Against the Clock, John Carson [digital ebook reader txt] 📗

the same place. Dead. Jimmy Dunbar is through in Edinburgh and his DI, Tom Barclay, wants me to go over the case with him since I worked it back then.’

‘Oh God. Poor wee thing,’ Vern said.

But Muckle didn’t hear her. His mind had gone back to that time and place.

He couldn’t wait to help Jimmy Dunbar again.

Nine

‘I wonder what Frank Miller thinks of him,’ Robbie Evans said as they got back in the car. ‘Morton, I mean. Miller was the one who interviewed him back then.’

‘His alibi was watertight, just like I said in there. The buses couldn’t park right at the door, so they were in the car park at the back,’ Dunbar said.

Harry started the car and pulled away from the side of the road. ‘All those buses from different companies would leave at the same time?’

‘Aye. So they were out there, gabbing. None of them left to be on their own. I just think he looks a creepy sod. If it wasn’t for the alibi, I’d be all over him.’ Dunbar sighed. ‘One down, one to go. This is the part of the job I hate, telling a parent their bairn has been found dead.’

They drove round the corner and parked in Dorset Place. In contrast to the last flat, this one was located in a modern building. It was blustery, the weather matching their moods. They climbed the three flights of stairs to the top flat and a woman answered Harry’s knock. They showed their warrant cards and the woman’s eyes widened.

‘Is it about Alice?’ she asked, her voice dry and raspy.

‘It is. Can we come in?’

She walked away without answering and they followed her through to the living room, where a man was sitting watching football on the TV. He switched it off when they walked in.

‘It’s about Alice,’ the woman said.

‘Mr and Mrs Brent?’ Dunbar asked.

They both nodded. Dunbar knew their names were Tim and Sheila.

‘I’m from Glasgow Division, as is my colleague, DS Evans. We’re helping DCI McNeil here with his enquiries into the disappearance of your daughter.’

‘Was that her you found on Portobello Beach this morning?’ Tim Brent asked, his eyes turning liquid.

‘No, it wasn’t,’ Harry answered, and before he could carry on, Sheila Brent put a hand on her chest and let out a breath.

‘Thank God.’

‘I’m sorry, but it is bad news. That wasn’t your daughter, but Alice was found this morning. In the same location where she went missing.’

Sheila opened her mouth and seemed to lose the ability to breathe. They helped her down onto the settee.

Dunbar looked at Evans. ‘Tea, Robbie.’

Evans left in search of a kitchen and a kettle.

They heard it being clicked on as Sheila gathered herself. She looked at the two detectives.

‘How…how did she die? Did he hurt my baby?’

‘It would seem that she died of carbon monoxide poisoning. We can’t be a hundred per cent sure until a post-mortem is done, but that’s the indication,’ Harry said.

‘Wait a minute,’ Brent said, ‘did she just die recently?’

‘We think in the last few weeks,’ Dunbar said, wishing that Evans would hurry up with the tea.

‘Where has she been all this time?’ Brent asked.

‘We don’t know,’ said Harry. ‘We just know that she was left back where she first went missing.’

‘I was one of the investigating officers,’ Dunbar said. ‘I’m aware of the details surrounding your daughter’s abduction, but we need to ask some more questions.’

Brent sat down beside his wife just as Evans came through with the tea. Dunbar took the mug from him. ‘Cheers, Robbie.’

Dunbar passed the cup over to Sheila and she drank from it, sipping the lukewarm liquid.

‘I know it was five years ago, but since we first spoke to you have you remembered any little detail that you might not have remembered at the time?’ Harry said.

Sheila looked at her husband like they were collectively thinking, and then they both looked blankly at the detectives.

‘I can’t think of anything. I mean, I’ve run the scenario through my head over and over,’ Brent said. ‘I mean, why would she wander off away from her friends? She was ten years old, for God’s sake. She was so innocent.’ His lips started to tremble. ‘Who would want to take her?’

‘That’s what we’re trying to find out,’ Dunbar said.

‘You couldn’t find out five years ago,’ Sheila said. ‘What makes you think that you can find out now?’

‘Two of the girls have been returned. We can learn things forensically. Try and work out where they were kept for five years.’

Brent looked at Dunbar. ‘That other body from Porty; it was Sandra, wasn’t it?’

‘It was. Her next of kin have been informed. Did you know them at all?’

‘No.’ Sheila shook her head. ‘I saw Sandra on the news when she went missing, down at Portobello, but we didn’t know them personally.’

‘What about Zoe Harris?’

‘We heard about her too, of course – going missing on the same day as Alice. But the police officer, Frank Miller, didn’t tell us much about the wee one. She went to the same school as Alice, but I don’t ever remember seeing her when I took Alice. They were in different years. I might have seen her, but I don’t remember.’

‘Did Alice go on many trips?’ Dunbar asked.

‘A couple. They went through to the Glasgow Science Centre one time with her class. She had fun then.’ She sipped her tea.

‘How did they get there?’

‘By coach. Two classes went that time, I think. Our Alice’s class and Mrs Morton’s.’

Dunbar looked at Harry before asking the next question. ‘Mrs Morton? Do you know her first name?’

‘It’s Agnes,’ said Brent. ‘Her husband is the owner of the bus that took Alice through to Glasgow. And he’s my boss. I’m a diesel mechanic.’

Ten

‘Thanks for coming along,’ DI Tom Barclay said to Muckle McInsh. Sparky wagged his tail.

‘Nae bother, pal. If I can be of any help, that’s the main thing. But let me introduce the team. Former sergeant Angus Kendal, a.k.a. Shug. Former DS Vern Baxter.’

Barclay