ones.' There was a long pause. And then she realized Kelley was crying. 'Oh God, I'm sorry. It's OK, you don't have to.' A sniff. 'No. I ...' Kelly squeezed Heather's hand tight. 'Once upon a time there was a princess and it was her birthday. She was twelve and she was going to see The Aristocats in the cinema, and have fish and chips for tea.' 'Kelley, you don't have to--' 'They were singing as they drove from their castle in Banchory into the city. The sun was shining--' 'I'M A POLICE OFFICER!' 'The sun was shining and they had the windows rolled down. The princess ... the princess had been given a big bag of jelly babies for her birthday and she leant forward from the back seat to offer the king and queen some. The king liked the red ones best, and while he was looking for one ...' She stopped. 'The truck ... An evil wizard ...' Heather could feel her trembling on the other side of the bars. 'It was like being struck by thunder. The noise ... oh God, it was the loudest thing I ever heard and there was glass everywhere and mum screamed and then everything went round and round. End over end ...' She squeezed Heather's hand so hard it hurt. 'We were upside down at the side of the road and I can't move and no one else is moving and they're hanging there ... like bats, upside down with their seatbelts on. And there's blood everywhere.' 'Oh Kelley, I'm so sorry.' 'And I'm trapped on the roof of the car and I'm covered with it. Mum and Dad are dead and I'm soaked with blood ...'
56
Rennie stuck the big stack of newspaper on Logan's desk and crashed into one of the visitor chairs. 'Where's Chief Constable Creepy Crippen then?' 'In with Professional Standards, and don't be an arsehole.' Logan flicked through the pile - P&J, Evening Express, Aberdeen Examiner, Scotsman, Observer, a bunch of other broadsheets and a pile of tabloids too. 'Anything?' 'Bugger all. No one printed Elizabeth Nichol's name, never mind her address. Nothing on the radio either, or the telly. Media Department say they didn't release the details.' 'So how did the Flesher know where to find her?' Rennie sagged so far down the plastic seat he was almost on the carpet. 'Did you ...' He blushed, looked at the stack of papers, coughed. 'Did you tell anyone about Laura?' 'What, that you're a dirty old man and she's--' 'She's fifteen.' The blush went nuclear. 'Oh you have got to be kidding me!' 'I did a PNC check ... I swear I thought she was older. She told me she was going to university!'
