Referendum (29 page)

“And he won’t.”

“You’re going to stop him?” Leona snorted in contempt, “What is it you’re going to do? Are you going to go all vigilante on him? I doubt it. You’ve not done much for us so far. Give me one good reason why should believe you now?”

“I’ve been looking into Niall Murphy’s background for a while. I can’t discuss the details, but we’re closing in on him. He’s mixed up in a lot of really bad stuff. Your folks were just the tip of the iceberg. But he’s made mistakes and pissed off a few too many people – so it’s payback time for Niall Murphy. You need to know that I’m going to make that happen and you need to make me a promise that you won’t get personally involved.”

“I can’t do that, you know that I can’t. He’s done too much.”

“I hear you haven’t been going to school, that you’ve dropped out. You should think about going back. Your parents would want the best for you.”

“I’ve had enough of that place. The kids just treat me like some kind of freak, someone they wouldn’t even spit on. I’ll get a job and take my chances.”

Arbogast looked at the girl and could almost see the next 20 years. She’d get a job in a shop but her heart wouldn’t be in it. She was smart and had potential, but her despair would end up defining her for life.
Maybe she’ll end up going to someone like Murphy and the whole rotten cycle will simply start all over again.

“You’re letting Murphy win if you just give up on everyone and everything; worse than that you’re giving up on yourself. You’re angry now and I get that, but if you just bum around from job to job you’ll end up with a couple of kids and big debt. Maybe you’ll need a loan, which you won’t be able to repay. I see it happen time and time again. It’s already destroyed your family; don’t let your anger drag you down too. You’re bright, you could do more. Don’t get involved with Murphy. It’s meant as friendly advice, but I mean it. If you fuck this up it’ll be your own fault.”

“Is that your pep talk over now Detective?” Leona looked away; picking up her book again she turned over to lie on her stomach, “Because if it is you can go. I’ve got nothing left to say to you.”

As Arbogast left he cursed himself for going off script. He promised himself he’d be reassuring, let her know that he was dealing with the bigger problem, but he’d let himself get angry. He just hoped she wouldn’t do anything stupid.

42

Arbogast had arranged to meet Beckie at the St Enoch Square subway, a million different things racing through his mind.
Tomorrow’s going to be a difficult day and I need to unwind.
When he saw her he felt better – he always did. He’d been scanning the street looking for her for the best part of the last 15 minutes.

He was early for once, but she was late. She was wearing a tight black dress and heels to match. Beckie looked good. Arbogast saw her cast a glance at her reflection in the window of a shop. When he did the same and wished he’d spent a little more getting ready. His faded jeans and leather jacket seemed decidedly low-rent when compared to his date. She made him feel like that, like he should try more.
Maybe that’s a good thing. I’ve been in a rut for a long time which I need to get out of – maybe now’s the right time to make a change?

Beckie smiled when she saw him; or rather when she let him know she was definitely looking. She’d been walking along seeming distracted, her head darting around as if she was trying to find him even though he was right in front of her, grinning like an idiot. They were still at an early stage of their relationship; he’d savour the games while they lasted.

“Hello, Beckie,” Arbogast said, leaning in to kiss her on the cheek, he breathed in her scent which made him feel a little light headed. He wondered if it would be inappropriate to ask that they skipped dinner.

“Yes, it would,” Beckie said, like she could read his mind, “I know that hello and there’s no way we’re not eating. I’m starving.”

“You look fabulous, have you just come from work?”

“If you think I went to work looking like this you don’t know me as well as you think you do. Now enough of the small talk – you said we were eating out, so where are we going?”

“I thought we could go up to Guy’s?”

“Sounds good; now, how about a proper kiss?”

Walking hand-in-hand up Argyle Street, Arbogast could feel the tension drain away. To have wrapped up the murder investigation had been a bonus, but the details of the Niall Murphy investigation had left him wracked with doubt.

“Listen, Beckie, about the other day.”

