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Authors: Denzil Meyrick
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car, his look to the camera was frozen and enlarged; into place beside it slid another picture – JayMac, looking up into the camera as he was led into incarceration after his trial almost six years previously. Perhaps it was the similar pose that made the likeness so striking.
Donald stood up and turned to face his detectives. ‘Well, gentlemen, are either of you in any doubt as to the identity of the man we have just seen?’ He inclined his head.
‘No,’ said Brian Scott. ‘It’s him; there can be nae doubt. I’ve known him since I wiz a boy.’ He looked down, interlocked the fingers of both hands, and cracked them in a way that always set Daley’s teeth on edge.
‘Splendid,’ said Donald. ‘A rare outbreak of consensus between us, DS Scott.’ He went to sit behind a desk located under the big screen. ‘All three of us are experienced police officers, as well as rational human beings. Well, in the main,’ he said, eyeing Scott. ‘Employing the processes we have spent our working lives using, it is up to us not to wonder at the apparent resurrection of JayMac, rather to deduce how he did it. Any suggestions?’
Daley leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling with his hands behind his head. ‘The only possible explanation is that the man who died in the prison van was not Machie.’ He craned his head forward, looking at Donald.
‘Yes, I had reached a similar conclusion. What about you, Brian?’ Donald enquired.
‘Aye, all very well, but I saw him – come tae that half o’ the force saw him, an’ a’ the pathologists in Glasgow, the press, his family, every fuckin’ body. It wiz him on that slab, I fuckin’ swear it.’
‘And yet, you also affirm that the man in the Australian footage is him. Make up your mind, DS Scott.’ Donald looked down at the desk and sighed. ‘Our job is to deal in the here and now, and, as unpalatable as it may be, we have to deal with this second coming, or however you would like to term it.’
‘I wid prefer not tae term it anything,’ said Scott. ‘If ye remember, sir, he nearly killed me, and threatened tae make a better job o’ it the next time.’
‘I suppose we’ll have to go and see Frank MacDougall as soon as possible, sir,’ interrupted Daley. ‘How much does he know?’
‘That’s not clear, Jim,’ Donald replied. ‘He knows about the Dowies, however I’m sure that seeing his old partner in crime returned to life will be as big a shock to him as it’s been to us. Let’s get a coffee, gentlemen, then we’ll make tracks. We have plenty of time to try and work out how JayMac achieved this paranormal feat.’ Donald stood, picked up his files from the desk, and left the room.
‘And there you have it,’ said Daley.
‘Aye, simples,’ Scott said. ‘I’m tellin’ ye, Jim, this whole fuckin’ thing’s a nightmare. It gies me the shivers. I’ve been in the polis for a long time, an’ I’ve never seen the like.’
‘I’ve no idea how we’re going to keep this away from the media. That’s one part of his majesty’s job I don’t envy.’ Daley stood, then stretched and yawned. ‘I suppose we better get a coffee while we’ve a chance,’ he said to Scott who was rubbing his eyes with both hands.
‘It’s quite simple, Jimmy-boy – that’s just no’ goin’ tae happen. I’m surprised it’s no’ oot already.’ Scott shook his head grimly. ‘Dae me a favour. Can we take your motor tae Frank MacDougall’s? I’ve no’ got a clue where it is, an’ I just cannae cope wi’ any mair memos fae the gaffer.’
10
After consulting the large map on the wall in Donald’s temporary office, the three officers set off in Daley’s 4x4, much to the relief of his DS, who sat in the back looking idly out at the passing scenery.
‘I must say, Jim, you keep a nice car. Pity you can’t encourage the gentleman lurking in the back to do likewise,’ Donald said, as he glared at a Kinloch pedestrian peering at them
Donald stood up and turned to face his detectives. ‘Well, gentlemen, are either of you in any doubt as to the identity of the man we have just seen?’ He inclined his head.
‘No,’ said Brian Scott. ‘It’s him; there can be nae doubt. I’ve known him since I wiz a boy.’ He looked down, interlocked the fingers of both hands, and cracked them in a way that always set Daley’s teeth on edge.
‘Splendid,’ said Donald. ‘A rare outbreak of consensus between us, DS Scott.’ He went to sit behind a desk located under the big screen. ‘All three of us are experienced police officers, as well as rational human beings. Well, in the main,’ he said, eyeing Scott. ‘Employing the processes we have spent our working lives using, it is up to us not to wonder at the apparent resurrection of JayMac, rather to deduce how he did it. Any suggestions?’
Daley leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling with his hands behind his head. ‘The only possible explanation is that the man who died in the prison van was not Machie.’ He craned his head forward, looking at Donald.
‘Yes, I had reached a similar conclusion. What about you, Brian?’ Donald enquired.
‘Aye, all very well, but I saw him – come tae that half o’ the force saw him, an’ a’ the pathologists in Glasgow, the press, his family, every fuckin’ body. It wiz him on that slab, I fuckin’ swear it.’
‘And yet, you also affirm that the man in the Australian footage is him. Make up your mind, DS Scott.’ Donald looked down at the desk and sighed. ‘Our job is to deal in the here and now, and, as unpalatable as it may be, we have to deal with this second coming, or however you would like to term it.’
‘I wid prefer not tae term it anything,’ said Scott. ‘If ye remember, sir, he nearly killed me, and threatened tae make a better job o’ it the next time.’
‘I suppose we’ll have to go and see Frank MacDougall as soon as possible, sir,’ interrupted Daley. ‘How much does he know?’
‘That’s not clear, Jim,’ Donald replied. ‘He knows about the Dowies, however I’m sure that seeing his old partner in crime returned to life will be as big a shock to him as it’s been to us. Let’s get a coffee, gentlemen, then we’ll make tracks. We have plenty of time to try and work out how JayMac achieved this paranormal feat.’ Donald stood, picked up his files from the desk, and left the room.
‘And there you have it,’ said Daley.
‘Aye, simples,’ Scott said. ‘I’m tellin’ ye, Jim, this whole fuckin’ thing’s a nightmare. It gies me the shivers. I’ve been in the polis for a long time, an’ I’ve never seen the like.’
‘I’ve no idea how we’re going to keep this away from the media. That’s one part of his majesty’s job I don’t envy.’ Daley stood, then stretched and yawned. ‘I suppose we better get a coffee while we’ve a chance,’ he said to Scott who was rubbing his eyes with both hands.
‘It’s quite simple, Jimmy-boy – that’s just no’ goin’ tae happen. I’m surprised it’s no’ oot already.’ Scott shook his head grimly. ‘Dae me a favour. Can we take your motor tae Frank MacDougall’s? I’ve no’ got a clue where it is, an’ I just cannae cope wi’ any mair memos fae the gaffer.’
10
After consulting the large map on the wall in Donald’s temporary office, the three officers set off in Daley’s 4x4, much to the relief of his DS, who sat in the back looking idly out at the passing scenery.
‘I must say, Jim, you keep a nice car. Pity you can’t encourage the gentleman lurking in the back to do likewise,’ Donald said, as he glared at a Kinloch pedestrian peering at them
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