Bottleneck (35 page)

"Anything?"

"There are a couple of guys who could pass for Roberts getting off in Edinburgh," said Cullen. "One at the stop just by the zoo and the other at the bus station, but that's it. Naismith was going to email the screen grabs across to us."

"I'll pass that to the street team," said Methven. "They're going through the CCTV at the bus company just now so hopefully something can confirm it."

"Thought the camera was broken?"

"The external one still worked."

"I see," said Cullen. "Hopefully, the press release or street teams will have something for me tomorrow. Actually, they might have solved the case by then and I can have the day off."

He unlocked the flat door and went inside. The cat jogged through from the living room and started his bleating.

"You are trying my patience, Constable."

Cullen went into the living room. Sharon was slumped against the breakfast bar.

"I've got to go." Cullen hung up. He raced over, feeling for a pulse.

His hand got batted away.

"Are you okay?" said Cullen.

Sharon slowly opened her eyes. "Where have you been, you prick?" she said, slurring her words.

"I've been working," said Cullen.

"I called," said Sharon. "No answer."

"My phone's been off." Cullen's nostrils twitched. "Have you been drinking?"

"A bit."

Cullen spotted two empty bottles of wine in the sink. "You're pissed."

"Why didn't you answer your phone?"

"It was on mute," said Cullen. "When I saw the missed call, I phoned back. I've tried a few times."

"I had my phone off," said Sharon.

"For fuck's sake," said Cullen. "You're pregnant. You can't do this."

Sharon started crying. "You don't want the baby."

"I ... do."

Sharon stared at him. "Well, I don't know if I'm ready for this."

"You need coffee." Cullen went over to the sink and started filling the kettle. "What are you playing at?"

Sharon rubbed at her eyes. "Lamb got the job."

"Oh," said Cullen. "That's what you were calling about?"

Sharon looked up at him, swaying on the stool. "I needed to speak to you."

Cullen walked over and rubbed her gently on the arm. "I was in Motherwell. Bain's car got stolen. Mine was written off."

"I'm more important," said Sharon.

"I know you are." Cullen ran his hand through his hair. "Jesus Christ. I can't believe this."

"I'm sorry." Sharon doubled over, heaving with sobs. "Nobody wants me. Turnbull turned me down. You weren't there. I needed you, Scott."

"I'm sorry." Cullen put his arms around her and hugged tight.

"I needed a drink," said Sharon. "I can't believe Turnbull. That's the second time he's turned me down for a promotion."

The kettle clicked off. Cullen went over to make coffee, spooning instant into the mug and topping it up with hot water and lots of milk. "Drink this." He handed it to her.

"I'll be up all night."

"It'll maybe sober you up a bit," said Cullen.

She took the mug and stared into it, steam wafting into her face. "I thought I'd get the job when Crystal Methven got his."

"You'll get there eventually," said Cullen. "You're good. Turnbull's worked with Lamb for years, that's all."

"Lamb is an arsehole," said Sharon. "Turnbull asked if I wanted to go on the rape task force in Bathgate."

"Bathgate."

"Yeah," said Sharon. "I was looking at houses there."

"Look, you need to sober up," said Cullen. "I'm not living in Bathgate."

"I need the toilet."

Sharon trundled off into the hall, bouncing off the door surround.

Cullen held his head in his hands. What a fucking mess.

Friday
 

5th April 2013
 

Cullen woke up with a start. Something pinned his legs down. He sat up.

Yellow eyes stared back at him.

"Fluffy." He lay down.

His heart was racing. He'd been up till after midnight with Sharon until the booze overtook the coffee and sent her to sleep. He'd watched TV for another hour, trying to take his mind off it and failing.

"What's he done?" said Sharon.

"Woken me up."

The alarm started up, playing the radio, Expect Delays' new single.

"Good timing," said Sharon.

He realised the song was part of the news, the newsreader asking for anyone who might have seen Mike Roberts to come forward. Cullen hadn't known they were going public with it, but then he'd been out of the loop while going through the CCTV footage.

Reaching over, he switched the radio off and his light on. He looked at the mound of duvet next to him. "How are you feeling?"

