‘Pretty much. When I saw I was getting nothing either. I’d worked hard for the Wolf family over the years and was like a brother to Oliver. I was the one who got him out of all his little scrapes.’
‘And now it’s all for nothing. Let’s go and get the Crail twins. And Alex? Arrest him before we go.’
Twenty-Eight
The plan was to approach Jack Shaw without much fanfare, but have back-up just in case. Harry didn’t want to flood the fairground with police. That would just alert the killer.
The idea was to converge on the boxing booth from both sides. There was already a crowd of people making the best of the good weather. The sun was out overhead, the wind was light and there was a definite feel-good mood amongst the crowds as early evening approached.
It was hard to believe that they were there to arrest a serial killer.
Jack Shaw was standing around, looking at his watch, when Harry approached. The young man was dressed in his showman’s garb and had an annoyed look on his face.
‘He’s not coming,’ Harry said. Alex sidled up on his other side.
Jack looked at Harry. ‘Who are you?’
‘I think you know full well who I am. We met last night. Was it you who had the hammer?’
Jack made a face and took his phone out, about to walk away.
‘I already told you your dad isn’t coming. He’s dead.’
This got Jack’s attention and he turned to look at Harry. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘We know all about the fact he killed Murdo Wolf all those years ago. And how Thomas Deal got you to kill for him. Did you know Deal was the beneficiary? He made sure that was the case if all the Wolf children were dead. He got you and your brother to kill them, thinking you were going to get the inheritance. You were getting nothing.’
‘You’re a fucking liar!’ Jack said, instead of denying everything.
‘Jack Shaw, I’m arresting you for the murder –’ Harry started to say, but Jack dropped his phone and took up a boxer’s stance.
‘I don’t think so.’
He was about to take a swing at Harry, but Harry had had enough. He stepped in close and head-butted Jack on the bridge of the nose. Then Alex and Evans were all over Jack as he fell to the ground.
The crowds were starting to gather, thinking this was part of the show. Harry watched as Alex handcuffed Jack and they dragged him to his feet.
‘Read him his rights, Sergeant,’ Harry said to her.
Jack Shaw went quietly.
Twenty-Nine
Nancy Shaw was in the dining room, setting up for dinner, when Dunbar and Evans walked in. Harry had gone to the station with Alex to book Jack Shaw in. This time, uniforms were waiting outside the small hotel.
‘Hello, gents. How are things going?’
‘I’m sorry to tell you that your husband, Crail Shaw, is dead, Mrs Shaw.’
Nancy was speechless for a moment, then she smiled. ‘I know, love. Serves the old bastard right.’
‘Did somebody inform you of this?’
She looked to the door of the dining room, but Evans was standing there, keeping an eye on the hallway.
‘I’m sorry, but I’m not saying any more.’
‘Was it Jack? Did he manage to get a message off to you before we arrested him?’
‘Sorry, son, but unless you’re arresting me, I’m not saying anything else.’
‘Where’s Brendan?’
Nancy shrugged. ‘I don’t know.’
‘I think you know exactly where he is,’ Dunbar said. Then he looked at Evans. ‘Go look for him.’
Evans walked away. Then, suddenly, Nancy acted like she’d had a jolt of electricity pass through her. She shoved Dunbar out of the way and made it to the doorway before he grabbed hold of her.
‘Brendan! Run!’ she screamed over and over, then the life went out of her.
Dunbar put her hands behind her back.
‘I didn’t know what they were doing. But they’re my boys, so I’m not helping you put them away.’
‘Save it for later,’ Dunbar said, then shouted for the uniforms to come in. He passed Nancy over and ran up the stairs, having seen Evans go that way.
When he reached the top, he saw Evans go into his own room. When he got to the doorway, he looked in and saw Brendan Shaw standing with a large kitchen knife, pointing it at Evans.
‘Get back or I’ll stab this fucker to death.’
‘It’s over, Brendan. Don’t make it worse for yourself,’ Dunbar said.
Brendan sliced the air in front of Evans, making him move round. Evans got closer to the bed, keeping his eyes on Brendan.
Brendan made another slicing motion, and then Dunbar brought out his extendable baton and snapped it open in one fluid movement. He smacked Brendan’s wrist with it as the man moved in closer. Then he hit him full on in the face. Brendan dropped the knife and put a hand to his nose.
Evans moved in, grabbing Brendan’s arm and kicking his feet from under him. As Brendan went down, he reached a hand out for the knife. Evans kicked him hard between the legs, then kicked the knife over to Dunbar.
‘Jesus, that extendable baton thing does work. Who knew?’ Dunbar said.
‘I almost got my hand on the tennis racket,’ Evans complained.
‘It was almost fifteen-love for him, son.’
Uniforms rushed up the stairs and entered the room. They were soon handcuffing Brendan.
‘I don’t know about you, but I haven’t had this much fun on holiday for a long time,’ Dunbar said. ‘Just a thought, though: maybe you could have a tennis racket tattooed on your arm.’
‘You’d like that, eh?’
‘Just a suggestion, son. But think about it on the boat home.’
‘Boat?’
‘There’s no way I’m sitting in a wee aeroplane with you honking the fucking thing out again. It will just be me, Alex and Debbie Comb.’
‘Fine by me.’
‘Don’t worry, I’m sure Harry McNeil will be quite happy to keep you company.’
Thirty
A few days later
Harry was sitting drinking his coffee when Alex came into the living room.
‘Morning, honey.’ She leant down to kiss him on the cheek.
‘Good
