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Authors: Edward Marston
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fare-cutting and violence had all been used but, so far, nothing on the scale of the crash.
‘How will the Caledonian respond?’ asked Colbeck.
‘That’s for Mr Craig to decide.’
‘Would he feel obliged to strike back at the company he feels is responsible?’
‘I’m sure that the notion would have some appeal to him,’ said Rae, ‘but he’s sensible enough to know that you cannot atone for one criminal act with another.’
‘Yet, from what you’ve told me, the Caledonian has already committed criminal acts in pursuit of its ambitions.’
‘Nothing conclusive has been proved, Inspector. But those of us aware of the antics of railway companies north of the border know that every one of them has sailed close to the wind.’
‘That’s a strange metaphor to use of a land-based mode of transport.’
Rae laughed. ‘Yes, I suppose that it was ill-chosen.’ He became more businesslike. ‘What do you propose to do next?’
‘I’ll endeavour not to tread on your toes, Inspector.’
‘Thank you.’
‘It shouldn’t be difficult to keep out of each other’s way,’ said Colbeck. ‘For the most part, I suspect, we’ll be looking in different places.’
‘But sharing any evidence we unearth, I trust.’
‘That goes without saying.’
‘I believe that it has to be said,’ insisted Rae. ‘According to Superintendent McTurk, you have a habit of keeping things to yourself. That, at least, was his experience when you worked together on a previous occasion.’
‘Don’t rely too much on the superintendent’s powers of recall,’ said Colbeck, brusquely. ‘They are coloured by the fact that he was given a sharp rebuke by his employers when I exposed the derelictions of the men working under him. McTurk did nothing to advance that particular investigation. I hope that he will be more supportive in this one.’
‘I find him a source of useful information.’
‘Then we must both tap into it.’
‘I’m glad that we agree on that.’
In other circumstances, Colbeck felt that he could like Rae and the latter clearly had a grudging admiration for the feats of the Railway Detective. Geography divided them. An English detective was investigating a crime in Scotland. Inevitably, he was seen as an interloper. The relationship between the two men would never cross the border into anything stronger than professional respect.
They were still discussing their plans when Nairn Craig came over to them.
‘Good morning, gentlemen,’ he said, receiving their greetings in return. ‘I have one piece of cheering news for you. The cause of the fatal accident was so obvious that the railway inspector, Major Kean, has already completed his report. Neither of you will be bothered by him.’
‘That’s a relief,’ said Rae.
‘Yes,’ added Colbeck. ‘Two inspectors are enough for any investigation. A third would take us into the realms of overcrowding.’
‘What about the sheriff?’
‘He wants to be kept abreast of developments at every stage,’ said Craig. ‘Apart from anything else, he holds a lot of shares in the Caledonian. But I can see why you asked that question, Inspector. You wanted to know if the sheriff was likely to impede your inquiry. He gave me his word that he would not do so and,’ he went on with a glance at Colbeck, ‘he was thrilled to hear that we’d called
you
in.’
‘I’m glad that somebody other than you feels that I have a place here,’ said Colbeck. ‘It may take longer to convince most people of my usefulness.’
‘Oh, I accept that you are useful,’ said Rae with a broadening smile. ‘What is not so clear is whether your presence is necessary.’
‘Indeed, it is,’ said Craig, forcefully.
‘We shall see.’
‘Inspector Colbeck towers above any other detective.’
‘I dispute that, Mr Craig. Put us back to back and you’d see that he and I are of roughly equivalent height.’ He inclined his head. ‘Excuse me, gentlemen. Duty calls.’
After beaming
‘How will the Caledonian respond?’ asked Colbeck.
‘That’s for Mr Craig to decide.’
‘Would he feel obliged to strike back at the company he feels is responsible?’
‘I’m sure that the notion would have some appeal to him,’ said Rae, ‘but he’s sensible enough to know that you cannot atone for one criminal act with another.’
‘Yet, from what you’ve told me, the Caledonian has already committed criminal acts in pursuit of its ambitions.’
‘Nothing conclusive has been proved, Inspector. But those of us aware of the antics of railway companies north of the border know that every one of them has sailed close to the wind.’
‘That’s a strange metaphor to use of a land-based mode of transport.’
Rae laughed. ‘Yes, I suppose that it was ill-chosen.’ He became more businesslike. ‘What do you propose to do next?’
‘I’ll endeavour not to tread on your toes, Inspector.’
‘Thank you.’
‘It shouldn’t be difficult to keep out of each other’s way,’ said Colbeck. ‘For the most part, I suspect, we’ll be looking in different places.’
‘But sharing any evidence we unearth, I trust.’
‘That goes without saying.’
‘I believe that it has to be said,’ insisted Rae. ‘According to Superintendent McTurk, you have a habit of keeping things to yourself. That, at least, was his experience when you worked together on a previous occasion.’
‘Don’t rely too much on the superintendent’s powers of recall,’ said Colbeck, brusquely. ‘They are coloured by the fact that he was given a sharp rebuke by his employers when I exposed the derelictions of the men working under him. McTurk did nothing to advance that particular investigation. I hope that he will be more supportive in this one.’
‘I find him a source of useful information.’
‘Then we must both tap into it.’
‘I’m glad that we agree on that.’
In other circumstances, Colbeck felt that he could like Rae and the latter clearly had a grudging admiration for the feats of the Railway Detective. Geography divided them. An English detective was investigating a crime in Scotland. Inevitably, he was seen as an interloper. The relationship between the two men would never cross the border into anything stronger than professional respect.
They were still discussing their plans when Nairn Craig came over to them.
‘Good morning, gentlemen,’ he said, receiving their greetings in return. ‘I have one piece of cheering news for you. The cause of the fatal accident was so obvious that the railway inspector, Major Kean, has already completed his report. Neither of you will be bothered by him.’
‘That’s a relief,’ said Rae.
‘Yes,’ added Colbeck. ‘Two inspectors are enough for any investigation. A third would take us into the realms of overcrowding.’
‘What about the sheriff?’
‘He wants to be kept abreast of developments at every stage,’ said Craig. ‘Apart from anything else, he holds a lot of shares in the Caledonian. But I can see why you asked that question, Inspector. You wanted to know if the sheriff was likely to impede your inquiry. He gave me his word that he would not do so and,’ he went on with a glance at Colbeck, ‘he was thrilled to hear that we’d called
you
in.’
‘I’m glad that somebody other than you feels that I have a place here,’ said Colbeck. ‘It may take longer to convince most people of my usefulness.’
‘Oh, I accept that you are useful,’ said Rae with a broadening smile. ‘What is not so clear is whether your presence is necessary.’
‘Indeed, it is,’ said Craig, forcefully.
‘We shall see.’
‘Inspector Colbeck towers above any other detective.’
‘I dispute that, Mr Craig. Put us back to back and you’d see that he and I are of roughly equivalent height.’ He inclined his head. ‘Excuse me, gentlemen. Duty calls.’
After beaming
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