‘Boss.’
Detective Superintendent Robb Cross. ‘Liam. Not disturbing anything, am I? You sound out of breath. If you’rewithRuth, I can call back. Say, two minutes?’
‘Just out jogging. And if Iwerewith Ruth, you and I wouldn’t be having this conversation.’
‘I’m glad to hear you’re taking your fitness seriously. You don’t want to die in bed after a particularly invigorating lovemaking session, do you? Now, that’s howIdream of going… when I’m eighty, with my thirty-year-old bride standing weeping by my bedside.’
‘You’re a long way from eighty, sir.’
‘A man can dream. But anyway, remember how much “fun” you had in Fife working that case a couple of weeks ago?’
‘How could I forget?’
‘They need you again. Control woke me up, and I can’t say I’m not disappointed I didn’t wake you up.’
‘Such is life. Where am I going?’
‘Kirkcaldy. DCI Alan McRae is still missing. You’ll meet up with DI Art McKenzie again. I’ll text you the details. And make sure you drive over there and don’t run. You’ll get there quicker.’
Cross cut the call, and Brodie ran the distance to the front door of the luxury flats he and Ruth lived in.
Upstairs, Ruth was showered and had coffee going.
‘Well, if it isn’t Rocky,’ she said, smiling.
‘I beat a tram this morning, I’ll have you know.’
‘Was it stopped?’
‘Pulling away from the stop, but I had a good six feet on it. Then I let it win.’
Ruth laughed. ‘I’m proud of you. I remember not so long ago when you wouldn’t have been out of bed this early on Tuesday morning after a few pints on a Monday night.’
‘I’m glad I stopped drinking on a Monday, to be honest.’
Brodie didn’t tell her he missed the sessions in Leith, but his friend had died, and it seemed pointless after that.
‘Go and get showered and I’ll have some scrambled eggs ready.’
‘Thanks. But I got a call from Rob; I’m needed in Fife again.’
‘So soon?’ Ruth said.
Brodie nodded. ‘There’s still no sign of McRae.’
‘Just be careful,’ she said, and turned back to the kitchen.
‘I always am,’ he said.
‘I know you are. But just be extra careful. There are a lot of bad people out there. Normal people avoid them, but you have to go looking for them.’
He didn’t have an answer for that.
3
First day in Fife.
Brodie didn’t mind. His stepson lived in Kelty, and he was used to driving over to see him. Eric had MS, and it was a struggle for him to drive over to Edinburgh these days. His girlfriend, Chrissie, worked wonders, looking after him and running a small private investigation firm.
