Dark as Night (20 page)

              The remainder of the notes related to St Columba’s fortunes on the pitch, the various transfers that took place and the proliferation of non-Scots players on the team. The research that Don had carried out seemed to include the 2004/5 season. Calder concluded that his uncle must have been ready to complete the project. He wondered if Don would have saved his work onto a floppy disk. Then Andy considered whether USB sticks were in use a decade ago. He wasn’t sure. These days, it would all be on some kind of cloud.

              Carol came into the room and placed a bottle of beer on the table next to Andy. He glanced up and said thanks. Picking up the bottle he noticed it was a Walmer brand, with a picture of some fat monk by a barrel of hops on the label. Carol always bought the beers that were on offer in the supermarket. It wasn’t usually Calder’s kind of thing. The detective looked back at Don’s notes. He felt that itch he got when the evidence was trying to tell him something. Andy took a swig of his drink. It was warm and strong tasting, but still hit the spot. ‘What did you find out Don?’ He muttered, as if the man was sitting next to him. ‘And just what the hell happened to your book?’

Chapter 42

M
ichael Lomond was tending his neat front garden when DCs Clifton and Mann pulled up outside. The house was square and imposing. A sensible mid-range Volvo was parked on the driveway.

              Alice saw a flicker of movement at one of the windows before Rosemary Lomond opened the front door and stepped onto the path to greet them. Her husband barely glanced up from his labours.

              ‘Would you like to sit out in the garden? The weather is glorious.’

              ‘Whatever suits you,’ Alice replied affably. She didn’t wish to ruffle the couple’s feathers so early in the proceedings.

              They were led down a side passage into a large garden with a rectangular lawn which stretched away into the distance. Dan took a seat at a wooden patio table shaded by an umbrella.

              ‘I’ll fetch us some refreshments.’

              When the woman had disappeared through the patio doors Dan commented, ‘nice place. I thought the shipyards all closed decades ago.’

              ‘Most of them did,’ Alice said. ‘But Mr Lomond worked at one of the last. It pretty much had the monopoly on the government’s naval orders. After retiring, he did some consultancy for a few oversees military contractors. I expect he raked it in then.’

              Rosemary returned, with a teapot and a selection of china cups. ‘I’ll be Mum!’ She set about fussily pouring the weak tea and offering them milk and sugar.

              ‘Will your husband be joining us?’ Alice asked politely.

              ‘Oh, when he’s finished.’

              ‘As I explained on the phone, we have reopened the case into the death of Mr Douglas Ross. He taught your son, I believe?’ Alice sipped her drink politely and gazed innocently at their host.

              ‘Yes, that’s right. He was Tony’s science teacher. He’d taught him since his first year in the senior school. The man was swept away whilst searching for rocks at Wemyss Bay, wasn’t he? Gosh, it was
years
ago now.’

              Alice looked at Rosemary Lomond closely. She wore a billowing floral dress and her hair was pure white, but the woman had a childlike aura about her. ‘Did you know Mr Ross well?’

              ‘Only from parents’ meetings. He also took Tony’s class on a fossil hunt once. That was Mr Ross’s thing.’

              ‘Did Tony like him?’

              ‘I believe he did. Tony thought he was kind. Our son had difficulties fitting in at Wemyss College. He was a fragile little boy and the others were very sporty and enjoyed rough play. Mr Ross was one of the more sensitive teachers. Actually, I think Tony was really quite upset when he found out the man was dead. He suffered some sleepless nights.’

              ‘Did you ever consider moving your son to a different type of school?’ Dan addressed the woman directly.

              Her face became puzzled, as if such an idea had never occurred to her before. ‘The College was the making of him. Michael insisted he brave it out. As soon as Tony got into rowing in the sixth form he was a different person. Finally, he was on an equal footing with all those bigger, stronger lads.’ Rosemary was positively glowing with pride.

              They heard the gravel crunch along the side path. Tony’s father emerged from the shadows, looking flushed and sweaty. He sat at the table and helped himself to tea from the pot.

              ‘It will be cold by now, darling. Why don’t I make us some more?’ Rosemary began fiddling with the cups and saucers.

