Page 123 of Storm Child


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‘We have two witnesses from the Fisherman’s Hostel who recall Finn shouting at you, telling you to stay away from him.’

‘He was drunk.’

‘He’s always drunk. And Willie Radford asked you to leave his family alone, but you ignored him. He wants you charged with harassment, stalking, trespass and assault.’

‘That’s ridiculous.’

‘Did Finn Radford ask you to stay away from him?’

‘Yes, but I didn’t harass him and there was no assault.’

‘Yet the question I find myself asking is whether Finn would still be alive if you hadn’t gone out there today. That young man had mental health issues. He was an alcoholic. He suffered from depression and paranoid delusions. You’re supposedly a psychologist. You should have realised that.’

‘Instead of accusing me, you should be looking into that illegal camp next to Finn Radford’s shack.’

‘What camp?’

‘The caravans, tents and tarpaulins strung under trees. Pit toilets. Cooking fires. A bus is delivering undocumented workers to Polaris Pelagic.’

‘How do you know they’re undocumented?’

‘They scattered when they saw us, running off in every direction. They’re frightened of being caught up in an immigration sweep.’

Ogilvy wants to dismiss this new information, but he stops himself, and ends the recording. He gets to his feet and hitches up his trousers. One button on his shirt has surrendered and his white vest is visible where his shirt gapes open.

‘I’m holding you both in custody until I decide what crime I can charge you with.’

‘I want a lawyer.’

‘That might be the most intelligent thing you’ve said today.’

I’m allowed a five-minute phone call. I weigh up whom to contact. Carlson will say I told you so and wash his hands of me. Lenny Parvel is my oldest friend and my long-time employer at Nottinghamshire Police, but she has no jurisdiction in Scotland, and this isn’t her fight. Finally, I settle on Florence. She answers before the phone even rings.

‘Where are you?’

‘I’m still in Scotland. There has been a complication.’

I quickly tell her about Finn Radford’s suicide and how the family has accused us of harassment and trespassing.

‘Where are you right now?’ she asks, as though sensing trouble.

‘At the police station in St Claire.’

‘Have you been arrested?’

‘We’re in custody.’

‘Charged?’

‘Not yet.’

‘Please tell me you haven’t been interviewed without a lawyer being present.’

‘OK. I won’t tell you that.’

‘And I thought I’d met a smart man. Where’s Evie?’

‘She’s with me.’

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