She squeezed his hand and told him not to dwell on it, that it was in the past and best forgotten, “Yeah, but I want you to know it’s because I feel comfortable with you. I haven’t had that for a while and – well – maybe I just got carried away. Sometimes if something’s there and you don’t act when you should you miss your chance, and I don’t want to look back with regrets.”

“There’s no hurry, John. This is good. Right now is great so let’s not complicate things before we need to. I want to enjoy tonight and not think about all the stuff we need to deal with through the day. I know there’s something on your mind. I’d ask but I don’t think you’re ready to tell me. But I’m here if you want to talk.”

He was about to say thanks when a voice called out his name.

“Is that you, John?”

He turned around to see Rosalind Ying standing with another man. He had his arm around her and was smiling.
Who the hell is this
? He let go of Beckie’s hand and rubbed his face nervously, “Rosalind, fancy meeting you here,” he leaned across to offer his hand to the other man, “I don’t think we’ve met?”

“I’m Steve, a friend of Rose’s, pleased to meet you.”

As they shook hands Arbogast wondered how long they’d been shagging.
He called her Rose, she didn’t normally allow that. She wouldn’t let him call her that anymore, not since...
But he cut himself off, “I’m John. I work with Rosalind.”

He could see Beckie was checking her out, she knew about Rosalind. He’d described what a bitch she was, but he could see she was struggling to picture that person.

Rosalind moved to fill in the missing link, “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend then, John?”

Arbogast gestured to his right in a way which he meant to be inclusive, but which came across to Beckie as slightly embarrassed, “Of course, this is my girl friend, Beckie.” He’d meant the girl friend line to be a jibe and he saw that Rosalind raised her eyebrows when he said it, “We’re just going to dinner; actually we’re running a bit late so I’m afraid we’re going to have to run. I’ll no doubt see you tomorrow.”

Rosalind and Steve had started to move away, “No doubt we will. Well it was nice to meet you, Beckie. I hope you both have a nice night.”

“Thanks,” was all Beckie could manage. She waited until the couple were out of earshot before asking what the hell had just happened.

“What do you mean?”

“Throwing my hand away and then that awkward introduction – and what was all the girl friend chat about? Since when did I become your girl friend? Are you ten years old or something? Was that Rose – your ex?”

“Eh, yes.”

“So, do I embarrass you or something?”

“Not at all, I just wasn’t expecting to see her; I didn’t know she was seeing someone else. I was just surprised that’s all.”

“What does it matter if she’s seeing someone? It’s none of your business. What about all your, ‘I’m comfortable with you’ chat five minutes ago? Are you still hung up on her?”

A crowd of ‘Yes’ supporters walked past with banners. One of them leaned across and stuck a sticker to his lapel. ‘Don’t forget to vote’.  He looked at Beckie and he knew he needed to say the right thing for once. “I’m happy with you but you know what it’s like seeing an ex with someone new. That’s the moment you know everything has changed.”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m here right now in case you hadn’t noticed.”

Arbogast could feel his stomach strain with stress, he was worried he might be falling for her in a big way, but he didn’t want to after the way it had ended with Rose. He didn’t need the commitment, the hassle; the demands on his time. He just wanted to be independent. A lone operator with no ties but he said it anyway. He said the words that he wasn’t expecting, the words that meant things would change if he liked it or not.

“Thing is I love you, Beckie. I know that sounds rushed but it’s the way I feel. I don’t expect you to say anything back but I just wanted to say it, to try it out and stop pretending to myself that I don’t give a shit.” He worried when she didn’t say anything back that he’d blown it, but there was a sparkle in her eyes that he only usually saw when she laughed.

“John Arbogast you are certainly full of surprises. Well it’s been a promising start to the evening so let’s see how dinner goes. And don’t be getting all doe eyed. It would feel like a scene from lady and the tramp.”

Beckie giggled when she kissed him and laughed when she slapped his arse and ran up the road. He was out of breath when he caught her up, but at least he was back in the race.

