bill and Joy had planned their disappearing act. He was just a pawn in their game, whatever the hell that was. “Thank you for your assistance. I think we can assume that wherever they are, the Hutchisons will certainly be able to look after themselves.”

  The landlady frowned. “Oh, I’m not so sure, Sergeant. Bill was hearty enough, but his wife was a wee waif of a thing. I hope he wasn’t being overly ambitious for them both with his plans.”

  Andy sighed deeply. “I really hope so too.”

  *

  The temporary incident room was full of activity. Andy slipped back into the town hall, confident that his absence hadn’t been conspicuous. He sidled up to Alice, who was peering intently at the screen of her laptop.

  “Highlands and Islands have located the car.”

  Andy dropped into the seat beside her. “Fantastic. Where was it?”

  “In a long stay car park in Mallaig. It’s one that folk use if they’re boarding a ferry on foot. It’s cheaper than the parking facilities at the terminal. It’s privately owned and at this time of the year, they never send inspectors out to check it.”

  “Lowther’s car sat there unnoticed for over a week?”

  “It seems so. The techs have taken the vehicle to Fort William. They’ll be all over it, looking for forensic traces.”

  “Any CCTV in the car park?”

  Alice shook her head. “Nope. It’s just a piece of wasteland that some local businessman makes a nice few bob out of come the summer months. He never bothered putting in cameras. Punters definitely park there at their own risk.”

  “Maybe Lowther knew the place was lax on security. It’s a smart location to choose if you want to avoid detection.”

  Alice twisted round. “Do you think she met somebody there?”

  “I’d bet money on it.”

  “Her killer?”

  Andy shrugged. “Any record of her taking a ferry out of Mallaig?”

  Alice shifted her screen so her colleague could get a clear view. “I’m checking the manifests now. Unless she used a false name, it doesn’t look like it.”

  “If she did get on a ferry, using a fake ID, Lowther would be sailing to Armadale, right?”

  “And once on Skye, she could reach any of the Small Isles – Rum, Eigg, Canna or Nabb.”

  “But what if she never got on the ferry boat? The other possibility is that she met someone in that car-park and left with them in an alternative vehicle.”

  Alice tossed her pen on the desk in frustration. “If she did switch cars, we’ve no way of finding out where they headed next.”

  “We might still find witnesses. We’re only talking about a few days ago. Mallaig is a small place.”

  Alice tried to look positive. “Aye, you’re right. And the forensics on the car might provide us with a suspect at last.”

  Andy made encouraging noises. But privately he was feeling less optimistic. Juliet Lowther knew about forensic evidence and CCTV cameras. She was an ex-cop, and a high-ranking one at that. She’d kept a vehicle at a secret location for years. Lowther avoided routes with ANPR cameras whenever possible. She minimised the risks of her trips. If the woman
was meeting people she didn’t want anyone to know about, there was no way that Lowther would have let them anywhere near the inside of her motor.

  Chapter 16

  The rain had come on heavily as Dani entered the lobby of the Clyde View Rest Home in Dumbarton. A wall of heat hit her as she approached the reception desk, along with the smell of cleaning fluid and roast dinners.

  She held up her warrant card. The young woman behind the desk nodded and picked up the phone on her desk. Within minutes, a middle-aged man in a suit emerged from a back office and approached the DCI with a wide smile.

  “DCI Bevan, my name is Mike Dunnett, I’m the manager here. Would you like to speak in my office?”

  Dani followed him into a spacious room with windows overlooking a landscaped garden.

  “Now, it was Mrs Lowther that you were interested in?”

  “That’s right. Her daughter was a police officer and her death is currently under investigation. I understand that Juliet Lowther visited her mother here regularly?”

  Dunnett nodded. “Neris Lowther joined us in the summer of 2009. Physically, she was very active, but her dementia was in its early stages. Juliet felt it was safer for her to be here rather than at home alone.”

  “Could you describe Mrs Lowther’s condition for me, please?”

