him: all Andrew McFarlane wants to do is pickle himself in vodka. It's all he's been doing since his wife disappeared eighteen years ago. Half the time he wouldn't be sober enough to know what day of the week it was; Wiseman could butcher half of Torry downstairs and McFarlane wouldn't notice.' 'Sergeant ...' Insch's voice had taken on that ominous rumble, like a twenty-eight-stone, angry rottweiler. 'I'm just saying.' 'Well don't. Sophie's dead because--' 'You shouldn't be here. You should be at home, with your family.' Insch slammed his fist into the dashboard. 'I DON'T HAVE A FAMILY!' Trembling with rage. 'That bastard took them. He took everything!'
His tea was cold. Logan took an exploratory sip, then spat it back into the mug. 'Hoy!' Steel scowled at him from the other side of the history room. 'Don't be so disgusting.' 'You want another coffee?' 'And would it kill you to scare up some biscuits? Rennie always manages.' 'So get Rennie to make your bloody--' Logan's mobile phone cut him off at the pass. 'Hello?' Geordie, male, early forties.'Aye, we've nothin' on the Weight Watchers front.' 'Who is this?' 'Bloody hell ... Detective Superintendent Danby, Northumbria Police: none of the Newcastle victims were in Weight Watchers. Went round all the relatives, know what I mean?' 'Damn.' 'Aye. Bloody tragic, lookin' at them photo albums all over again. Forgotten what half them looked like. Thought I'd always see their faces, every time I closed ma eyes ...' 'Sorry Superintendent, it was a long shot.' 'I want you to remember they weren't just victims, OK? They were people. With families and friends who miss them. The Calverts raised money for charity. Jack coached kids five-a-side football. Emily won prizes at the local gallery, even got a bit in the papers about it. They didn't deserve what they got. They deserved better, know what I mean?' Logan did. He thanked the DSI, and hung up. 'Well?' said Steel. 'The Weight Watchers angle was a dud.' Steel nodded, then fiddled with her hedgehog hair for a bit. 'You had your one-to-one with our Weegie blamemongers yet?' 'No.' And to be honest he wasn't looking forward to it either. 'Did me today while you were off playing with DI Fat-andGrumpy.' She tipped him a wink. 'Think that redhead
