get that for some other bugger. As someone once said, it’s a funny old world.’
Lord Archibald picked up his coffee from the table, admiring the view from Skinner’s garden.
‘What about this man Jones?’ he asked.
‘I’ll let you have a formal report on that next week. It’ll say that he took revenge on Grimley for ruining his career, that he fired on the police officers who confronted him, and that he was shot dead by a marksman.’
‘That sounds very precise, Bob.’
The telephone rang, but Skinner left it for Sarah to answer. ‘It will be, Archie, be sure of it. Incidentally, Kwame Ankrah’s fine. They removed the shot from his shoulder and kept him in hospital overnight, but that was all.’
The Lord Advocate looked at him, quizzically. ‘I take it you’ll recommend that the incident be considered closed, and that no Fatal Accident Inquiry will be necessary.’
‘Spot on.’
‘What if the families of the dead men demand one?’
‘Grimley didn’t leave a family. I’ve spoken to Mrs Jones already; she won’t do that.’
‘So,’ said Lord Archibald. ‘A very tidy conclusion all round. That just about cleans up your crime wave, doesn’t it. What about the armed robbery gang, and the Galashiels murders? What about the other two shootings?’
‘Saunders and Collins, now dead, killed PC Brown and Harry Riach, respectively. We know that and we’ll announce it on Monday.
‘We’re still “anxious to interview” . . . as Mr Plod would put it . . . Newton, Clark and McDonnell, plus the couple we suspect of setting up the Raglan’s hold-up. But they all got away with a fair amount of cash, so I don’t hold out any hope of an early result. We’re not looking for anyone else in connection with any of the deaths.’
‘Why do I get the impression you’re choosing your words carefully, Bob?’
‘Because I always do, Archie.’
The acting Chief Constable smiled. ‘It’s not all negative though. “Acting on information received”, to use another piece of jargon, we’ve recovered the diamonds stolen from Raglan’s, and more than half the proceeds of the bank robberies. That’ll be in Monday’s statement too.’
Lord Archibald laughed. ‘How are you going to fill in your time next week?’
‘Pushing pens and playing politics, no doubt, in my temporary office!’
‘That’s good. We all deserve a quiet life for a while.’ He stood up, and turned to leave, only to see Sarah standing in the doorway of the conservatory. She held a cordless phone in her hand, and she was looking, grim- faced, at her husband.
‘It’s Chrissie Proud, Bob,’ she said, ‘calling from the hospital in Spain. I think you’d better speak to her.’
