The Dark Fear (4 page)

              ‘Can you describe the last few days of the operation for us, Claire?’ Bevan took up the mantle once again.

              ‘We’d been cataloguing all of the illegal shipments coming in and out of Forth Logistics. I’d been recording data and conversations I’d overheard or taped. The lads in the warehouse had details of goods being passed through the system without being processed by HMRC. We knew for sure that the items were transported to organisations using them for the purposes of the preparation of Class A substances.’

              ‘Drug-making laboratories, in other words,’ DI Sharon Moffett put in.

              ‘Aye, that’s right. The judge had finally granted us the warrant for a raid. That was on the evening of the 14
^th
July. I set my alarm for five am the next morning.’ Collier clasped her hands more tightly.               Dani could see that her knuckles had gone white.               ‘When we got there, the whole place had been cleared out – the offices, along with the warehouse and even Galloway’s private residence in Leith.’

              ‘It must have been extremely frustrating,’ Bevan suggested. ‘What were your theories at the time as to what had happened?’

              The DC crinkled her forehead. ‘The team were totally clueless and that’s the truth. Of course, we knew they’d been tipped off. My first suspicion was that Galloway had maybe always been on to us – that his Mr nice guy act was a brilliant performance. I started to recall times when he had asked me about my family, my background. After the botched raid, I interpreted his previous friendliness as the man toying with me. Like maybe he knew full-well I was a copper.’

              ‘Galloway would certainly have known that if DCI Lamb was tipping him off during the entire operation.’ DI Salter sat back in his chair, a satisfied grin on his face, as if their work was done.

              Collier took a deep breath. ‘I didn’t mean that, exactly. When I went back over the months I’d spent at Forth Logistics, it all suddenly seemed just too painless.’ She shifted forward for emphasis. ‘All of us undercover officers were able to fit so quickly and with such ease into the organisation. Within weeks, I was friends with Anna in finance – I even went to her house for dinner on a couple of occasions.’ Claire leant in closer. ‘I think that Alex Galloway was smarter than all of us, including DCI Lamb.’

              ‘Are you suggesting your DCI was set-up?’ Dennis Robbins looked immediately alert.

              ‘I know the evidence is pretty damning, but Stuart Lamb is a straight guy. I reckon that Alex Galloway was playing us all for fools, right from the very start.’

              Salter shifted up in his seat again, seeming irritated. ‘But you’ve absolutely no proof to back that theory up, whereas, we have phone and bank records which indicate a cast-iron connection between Lamb and Galloway.’

              Collier sighed. ‘Aye, I know that. I can’t really explain what I mean. It’s just a feeling I’ve got, that’s all.’

When their witness had left the conference room, there were several awkward moments of silence.

              ‘Where is Galloway right now?’ Sharon Moffett eventually asked Dani.

              ‘According to the files, he and his family upped sticks straight to their second home in Gullane. Galloway turned his attention to his other businesses.’

              ‘All of them
perfectly
legitimate, I’m sure,’ Salter said with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

              ‘And what about the people who’d previously worked at Forth Logistics, what happened to them?’ Dennis Robbins completely ignored the officer seated beside him.

              Dani flicked through her notes. ‘They’ve been absorbed into Galloway’s other operations. He even runs a golf club in North Berwick and a couple of luxury hotels along the coast from there.’

              ‘So, do we think that he makes his money in the illegal drug trade and then pumps the profits back into his legitimate businesses?’

              ‘That’s what City and Borders had concluded. It was why it was so important to gain a conviction on this undercover sting. Galloway will simply go legit for the next few years, giving him time to cover his tracks.’ Dani poured another cup of coffee, although by this stage the pot was lukewarm.

              ‘In the meantime, he’s brought down a senior police officer, with an exemplary record. A nice couple of month’s work, I’d say.’ Robbins couldn’t keep the anger out of his tone.

              ‘Come on, Dennis, it looks as if Galloway had Lamb’s assistance in doing that,’ Salter snapped.

