Page 115 of Vengeance is Mine

‘Yes.’

‘Which makes this premeditated. Paul Cummings, I’m charging you with the murder of Dominic Griffiths. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?’

‘We didn’t kill him,’ he pleaded.

‘Don’t worry. You won’t be on your own. I’ll be charging your two accomplices, too.’

It was almost lunchtime by the time Terry arrived back at Forth Banks. He’d showered, changed, had a quick bowl of cereal and a strong coffee. Now, in his office, he was eating an egg salad sandwich he had picked up in the canteen and was washing it down with his umpteenth coffee of the day.

Kyra entered without knocking. She pulled a face when she smelled the sandwich. ‘I don’t know how anyone can eat eggs like that. The smell alone turns my stomach.’

‘Did you want something?’

She looked down at her pad. ‘Andrew Dickens said the woman who told him Dominic’s real identity was Selina Baxter. Apparently, she’s well known for being a bit of a gossip.’

‘So much for Selina only telling her mum and her boyfriend.’

‘Exactly. And I’ve run Paul Cummings’ registration number through ANPR, and it was picked up on Scotswood Road just after eleven o’clock on the night of the first. Scotswood Road isn’t far from Atlantic Road.’

‘A couple of minutes, if that.’

‘Case closed?’

‘It would seem so,’ he said, glaring into space.

‘You don’t sound convinced.’

‘That synthetic hair keeps popping back into my mind. Andrew, Paul and John weren’t wearing a disguise. They just knocked on the door and walked in. So, who went to the house wearing a wig, and who were the couple walking up the garden path?’

Kyra pulled out a chair and sat down. ‘Are we sure that couple even exists? Only John claims to have seen them, very briefly, and after looking at a photo on the mantelpiece. Is it possible it could have been a trick of his imagination? Andrew said they’d had a few drinks in the pub before they went round to Dominic’s house.’

Terry thought for a while. ‘Okay, I can probably accept he was half-pissed and thought he saw something he didn’t, but that doesn’t explain the hair.’

‘It might have been there for days.’

‘Even if it was, it still means that someone visited Dominic wearing a disguise. Why?’

Kyra chewed her bottom lip. There was a pensive look on her face. ‘I really don’t know. I’m sorry. I suppose it’s going to be one of those unanswered questions.’

‘I don’t like those.’

‘No. But the tourist industry at Loch Ness has managed to turn them into a boon,’ she said, with a smile.

Chapter Fifty

Dawn opened her front door to find DI Terry Braithwaite standing on the doorstep with a bottle of wine in his hand.

‘The woman downstairs let me in. I’ve brought you this.’ He held out the bottle.

‘Is this so you can get my fingerprints to set me up for something?’

‘Why do people have such a negative impression of the police?’

‘I’m not sure.’ Her tone was laced with sarcasm. ‘Maybe it has something to do with you accusing them of murder while they’re grieving for their father and grandfather.’

Terry sighed. ‘That’s why I’m here. I’m sorry. Please. It’s a peace offering.’

She stood back to let him in. She took the wine and looked at the label. ‘Very nice. Not cheap. You really must be sorry.’