Close to the Bone

The ACC’s mouth fell open for a moment, then a frown crawled across his face. ‘I’m not at liberty to discuss that.’

Steel elbowed Logan in the ribs again. ‘Did I no’ tell you to get your bloody finger out and do something on that one? ’

‘I haven’t had time, it’s-’

‘Now look what you’ve done. And who do you think’s going to get it in the neck, because you’ve no’ bothered your arse? Me. That’s who. Like our delightful ACC needs another excuse. The sweaty chunky wee sod.’

Larson, from the Edinburgh Evening Post, shook his head. ‘ACC Irvin, why won’t you even listen to the parents’ concerns? Do you just not care, or what? ’

The press officer leaned forward until the microphone was inches from her face. ‘OK, we’re drifting off topic here. I need everyone to restrict themselves to questions about the case at hand.’

The journalist turned, looking around at the assembled press. ‘Sounds to me like Grampian Police are doing a cover-up, right? ’

ACC Irvin thumped his hand on the table again, hard enough to make the microphones wobble. ‘We are not covering anything up!’

‘Then answer the question: how come you lot care so little about Anthony and Agnes’s safety that you can’t be bothered looking for them? Eh? ’

8

‘. .complete and utter disaster.’ The pathologists’ office was empty, so Logan shifted Isobel’s ‘MUMMY AT WORK’ mug out of the way, then perched one bum-cheek on her desk. ‘The ACC looked as if he was going to have an aneurysm.’

Samantha laughed down the phone at him. ‘So you ran away and hid in the mortuary? ’

‘I’m not hiding, I’m. .’ He switched his mobile from one ear to the other. ‘I beat a tactical retreat till Steel and the ACC calm down. And yes: my nose still hurts, thanks for asking.’

‘Coward.’

‘What am I supposed to do? Everyone’s acting like Agnes and Anthony are this pair of lost wee kids, but they’re old enough to get married, join the army and get shot at. . So what if they’ve run off to be together? Who are they hurting? ’

‘You going to be late again tonight? ’

‘It’s Agnes’s bloody parents causing all the trouble. Don’t like to think about their wee girl out there shagging Anthony Chung.’

‘Moan, whinge, moan. Don’t forget to pick up some milk on your way home. And you’re all out of Marmite too.’

‘Like they’ve not been at it for years already. You know what horny little sods teenagers are, any excuse and. .’

He sat up straight, setting Isobel’s china mug rattling against its saucer: the mortuary’s outer door had just slammed shut. Then came the sound of footsteps, echoing down the corridor outside.

‘Got to go — someone’s coming.’

‘Don’t be such a wimp; you’re a DI now, take your medicine like a man.’

‘Acting DI, and no thanks.’ He hung up and jumped down from the desk. The footsteps were getting closer. As long as they kept on going, through to the cutting room, he’d be fine. Just have to sneak out once they were in there.

Crap. . The footsteps stopped right outside the pathologists’ office.

Logan spun around on the spot. Had to be somewhere to hide in here. Behind the filing cabinet? Not enough space. Under one of the desks?. . Yeah, and how would he explain that when they caught him? Looking for a contact lens?

Might be worth a go.

He pulled out the nearest chair-

The door swung open and he froze, halfway into a crouch.

‘Guv? ’

Logan looked up, and there was Rennie, frowning down at him.

‘You OK, Guv? Only you look like you’re about to curl one out on the floor there.’

Heat bloomed in Logan’s cheeks. ‘I was just-’

‘Should probably pull your trousers and pants down first though,’ a grin broke across Rennie’s face, ‘going to be hell of a mess otherwise.’

Logan stood. ‘Did you want something, Sergeant? ’

‘See, if I was going to take a dump in someone’s office, I’d do it in their desk drawer. Or in the filing cabinet, under “J” for jobbie, that way it’s all organized and-’

‘Rennie!’

‘Oh, right. Yeah.’ He stood to one side and swept his arm out in a grandiose gesture, as if he was a magician introducing his glamorous assistant. ‘Got a Dr Graham here to see La Monarch De Iceberg.’

A woman stepped past Rennie, into the room. Short, big smile, tiny diamond earrings twinkling between strands of long blonde hair. Big brown boots, blue jeans, and a pink twinset. Petite and girly. She stuck out a thin hand for Logan to shake. It was like an industrial car crusher. ‘I hear you need a forensic anthropologist? ’

Already?

Logan took his hand back while it still worked. ‘You’re keen: we only put the call out an hour ago.’

She flashed him a smile that made little crow’s feet around her eyes. ‘Are you kidding? Jobs like this are hen’s teeth: had to get here before any other bugger did. Forensic anthropology’s a cut-throat business.’

‘Dr Graham-’

‘April, please.’ She shook her head. ‘I blame the telly — they show all these glamorous actors running about the place, solving murders, then everyone and their dog thinks, “Hey, why don’t I train to be one of them bone people?” Seriously, you can’t throw a brick these days without braining two dozen unemployed forensic anthropologists.’

‘That’s very-’

‘You know,’ she frowned up at him, ‘you should’ve put some ice on that, it would’ve brought the swelling down. Might be too late now, but it’s probably still worth a go. Trust me: if there’s one thing I know, it’s being punched in the face.’

Logan’s fingers stroked the side of his swollen nose. ‘OK. .’

‘Are the remains ready? ’ She got a step closer. ‘I’d really like to get cracking as soon as I can.’

He backed away, until the desktop dug into the back of his legs. Retreat no longer an option. ‘They’re through the house. .’

‘Good stuff.’ She spun around, as if she was mounted on castors. ‘Right, lead the way, and we-’ Her pillow- sized handbag swung out as she turned, caught Isobel’s china mug and sent it flying.

It hit the carpet tiles with a delicate ping, then shattered into a dozen glinting fragments.

April stared down at it, mouth hanging open. She cleared her throat, clutched at the demon handbag, kneaded at the tan leather. ‘Oh God. . It was an accident.’ She shuffled sideways, into the filing cabinet. ‘It. . I’ll pay for it. I didn’t mean to break it.’

Rennie hunkered down and picked a shard up between thumb and forefinger, dropping it into his palm. ‘Don’t worry, it’s just-’

‘No, you don’t understand, it. . They’re just waiting for me to screw something up, so they can barge in and take over.’

Logan leaned back against the desk. ‘They? ’

‘The other forensic anthropologists. I told you it was cut-throat, didn’t I? I’m good at my job, and it was an accident, and-’