              The bulky DI didn’t answer, but shifted himself even further around in the chair, so that all Pete Salter was faced with, was the Edinburgh officer’s broad back.

Chapter 6

‘T
his really isn’t usually my kind of thing.’ Dani allowed herself to be waltzed around the dining room by her escort, who was dressed in a black tie and dinner suit.

              ‘Yeah, but it’s fun to do every so often, don’t you think?’ James examined his companion carefully. She was wearing a tight, navy blue dress that ended just above the knee. Her dark, smoky-grey make-up accentuated those huge, chestnut brown eyes. ‘You’re looking rather gorgeous this evening, if I might be permitted to say?’

              Dani glanced up at him, a smile playing on her lips. ‘I feel as if I’ve wandered onto the set of Downton Abbey. Are you reading from one of their reject scripts?’

              James laughed. ‘A man can’t compliment his girlfriend without ridicule any longer, is that it?’

              Dani lightly touched his cheek. ‘Of course you can. I just associate these kinds of do’s with the retirement of one of my senior colleagues. It’s all back-slapping, enormous cigars and even larger glasses of brandy. Very much a woman-free zone. I become immediately unsettled at the sight of men in DJs.’

              ‘It can mean other things too; like charity functions, the preserving of old traditions, and even weddings.’ James felt his partner’s body stiffen ever-so-slightly when he uttered those last words. It was purely a throw-away comment. He hadn’t realised it would provoke a reaction of any kind. ‘In this case,’ he carried on, trying his best to give the impression he hadn’t noticed, ‘it’s a question of history. I consider it a privilege to be in this beautiful old house, dancing to a string quartet and about to have dinner in the drawing room, as the residents might have done a hundred years ago.’

              Dani glanced about her at the chandeliers and dark-panelled walls. ‘Of course, it’s a stunning place. I’m having a lovely evening. Thank you so much for asking me.’

              James liked Dani’s formality even less than when she was taking the piss. He didn’t get a chance to answer. A man, who could only be described as the butler of Langford Hall, opened a set of double doors and invited the guests to take their seats.

              David March was their host for the evening. He remained standing whilst his guests settled themselves and fell quiet. The current Earl of Westloch then made a brief speech, outlining his plans for the future of the estate, emphasising his commitment to all those who worked and lived within it.

              The Earl was thin and his hair a silvery grey. Dani thought he was probably nearing sixty. His wife sat to his right. She wore an emerald green ballgown inlaid with jewels, her dark hair set into a stiff bob.

              ‘What’s the Earl’s wife called?’ Dani whispered, as they were served the soup course.

              ‘Adele. Although she isn’t French, as far as I’m aware.’

              ‘She’s very beautiful.’ Dani’s glass was automatically re-filled with red-wine. It was such a deep burgundy colour that the detective could immediately tell it was expensive, and probably vintage. ‘Is coming to this kind of thing going to be part of the deal, once you’ve moved into the lodge?’

              ‘No, it doesn’t happen very often. Aiden says that the Earl and Lady March simply wanted to show their appreciation to the tenants and staff at Langford. I was lucky to get an invite, considering the fact I’ve not moved in yet. A banquet is organised once every few years. I actually think it’s a nice tradition.’ James knocked back his Claret, hoping he didn’t sound as defensive as he was beginning to feel.

              ‘It is,’ Dani replied evenly. ‘When you work in the public sector, you’re simply not used to being wined and dined. I apologise for being snippy.’

              James laid his hand over hers, determined that his companion should enjoy the event. He was aware that their backgrounds were different, but James didn’t believe this was an impossible barrier to their relationship moving forward. A tiny part of him was piqued, though. James knew Dani was implying that those who dedicated their lives to public service didn’t require such trappings in order to do a good job. Their motivation came from a sense of duty alone.

