possible suspects. Mr Van de Merwe’s ex-wife, Elsbeth, and an Amber Turner, the cause of his divorce. DS Cullen?’
‘DC Jain’s going to do some more digging, time permitting, but I’d say they’re fairly low priority. Of the two, Elsbeth’s looking more likely. He’s missed a few alimony payments and she thinks he hid money in some offshore accounts.’
‘That’s interesting. Follow the money, as they say.’
‘Quite. She mentioned a couple of colleagues, might be useful to speak to them. William Yardley and Wayne Broussard.’
‘Do it.’ Methven held up the front page of that morning’s Edinburgh Argus , the Scottish independence referendum taking second billing for once. Jonathan van de Merwe beamed out of the cover, dressed in a navy suit with red tie, looking presidential. ‘Our friends in the press have also identified the body. I much prefer dictating terms to our friends in the fourth estate. Our facial composite of his cloaked companion was supposed to go out with this.’ He folded his arms. ‘I’m not convinced this is independent of our investigation.’
Cargill paced over and snatched the paper. ‘Are you saying we’ve got a leak?’
‘The byline is a Richard McAlpine.’ Methven looked around the room. ‘Does anyone know him?’
Like I’d admit that here. Cullen checked his buzzing phone. A text from Sharon. Lunch today at 1? He typed a message to Rich. Who’s your source on VDM case?
‘DS Cullen?’ Methven raised an eyebrow, a lone hair spearing up. ‘I want you to visit Alba Bank. I’ve got James Anderson and his SOCOs analysing the office. Ask Henderson to introduce you to this Yardley and Broussard. Take DC Jain with you.’ He nodded at Cargill. ‘Anything else, Alison?’
‘I’m good.’
‘That’s us. Dismissed.’ Methven wandered over to the five-metre-wide whiteboard hanging from the wall.
Cullen looked around the room at his team shuffling towards him. Jain wore a dark purple outfit. Eva Law patted her quiff. ‘Okay, I’ve been through HOLMES and sorted out our actions. Chantal, can you investigate the cocaine we found at his apartment?’
‘Once the SOCOs finish, aye.’ Jain scribbled in her notebook. ‘Must be a hundred grand of coke in that bowl of his. I’ll round up some dealers, if you want?’
‘Wait for the forensics. Check into our suspects first.’ Cullen tilted his head at Eva. ‘And support DC Law with family and friends.’
‘As well as chum you to Alba Bank?’ Jain glanced at Eva. ‘Anything else?’
‘I’ll get you out of it. You’re supervising the street teams.’
‘We finished yesterday, Scott.’
‘Now we’ve got an ID, we should speak to everyone again.’ Cullen stifled a yawn. ‘A name and a photograph might jog people’s memories better than my description.’
Jain gave a salute. ‘Okay, boss.’
‘Cheers.’ Cullen joined Methven at the whiteboard, trying to decipher the scribbles and arrows. Most of his cases on the right-hand side were green, just a couple of reds. ‘We need more resource, sir. Stuart Murray’s still on leave. Leaves me two short.’
Methven crouched to write something at the bottom. ‘Alison and I are on it.’
‘I’d like them before I head to Alba Bank.’
‘We’re going through proper channels, Sergeant. I’ll send them over to you if and when we secure any.’
‘Fine.’ Cullen crossed his arms. ‘I’m not taking Chantal with me to Alba Bank.’
‘You’re down to two leads. I want her backing you up there.’
‘Come on, sir. We’ve got—’
‘You’ve got a team. Use it.’
DS Holdsworth lumbered over, clutching a printout. ‘Sir, I need to have a word.’
‘I’ll see you later.’ Cullen made to leave.
Holdsworth blocked his exit. ‘Not so fast. It’s about you.’
‘What have I done now?’
Holdsworth handed the actions sheet to Methven, glaring at Cullen. ‘His actions and resources aren’t balanced.’
‘Is that a surprise?’
‘You need
‘DC Jain’s going to do some more digging, time permitting, but I’d say they’re fairly low priority. Of the two, Elsbeth’s looking more likely. He’s missed a few alimony payments and she thinks he hid money in some offshore accounts.’
‘That’s interesting. Follow the money, as they say.’
‘Quite. She mentioned a couple of colleagues, might be useful to speak to them. William Yardley and Wayne Broussard.’
‘Do it.’ Methven held up the front page of that morning’s Edinburgh Argus , the Scottish independence referendum taking second billing for once. Jonathan van de Merwe beamed out of the cover, dressed in a navy suit with red tie, looking presidential. ‘Our friends in the press have also identified the body. I much prefer dictating terms to our friends in the fourth estate. Our facial composite of his cloaked companion was supposed to go out with this.’ He folded his arms. ‘I’m not convinced this is independent of our investigation.’
Cargill paced over and snatched the paper. ‘Are you saying we’ve got a leak?’
‘The byline is a Richard McAlpine.’ Methven looked around the room. ‘Does anyone know him?’
Like I’d admit that here. Cullen checked his buzzing phone. A text from Sharon. Lunch today at 1? He typed a message to Rich. Who’s your source on VDM case?
‘DS Cullen?’ Methven raised an eyebrow, a lone hair spearing up. ‘I want you to visit Alba Bank. I’ve got James Anderson and his SOCOs analysing the office. Ask Henderson to introduce you to this Yardley and Broussard. Take DC Jain with you.’ He nodded at Cargill. ‘Anything else, Alison?’
‘I’m good.’
‘That’s us. Dismissed.’ Methven wandered over to the five-metre-wide whiteboard hanging from the wall.
Cullen looked around the room at his team shuffling towards him. Jain wore a dark purple outfit. Eva Law patted her quiff. ‘Okay, I’ve been through HOLMES and sorted out our actions. Chantal, can you investigate the cocaine we found at his apartment?’
‘Once the SOCOs finish, aye.’ Jain scribbled in her notebook. ‘Must be a hundred grand of coke in that bowl of his. I’ll round up some dealers, if you want?’
‘Wait for the forensics. Check into our suspects first.’ Cullen tilted his head at Eva. ‘And support DC Law with family and friends.’
‘As well as chum you to Alba Bank?’ Jain glanced at Eva. ‘Anything else?’
‘I’ll get you out of it. You’re supervising the street teams.’
‘We finished yesterday, Scott.’
‘Now we’ve got an ID, we should speak to everyone again.’ Cullen stifled a yawn. ‘A name and a photograph might jog people’s memories better than my description.’
Jain gave a salute. ‘Okay, boss.’
‘Cheers.’ Cullen joined Methven at the whiteboard, trying to decipher the scribbles and arrows. Most of his cases on the right-hand side were green, just a couple of reds. ‘We need more resource, sir. Stuart Murray’s still on leave. Leaves me two short.’
Methven crouched to write something at the bottom. ‘Alison and I are on it.’
‘I’d like them before I head to Alba Bank.’
‘We’re going through proper channels, Sergeant. I’ll send them over to you if and when we secure any.’
‘Fine.’ Cullen crossed his arms. ‘I’m not taking Chantal with me to Alba Bank.’
‘You’re down to two leads. I want her backing you up there.’
‘Come on, sir. We’ve got—’
‘You’ve got a team. Use it.’
DS Holdsworth lumbered over, clutching a printout. ‘Sir, I need to have a word.’
‘I’ll see you later.’ Cullen made to leave.
Holdsworth blocked his exit. ‘Not so fast. It’s about you.’
‘What have I done now?’
Holdsworth handed the actions sheet to Methven, glaring at Cullen. ‘His actions and resources aren’t balanced.’
‘Is that a surprise?’
‘You need
Similar Books
