'Ah, I see,' Insch opened the folder and pulled out the list of names. 'You are remembering that there's a madman out there, aren't you, Sergeant?' Oh for God's sake. 'Yes, sir. I am remembering. But this--' 'Good, then you can get onto INTERPOL - I want the search widened to include other countries. We're looking for anything that matches the MO between 1990 and 2006. And while you're at it--' Steel settled herself on the edge of Insch's desk. 'Nice to see you're taking Faulds' suggestion to heart. All that fixation on Wiseman's no' healthy.' The inspector scowled. 'Wiseman is still my chief suspect. I'm just--' 'Doing what you're told. Good for you.' Insch was starting to go scarlet. 'This investigation--' 'Nice to see you taking guidance for a change. Doesn't make you any less of a man.' She stood. 'You'll no' mind if I borrow McRae here, will you?' 'You ...' Scarlet was turning to purple. 'Thought no'.' A saucy wink. 'When Faulds gets back we'll put in a good word for you.' She dragged Logan away, before Insch could do anything more than splutter.
13
DI Steel waited till they'd got all the way down the stairs before hooting with laughter. 'Did you see the look on his face? Thought he was going to have an aneurism.' 'But ...' Logan looked back over his shoulder. 'What did you have to go winding him up for? He's bad enough as it is.' 'Ah, relax.' She hauled one of the double doors open and made for reception. 'I like to see how fast I can get him to change colour. He's like a really angry chameleon. Besides ...' the inspector paused at the end of the corridor, peering through the glass at a crowd of people in the front lobby, all looking very, very upset. 'Second thoughts ...' She turned round and headed back towards the stairs. 'You got any money on the sweepie?' 'Tenner on him punching someone Saturday.' She nodded. 'I've got Monday. It's no easy keeping him at just the right level of pissed-off-ishness. Too much and he snaps early - no dosh for Auntie Roberta. Too little and the bugger won't lamp anyone.' 'What if you're the one he thumps?' Steel grinned. 'I'll fucking kill him.' She marched out onto the rear podium car park, sparking up a cigarette and blowing out a cloud of smoke that glowed in the security spotlights. 'Oh, Christ I needed that.' She shuddered happily and puffed her way over to an unmarked pool car. 'Right, we're off up the hospital.' 'You said we were going to the pub!' 'Oh come on, no' like you've got anything better to do is it? Go home and mope in an empty flat? Wah, wah, wah, my girlfriend's in Glasgow playing cops and robbers and I'm not getting any. Wah, wah, wah ...' Silence. She tapped ash from the end of her fag, little flecks of orange sparkling amongst the grey. 'It'll be good for you, get you out a bit, stop you developing wanker's elbow.' Still nothing. 'OK, OK. Insch'll no' admit it, but he's up to his ears in shite and sinking fast. He needs a hand. The ACC wants us to go up to A&E and interview that bloke whose wife disappeared yesterday. Take a bit of the pressure off.'
