Read Online The Elemental (Blair Dubh Trilogy #1) by Heather Atkinson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Heather Atkinson
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said.
“ There’s been a death,” he replied.
“ Who?”
“ Catriona.”
Her hand flew to her mouth, eyes widening with shock. “What happened?”
“ We’re not sure yet.” He thought it best to lie to her for now. If she knew the truth she’d think it was happening again and he’d no proof of that. This was how the murders started last time, with a drowning in a bath tub. “Just stay inside and I’ll be back to update you.”
Her eyes swept to the cars and vans pulling up outside Catriona ’s cottage, numerous fluorescent jackets leaping out of the vehicles and she was so nervous he could see the pulse jump in her throat. “Okay, thanks,” she said before hastily closing the door.
It was almost midnight by the time Catriona’s body was taken away. Normally CSI wouldn’t have been in such a rush but the road was becoming impassable and they wanted to get her out while they still could.
“ Sergeant Donaldson, I want you and two PC’s to stay in the village. I don’t want it cut off without a police presence with a murderer on the loose,” said the Procurator Fiscal, a tall almost skeletal man with fuzzy gray hair. “DI Armstrong is following up on a case in West Kilbride and will come straight here as soon as she gets done.”
Craig felt better knowing a detective was going to take over responsibility, however DI Armstrong was a bitch of the first order. If anything went wrong she ’d be sure to pin the blame squarely on him, it was how she operated. “Yes Sir. McKay, Reid congratulations, you’ve drawn the short straws. You’re spending the night here.”
Neither of the young PC ’s appeared thrilled at the prospect but McKay was highly intelligent with a talent for getting people to open up to him while Reid was as hard as nails. Just the sort of officers you wanted with a killer on the loose.
“ Sir, are you aware of what happened here fifteen years ago?” Craig asked the Fiscal.
“ The Elemental Murders? Isn’t everybody? I believe the daughter of the fourth victim has just returned to the village?”
“ Yes Sir, Freya Macalister.”
“ And she has an extensive criminal record.”
“ Nothing in this league.”
The Fiscal frowned at the defensiveness in his tone. “Sergeant, I trust in your ability to remain neutral and detached. I want you to prove you deserve your reputation.”
“ Yes Sir,” he icily replied.
“ Fine. Now I’m out of here before I get trapped in this Godforsaken place,” he said, seemingly forgetting it was Craig’s home.
“ So, what first?” said PC Reid, a strapping six footer with a shaved head and deep set blue eyes. “Want me to interview Miss Macalister?”
“ Now why would I want you to do that?” replied Craig.
“ Just a hope. I saw her standing at her door. I love Goth birds. Very tasty.”
Both PC ’s were surprised when Craig’s expression hardened.
“ What have I said?” pouted Reid.
“ We’re here to find whoever held a woman’s head underwater until she drowned. We are not here to have fun. If neither of you can grasp that fact then you can fuck off right now.”
“ Sorry Sarge,” said Reid, hanging his head.
Even though he hadn ’t done anything wrong Craig glared at McKay too for good measure, who likewise bowed his head.
“ PC McKay, you speak to everyone in the surrounding cottages, see if they saw anything.” The tall lanky man with brown hair and the baby face nodded.
“PC Reid, you have the honour of guarding the crime scene. All night.”
“ Sarge,” he muttered.
“ I’ll go and interview Miss Macalister. The privilege of rank, eh Boys?” he called over his shoulder as he wandered outside and down the road to Freya’s cottage.
Not surprisingly, she was still wide awake when he arrived.
“Come on in,” she said. “You look freezing.”
Craig was pleased she ’d let him in. After what he’d been told about PC Docherty he’d assumed she’d make him stand on the doorstep.
“
“ There’s been a death,” he replied.
“ Who?”
“ Catriona.”
Her hand flew to her mouth, eyes widening with shock. “What happened?”
“ We’re not sure yet.” He thought it best to lie to her for now. If she knew the truth she’d think it was happening again and he’d no proof of that. This was how the murders started last time, with a drowning in a bath tub. “Just stay inside and I’ll be back to update you.”
Her eyes swept to the cars and vans pulling up outside Catriona ’s cottage, numerous fluorescent jackets leaping out of the vehicles and she was so nervous he could see the pulse jump in her throat. “Okay, thanks,” she said before hastily closing the door.
It was almost midnight by the time Catriona’s body was taken away. Normally CSI wouldn’t have been in such a rush but the road was becoming impassable and they wanted to get her out while they still could.
“ Sergeant Donaldson, I want you and two PC’s to stay in the village. I don’t want it cut off without a police presence with a murderer on the loose,” said the Procurator Fiscal, a tall almost skeletal man with fuzzy gray hair. “DI Armstrong is following up on a case in West Kilbride and will come straight here as soon as she gets done.”
Craig felt better knowing a detective was going to take over responsibility, however DI Armstrong was a bitch of the first order. If anything went wrong she ’d be sure to pin the blame squarely on him, it was how she operated. “Yes Sir. McKay, Reid congratulations, you’ve drawn the short straws. You’re spending the night here.”
Neither of the young PC ’s appeared thrilled at the prospect but McKay was highly intelligent with a talent for getting people to open up to him while Reid was as hard as nails. Just the sort of officers you wanted with a killer on the loose.
“ Sir, are you aware of what happened here fifteen years ago?” Craig asked the Fiscal.
“ The Elemental Murders? Isn’t everybody? I believe the daughter of the fourth victim has just returned to the village?”
“ Yes Sir, Freya Macalister.”
“ And she has an extensive criminal record.”
“ Nothing in this league.”
The Fiscal frowned at the defensiveness in his tone. “Sergeant, I trust in your ability to remain neutral and detached. I want you to prove you deserve your reputation.”
“ Yes Sir,” he icily replied.
“ Fine. Now I’m out of here before I get trapped in this Godforsaken place,” he said, seemingly forgetting it was Craig’s home.
“ So, what first?” said PC Reid, a strapping six footer with a shaved head and deep set blue eyes. “Want me to interview Miss Macalister?”
“ Now why would I want you to do that?” replied Craig.
“ Just a hope. I saw her standing at her door. I love Goth birds. Very tasty.”
Both PC ’s were surprised when Craig’s expression hardened.
“ What have I said?” pouted Reid.
“ We’re here to find whoever held a woman’s head underwater until she drowned. We are not here to have fun. If neither of you can grasp that fact then you can fuck off right now.”
“ Sorry Sarge,” said Reid, hanging his head.
Even though he hadn ’t done anything wrong Craig glared at McKay too for good measure, who likewise bowed his head.
“ PC McKay, you speak to everyone in the surrounding cottages, see if they saw anything.” The tall lanky man with brown hair and the baby face nodded.
“PC Reid, you have the honour of guarding the crime scene. All night.”
“ Sarge,” he muttered.
“ I’ll go and interview Miss Macalister. The privilege of rank, eh Boys?” he called over his shoulder as he wandered outside and down the road to Freya’s cottage.
Not surprisingly, she was still wide awake when he arrived.
“Come on in,” she said. “You look freezing.”
Craig was pleased she ’d let him in. After what he’d been told about PC Docherty he’d assumed she’d make him stand on the doorstep.
“
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