Madness Lies Read online

  She almost asked for fags in the shop on Grant Street. Her hands shaking, she paid for her milk and chewing gum. All she could think of as she walked down the road was lighting up and inhaling, and how good that would feel.

  On Thornbush Road, a fancy blue convertible was coming towards her. The driver slowed down. He was wearing dark glasses and a baseball cap. He smiled at her. Less than a minute later, she heard a car slowing behind her and stopping. It was the convertible; he must have turned. The passenger window came down. The driver was still smiling as he leaned across the passenger seat and removed his sunglasses and baseball cap. ‘Hi Sharon.’

  It took a while for her to recognise him. He looked so different. His eyes were bright and his skin was brown and healthy. He had a neat beard, and his hair was shorter. He almost looked like a caricature of the pale man that had reeled her in last year. ‘Mac, what the fuck?’

  ‘Can we talk?’

  *

  She needed her head seen to, sitting in a car with a killer, at the old ferry point. But he’d been a good friend, Mac or Stephen, or whatever he was calling himself now, until he gave her smack and murdered her neighbour. Still, she knew she was in no danger from him. He was staring at her as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. ‘Sharon, look at you; you’re gorgeous.’

  ‘Thank you. Don’t even think of coming on to me.’

  ‘Wish I could, but that ship sailed long ago. Probably around the age of eleven.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  He shrugged. ‘Relationships are not for me. Maybe if my childhood had been different…Who knows?’

  ‘You and me both. Why did you kill Moira Jacobs?’

  ‘I didn’t mean to. I just wanted some answers, but she hit me first and I lost it. It all goes back to when I was eleven. The defining chapter of my life. Without her, things would have been very different. Sharon, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done what I did to you. Giving you that shit. It was unforgivable.’

  ‘Aye, it was, you bastard. But guess what? I haven’t touched it since. And apart from the last two days, I’ve hardly even thought about it.’

  Her phone rang. It was Smish. All he could tell her was that Todd was an evil bastard, and she should have nothing to do with him. No one knew where he lived or what his surname was, but the rubbish he was selling had killed two people in the last year.

  Sharon rolled her eyes. ‘Smish, I could have told you most of that, and given you his surname. That wasn’t really what I was looking for. Is that it? Thirty quid’s worth?’

  ‘I’ll throw in a couple of wraps. It’s good stuff. I’ll bring it down now, if you like.’

  ‘Nah, you’re all right. Save it for some other mug.’ She shook her head as she ended the call. ‘Tosser. So, last I heard, you’d jumped into the sea after stabbing Joe Galbraith. That’s not on. He’s a good guy.’

  Stephen nodded. ‘He probably is. Have the cops been down to see you yet?’

  She smiled. ‘Aye, once or twice. I’m on my way back from seeing Galbraith at the station now. But not about you. So you didn’t drown. How did you manage to stay hidden this long?’

  ‘You know how they say truth is often stranger than fiction?’ He smiled and shook his head. ‘I still can’t believe it worked. I did want to die, but it just wasn’t happening, so I swam ashore. I had clothes and camping gear in the boot of my hire car. I walked to Leverburgh while the emergency services were battling to save the Galbraiths. Hitched a ride to Uist inside a roll of carpet in a van bound for a village hall sale. The cops gave that van a good going over; they just didn’t think to look inside the carpet.

  ‘I spent two months in the hills with only a tent, a fishing line, a box of matches, and some purification tablets. I didn’t emerge until I’d grown a massive beard, then I acted the role of village idiot, which I did rather well. I’d be there now if Galbraith’s girlfriend wasn’t related to the nearest crofter.’

  ‘That’s some story.’ Sharon ran her hand over the black leather dashboard. ‘How have you managed to afford a motor like this?’

  ‘As if. It belongs to a pal. Well, not really a pal; an acquaintance who’s scared of what I know about him. A quick call to Davie today and he couldn’t do enough.’ He stared out across the Firth. ‘I’m leaving Inverness tonight. I didn’t want to go without seeing you. I went round to the flat just now. I wanted to tell you how much you meant to me. I was too messed up at the time to treat you like the good friend you were.’