              ‘It doesn’t matter,’ he snapped. ‘I only want to wet my palate.’

              Alice could see the strong resemblance between this man and his son, except the detective suspected that Michael Lomond had always been solidly built. ‘My name is DC Mann and this is DC Clifton,’ she announced. ‘We are here to ask you and your wife some questions about Mr Douglas Ross. He went missing eighteen years ago.’

              Lomond cast a supercilious glare at the detective. ‘What on earth can you imagine we might be able to tell you about
him?
’

              Alice felt her hackles rising. She tried to mask it. ‘We are trying to speak with everyone who had a connection to Mr Ross. Your son informed us that he held the man in high regard.’

              A shadow passed across his ruddy features. ‘Not that I recall. Tony was more of a sportsman than a scientist at that age. He trains the students at the university rowing club now, you know, and won a good few cups himself when he was an undergraduate at Aberdeen.’ Michael puffed out his chest.

              Alice was suddenly put in mind of Cock Robin in the nursery rhyme, before he was slain by the arrow. ‘Well, we must have been mistaken. Sorry to have taken up your time.’

              The detectives both stood.

              ‘Thank you for the tea, Mrs Lomond. We’ll see ourselves out,’ Alice said.

              Rosemary gawped at them. ‘If you’re sure that’s all?’

              Alice nodded and they made for the passageway before she turned and added, ‘Oh, by the way, did you know that your son was acquainted with Nathan McLaren, the man who was murdered on the Saturday of the Glasgow Fair weekend? We thought it was a funny coincidence, that he also had a connection with Mr Ross. Especially now the investigation into the teacher’s disappearance all those years ago has been reopened.’

              The delicate china cup that Michael Lomond was holding to his lips fell to the concrete patio and smashed into dozens of pieces. As the detectives walked back to the car they could hear the sound of Rosemary Lomond rushing around, frantically trying to clear it all up.                            

*

‘Sorry,’ Alice said, as they drove back to headquarters. ‘I couldn’t resist that. The man was just so bloody pompous.’

              Dan puffed out his cheeks. ‘Can you imagine coming out to that pair? Mrs Lomond probably doesn’t even know that homosexuality exists and the husband most likely believes that all gays should be strung up. No wonder Tony hasn’t told them.’

              Alice kept her gaze fixed dead ahead. ‘Do
your
parents know that you’re gay?’

              ‘Aye, I told them just after I left for university. It took a little while for them to adjust. We’re all used to it now. Mum worried about me when I joined the police. She thought I’d get grief if anyone found out.’

              ‘Is that why you never said?’

              Dan glanced sideways. He was smiling. ‘It’s just no one else’s business. Do I ever question you about your sex life?’

              ‘No, but that’s because I haven’t got one. Have you?’ She enquired as an afterthought.

              Dan chuckled. ‘Not really. That’s what makes this whole thing so silly. My sexuality isn’t what defines me. I don’t even want a boyfriend right now.’

              ‘Well, that gives us both something in common.’

              ‘What did you make of the Lomonds?’

              ‘I think you’re right and Tony’s mum hardly knows what day of the week it is, but the dad could be hiding something.’

              ‘I agree. He didn’t want us making any kind of connection between his son and Douglas Ross.’

              ‘Which just makes me want to keep digging even further.’

Chapter 43

A
parade of students spilled out of the Halls of Residence. Calder caught sight of John, tall and lean, with a blond girl on his arm. Andy assumed this must be Shiona.

              ‘John!’ He called out, jogging over to intercept him. ‘I was hoping to catch you.’

              The young man cast him a guarded look. ‘Hi Uncle Andy, is something the matter?’

              ‘No, I wanted to talk, that’s all.’ He addressed the girl. ‘I’m John’s cousin and a friend of the family.’

              ‘I’m Shiona, pleased to meet you.’

              ‘Can I take you both for a coffee somewhere?’

              John turned to his companion. ‘Do you mind if I go alone with Andy? We’ve got some family stuff to sort out.’

