him with energetic sweeps of his arm. They formed an impromptu huddle yards from the White Lady and the girl she’d so poorly guarded.
‘I want an information lockdown on what we’ve got here. Bare minimum goes out to the press. Girl’s body found, suspicious circumstances, family to be informed et cetera. Nothing, and I mean nothing , about that word. It does not leave this cemetery. I do not want one single person knowing that doesn’t have to. You all understand? DCI Kelbie, your officers that were here fall into the category of not having to know.’
Kelbie chewed agitatedly on his lip before nodding thoughtfully.
‘It looks to me as if I’m back on this case, then, sir. I’d say that necessity dictates it.’
‘What?’
‘You’re right, sir. We obviously can’t take the chance on this wording getting into the press. We don’t want to give the killer the oxygen of publicity and we don’t want to run the risk of copycats. The best way to ensure that nothing leaks out is to keep us on the inside.’
Shirley’s eyes widened and flashed in anger.
‘Are you saying that I can’t trust you to obey frigging orders and follow protocol if you aren’t on the case?’
‘Not at all, sir. Of course not. But it will be much easier for me to keep a lid on whatever rumours float through New Gorbals if the team there aren’t pissed off at having nothing to do with a case on our turf. Put me and Ferry on your team and everyone wins. I’m sure Superintendent Devlin will okay it.’
‘Rubbish!’ Addison broke in, his jaw jutting towards Kelbie. ‘You just tell your people to keep their mouths shut. Simple as that.’
‘He’s right, Derek,’ Shirley sighed, cutting off Kelbie’s reply. ‘DCI Kelbie and DS Ferry are now part of the investigation team. It’s the only practical decision.’
‘And, as DCI,’ Kelbie sneered in Addison’s direction, ‘I assume I will be senior investigating officer.’
Shirley shook his head wearily. ‘You assume wrong, Kelbie. I’ll be SIO. I’m taking charge of this myself, I’m not risking you two idiots behaving like children. You will keep me fully informed of every development. Understood?’
‘Sir.’ Kelbie managed to puff and preen at the same time.
‘Good. Strategy meeting in Pitt Street at three this afternoon. Now get to work.’
Kelbie allowed himself a final triumphant glance at Addison before taking his DS by the arm and turning away from the group. Addison opened his mouth to speak but Shirley pre-empted him.
‘Save your breath. I’d rather have Kelbie on the inside pissing out than on the outside pissing in. At least this way we can keep him under control. And for chrissake, Derek, remember that he is your superior officer, whether you like it or not.’
‘That will be not, sir.’
‘I don’t give a toss. What we have here is even bigger than your ego. Now go catch the bastard that did this. All of you.’
Brem Dawson was the first to leave, corralling his forensic troops and ordering them to begin the painstaking task of examining the site for evidence and removing the girl’s body to the morgue. A clear path had already been made to allow access to the scene, but now every other inch had to be checked and rechecked.
Winter fell into an uncomfortable threesome on the secured path to the crime scene, Narey and Addison at either side. It was uncomfortable for him at least: Narey refused to catch his eye and Addison was consumed with his fury at Denny Kelbie.
‘It’s my own fault,’ the DI cursed. ‘I could have kept the lettering back until we’d got that nasty wee shite and his plods off the premises.’
‘So why didn’t you?’ Narey demanded.
‘Because I wanted to rub his snotty nose in it, obviously.’
The three of them stood and watched the forensics work, perversely fascinated by the sight of the bunny suits picking their way assiduously over the cemetery’s green and cobbled skin. Winter had his camera at his waist
‘I want an information lockdown on what we’ve got here. Bare minimum goes out to the press. Girl’s body found, suspicious circumstances, family to be informed et cetera. Nothing, and I mean nothing , about that word. It does not leave this cemetery. I do not want one single person knowing that doesn’t have to. You all understand? DCI Kelbie, your officers that were here fall into the category of not having to know.’
Kelbie chewed agitatedly on his lip before nodding thoughtfully.
‘It looks to me as if I’m back on this case, then, sir. I’d say that necessity dictates it.’
‘What?’
‘You’re right, sir. We obviously can’t take the chance on this wording getting into the press. We don’t want to give the killer the oxygen of publicity and we don’t want to run the risk of copycats. The best way to ensure that nothing leaks out is to keep us on the inside.’
Shirley’s eyes widened and flashed in anger.
‘Are you saying that I can’t trust you to obey frigging orders and follow protocol if you aren’t on the case?’
‘Not at all, sir. Of course not. But it will be much easier for me to keep a lid on whatever rumours float through New Gorbals if the team there aren’t pissed off at having nothing to do with a case on our turf. Put me and Ferry on your team and everyone wins. I’m sure Superintendent Devlin will okay it.’
‘Rubbish!’ Addison broke in, his jaw jutting towards Kelbie. ‘You just tell your people to keep their mouths shut. Simple as that.’
‘He’s right, Derek,’ Shirley sighed, cutting off Kelbie’s reply. ‘DCI Kelbie and DS Ferry are now part of the investigation team. It’s the only practical decision.’
‘And, as DCI,’ Kelbie sneered in Addison’s direction, ‘I assume I will be senior investigating officer.’
Shirley shook his head wearily. ‘You assume wrong, Kelbie. I’ll be SIO. I’m taking charge of this myself, I’m not risking you two idiots behaving like children. You will keep me fully informed of every development. Understood?’
‘Sir.’ Kelbie managed to puff and preen at the same time.
‘Good. Strategy meeting in Pitt Street at three this afternoon. Now get to work.’
Kelbie allowed himself a final triumphant glance at Addison before taking his DS by the arm and turning away from the group. Addison opened his mouth to speak but Shirley pre-empted him.
‘Save your breath. I’d rather have Kelbie on the inside pissing out than on the outside pissing in. At least this way we can keep him under control. And for chrissake, Derek, remember that he is your superior officer, whether you like it or not.’
‘That will be not, sir.’
‘I don’t give a toss. What we have here is even bigger than your ego. Now go catch the bastard that did this. All of you.’
Brem Dawson was the first to leave, corralling his forensic troops and ordering them to begin the painstaking task of examining the site for evidence and removing the girl’s body to the morgue. A clear path had already been made to allow access to the scene, but now every other inch had to be checked and rechecked.
Winter fell into an uncomfortable threesome on the secured path to the crime scene, Narey and Addison at either side. It was uncomfortable for him at least: Narey refused to catch his eye and Addison was consumed with his fury at Denny Kelbie.
‘It’s my own fault,’ the DI cursed. ‘I could have kept the lettering back until we’d got that nasty wee shite and his plods off the premises.’
‘So why didn’t you?’ Narey demanded.
‘Because I wanted to rub his snotty nose in it, obviously.’
The three of them stood and watched the forensics work, perversely fascinated by the sight of the bunny suits picking their way assiduously over the cemetery’s green and cobbled skin. Winter had his camera at his waist
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