  Dunnett made a steeple out of his hands. “I’ve got her medical notes here. Neris was quite lucid for a couple of years. She made solid friendships with other residents and took part in a variety of our activities. It was in 2012 that her condition began to deteriorate. I’d say that by the end of that year, Neris would have been unable to recognise any of the staff. I recall Juliet became quite alarmed when her mother no longer knew who she was.”

  “How did Mrs Lowther die?”

  “As I said, Neris remained physically fit, but she suddenly began to lose weight. We brought in the doctor, who diagnosed stage three bowel cancer. Her passing was very swift. Mrs Lowther died in the December of 2013.”

  “How did Juliet deal with her mother’s illness?”

  “If you knew the Detective Inspector at all, then you’ll appreciate she was a strong-willed person who didn’t give much away. The cancer diagnosis was treated with matter-of-factness and little sentimentality. I sensed that Juliet found the dementia more difficult to contend with.”

  “Did any other family members come to visit Mrs Lowther?”

  “The son came maybe twice or three times during the four years Neris was with us. I believe he lived in the United States. Juliet was her only other visitor.”

  Dani relaxed into the padded seat. “I’m surprised that Juliet didn’t bring her mother home to live with her once she’d left the police force.”

  Dunnett pursed his lips, as if considering the scenario carefully. “Alzheimer’s is an extremely difficult illness to cope with. I hope that Juliet realised her mother was better off here with trained professionals. I’m sure that DI Lowther was an excellent police officer, but I sensed she didn’t quite have the patience required to nurse her mother full-time.”

  “You have a very nice establishment here. What are your fees like?”

  Dunnett appeared unfazed by the question. “I will print you off a copy of Neris’s bill for her final year with us.” He brushed imaginary dust from his lapels. “You are correct in your insinuation, DCI Bevan, our fees are higher than the state-run institutions. But the environment and care we provide here is top notch.”

  Dani glanced about her. She didn’t doubt this was true. “I would like to see those bills now, thank you.”

  “I’ll get Klara to make you a coffee whilst I print out the paperwork. You can take it in the drawing room. It has a lovely view of the garden. I believe the rain may even be starting to clear.”

  *

  The drive from the care home to the anonymous estate of new build houses on the outskirts of Paisley took less than half an hour.

  Dani climbed out of the car and approached a detached property with a small, newish car parked on the driveway.

  A woman in her late forties answered the door. As she took in Dani’s appearance, her expression seemed to stiffen, as if in resolution or perhaps acceptance.

  Dani showed her warrant card, but felt that this woman didn’t need it to tell her the person on her front step was a police officer.

  Lorraine Travis stepped back into the hallway and allowed Dani to enter.

  “I’m sorry to bother you at home, Mrs Travis. It’s nothing serious, I promise.”

  The woman’s shoulders relaxed a fraction, as she led the way to a pleasant kitchen-diner. “You must have known what I was thinking,” she said simply.

  “How long has Kerr been working undercover?”

  Lorraine flicked the switch on the kettle before taking the seat opposite Dani at the dining table. “He’s been with Vice for three years. But his current operation has lasted six months so far. If I see him once a fortnight I’m lucky.”

  “You thought I was coming to tell you something had happened to him?”

  She nodded. “That’s just how I live.” Her eyes slowly took in Dani’s appearance. “Have we met before?”

  “I worked with Kerr at Cowcaddens Road for a few years. Then I got my Inspector badge and moved to Pitt Street.”

  She furrowed her brow. “I think I remember you. Your hair was very short then?”

  “That’s right. It was necessary for my years on the beat. I’m mostly pushing paper these days.”

  Lorraine got up to make the drinks. “And now you’re a DCI. That’s pretty impressive.”

  “How are your kids?”

  Lorraine smiled. “One is at college and the other is an apprentice at a local building firm. Not really kids any longer.”

  Dani accepted her coffee and put the cup to her lips. “I was hoping to speak with Kerr. His department told me it was impossible.”

