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‘I did hear. Is she in?’
‘She is, but her diary is a bit chock-a-block, something urgent?’
‘Aye, urgent and sensitive.’
‘Okay, I’ll have a word in her ear and see if I can squeeze you in. When are you coming?’
‘As soon as I can get there from Gartcosh, if that’s okay?’
‘I’ll let her know.’
Deputy Chief Constable Louise Campbell sat across the wide teak desk and appraised Miles Wakefield, who had a cup of coffee in his hand and a notebook open on his lap. She was small and compact, immaculately smart with neat bobbed hair and she wore a blue business suit with a tastefully sombre blouse. She smiled widely when they were introduced, showing even white teeth. Despite twenty-five years in southern England, her accent was still softly Scottish, but it carried an edge of steel. She was a true careerist, service in London and several provincial forces as she climbed the ladder with her eyes on the top job, wherever that may be.
‘Okay, Miles, forgive me, but this is a little irregular, no? A somewhat shady lawyer for two convicted gangsters who had corrupted senior officers in this very force contacts you direct about this extremely sensitive situation rather than use a more formal avenue of approach?’
‘I get it seems a bit iffy, boss. I’ve known Hamilton for some time when I was a DI investigating the Hardie family and he was representing them on a money laundering situation, and of course I oversaw the case that landed them in jail. Seems he still has a number for me, so as the situation with Davie Hardie is a little sensitive, he came direct. Our association has only ever been professional.’
‘I’m not suggesting anything other than that, Miles. I’ve read about the Tam Hardie Junior investigation. He’s still missing after his escape from Saughton, I understand?’
‘Aye.’
‘Is the lawyer straight?’
Wakefield grimaced. ‘Put it this way, we have no evidence ofmalpractice, but a bent cop in custody at Wick who he was representing managed to get hold of a razor and cut his throat in prisoner transport, and the last person he was alone with was Hamilton. Nothing could be proved, but you don’t represent a family like the Hardies for as many years as he has without learning a few strokes.’
‘But this is a genuine misper case?’
‘Aye, six years ago. Polish sex worker, no trace ever found of her, but there was some evidence that she was planning on returning to Poland.’
‘What evidence?’
‘Hasty packing, no passport found, and the computer at her tenement had searches for flights, and she had registered on some job sites in Krakow. A friend at the time said that she was pretty depressed and was in a fair bit of debt, which is borne out by her financials. Several maxed out credit cards and a heavy overdraft. Her pal said that there was a man, but no details were known. I guess she didn’t fit the profile that would attract attention and go viral. It seems that from what I can see, she just disappeared, and no one cared enough to keep it in the public arena. Shame, but the way it is, boss.’
DCC Campbell nodded sadly and paused. The harsh realities of missing persons hung unspoken in the office. Some attract massive public attention, whereas others attract none. A Polish sex worker was unlikely to garner significant public sympathy, and could easily join the many missing persons who are never found, and simply disappear without trace. ‘Yet Hardie’s claim is that someone notable has had her murdered, yes?’
‘Well, he says that he can lead us to the body, and that he knows of evidence which will expose who’s guilty, so I think we have to go with it. Hamilton is threatening to go to the press if we don’t, and those are headlines I suspect we don’t want with the corruption scandals that have been unearthed by DI Ross Fraser’s team recently.’
‘Yes. I’ve read about those, and it’s part of the reason I’ve been brought in. I can’t say I’m totally comfortable with a small team sittingoutside of professional standards oversight and seemingly with minimal supervision. Doesn’t assist a corporate approach, but I can see why Mr Macdonald felt the need at that particular moment in time. Hopefully with the processes I’m implementing it won’t be necessary for much longer. Okay, Miles, I’m happy for you to take point on this. Do you have anyone in mind to make first contact with Hardie?’
‘Yes, ma’am. I’ll have DS Lenny Maxwell and DC Ann Laithwaite from Covert Source Management make the approach at Shotts and we can take it from there. Both are first-rate tier three and four interviewers, and are used to the most sensitive of tasks so can handle anything.’
‘That’s good. I want you to oversee it until we know what we have. Once we have clarity, we can appoint an SIO and have a team take primacy for the homicide investigation if that’s what we have. I don’t want a massive operation, only to find that Hardie is leading us down the garden path, just the bare minimum to make sure it’s safe.’
‘How about Craigie?’
‘Well, I think it’s wise he and the whole “Policing Standards Reassurance Team”,’ she said, using her fingers to indicate speech marks, ‘are kept well away from this. When we consider the confrontations between DS Craigie, and for that matter DC Calder, and the Hardie family it would be very easy for allegations to be made of prejudice. I want this to be kept covert and low key, and I want you to report direct to me, Miles.’
‘Understood.’
‘Last thing we need is a big tabloid splash about investigations that aren’t dispassionate or are influenced by prejudice. Get Hardie interviewed, and then get him out to identify the disposal site. If that bears out, then we’re on. Have you spoken to the Crown Office?’ She looked directly at Miles, her dark brown eyes boring into his.
‘Not yet.’
‘Okay. Leave that to me, the new Crown Agent, Finn Townsend, has only recently been appointed, and he’s made it clear that he wants early briefings on matters such as this. I don’t think we need to do it untilwe’ve looked into the veracity of this claim. We all know that it can be a little leaky in that building, and it isn’t the time until we have a body. Without a body, there isn’t a case, is there? I mean, it’s not as if Hardie is exactly an ideal witness.’ It was a statement rather than a question.
‘I’d call that an understatement, boss.’
‘Legally, I don’t think this will be much of a challenge as long as there is no involvement by Hardie. He’s not going to be getting released early, just moved to a more favourable environment and his parole date fixed. The Crown Office can make the call on immunity once we know more, but any evidence that he was involved at any significant level, then the deal’s off, as far as I’m concerned. Any suggestion of that, and he’ll become a suspect as much as anyone else. We have to be totally above board, and investigate this matter without fear or favour, is that clear?’
