The Last Witness Read Online Free PDF Page B

to memorise and destroy?’ Daley decided to deploy his own brand of sarcasm.
    ‘I wouldn’t have thought you’d consider this a laughing matter, Jim, especially since the prime target for the next horror killing is well and truly on your patch.’
    Donald never failed to sound like a patronising schoolmaster, which always made Daley bridle. ‘I’m beginning to realise why I’m here, sir,’ he said, contempt thick in his voice.
    ‘If you think I knew anything of this, Jim, you are mistaken. Fra—’ Donald stopped suddenly, changing his mind. ‘The subject’s whereabouts were as much of a mystery to me as they were to you. In fact, I wish they still were.’ Somehow Daley believed his boss’s sincere tone. ‘If it’s any consolation, I have approached the witness protection programme to advise them that, under the current circumstances, he be moved to somewhere we have better resources. I await a reply.’
    There was a silence between the men for a few moments before Daley spoke, sounding resigned. ‘They won’t do that, sir. They’ll consider him as safe here with his cover as he’s going to get.’
    ‘You always were a pessimist, Jim. Anyhow, I want you to lock that file in the safe in the meantime, out of harm’s way, so to speak. I’ve decided to come down tomorrow – we’ll pay a visit to our old friend together.’
    ‘Oh, that’s just fuckin’ great,’ Scott murmured, forgetting that the call was in conference mode.
    ‘And that will be quite enough analysis from you, DS Scott. Better you spend some time cleaning out that car of yours. I’m flying down in the morning, so I’ll need the use of a vehicle. Make sure it’s shipshape. Do I make myself clear?’
    ‘Eh, aye, sir.’ Scott shook his head with a grimace. ‘I really meant, that’s just whit we’re needin’, you know, tae gie us a hand an’ that.’ He smiled encouragingly, as though Donald might be able to see him through the phone.
    ‘Bollocks,’ was the rapid reply. ‘Just you make sure you’re at the airport at ten tomorrow, sharp, with a clean car.’ There was a loud click as the phone in Donald’s office was slammed down and the conversation with distant Kinloch was over.
    ‘Pit ma foot right intae that, did I no’, Jim?’
    ‘Yup,’ was Daley’s concise but adequate answer. He got up from behind his desk and asked Scott to accompany him along the corridor to the safe. Scott dabbed the front of his trousers with the paper towel as they walked. DC Dunn couldn’t hide the look of disgust on her face as they passed her in the corridor.
    ‘Before ye say anything, it’s no’ whit yer thinking – it’s they taps in . . .’ Scott stopped as she held up her hand byway of saying that no explanation was necessary and then continued down the corridor, failing to suppress a snigger.
    ‘Brilliant,’ Scott lamented. ‘That evil bastard back fae the deid, an’ everybody thinks I’ve pissed mysel’.’
    ‘I think you and I will take a wee trip down to the County,’ said Daley. ‘Something tells me we’re not going to have much more opportunity. Well, for the time being anyway.’
    ‘If things go the way they did the last time, we might no’ get an opportunity, full stop. How the fuck is this a’ possible, Jim? The man’s deid an’ gone, nae doubt about it.’ Scott’s face was a mask of concern. ‘You saw the back o’ that prison ambulance – naebody got oot o’ that alive. Fuck me, I even saw him at the mortuary that night – or whit wiz left o’ him. They were cuttin’ oot his heart, or whitever the fuck they do. I saw it, Jim – an’ come tae that, so did you.’
    ‘No, I didn’t,’ Daley replied vaguely.
    ‘Ye didnae what?’ Scott was mystified.
    ‘I saw the back of the ambulance, but I never went to the mortuary. I left that dubious pleasure to you and the gaffer, if you remember?’ Daley’s weak stomach for forensic pathology was well known.
    ‘Aye, right enough. Ye must hae been