  Sharon shrugged. ‘Story of my life. I met someone nearly a year ago, first guy since Peter. His name’s Christopher, and he’s…he’s been fantastic.’

  Stephen nodded. ‘Liam looked happy to see him just now.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘At the play park. He just picked Liam up in his car.’

  There was a rushing sound in Sharon’s ears. She shook her head. ‘He didn’t pick Liam up; he can’t have. What was this guy like?’

  ‘Didn’t see his face. Big, bald. Driving a black Lexus.’

  ***

  Chapter 57

  Lucy didn’t go home. Drew took her to the police station to give a statement, then they went to Riva for a meal, and back to his house. It was a single man’s house if ever she’d seen one, and she’d seen a few. No sign of a wife, and the only ornamentation was a few photographs of Maya. A single man with a cleaner, she suspected, as she flushed the clean toilet and washed her hands in the sparkling sink.

  She’d told him a bit about Stephen and the Harris experience. Not everything, but enough for him to insist that she wasn’t going home to her folks’ house, not unless Joe was there. He said he knew he’d heard the name Joe Galbraith before, and then he remembered the press coverage and the search for Stephen MacLaren. She didn’t tell him she was no longer scared. Stephen had said he would never hurt her, that he was sorry for all he’d done. He was a different person now, and he meant her no harm. And she’d believed him. If Joe hadn’t almost exploded when she told him that, she’d have gone home alone without any worries.

  Drew smiled when she came into the living room. He was sitting on the chair. There was a glass of wine for her on a small table beside the sofa. ‘I hope you don’t think I’ve hijacked you?’

  She shook her head. ‘It was good of you. I’m sure I’d have been fine at home, though. They’d have arranged protection for me, but I guess they’re a bit stretched at the moment. When I had coffee with Joe this afternoon, he said they’d found another body today. They’re still looking for the killer.’ She stared at Drew. ‘And you’re smiling why, exactly?’

  ‘Sorry. I hope they get the bastard soon.’

  There was still a hint of a smile on his face. She frowned. ‘You’re freaking me out now. Next you’ll be telling me you’re the killer. It’s par for the course where I’m concerned. Fly paper for freaks, that’s me.’

  ‘Lucy, don’t say that. Look at you; of course you’re going to attract guys. It’s just bad luck that one of them happened to be a psycho. You weren’t to know.’

  ‘I didn’t exactly attract him, as such. There was a reason he targeted me, and it wouldn’t have mattered how I looked, but I don’t want to go there just now. So why were you smiling?’

  ‘Because you said you met your brother this afternoon, and I’m hoping it was his hand you were holding in the café.’

  Lucy blushed and nodded.

  Drew’s smile spread across his face. ‘He didn’t look at all dodgy; I lied. How about watching a film? Take your mind off things? I’ll drive you home when you hear from Joe.’

  ‘I’ll get a taxi – you can have some wine. Or Joe can pick me up here.’

  He shook his head. ‘I need to keep my wits about me.’ He lowered his voice. ‘Maybe we were followed.’

  She threw a cushion at him, then they watched the first of the original Star Wars trilogy. But it wasn’t really the first, she said; hadn’t they released two prequels later? Drew rolled his eyes. This was the first, and that was that
.

  *

  Sharon grabbed Stephen’s arm. ‘When was this?’

  He looked at the clock in the car. ‘Ten minutes ago. Not long before I saw you. Liam looked really happy, so I didn’t think anything of it. I didn’t want to speak to him, in case I gave him a fright. What is it?’

  Her hands shaking, she took her phone from her pocket. ‘Police. I’ve got to phone the police. He’s going to kill Liam.’ Her hands wouldn’t work. She dropped the phone on the floor of the car. It rang. She didn’t recognise the number.

  Liam sounded so happy. ‘Hi Mam. Your friend Todd’s taking me to a Harry Potter place. He says I’ll meet my dad there. I’m in his car now.’

  ‘Son. Liam.’ Sharon closed her eyes. What could she say? He’s going to kill you? Get out of the car? There was nothing she could say.

  ‘Todd says you can come too, if you can find the bridges, but you’ve got to keep it a secret. Remember Mam, a big big secret. You can’t tell anyone.’

  In the background she heard deep laughter.

