Did you kill Spud Tierney Tierney Tierney? Did you kill Spud you little bastard bastard? Did you kill them all?
Yes. He heard himself saying. Yes. Yes. Leave me.
Did you kill Spud? Yes, he slurred. Yes. Yes.
Did you kill them? Yes, he screamed. Yes.
Kirkwood was holding the necklace in front of him now, offering it up in front of his bloodied eyes as obvious proof of something. Then the fist came crashing into his mouth, breaking teeth and bursting his lips. A hand grabbed his throat and squeezed tight, forcing his mouth open in an instinctive reaction.
Something was being shoved into his broken mouth, being forced past the shards of teeth and rush of blood. The metal caught his taste buds and he knew it was the chunky bling. Alec Kirkwood was thrusting Tierney’s necklace down his throat.
He gagged on it, fighting it with what little he had left. As he did he felt stings at his knees and hands, hot comforting stings that ran cool and fresh. The stings came again and again, sharp little reminders that he could feel more than one thing at a time. He could feel blood trickling across his skin, testimony to those sweet cool stings sliced by an unseen knife or knives. He could feel the chunk of the chain and savour its sour tang. He could feel the bile rising from his stomach and the chain sinking to meet it as dear life was strangled from him.
His last sight on earth was his right hand being yanked up and held in front of his face, its bloodied back streaked red, its fingers trembling and stark white. As his sight faded he saw a pair of gleaming secateurs close their grip round his pinkie, their deathly squeeze closing out his vision and his future. One clean cut and never- ending darkness. Bye bye Fleet Street, bye bye.
Kirkwood delivered a final kick to the dead reporter’s bollocks, standing over him with bloodied knuckles, heavy breath and startled eyes, guilt and justice writ large over his face. There was no longer any pretence at sophistication, no businessman in a business suit. Here stood the animal who had fought his way out of Asher Street, the undomesticated version, the thug, the wild dog. From Maryhill to Castlemilk, from the Drum to Easterhouse they would know that if you messed with Alec Kirkwood or touched one of his then you would pay the price.
However, that final kick, that insult added to injury, had barely struck when the forecourt was flooded with light and sound and fury. Kirkwood’s boot had registered its mark when it all kicked off.
The sounds of sirens and shouting announced the arrival of Strathclyde’s finest.
Two birds, one stone. No turn unstoned.
My madness had method.
CHAPTER 46
The Herald. Friday, 15 May 2010. Page 1.
By Andrea Faulds
The serial killer who has been terrorizing Glasgow for over two years was yesterday named as being a well- known Scottish journalist. Keith Imrie, chief reporter with the Daily Record newspaper, has been identified by police as the man responsible for the six brutal murders which have shocked and horrified the city. Imrie (32) died on Tuesday night as a result of an alleged attack which is in itself the subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal. Police sources say they are no longer looking for anyone else in connection with the so-called Cutter killings. It is believed that several pieces of evidence directly linking Imrie to the killings were found at the scene of his death. These included items belonging to The Cutter victims. Imrie’s colleagues at the Daily Record are said to be startled at the news that he has been named as the killer. Members of staff at the newspaper’s Central Quay offices have been banned from speaking to other media and today’s early editions of the Record only referred to Imrie as being a journalist. The 32-year-old rose to prominence by writing numerous exclusive reports on The Cutter case, frequently getting information ahead of other media outlets and, in many instances, before the police. He gained promotion to the position of chief reporter on the strength of his Cutter exclusives. Imrie is said to have bragged to colleagues about his inside information, claiming that he had much better sources on The Cutter case than the police. Yesterday’s revelations now give that boast a grisly ring of reality. The dramatic turn of events has brought a sudden conclusion to more than two years of extraordinary tension in Glasgow as The Cutter claimed victim after victim, striking seemingly at random with police unable to establish any link between his prey. The killing spree made the city the unwanted centre of worldwide media attention, particularly when the barbaric nature of The Cutter’s mutilation of his victims was revealed. Ironically now, of course, it transpires that that revelation was made by The Cutter himself. Imrie was interviewed many