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‘Hi Kate.’ Dan gave her his shy smile. ‘Let me know if there’s anything you need to tie up the baby milk file. I’d be happy to help. Is the boss free?’ He pointed towards Shona, now replacing box files on top of the filing cabinets in her office.
‘Looks like it. Go and ask.’ Kate smiled back. ‘Oh, and thanks for the offer, I’ll let you know.’
‘Looks like you’ve made a wee conquest there,’ Ravi said slyly to Kate as Dan tapped on the glass of Shona’s office and was waved in.
‘Jealous? What’s the matter, girlfriend? Can’t stand the competition?’ Kate shot back, arching an eyebrow.
Ravi laughed. ‘Aye well, I’ll let you have this one, but I still think he’s too nice for a crabby tight-arse like you.’
Kate balled the silver paper from her snack and threw it at him, earning a frown from Murdo in the corner. ‘Hoy, youse two. Back to work.’
Shona pulled her navy coat over her dark suit. ‘To what do we owe the pleasure?’ She smiled at Dan. ‘You flavour of the month in Carlisle? You should be – all that evidence from Campbell’s flat. Linking the murderer of a police officer to a major drugs dealer. It was you knocking on doors in Jamie Buckland’s street that set us in the right direction. Well done,’ she said.
‘But I wasn’t quick enough to stop him getting to you and Becca, was I?’
‘Nothing you could do. Campbell came straight from Glasgow.’ Shona dismissed his guilt. ‘The fact you’re beating yourself up for it shows what a good cop you are. What are you here for anyway?’
‘Nothing, I just… tie up some ends.’ Dan shrugged.
‘I’m off to Kilmarnock. Walk me out.’ Shona grabbed her handbag.
In the car park she stopped by the Audi. ‘Everything all right with DCI Lambert, Dan?’
‘Yeah, he’s busy claiming
all the credit he can. He hasn’t said a word to me but that’s a bonus as far as I’m concerned.’
‘Good,’ said Shona firmly as she unlocked the car.
‘Boss,’ said Dan. ‘I don’t suppose there’s any vacancies coming up here?’
Shona leaned on the half-open car door. ‘You want to work in Scotland?’
‘I want to work with you, boss,’
Shona smiled. ‘We’ll that’s very flattering to hear.’
‘I mean it,’ said Dan with resolve. ‘I’ve learned more working with you than I have in the past five years in Carlisle. And we get on okay, don’t we?’
‘Yeah, we do.’ Shona had to admit she liked Dan a great deal. He had the makings of an excellent officer. Maybe an even better friend. He was clever and thoughtful, and she’d had no hesitation on calling on him when the chips were down.
‘Okay, here’s the deal. Stick in at Cumbria, build your skills. You’re good, and one day you’ll be very good. If there’s any cross-border stuff, I’ll make sure we give you a call. Okay?’
‘Yeah?’
‘Yeah.’ Shona couldn’t help smiling at his enthusiasm. ‘I have to go. See you soon.’
* * *
Detective Superintendent Malcolm ‘Mars Bar’ Munroe beamed at her when she arrived at his corner office with its view over Kilmarnock. A cafetière of freshly brewed coffee sat on the low table in front of Munroe’s desk. Shona shot a surreptitious glance at the plate placed next to it. There were none of the eponymous chocolate bars, only biscuits. ‘Knew I did the right thing appointing you,’ he congratulated himself as he took her coat and bid her sit down. ‘Procurator Fiscal is beside himself with glee over that dossier of Baird’s you found. Looks like Hanlon will put up his hands, plead he was on a social mission to reform the drugs trade, or the like. Mind you, he’ll probably do his time, write a book and be on every chat show as soon as he gets out.’
‘What about the murders?’ Shona asked, accepting coffee from Munroe.
‘The lawyers will distance him from Evan Campbell, even with the CCTV and documents. Can you imagine how Hanlon will work a jury?’
Shona could imagine it. The contrite martyr led astray. His charity work, his role in the Scottish Trade Against Crime project, which she was convinced was little more than a cover for his criminal activities. The jury would probably give him a round of applause. ‘What will happen about DCI Baird, sir?’
‘DCI Baird was compiling the dossier as part of Operation Fortress. He had his suspicions about Mr Hanlon but, due to The Enterpriser’s high profile, the information was kept between Baird and me. Unfortunately, DCI Baird fell in the line of duty before he could complete the case. That’s the line we’re sticking to, Shona, understand? I expect scrupulous honesty in my officers, but Baird has paid with his life. I’m no friend to a dishonest cop but there’s nothing to be gained from making Baird the scapegoat in this.’
