the original incident. Don’t you think?’
‘I can’t believe you’re talking like this.’
‘How should I be talking?’
‘You’re a cold bastard, Charlie.’
‘Cold doesn’t come into it. Just looking out for my little brother in his moment of need.’
‘Spare me.’
‘That’s what I’m trying to do. Spare you any more grief. Did you manage to get Rose to move you off the story?’
Billy thought about Adele’s hand on his chest. ‘Not exactly.’
‘Shame. Right, I’d better dash, lives to save and all that.’
Charlie ended the call. Billy stared at the phone in his hand. He flicked through the address book and called Rose.
‘Hey, Scoop. Thought I told you to get some rest.’
‘I’m fine.’
‘It doesn’t look too clever, my protege collapsing at a bloody police press conference.’
‘It was the heat. And the hangover.’ He forced a laugh. ‘I really want to get back to work.’
‘Well, I suppose you could cover something else. There’s a safe cycling initiative being launched in Granton later.’
‘Come on, Rose, don’t be stupid. This is my story, I got the interview with the widow.’
‘Haven’t been round there again recently, have you? Could do with another exclusive.’
Billy raised a hand and stroked the bump on his temple. ‘No, but I have got something for you.’
‘What?’
‘Jamie Mackie has just turned up in A amp;E with gunshot wounds to his leg and arm. Not sure if the police even know about it yet.’
Rose chuckled. ‘Holy shit, Scoop, why didn’t you lead with that? How do you know?’
‘My brother just called.’
‘Good God, you’re on fire at the moment.’
‘Thanks.’ Billy wondered where he was going with this, what he was doing. How long could it all go on? ‘So, what’s our next move?’
‘Come pick me up at the office.’ Rose sounded excited. ‘We’ve got a hospital to visit.’
14
‘Busy for a Tuesday lunchtime.’ Rose looked around.
Billy followed her gaze. It took a moment for his eyes to get accustomed to the gloom after the bright sunshine outside. A builder with his hand wrapped in a red towel. A gang of schemies, two of them flat out on chairs, seemingly unconscious. Several old people holding elbows or stroking knees, looking worried.
They waited a few minutes till the receptionist was distracted by an ambulance pulling up outside, then they walked through double doors into a long corridor with treatment tables, some cordoned off by white plastic curtains. Rose had an assertive swagger as she approached each occupied treatment area and peaked round the gaps in the curtains. Billy lagged behind, watching her in awe. She was so confident, so sure of herself. He couldn’t imagine ever being like that.
They were halfway down the corridor when Billy spotted his brother. Billy had never seen him at work. He actually wore a white doctor’s coat and had a stethoscope round his neck, like he was playing a dressing-up game.
Charlie spotted them and approached, glancing round. ‘What the fuck are you doing here, Billy?’
Rose stuck out a hand. ‘Good afternoon, Dr Blackmore.’
Charlie switched on a smile. ‘Nice to see you, Rose.’
‘Likewise.’
Charlie took Billy’s arm and tried to turn him round. ‘You shouldn’t be here.’
Rose interrupted. ‘We’d like to see a good friend of ours who has apparently been brought in. Jamie Mackie?’
Charlie ignored Rose and stared at Billy. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’
‘I just told you…’ Rose said.
‘I wasn’t fucking talking to you,’ Charlie said.
‘Can I quote you on that, Dr Blackmore?’
Charlie stared at her. ‘I’m afraid I have to ask you to leave.’ He put an arm out to Rose’s shoulder, ushering her out of the treatment area. ‘You could get me into trouble.’
‘That’s the last thing we want to do. So maybe you could direct us to our friend Mr Mackie, and we’ll be out of your hair.’
Charlie smiled. ‘You can’t see him, he’s in surgery.’
‘Nothing too life-threatening, I hope?’
Charlie had succeeded in turning them round. Rose and Billy reluctantly allowed themselves to be pushed towards the exit. ‘I’m sure my brother has told you about Mr Mackie’s condition. There is no further information at this time. You would need to ask the surgeon about his condition once he comes out of theatre.’
‘And when do you think Mr Mackie will be out of surgery?’
‘Who knows?’ Charlie stared at Billy, who still hadn’t said a word.
Charlie stood with them at the door. Outside, paramedics helped an elderly woman out of an ambulance and into a wheelchair.
‘Now, please leave.’ Charlie turned to Billy. ‘I’ll speak to you later, little brother.’
Billy watched Charlie head back into the A amp;E ward. He seemed so grown up, dressed like a doctor.
‘Oh my God, this just gets better,’ Rose said under her breath.
Billy turned. Three hard-looking schemies — two guys and a girl — were striding towards them, the two guys smoking, the girl checking her phone.
Rose nudged Billy. ‘The one in the middle is Wayne Mackie. This should be good.’
The three of them pushed past Rose and Billy and up to reception.
‘Where the fuck is my brother?’ Wayne shouted.
The receptionist was middle-aged and sturdy, didn’t look as if she took any shit. She peered over bifocals at him.
‘It’s no smoking in here, sir.’
‘Never mine that, you fucking bint, I asked you a question.’
‘You’ll need to take your cigarette outside, sir.’
The calmness of her voice made Billy smile. Wayne was furious.
‘Are you fucking listening to me, ya hoor?’
‘If you continue to speak to me in that aggressive tone, I shall be forced to contact security and have you removed.’
‘Fuck’s sake.’ Wayne leaned over and grabbed the front of the woman’s blouse, pulling her towards him. ‘If you do that I’ll find out your address and wait till you’re asleep one night and come over and fucking torture you till you wished you were dead.’ He pointed his cigarette towards her like a dart, ash falling on to her blouse and smudging. ‘Now, if you don’t tell me where Jamie Mackie is right this second I’m going to stub this fucking thing out in your boss eye.’
The woman was beaten, Billy could see it, Wayne could see it.
‘Mr Mackie is in surgery at the moment,’ she said quietly, trying to retain dignity.
‘When will he be out?’
‘If you wait here, I’ll see what I can find out.’
Wayne let go. She straightened her blouse and walked away.
‘Excuse me,’ Rose said. It was only then Billy realised he was standing with her next to Wayne and his two