  Lorraine rolled her eyes. “He’s deep undercover.” She chuckled. “Sometimes I think they’re just making it all up. Them and the villains, simply playing an elaborate game of dress-ups.”

  “I’m not sure if it isn’t just exactly that.” Dani folded her arms across her chest. “Do you remember a DI at Cowcaddens Road called Juliet Lowther? She was Kerr’s superior officer for a few years.”

  Lorraine blinked several times before replying. She appeared to be gripping her cup tightly, her knuckles drained of colour. “I’ve not heard that name mentioned in a while. Yes, I do remember her. She came here a few times back then for drinks. Kerr liked her.”

  “I’m afraid Juliet was killed. Her body was discovered a week ago. She was murdered.”

  Lorraine’s grip on her cup significantly weakened, causing it to spill its contents onto the table-top.

  Dani jumped up and took the cup from her, noticing Lorraine’s hands were shaking badly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to surprise you with this. The information hasn’t been released to the public yet.”

  “It’s just that I’m always expecting to hear that news about Kerr. The words shook me up.”

  Dani pulled some kitchen towels off a roll and wiped the spillage up. “I’ve been digging into Juliet’s past on the force, hoping it might throw up a motive for her killing. I recalled that after the Roydon Road Bus Station bombing, Juliet and Kerr seemed to have developed an understanding.”

  Lorraine let out a grunt. “You could call it that.”

  Dani sat back down beside her. “What do you mean?”

  “I thought they were sleeping together. After the terrorist attack happened, when Kerr and Juliet went back in to save people, my husband changed.”

  “It must have been incredibly traumatic.”

  “I tried to get him to talk about it, but he wouldn’t. Kerr started staying out late most nights. I asked my mum to come around and stay with the kids once. Got in the car and drove to that bar you lot were always drinking in.”

  “Dobbie’s.”

  “That’s right. I looked in the window. I sa
w Kerr next to her at the bar. He was leaning into her ear, all smiles and laughs. At home, he would barely even look at me, give me or the kids the time of day. His hand was resting on her back. I knew he was shagging her.”

  “I never suspected anything. But then I didn’t often go for those drinks. I was a bit of an outsider in that department.” Dani sighed. “Did you confront Kerr about it?”

  Lorraine shook her head. Tears were pooling in her eyes. “I don’t think it lasted long. After a few months things got better. Kerr was home more and he started touching me again. I reckoned it was over between them. I didn’t know who’d ended it and I didn’t care.”

  “That day of the bombing, it messed everyone up. I was lucky not to have been there. Kerr and Juliet saw the worst of it.”

  “Is that supposed to excuse them screwing behind my back?”

  “No, it doesn’t. But you can’t be absolutely sure they were.”

  Lorraine looked at Dani with an almost pitying expression. “Are you married? Kids?”

  “No.”

  “Then you don’t understand. I may not have had proof but I knew it was going on.” She jammed a fist into her breastbone.

  Dani said nothing. She still wasn’t convinced. Kerr was most probably screwing someone, but she couldn’t envision it being Juliet.

  Lorraine seemed to have a sudden fit of conscience. She reached forward and took Dani’s hand. “I’m sorry I said that about you not having a family. I’ve got no idea what your circumstances are, its none of my business. It’s just a difficult time for me with Kerr away so much and the kids gone. It’s almost worse than it was back then, after the bombing.”

  “Did Kerr choose to do undercover work?”

  Lorraine took a deep breath. “Yes, he told me he was good at it. He sometimes jokes that if he didn’t become a policeman, he could’ve been an actor.”

  Dani pictured Kerr Travis with his dark good looks and deep, resonant voice. She could definitely imagine him on the stage. The reviews would refer to him as a ‘heart-throb’. “I’m sorry to ask you this, Lorraine, but did your husband ever say anything about Juliet being in trouble? We can’t find a motive for her murder, you see.”