  ‘See you soon, Mam. I love you.’

  The line went dead before she could tell him just how much she loved him back.

  Sharon stumbled out of the car. On her knees, she vomited on the ground. Nothing there but coffee. She wanted to cry out, but the lump that had stopped her from eating earlier was growing in her throat, stopping her breathing. Her whole body was shaking, her head spinning, and she couldn’t stand.

  She felt Stephen’s hand on her shoulder. He was crouched beside her. ‘Breathe, Sharon; just breathe. Tell me what I can do.’

  ‘Nothing.’ She could hardly get the words out. ‘You can’t do anything. He’s going to kill him.’

  He grabbed her by the elbow and tugged. ‘Get up, Sharon. Quick. In the car. Do you know where they’re going?’

  She nodded. ‘Evanton. Black Rock Gorge.’

  He helped her to the car, pushing her down into the seat. He closed the door and ran round the other side. He started up the engine. ‘I know where the gorge is. Do you want me to phone the police?’

  She shook her head. ‘He said it’s a secret. I can’t tell anyone.’

  Stephen nodded. ‘Okay. Just keep breathing. When you’re up to it, tell me what’s going on.’

  They were on the Kessock Bridge before Sharon spoke again. ‘Do you believe in God?’

  Stephen shrugged. ‘Probably not. You?’

  ‘Dunno. Do you think a prayer would help? A silent one.’

  Stephen put his hand on her arm. ‘Go for it.’

  ***

  Chapter 58

  There were questions tumbling round in Joe’s head, as he paced back and fore. It wasn’t just the letter. Brent’s prints weren’t on the photos of Katya Birze. Only Sharon’s. Unless she had printed them, someone had wiped those photos before they went in the drawer. And the mug they had found in Castlefield didn’t match any of the crockery in that flat. It matched a set of mugs at Ness Castle. Did Curtis have access to Brent’s house? How difficult would it be for Curtis to plant the business card, the photos and the mug? Joe had passed a note to DI Black asking him to check the mug with Allingham.

  Roberts was watching him. ‘Penny for them.’

  Joe sat. ‘I’m not convinced about Brent. The post mortem results don’t tie in with the timescale we’ve got from Sharon or the guy that reported seeing Katya.’

  ‘The walking stick? The number plates? Pretty compelling.’

  Joe nodded. ‘I know. Listen, I can’t help thinking Curtis must hate Sharon because she’s taken Brent away from him. She doesn’t think she’s in any danger, but I’m not convinced. I’m going to have a quick word with Ryan, then we’ll go down and see Sharon, ask her to stay somewhere else for a few days.’ He was leaving the room when the phone rang. He listened and nodded. He cut the call and shook his head.

  Roberts looked impatient. ‘Well?’

  ‘Someone has been watching Brent. Cameras in his house, and they’re covered in Curtis’s prints.’

  Roberts’ eye widened. ‘Looks like you might be right about Brent. Maybe he’d talk now, if all this was put to him.’

  Joe nodded. ‘Maybe. I’ll have a word with the DI when we get back. There’s more. Nancy Connor’s baby was adopted by William and Ann Curtis. They lived in London.’

  Roberts grimaced. ‘Curtis killed his birth mother.’

  The little colour that remained on Ryan’s face drained as he remembered. ‘Curtis had photos of Liam. The day we were in his car. I forgot. How could I forget that? You have to keep them safe; both of them.’

  The early evening traffic was quiet. They were on Grant Street when the call came. Roberts answered. ‘Aye. On our way to see Sharon MacRae. Liam? When?’

  Joe pulled into a bus stop. Roberts’ face was ashen. ‘Harry Potter place? What the hell does that mean? Can you find out? I don’t know. Try Google – Harry Potter, Inverness – something like that? Yes, I’ll hold.’

  ‘What is it?’ Joe asked.

  ‘I think Curtis has Liam. A neighbour’s child has just come in and told her mum that a bald man in a big black car took Liam away from the play park about twenty minutes ago. Said something about taking him to a Harry Potter place and then he was going to see his dad.’

  ‘See his dad?’ Joe’s heart started racing. He heard a tiny voice from the phone.