              Then he glanced at her again, as she daintily sipped the soup. Dani broke into a warm smile and he wondered if he was being unfair. That may not have been what she meant at all. James settled back into his seat, resolving to relax and savour the atmosphere, and the wonderful meal.

*

As the coffees were served, the guests began to mingle once again. James was mightily relieved that the butler wasn’t shuffling the menfolk off into another room for brandy and cigars. He wasn’t quite sure if Dani would be able to tolerate that antiquated tradition. Instead, they were left alone, the house staff doing nothing more than facilitating the free-flow of drinks.

              James took the opportunity to introduce himself to some of the people who would be his future neighbours. A good number of the guests lived in the little workers’ cottages by the stable blocks. They were an interesting mix, one couple commuting to their high-flying careers in Edinburgh but enjoying the novelty of living within the estate. The rest had jobs connected to Langford Hall itself. James was already beginning to feel part of this small, unusual community.               After a while, James noticed the Earl himself approaching them.

              He held out his hand and made a rather formal introduction. ‘I’m pleased to meet you, Mr Irving. Aiden Newton has kept me abreast of the sale of Oak Lodge, but I really like to become personally acquainted with everyone who is resident within the estate.’

              ‘I’m very taken with the house,’ James replied. ‘I hope to move in at the end of the month. I was going to remain in my city flat whilst I re-decorated but I’ve decided to get straight in. I can do the job better from on-site.’

              ‘Good. I’d like to see the Lodge occupied again. Newton may have told you that it was once a family home. The Gascoignes lived in the place for twenty odd years. Tim commuted into the city, his wife and children were frequent visitors to the Hall. Lynda and my wife were close friends.’

              ‘They must have left some years ago,’ Dani put in, thinking about the current state of the building.

              ‘Tim got a job in the United States in the late nineties. We were all upset when the family moved away. Since then, there have been a handful of tenants, but no one to look after the lodge properly.’

              ‘I intend to do that, Mr March. I’d love to restore the place to its previous glory.’

              A smile spread thinly across David March’s face. ‘I’m glad.’ He glanced at Dani. ‘Perhaps it will become a family home again, one day.’

              James cringed, unsure of how Dani would respond to such an old-fashioned comment. To his surprise, she smiled back.

              ‘One day it will. I’m quite sure.’             

Just as they were preparing to leave, the couple were surprised to find that the group of guests who remained were being led out of the drawing room by the owner, towards the foot of a huge, sweeping staircase. It soon became evident that they were being taken on some kind of tour.

              David March piloted them upwards, onto a landing which provided a good view of the grand entrance hall. The Earl then launched into a potted history of the building.

              Dani had to admit that she found it very interesting. The Earl told them several anecdotes about the time when the army took over Langford in early 1940. The family’s precious paintings were buried in boxes in the woods, to keep them safe in the event of an invasion and away from rough treatment by the Hall’s temporary residents.

              As March guided the group higher into the upper floors, he described how on one winter’s night in 1942, when the Hall was bitterly cold, some of the soldiers who slept in the old servants’ quarters on the top floor had lit a fire in the open grate. No one was quite sure what happened, a spark landed on the wooden floor no doubt, but by midnight, the entire roof of Langford was engulfed in flame.              

              The soldiers managed to put out the fire eventually. No one was hurt. But like many country houses requisitioned during the war, the damage was never properly repaired. Langford remained semi-derelict well into the 1950s, when the Marchs began the slow process of restoration.

              Dani slipped her hand into James’ as they explored the upper floors, now divided into modern living quarters. A few members of the party had made their excuses and slipped away - uninterested in the history lesson, or perhaps having heard it many times before.

              David March paused at a door, set back into one of the stone walls. ‘There is a beautiful harvest moon tonight. Would you like to view it with me from the north tower? It isn’t too strenuous a climb.’

              Dani eagerly paced forward. ‘Great, I’d love to.’ She felt James’ hand grip hers more tightly.

              ‘I’m not sure, darling. I don’t want to leave it too late to call a cab.’