Close to the Bone

He rested back against one of the church’s remaining walls. ‘We found another Oriental victim this morning. Someone took a hammer to his knees.’

‘The theory of evolution is an extremely elegant thing, don’t you think? I’m all for survival of the fittest, but sometimes competition for resources can get out of hand and that’s not good for the ecosystem. Everything gets out of balance.’

‘It’s the McLeod brothers, isn’t it? They’re the ones crippling all these Oriental men. What are they, moving in on their territory? ’

‘I don’t like to take sides in these things, Logan. It’s of no matter to me which species outcompetes the other as long as the ecosystem remains intact. And the longer this drags on for, the more damage is done.’ A pause. ‘Perhaps you wouldn’t mind giving evolution a helping hand? ’

The sliver of sunlight that had made Rennie’s hair glow like a novelty light bulb gave one last flash, then the clouds swallowed it. A single drop of rain burst on Logan’s arm. Then another.

A favour for Wee Hamish Mowat. It wasn’t as if he’d be doing anything wrong, would it? The McLeods and the farmers were breaking the law. Both sets needed taking off the streets. Just because it was in Wee Hamish’s best interests to see it all come to a sudden halt, it didn’t mean it wasn’t the right thing to do.

And besides, it would hardly be the first time.

‘Logan? Are you still there? ’

‘I can’t do anything without evidence. I need photographs, locations of these cannabis farms, someone willing to testify in court. Proof.’

‘Of course you do. I wouldn’t have it any other way.’

Logan put the phone back in his pocket.

Off in the distance came a soft crack, followed by the muted bellow of thunder. Getting colder. The skies lowered and the rain hammered down.

33

‘I told you: I am not prepared to breach doctor-’

‘Patient confidentiality. Can you no’ change the record, Doc? This one’s like listening to paint dry.’ If DCI Steel slouched any further down in her chair, she’d disappear under the table.

On the other side, sitting in the full glare of the camera mounted on the interview-room wall, Dr Marks stuck his nose in the air. The bruise on his cheek was colouring in nicely, heading to a deep violet, giving a bit of life to his jumbo sausage features. ‘If you don’t like hearing it, stop asking.’

Logan opened DI Leith’s folder of photographs and laid a glossy eight-by-ten of Roy Forman’s fire-ravaged skull on the table. Then another one. Then one where the tyre was still burning. ‘Agnes Garfield did this.’

The psychologist shrank back in his chair. Looking anywhere but at the photos. ‘I don’t see what this is supposed to achieve. Did you really think I’d be prepared to abandon my professional ethics just because you show me these? Do you honestly believe I got where I am without recognizing blatant manipu-lation when I see it? ’

A sniff, then Steel jabbed a finger at him. ‘You’ll sodding well know the toe of my boot when you see it. Aye, and it’ll be coming out of your gob after I ram it up your arsehole.’

Dr Marks took off his big gold-framed glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘Genuinely: if you’re going to resort to threats, try to do it in a way that actually connects to the person you’re threatening. So far all you’ve done is reveal an anal fixation that borders on the manic.’

‘I’m no’-’

‘“Arse” this, and “arse” that. And you say I’m the one who needs to change the record. Then there’s all the “scrotum” threats: you’ll use it as a handbag; you’ll fill it with angry bees and sew it over my bumhole; you’ll make soup in it; you’ll make me wear it as a gimp mask. .’

‘Laz, show the good doctor your photos of Anthony Chung.’

Logan opened the other folder.

Dr Marks sat forward, one hand curled around his barely existent chin. ‘You never really got on with your father, did you, Chief Inspector? You always felt that nothing you did was good enough for him. Did he have a problem accepting your sexuality? He did, didn’t he? Always hoped it’d just be a phase you were going through.’

The first picture of Anthony Chung was of him lying on the kitchen floor, surrounded by Agnes Garfield’s Ring Knot, his skin coloured with mould and decay, his eyes rotted away to dark slits. Logan laid the photo on the table. ‘He would’ve bled to death, but she veerited him first. Wrapped a rope around his throat and twisted.’

‘It must be hard, keeping it up: the posturing, the swearing, the constant scratching. . You’re like someone’s stereotyped idea of a man. More manly than the men you have to work with. I imagine you consider yourself a bit of a womanizer too, don’t you? Always trying to compete. .’

She scowled at the psychologist. ‘Up your hole with a loo-brush, you saggy-chinned wee cockshite.’

Well, that was helping.

Logan placed the next picture of Anthony Chung next to the first. ‘Dr Marks, Agnes Garfield is probably a danger to herself, she’s certainly a danger to other people.’

The psychologist popped his glasses back on. ‘Your father always wanted a son, and you thought that was the only way to get his approval. So you’ve built this whole vile persona around the selfish wishes of a dead man. Did he ever-’

Steel slammed her hand down on the tabletop. ‘YOU LEAVE MY DAD OUT OF IT AND ANSWER THE BLOODY QUESTION!’

A sigh. ‘I can’t breach doctor-patient confidentiality. Even with a warrant. Even if they try to compel me in court. The people who come to me for therapy have to be able to trust me with their darkest thoughts, desires, and secrets. If they can’t, I can’t help them.’

Logan put down the next photo — a close-up of Anthony Chung on the cutting table, his chest opened up and hollowed out. ‘Where’s Agnes Garfield? ’

Dr Marks sat back again, looking at Steel over the top of his glasses, his voice soft and low. Soothing. ‘It must have been very painful for you, having to live up to so many expectations. But it’s not too late to be the real you, instead of this. . projection you’ve become. I’d love to help, I genuinely would.’ A smile tugged at one side of his sausagey face. ‘I’d give you one of my cards, but they confiscated them when they took my belt and my shoelaces. But I want you to know that you can get better.’

Steel stared at him. ‘And you can get bent.’

The Police Custody and Security Officer printed ‘DR RICHARD MARKS’ on the board beside the door of cell number eight. Then frowned. Then smiled. She pointed. ‘Look: his name’s Dick Marks. What kind of parent calls their kid Dickmarks? No wonder he turned out a total knob. .’

‘Just make sure he gets noisy neighbours tonight, OK? Someone who likes to sing on one side, and someone with Tourette’s on the other.’

‘Do my best.’

Steel was standing just outside the back door, smoking her cheeks hollow and glowering at the rain. It bounced back from the roof of grimy patrol cars, sparkling in the rear podium’s security lights. ‘He fall down the stairs yet? ’

‘There’s going to be another victim.’

‘Little prick. Where does he get off with all that psychobabble, eh? Sod all wrong with me. .’ She took another vicious puff, the cigarette trembling between her lips. ‘He’s the one with bloody issues!’

‘Stacey Gourdon. Anthony Chung was sleeping with her behind Agnes’s back. No one’s seen her since Friday night.’

‘That’s all we sodding need. Media department are already getting phone calls about Chung and his magic circle. Some greasy bugger’s tipped off the papers.’