‘I came up with an idea just a minute ago,’ Margaret said. ‘I think I can get close to him.’
‘I thought you couldn’t,’ MacAskill said. ‘You didn’t know where he’d be.’
‘Davy,’ Margaret said, ‘I bet he knows where Tiny is going to be, tomorrow afternoon or tomorrow night.’
‘Will he tell you?’ MacAskill said.
‘Yes,’ Margaret said. ‘I think I know a way of finding out where he’ll be pretending to be Clint Eastwood, smoking his Hamlets and making his eyes all squinty.’
‘There’ll be no disturbance, though,’ MacAskill said.
‘Oh, it’s hard to tell,’ Margaret said.
‘But this’ll all be over soon, won’t it?’ MacAskill said.
‘Mr MacAskill,’ Margaret said, ‘everything will be over tomorrow night at ten o’clock, promise. If it’s not, tell you what I’ll do, I’ll let you take me out to dinner.’ She smiled. ‘In Maxim’s in Paris.’ She spoke softly in his ear. ‘And I’ll not say a word to Mary about it.’ She took his face between her hands and gave him a kiss. ‘Mmmmm.’
She shoved MacAskill out of the Land-Rover, started the engine and moved off.
MacAskill trotted after her. ‘Stop, Margaret, stop,’ he shouted.
Margaret stuck her head out the window and said sweetly, ‘Come on, MacAskill, you need a little exercise. Don’t want you having a heart attack.’
‘I think I’m having a heart attack right now,’ Mac-Askill said.
18
Women are often cunning
Davy sat on a bench-seat in reception in Creagorry Hotel, a pint of lager on the table in front of him. It was about five in the afternoon.
Margaret hung her coat on a hook beside the door and sat down beside him. She ordered a glass of white wine.
‘You mind if I sit here?’ Margaret said.
‘No, indeed,’ Davy said.
‘Not many in at this time,’ Margaret said.
‘No,’ Davy said, ‘I prefer it like that. I come in here every day.’
‘I know,’ Margaret said.
‘I’ve never seen you in here before,’ Davy said. ‘I don’t know you.’
‘Didn’t say you did,’ Margaret said. ‘Not many know me here. I’m just a lawyer, that’s all. I’ve never been in here before in my life.’
‘What made you come in today?’ Davy said.
‘Looking for you,’ Margaret said. ‘I was looking for you and this guy told me you come in here a lot round about this time of day. So I came in. Simple, eh?’
‘What guy’s this?’ Davy said.
‘Friend of yours,’ Margaret said. ‘Well, he’s the friend of somebody you know pretty well.’
‘What’s his name?’ Davy said.
‘Tommy,’ Margaret said.
‘Don’t know anybody by that name,’ Davy said. He gulped down about a quarter of his pint. ‘I better be goin’.’
‘Tommy’ll be surprised at that . . . Calum too,’ Margaret said.
‘You know what happened to Calum?’ Davy said.
‘Yes,’ Margaret said. ‘Now, why don’t you relax for a minute, Davy, okay? Have another pint. Oh, you’ve got a motor-bike, too, I understand.’
‘Yeah,’ Davy said.
‘Suzuki Bandit 600,’ Margaret said. ‘Petrol tank painted orange?’
‘Right,’ Davy said.
‘You smoke?’ Margaret said.
‘Just Marlboro,’ Davy said.
‘Well, that’s good,’ Margaret said. ‘You want to be careful about that. The police are mustard on people who use the other stuff. As our Calum knows, eh? You’ve been out of the university, what, a year?’
‘Eighteen months,’ Davy said.
‘Right,’ Margaret said. ‘Sociology, that right?’
‘Yeah,’ Davy said.
‘Good for you,’ Margaret said. ‘It’s good that you don’t smoke these spliffs. You don’t want the police after you, do you?’
‘No,’ Davy said, moving uncomfortably on the couch.
‘And they’re not going to come after you,’ Margaret said, ‘because you haven’t done anything wrong, am I right?’
‘Just having a pint in the pub,’ Davy said.
‘Certainly,’ Margaret said, ‘there’s nothing wrong with that. You must have done some growing up, man.’
‘Well,’ Davy said, ‘I finally got myself a girlfriend.’
‘That’s good,’ Margaret said. ‘How is she?’