times by news outlets from all parts of the world and colleagues have said how he revelled in the attention. At the time that was just taken to be the inevitable consequence of an ambitious journalist being placed in the spotlight but it is now being seen by many as a killer callously laughing at his pursuers and the families of his victims. Imrie had been a reporter with the Daily Record for eight years. He was unmarried and lived in a two-bedroomed Victorian flat in Observatory Road in the city’s fashionable west end. Yesterday neighbours there expressed their shock at the news but none were willing to publicly speak out about the deceased reporter. One did say that he didn’t mix a lot with others in his building but was pleasant when seen around the property. It was felt that the unsocial hours that came with his job was the reason that he often wasn’t around and could be heard coming and going from his flat at odd hours of the night. Chief Constable Andrew Chisholm said yesterday that while police inquiries were continuing, they did not expect that these would extend beyond Imrie. Mr Chisholm yesterday read out a prepared statement to waiting press. ‘We are confident at this stage that Keith Imrie was the person responsible for the murders of Jonathan Carr, William Hutchison, Thomas Tierney, Wallace Ogilvie, Brian Sinclair and Fiona Raedale. We believe that he acted alone. ‘We cannot give a definitive statement on Mr Imrie’s guilt until exhaustive forensic work has been completed but we believe that will confirm that he was responsible for these brutal killings. ‘This has been a terrible episode in Glasgow’s criminal history but we believe that this episode is at an end. Strathclyde Police have worked tirelessly to bring the killer of these six people to justice. The identification of Mr Imrie as the person responsible for these heinous crimes was a victory for police intelligence, sheer hard work and a dedication to duty. The people of Glasgow, of Strathclyde and of Scotland can sleep safer in their beds knowing that this man is no longer a threat. ‘There was some criticism of this force, perhaps understandable, through the course of the inquiry. However, I believe that today is the vindication of the efforts of my officers and everyone involved in this case. ‘While it is regrettable that Mr Imrie is not to face trial, an issue sadly beyond the control of this force, it is nevertheless a relief to everyone that the so- called Cutter will never strike again. If, as we believe, Mr Imrie was responsible for these killings – and all the evidence that we have points in that direction – then his untimely death is the lesser of two evils in a case that has been heavy with evils. ‘More details on the forensic evidence available to the investigation team will, of course, be made public in due course. Strathclyde Police would like to thank everyone who assisted in this investigation, one of the most difficult that the force has ever known. It was only with the assistance of various members of the public allied to the professionalism of serving officers that removed this threat from our midst.’ Detective Inspector Frank Lewington of Nottinghamshire Police, who assumed control of The Cutter investigation, said that all available information pointed to Imrie being the murderer. ‘There is considerable evidence suggesting that Keith Imrie was the killer of Mr Carr, Mr Hutchison, Mr Tierney, Mr Ogilvie, Mr Sinclair and Ms Raedale. However, much of the evidence we currently have would perhaps be considered circumstantial by a judge. We shall now be endeavouring to establish firm forensic proof that he was the killer of these six people. ‘While we have particular reason to believe that Imrie is the man responsible, we will continue to rule nothing out until we have completely determined the circumstances surrounding these murders. ‘However, our message to the people of Glasgow is that they can sleep easier in their beds tonight. The threat from the so-called Cutter is at an end.’ Page 2: CUTTER TIMELINE Page 3: IMRIE’S VICTIMS: FAMILIES SPEAK OUT The Herald. Saturday, 16 May 2010. Page 4. A well-known Glasgow businessman appeared in court yesterday charged with the murder of a 32-year-old man in the city on Tuesday. The Crown Office said Alexander Kirkwood (age 34) of Braidwood Gardens, Baillieston, appeared in private at Glasgow Sheriff Court charged with murder. He was also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice. A spokeswoman said Kirkwood made no plea or declaration and was remanded in custody. She added that an application for bail had been made but had been denied. The Herald. Friday, 22 May 2010. Page 1. By Andrea Faulds. Strathclyde Police have confirmed that extensive forensic evidence proves beyond any reasonable doubt that