              ‘Of course not. I’ll see you back in Halls later.’ The young woman smiled at the detective and walked away. She struck Andy as the easy going type. He was glad. They were the best girlfriends to have.

              ‘She seems very nice.’

              ‘Aye, she is.’ John led them towards the campus cafeteria, clearly wishing to get this meeting over with quickly.

              Andy bought them a couple of Americanos, surprised at how expensive they were and marvelling at the number of students able to afford the prices. ‘Did your mum tell you that I’ve been looking through your dad’s belongings? I’m trying to piece together his movements in the weeks before he died.’

              He nodded. ‘Mum said.’ He stared into the cup. ‘Are you hoping to find out who killed him?’

              ‘I’m not hoping, John. I will. But I need to know everything about what happened back then, in 2005, before I can do that.’

              He looked up. ‘Lizzie and I were only little. I can barely remember Dad now.’

              ‘Your mum recalled that Don was writing his book on the computer in your room. Sometimes he’d stay on in there whilst you were asleep.’ Andy spent a few moments emptying a packet of sugar into his drink, not wanting to appear to be putting pressure on the lad.

              ‘Yeah, I used that computer to do my homework when I went up to High School. We had it for years. I
kind
of remember Dad using it too.’

              ‘He was working on the book about St Columba’s. Did Don ever discuss it with you?’

              ‘We talked about the footie a lot. I was nine back then and mad on it. That’s what Dad and I had in common, separate from Mum and Lizzie, I mean.’

              To Andy’s great dismay, he saw John’s eyes begin to fill with tears. ‘I’m sorry, son. I really didn’t mean to upset you.’

              ‘You coming barging into our lives again could hardly do otherwise. And what was all that with Mum the other day? Why was she backing away from you in the kitchen like that? It looked as if she was frightened of what you might do to her.’

              ‘We were just arguing about your father, that’s all. It’s been a difficult time for all of us. But Mae and I have made things up now, everything’s okay. We’re going to work together to plan the funeral.’

              John crossed his arms over his chest and adopted a stubborn expression. ‘I don’t see what the point is in having some poxy ceremony. All we’ve got to bury is a bag of old bones. It’s hardly Dad, is it?’ The young man’s voice was starting to rise and other students were glancing over at their table.

‘It’s important to say goodbye to him. Your mother’s waited a long time to be able to do it. She needs you to be there, supporting her.’

              ‘Mum’s got Gavin.’

              ‘It’s you and Lizzie she’ll be really wanting by her side on that day.’

              John looked him in the eye. ‘Will
your
mum and dad be coming to the funeral?’

              Andy shifted awkwardly in his seat. ‘I honestly don’t know. But Carol and Amy will be and my sister Kathy too.’ He tried to assess John’s reaction when he mentioned Carol. The lad’s expression was difficult to read.

              ‘Well, if Jack’s not going and he was like a father to Dad, then I don’t know why the hell I should.’

              Andy wanted to reach across and take the boy by his collar, giving him a bloody good shake. ‘You’ll go because Donny was your da’,’ he hissed. ‘Your own flesh and blood. Somebody took him away from us before he had a chance to watch you and Lizzie grow up. He adored the two of yous, worshipped the very ground you walked on. That’s why you’ll be going to his funeral laddie, even if I have to drag you there myself.’

*

When Mae called the flat later that evening, Andy thought he was going to get a row. Instead, John’s mother thanked him. Her son had gone round to the house in Paisley after his shift at the student bar was over. They discussed the funeral arrangements. John said he’d spoken with Calder, who’d encouraged him to get more involved. Mae admitted that her son hadn’t really hit it off with Gavin. The lad occasionally needed the advice of a man he truly respected and looked up to. Lizzie accepted Gavin as her father very quickly after he came into their lives but John never had.

              Calder told her he was always willing to offer advice to John and a shoulder to cry on if necessary. They ended their conversation on good terms. As he returned to the sitting room and squashed up next to Carol on the sofa Andy felt quite sure that the note stuffed under the door had come from his young cousin, angry and frustrated after hearing the news that Don’s body had been discovered and lacking a father figure to supply him with the guidance he so desperately required at this important stage in his life.