A Deviant Breed Read Online Free PDF Page A

‘Speaking of which, let’s go see our crime scene.  Past time we went to see what all the fuss was about, eh!? ’ Dunbar was already heading for the door.
    ‘Who do you support boss?’ DC Reece called after him.
    ‘My team  kick an oval ball,’ he replied without looking back. ‘And a little too often for my liking last season,’ he muttered as Briony Tyler hurriedly logged off her laptop computer and snatched her coat from the back of her chair.
    ***
    ‘Where did he come from?’ Dunbar asked as he started the car.
    ‘Who?’
    ‘Reece! I asked for Bob Little.  He’s always been my go-to guy for office manager’s back-stop.’ Dunbar grumbled weaving through the city traffic on his way out of the city.
    ‘DC Little’s tied up with the Monaghan loan-sharking trial,’ Tyler offered gazing out of the nearside window. ‘DC Reece has just finished a Drugs Squad secondment.’
    ‘Explains the ear stud and hairdo. Well, he’s not on Drugs Squad now, so that can go.’
    ‘The hair or the ear stud?’
    ‘In a perfect world – both!  But I’ll settle for the jewellery, he looks like a feckin’ rent boy.’ An exaggeration that the newly appointed DI let pass without comment.  After a short time stewing over it, Dunbar eventually huffed, ‘Monaghan trial, waste of time.’
    She turned and eyed him quizzically. ‘From what I hear sticking Gordon Monaghan in the dock for anything could hardly be considered a waste of time.’
    ‘In principle but – he’ll walk – he always does.’
    ‘Perhaps not this time.’
    ‘Trust me.  He’ll intimidate or buy the jury and witnesses.  Either way he’ll walk.  And if he cannae nobble the jury or scare off the witnesses, Bull Heid’ll cop a plea and keep his boss out’ve it.’
    ‘Bull Heid,’ she repeated with a scowl.
    ‘Bryan Docherty, aka Bull Heid.’
    ‘If that’s the case, why didn’t Bull Heid cop one from the outset and save his boss the bother of a trial at all?’
    ‘Doc’s playing the odds.  He’d rather have his most effective debt collector and jaw breaker-in-chief on the outside but will sacrifice him if he has to.’
    ‘Ruthless.’
    ‘Utterly.’
    ‘Why do they call him, Doc?’
    Dunbar half turned and frowned. ‘How long were you with NCIS?’
    ‘Not long enough to learn everything there is to know about every criminal on the database.’
    ‘Not even Edinburgh’s would-be Kingpin? Tschh! ’ Tyler blushed then bristled as Dunbar continued, ‘after making the transition from football hooligan to gangland enforcer his opening gambit was: “ Did somebody send for a doctor?” Before cutting some poor bugger.  That, and the fact he favoured a surgical scalpel ‘cos it was easy to conceal.’
    ‘Nasty bastard.’
    ‘Very – but sharper than any tool he ever wielded. Never, ever underestimate that mon.’
    They travelled in relative silence until he turned off the A68 onto the 687.  ‘So are you going to tell me where Professor Geary knows you from before we get there? Or are we going to have another uncomfortable encounter at the crime scene?’ Tyler eyed him suspiciously. ‘You’re not gonna’ try an’ kid me she was mistaken are you?’
    Tyler let out a low sigh. ‘She and Professor Holmquist spoke at a Gay and Lesbian Police Officers’ Association dinner at Tulliallan Castle during my Inspector’s course.’
    ‘Oh, I see.’
    ‘Do you?’
    ‘So you’re –’ Dunbar bit his tongue.
    ‘Ever been to a gay bar?’ Her question only added to his confusion.
    ‘Err, yes, yes I have.’
    ‘And are you gay, sir?’
    ‘No!’
    ‘Well – I thought the meeting might prove illuminating, and it did.’
    ‘So you’re not –’ He hesitated again, electing merely to flash a knowing look.
    ‘Currently single,’ she eyed him askance with the vaguest hint of a wicked grin, ‘broke up with my last boyfriend, several months ago, but occasionally I have found myself attracted to women I have met. However, I have