"Worse hangover I've ever had," said Sharon, her voice muffled.

"It was pretty stupid," said Cullen.

"Don't need to tell me."

"And I thought I had the monopoly on stupidity in this relationship."

Sharon came up for air. "I wish you did."

He looked over at her, eyes scrunched up as she faced into his light. "Did you mean what you said last night?"

"What?"

"You said you didn't want the baby," said Cullen. "You're not ready for it."

She opened her eyes and pushed herself up onto her elbow. "I was pissed. I didn't mean it."

"I'm worried about you," said Cullen. "It's not just about the baby, either, it's you. You can really fuck your body up doing something like that."

"I'm sorry," said Sharon. "I don't know what to say."

"Just tell me you'll not do it again."

Sharon nodded. "I won't. I was at a low ebb. I couldn't get hold of you. Mum was out at the cinema and I can't speak to Dad about this sort of thing. Chantal was on a case, staking someone out."

"Okay," said Cullen. "I'm sorry I had my phone off."

"I forgive you."

"Maybe in time I'll forgive you." Cullen laughed. "That's a joke, by the way."

"Everything is with you," said Sharon.

Cullen pulled himself up, sneezing four times in quick succession.

"Are you okay?" said Sharon.

"I'll be fine. I have to go in."

"I'm as worried about you as you are about me," said Sharon.

Cullen smiled. "What a pair we are. What are you going to do?"

"Well, I'm not going into work. I think I'll savour my last hangover for the next seven months. I've got to go the doctor later anyway."

Cullen feared it was for an abortion. "What for?"

"My check-up," said Sharon. "Just to confirm I am actually pregnant."

Cullen nodded, relieved the decision was still in their hands. "Do you want me to come?"

She smiled. "No. But it's nice of you to ask."

Cullen leaned over and kissed her. "I'd better go. I love you."

"I love you, too."

He went into his bedside drawer and got out fresh underwear. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Fluffy climb into his side of the bed. "That's my role filled."

"He'll keep it warm until you're back," said Sharon.

Cullen left the room, heading for the bathroom and the white noise of the shower cubicle.

"You've left your light on!"

Cullen trudged up the stairs, late for the briefing, unable to get his legs moving.

What a mess.

The case and his job were screwing with his head. He'd found the killer but then they'd lost him and he just knew he'd get fingered with the blame. McCrea and Bain were the only other officers at the scene and he knew he couldn't trust them not to drop him in the shit.

His car was fucked, an expense he didn't need. The prospect of an afternoon in Seafield looking for a replacement didn't fill him with joy.

But, despite all the other shit, Sharon was front and centre in his thoughts. What was she doing? She was carrying their baby. He told her he wanted it, there and then. It just blurted out.

Did he?

He was less certain in the cold light of day, but he'd stopped feeling the knot in the pit of his stomach every time he thought about becoming a father.

He walked into the Incident Room and stood at the back, sipping at the coffee he'd bought on the walk down.

Methven clocked him as soon as he entered. So much for being in at six. Cullen just knew he'd be in the bad books already.

"In summary, then," said Cargill, "we've got no concrete leads on the whereabouts of Roberts and neither do our colleagues in Glasgow South. Roberts has gone to ground, most likely in Edinburgh. We've got his parents' house in Linlithgow under surveillance, along with known acquaintances. There was a press release last night, which has been picked up by both print and broadcast. Please report to DS Holdsworth for actions. Dismissed."

As the officers filed past him into the corridor, Cullen couldn't face speaking to Holdsworth, having done well to avoid him on the case so far.

Cargill and Methven made a beeline for him.

"Constable." Methven checked his watch. "Good morning."

"Sorry I'm late, sir," said Cullen. "Had an emergency at home."

"Oh?" said Methven. "I take it everything is okay?"

Cullen nodded. "Nothing to worry about, sir." He nodded at Cargill. "DS McNeill won't be in today, ma'am."

Cargill smiled. "I hope she's okay."

"She'll live," said Cullen.

Cargill smoothed down her hair. "We've got to head back to Tulliallan, I'm afraid."

"What for?" said Cullen.