  Roberts nodded. ‘Yeah. Still here. Still waiting. Filming? Yeah, good idea. No, it’s not going to be the viaduct at Glenfinnan. Have you any idea how far that is from here? Keep looking. Anywhere else they filmed? Evanton?’ He looked at Joe and rolled his eyes. ‘Why would they film anything in Evanton? Oh. Black Rock Gorge? Right, we’re on our way. Find out exactly where it is. And tell DI Black or DCI MacBain we need an armed response unit. Now.’

  Joe had already turned the car. ‘Get you, Sergeant Roberts – well done.’

  Roberts blushed. ‘Aye, but how the hell are we going to find this gorge?’

  ‘Anywhere near Brent’s house on Glenglass Road? You were there when they searched the house, weren’t you?’

  Roberts nodded. He put his head down. ‘Think, think, think. There was a sign. Near the house. A sign that might have said Black Rock Gorge.’

  He called control and told them to look on the map near Brent’s house for the quickest way to Black Rock Gorge.

  ***

  Chapter 59

  Was this sprog really Peter MacRae’s? Todd doubted it. Just like the tart to be putting it about. Brother or half-brother, there was little resemblance to Ryan. Like his father before him, Ryan was a sullen, unpleasant toe rag, who thought the world owed him something. He didn’t think he’d ever seen Ryan smile, but this sprog was different. Smiling, laughing, chatting, doing his head in.

  ‘Are we nearly there yet? Is it down that way? Which film was it? Do you think my mam will come?’

  She fucking better. Not easy for her with no car, but if she cared enough, she’d find a way. ‘Sure she will. Has she got any friends with a car?’

  ‘Linda’s got a car, but she might be away at work. She’s my mam’s best friend and I love her. She makes biscuits with me.’

  ‘And does she stay close to you?’

  Liam shrugged. ‘Not too far.’

  ‘Maybe Linda will take her.’

  A smile. Quite a cute one. He felt an unfamiliar pang, a hint of something that felt like remorse. It didn’t last.

  It was risky getting this close to the Evanton house. The cops might still be there, but what the hell? Not much point in being alive if you didn’t take risks. You might as well give in, lie down and die. He wished this kid would quieten down. Should have given him something and put him in the boot.

  He’d thought he might like children at one time. That was before. Everything mundane was before. If it wasn’t for the actions of those four deluded martyrs nearly ten years ago, maybe he’d be a father now. An uninterrupted journey to work that day and everything would have been different. Promotion, m
arriage – maybe Jenny in Procurement? And children. He laughed.

  ‘Why are you laughing?’

  ‘Nothing gets past you, does it? Just thinking of something silly; that’s all.’

  Liam’s eyes sparkled. ‘I like silly things. Where do bees go to the bathroom?’

  ‘I don’t know, Liam; where do bees go to the bathroom?’

  ‘At the BP station.’

  ‘That’s quite funny.’ He left the main road and drove down a track.

  ‘I know lots more, but Mam says they’re annoying.’

  ‘That’s what mothers are like. No fun.’ Good. There was no one else in the car park, and nobody on the path that led to the gorge.

  ‘Have you got a mam?’

  Todd didn’t have a mother. He’d had two. One of them, a dear simple soul, had made him who he was before. The other, a drug-addled whore, had made him all he’d been afterwards. He shook his head. ‘No, I haven’t. No mum, no dad, no brothers, no sisters. I had a good friend…once.’

  ‘I might be getting a new dad. Christopher – ’

  ‘No.’ Todd shook his head. ‘No new dad. Peter MacRae was your father. Not Christopher. Never.’

  Liam shrugged. ‘I’ve got a brother. He’s called Ryan. He’s not at home just now because a bad man got him into trouble. I’m never going to be friends with a bad man.’ He looked up, his eyes so innocent. ‘Why are you laughing? It made my mam cry.’

  ‘C’mon; we’re here.’

  *

  Where did kids get their energy? Must be near his bed time, but the sprog was full of life, jumping up and trying to catch the thin branches of the trees that lined each side of the narrow path.

  ‘What was the film?’ At his shout, three wood pigeons rose from the trees. With strong wing beats, they headed away from the forest, across the fields.