‘Likes and dislikes, Jazz. Life isn’t like that. What if everyone liked the same football team?’
The youngster grinned, his irrepressible humour surfacing once again. ‘It would be all right if it was Motherwell.’
‘I didn’t know you were a Motherwell supporter.’
‘You are, so I must be too.’
‘What have I just said? You’re a person in your own right. You don’t have to support the same team as me.’
‘But I want to.’
Relieved that the conversation had moved away from the difficult direction in which it appeared to be heading, Bob gave in. ‘Have it your own way, then, be a ’Well fan . . . but don’t say I didn’t warn you. Come on now, finish up that pizza. There might just be ice-cream after it if you do.’
The bribe worked: the boys concentrated on lunch and on talking about the movie. When they were finished he took them round to Borders, where he bought a video game for the boys, a tactile story book for Seonaid, a golf magazine for himself, and . . . he made a show of choosing it . . . a style glossy for Sarah. Harmony was restored completely, on the outside, yet as they drove home, after feeding the ever-growing colony of swans in Holyrood Park, Bob found himself glancing at Mark in the rear-view mirror, and wondering. The boy’s outburst in the restaurant had been astonishing, and completely out of character.
Sarah was in the sun-room when they got back home to Gullane; when he glanced in, Bob saw her there with Seonaid sitting at her feet. The child was concentrating hard on screwing one of the legs off a Barbie doll. He unwrapped the video game in the kitchen and sent the boys upstairs to the playroom to plumb its mysteries, then went through to join them. When she saw him in the doorway, his daughter squealed, pushed herself to her feet and ran towards him. He swept her up in his arms, just as her balance became unsteady. ‘Daddy!’ she yelled, and kissed him, square on the nose.
‘Hey, baby, have you been a good girl?’
‘No,’ she replied firmly.
‘That’s true enough,’ said Sarah. ‘She’s made me watch
‘It’s the colours.’ He sat on the sofa, placing Seonaid between them and fishing inside his jacket for her present. ‘There,’ he said. ‘Play with that just now, and I’ll read it for you later.’ The toddler took the book with only moderate interest, slid back down to the floor, and resumed her attack on Barbie.
Bob reached into the other pocket of his jacket and handed Sarah her magazine. ‘That’s for you,’ he said.
She looked at it. ‘Mmm, interiors: that’ll come in handy.’ She picked a sheaf of papers from her lap and held them up. ‘The agent I commissioned to find me a place on Manhattan emailed me these this morning.’
‘Anything interesting?’
‘One or two. I’m not going to rush into anything, though. I’m quite prepared to rent, until I find the right place. I can afford to now. I’ve had an offer on my parents’ place that’s way above what we expected. It opens up the possibility of a smaller place in New York and a weekend house in Connecticut, somewhere more suitable for the kids when I have them. I’m not going to work when they’re with me: I’m going to be a full-time mother then.’
‘I like the sound of that,’ he told her. ‘Listen, Sarah, we have to tell them what’s happening. I’m quite certain that Mark’s guessing already, and even the bruiser knows that something’s different. I know we’d wanted to put it off till after Christmas, but that’s not going to work.’
She drew a deep breath. ‘You sure you’re not imagining things?’ He described the flare-up in the restaurant. ‘I see,’ she said. ‘Yes, it sounds like you’re right. Okay, let them enjoy the rest of the day, then we’ll change their little lives tomorrow.’
‘Don’t put it that way, please.’
‘Sorry. Look, Bob, I wasn’t implying anything: no fault, no blame, that’s what we agreed, and I’m happy with it.’ She paused. ‘Are you still seeing Alex this evening, to tell her?’
‘Yes. Want to come?’
‘No: it’s better that she hears it from you alone. If I’m there it could be awkward: she’s bound to take sides.’
‘As you wish, but you’re misjudging her.’
‘No, I’m not. She’s your daughter: it’s only natural she’s going to resent me for what’s happened.’
‘She won’t, but never mind.’ He picked up Sarah’s emails and began to look through them.
‘I almost forgot,’ she said. ‘There was a call for you while you were out.’
‘Who was it?’
‘He didn’t give me his name. He said he was calling from London, and he left a number you could call him back on. He said it was a secure line.’ She reached into the pocket of her shirt, took out a slip of paper, and handed it to him. ‘One of your spook friends, I suppose.’
‘Not just any old spook, I think. Thanks.’
He went upstairs, to what was now his bedroom, and his alone, picked up the phone and dialled. He heard the ring tone twice, and then a click as it was answered. ‘Yesss?’ The enquiring voice was as dry as a skeleton.
‘Sir Evelyn?’
‘Yes.’ The tone changed with recognition. ‘Bob, thank you for calling. You left a message with my PA yesterday about a personnel change.’
‘That’s right. DCI McIlhenney’s no longer accompanying me: instead I’ll be assisted by Detective Inspector Dorothy Shannon.’
‘Is she up to the task?’
‘Of course she is, Evelyn. I wouldn’t be bloody bringing her otherwise.’
‘I’m sure that’s so, but some of my colleagues are worried that you’re entrusting the task to someone with so little experience of our . . . how to put it . . . environment.’
‘Which colleagues, exactly?’
‘You know, I’m sure; people from across the river.’
Skinner almost growled: ‘This may be a daring thing for a simple Scots copper to say to the director general of the Security Service, but given the monumental catastrophe which your fucking environment almost brought about, it’s essential that the subsequent investigation is run by people from outside. You can tell your friends from the place across the river that Dorothy Shannon is my choice. She’s had positive vetting, and she’s been security cleared by me, personally. If she’s vetoed, then I’m not coming either. You know me well enough to understand that’s not a bluff. You also know, I reckon, that if it came to that, you’d be shat on from a great political height. My appointment was recommended by you, but, as you assured me, approved by the Prime Minister. If I’m forced out of this investigation, I will make certain that he knows how it came about.’
‘Don’t get excited, Bob,’ said the DG. ‘I’m not trying to force you out; as you say, you’re my personal choice for this assignment. If you’re happy with Inspector Shannon, that is good enough for me, and I’ll override any objections. I’m looking forward to seeing you on Monday. Is there anything I can do to help you when you get here?’
‘I’ll need a runner from within your organisation, and maybe someone from that other place, someone who can ensure that whatever I ask for, I get in full, and quickly.’
‘You’ll have my personal authority.’
‘So did Sean Green, and look where that got him.’
‘
‘The Fiscal’s Office has stamped the file as a suicide and closed it.’
‘Discreet, and effective. I’ll take your request on board. You’ll have your runners.’
‘Thanks. See you next week.’
Twelve