"Status report to DCS Soutar," said Cargill.

"Is it appropriate for a DC to be at that sort of meeting?" said Cullen.

"Normally I'd agree, but your presence has been requested."

They were in the same Tulliallan room as the previous day. Cullen, Cargill and Methven were on the Edinburgh side, Bain, McCrea and Graham on the Glasgow, with Soutar in the centre. Two officers Cullen didn't recognise sat either side of her.

Cullen couldn't help but think the meeting was a colossal waste of resource - McCrea and he were definitely in the operational space and their absence might slow things down in the way Bain's or Methven's wouldn't.

"Turnbull sends his apologies," said Cargill.

Soutar pouted. "So I gather." She looked around the room. "Thank you for your presence this morning." She clasped her hands on the desk in front of her. "I know you've all come from your local briefings, but I would appreciate an update on where we are. DI Bain, can you provide the Glasgow South MIT status, please?"

Bain gave the Glasgow update. They were absolutely nowhere. They had very little to go on, the case having moved east. The rest of Expect Delays were under surveillance, including assorted hangers-on like the manager and guitar tech. Mobile phones were being traced and emails hacked.

"We've got resource to spare," said Bain.

Cullen recognised the ploy - they could keep a tight hold of the investigation, such as it was. No doubt the liberated resources would be Bain, McCrea and other senior detectives.

"Thanks." Soutar turned her attentions to the other side of the table. "And from Edinburgh?"

Methven repeated the update Cargill gave earlier.

"Why haven't you found him?" said Bain.

"It's incredibly difficult to execute a manhunt in a city the size of Edinburgh," said Cargill. "I'm sure you can recall from your period spent assisting our investigations?"

Bain snorted. "I'd have torn Murrayfield and Corstorphine apart looking for this boy. And the city centre is full of CCTV."

"It takes time." Methven's eyes blinked. "We've dedicated three officers to sifting through hours of CCTV footage."

Bain nodded at Cullen. "I hope Sundance isn't one of them."

"Do I need to point out you've had Roberts in custody twice and let him go both times?" said Methven.

Bain raised his eyebrows. "DC Cullen was there. He didn't say anything the last time."

"You buckled to pressure," said Cullen. "The record company sneezed and you made sure he was released in time for the concert."

"I did nothing of the sort," said Bain.

"Brian," said Cargill, "you were operating under the apprehension this was a drugs murder. It took one of my DCs to prove you wrong."

Bain looked at Cullen, raising his shoulders. "DC Cullen has a habit of keeping information to himself. He reported to me for over eighteen months. I know how his mind works."

"Did you hold any information back?" said Soutar, eyes locked on Cullen.

Cullen tried to pull out of the tractor beam. "I investigated a lead, that's true. It led us to Roberts."

"So,
your
work identified the killer?" said Soutar.

Cullen shrugged. "Just doing my job, ma'am."

He couldn't believe he'd used such a cliché. What he wanted to say was 'yes'.

"DI Bain," said Soutar. "Is this true?"

"Maybe."

Soutar shook her head. "We sat in here on Wednesday. I gave you clear instructions that Glasgow South MIT were to head up the investigation. I've seen very little collaboration." She started counting on her fingers. "What I have seen is the theft of an officer's car, another officer's car being written off and, to cap it all off, a double murder suspect escaping arrest."

She looked around the room. One of the two guests scribbled on a notepad.

"This is not acceptable," said Soutar. "I've asked the respective MIT Superintendents to lead this investigation but I haven't seen much progress or indeed any collaboration whatsoever."

"With all due respect," said Graham, "it's not easy managing a case across two cities."

"So I can see," said Soutar. "The pair of you have simply not bothered."

"Carolyn," said Cargill. "I don't think this is as bad as it appears. Detective Superintendents Graham and Turnbull are trying to put in place a number of initiatives to bring Mr Roberts to justice."

"A number of initiatives sounds like bland management speak to me, Alison," said Soutar. "Initiatives take a long time to bed in. What we need is strong, affirmative action. I insisted on twice-daily conference calls."

"You did," said Graham.

"Well?" said Soutar.

"Well what?" said Graham.