In - out - in - out. Electronic bleeping noises - numbers being punched into a mobile phone. 'Shut up and listen! I need an ambulance and I need it now!' In - out - in - out. 'How the hell am I supposed to know? DS McRae told you where we were, didn't he? ... Yes!' In - out - in - out. ' ... I don't care! Get someone out here now - we've a little girl who's not breathing!' In - out - in - out. Logan felt for a pulse again: it was getting weaker. 'She's Insch's daughter!' 'Oh God ... did you hear that? ... Yes ... yes, OK.' In - out - in - out. 'Come on Sophie!'
24
An ambulance sat on the gravel outside Insch's house, its blue lights flickering as a pair of paramedics helped the inspector's wife into the back. As Logan marched up the drive he could hear them telling her that everything was going to be OK. She didn't look as if she believed them. He took a deep breath, thought about chickening out and leaving this to someone else, then walked into the granite house. The place was a mess - furniture upturned, mirrors and photos smashed, little dots of blood on the oatmeal-coloured carpet. The smell of human waste fighting against a large tub of orange potpourri. Insch was in the kitchen, kneeling in front of the dog basket. 'Sir?' 'Bastard kicked her. She's fifteen, an old lady ... but she went for him.' He stroked the spaniel's coat. 'Poor old thing ...' 'Sir, I need to talk to you about--' 'She's broken inside ...' The inspector glanced up for a moment, puffy eyes glistening with tears in his bruised and battered face. 'The vet's on his way. And then she won't be in pain any more ... she's not ...' He took a deep, shuddering breath. 'Wiseman tried to make us think we were eating one of the girls. But it was just pork. Anna and Brigit were tied up in their bedroom the whole time.' 'Sir, I'm--' 'No.' He wiped his eyes. 'Don't say it. I don't want a death message. You can't--' 'I'm sorry. The paramedics did everything they could. But Sophie ... she was so small and the crash ... it ...' Insch bit his bottom lip, then turned silently and went back to stroking his spaniel. Shoulders trembling. Crying quietly. Logan let himself out.