***

Graeme Donald was pleased with the information he’d gathered on Niall Murphy. Ian Davidson had been busy. He had taped evidence from the student about the beating he’d taken. Davidson knew Murphy’s habits, where he’d be at certain times. For someone working in the underworld he took few precautions. It seemed the Irishman didn’t expect to be bothered by anyone so he’d shed his old routines.
That, my friend, is going to be your first big mistake.

Davidson was parked on the opposite side of the road from The Duchess. He watched Murphy leave at 11:15pm.
Right on time.
He’s with that woman again, the one he’d spoken to. He’d made it clear she shouldn’t mention they’d talked.
She’d understood him and he thought she might come in handy. Hopefully it won’t come to that.
Davidson could see that Niall Murphy and his partner in crime were both dead drunk. The two of them staggered the quarter of a mile back to Sword Street. Davidson didn’t need to know what was going on inside because he’d already bugged the flat. A motion triggered camera picked up every movement. Davidson had watched Murphy eat, shit, and rut. He knew everything there was to know. He’d watched as Murphy returned to find his place turned upside down. He’d seen his reaction when he discovered the laptop was gone. But he hadn’t followed that up. None of his contacts had reported anything and they all had a common cause, they wanted Murphy closed down, eliminated if possible.

Davidson sighed as he sat in the car. He hadn’t expected his life to pan out like this – to become a Detective for hire – but given the state of his face he suspected he would never be able to return to front line Police duties again. His therapist had said he should consider another career.
Something about post traumatic stress, but that’s all a load of bollocks.
The only thing he needed was something to do. Donald had given him that and he felt confident again. If there was no future for him in Police Scotland, Graeme Donald had made it quite clear he would have other uses for him that would be high risk and well paid. That was good enough for him.

***

It had been Arbogast’s best meal in a long time. He just remembered laughing. Beckie had flirted and he’d responded. It was just fun, something like the life he wanted. They talked about a lot of things but there was one thing they hadn’t really touched on before. Beckie was steering the conversation.

“How are you going to vote in the Referendum?”

“Wow, that’s changing the tone a bit.”

“It’s important, though, I’m interested to know.”

Arbogast started to play with his cutlery; it was a topic he’d been trying to get to grips with, “I really don’t know yet.”

“You don’t know? The vote’s in two days time, don’t you think it’s time you made up your mind?”

“I just listen to the rhetoric and I can’t decide. Both sides are so partisan that you can’t help but feel they’re both full of shit. Who am I supposed to believe? Vote ‘Yes’ and I’ll be living in some kind of Celtic utopia, or vote ‘No’ and stick with the devil I know – what kind of choice is that?”

“It’s the choice we’ve all got, but if we vote for independence it’ll be a big change. It’ll affect everyone in every way, so it’s something you need to have an opinion on.”

It had been troubling Arbogast for weeks. He didn’t class himself as a nationalist in any way but he could see there could be benefits. He couldn’t help but feel, though, that an independent Scotland would become something less than it already was.

“I’m genuinely undecided, Beckie, but I’ve a few days to mull it over so let’s talk more about it later. I think it’s time we went home.”

When they were leaving Beckie leaned over and whispered something in his ear which he didn’t quite catch. She wouldn’t repeat it but he felt that he’d made the right decision. Whatever the future held there was hope, even for a lost cause like him. It was something he’d come back to again and again as he tried to deal with his other big decision. The operation to go after Graeme Donald was going to grind into action in just a few hours time. As he lay in bed that night he couldn’t sleep for thinking about everything he had to do. After all the weeks of preparation, it was something he couldn’t afford to get wrong.

43

September 16
^th

It had been a fitful sleep and there was no time left to try and make up the hours. Arbogast came round under the dim glow of the morning sun. He’d asked Beckie to get better curtains but she said she liked to be woken by the sun. He looked at her fast asleep and thought that she might need a new system. Arbogast watched as her naked back expanded and contracted as her relaxed breathing kept her under. He wished he could do the same.