‘She’s not all that good,’ Davy said. ‘Tell the truth, she’s pretty rotten. She won’t go to bed with me. But I’m goin’ to keep at it, though, till I get someone who will. It seems that there are a lot of them about, it’s just that I’m not meeting them.’
‘That’s the boy,’ Margaret said. She made a tutting sound with her tongue and front teeth. ‘God, that’s a shame. If I’d have met you sooner, I know a girl who could’ve been a great help to you in that line of work. Unfortunately, she’s leaving Uist tonight.’
‘Yeah?’ Davy said.
‘Yeah,’ Margaret said. ‘That’s really terrible. You maybe heard of her. Tamara MacIsaac. Beautiful girl. A beautiful, big girl, and she’s off to Germany tonight. Her and her pal, Tanya.’
‘Couldn’t have got a husband in Uist,’ Davy said.
‘Maybe,’ Margaret said, ‘but I heard she actually had a husband in Uist.’
‘You don’t say,’ Davy said.
‘And that the other one, Tanya, was married to Calum Macdonald,’ Margaret said.
‘I think I’ll have another pint,’ Davy said.
‘Well, now,’ Margaret said, ignoring him, ‘it seems they moved into this house in Strumore that belonged to an old woman but is now in the name of a man from South Uist. He’s called Duncan MacCormack. Oh, boy, they used to have these wild parties every night of the week – booze, music and menfolk, you know? – and every morning one of them would come to South Uist with a parcel full of banknotes.’
‘Wow!’ Davy said.
Margaret lowered her voice. ‘Where’s he going to be tonight?’
‘Who?’ Davy said.
‘Duncan MacCormack,’ Margaret said. ‘Tonight, where’s he going to be?’
‘I don’t know,’ Davy said.
‘Davy, lad,’ Margaret said, ‘it’s high time you started thinking about yourself. I’m quite willing to help you, but you’ve got to make an effort yourself.’
‘This is the first time I’ve seen you,’ Davy said.
‘New friends are best,’ Margaret said. ‘That fellow, Tiny, you can’t depend on him. Remember Tralee.’
‘I don’t know who the fuck you are,’ Davy said.
‘Not many people know me,’ Margaret said. ‘Oh, the Elder, and, oh yeah, George the policeman. George knows me. You want me to phone him, you can talk to him, find out some more about me?’
‘No,’ Davy said.
‘Okay,’ Margaret said, ‘where’s he going to be tonight?’
‘I haven’t got any idea,’ Davy said. ‘I’ve only seen Duncan two or three times since I came back to Uist. I don’t know what he does at night. He’ll be at home, I suppose.’
‘Okay,’ Margaret said. She finished her wine. ‘I’ll be seeing you, Davy lad. I’ve got to speak to George.’
‘Wait a minute,’ Davy said.
‘Why?’ Margaret said. ‘You tell me you don’t know. Okay, I accept that.’
‘Where Duncan’s goin’ to be tonight,’ Davy said, ‘is that what you want me to tell you?’
‘Listen, sunshine,’ Margaret said, ‘Calum’s in jail. There’s two ways I can go with this. The hard way: the pair of you, you and Duncan, go to jail along with Calum. The other way: only one of you goes.’
Davy started to stutter. ‘I’m . . . Jesus, I don’t know.’
‘Right,’ Margaret said, ‘make your choice, and make it right now.’
‘Let me think . . .’ Davy said.
‘No,’ Margaret said. ‘Heads or
tails, right now. I’ve got to go.’
‘I don’t know . . . I don’t know if I can do this,’ Davy said.
‘Can you do the other thing?’ Margaret said. ‘The jail?’
Davy chewed his lips, all the time constantly rubbing his palms on his trousers. ‘No.’
‘Well,’ Margaret said, ‘looks like you’ve made your choice, then.’
‘What’ve I got to do?’ Davy said.
‘Find out where he’s going to be tonight,’ Margaret said.
‘I know that already,’ Davy said. ‘He’s going for a swim in the pool at Liniclate School. Sometime between five and six. He’s goin’ to phone me or something. I told him I’d be in all night.’
‘You’re not going to be,’ Margaret said.
‘I’m not?’ Davy said.
‘No,’ Margaret said.
‘Where am I goin’ to be?’ Davy said.
‘You’re going to be with me,’ Margaret said, ‘and we’re going to be where he’s going to be – in the pool.’
‘Holy Mother,’ Davy said, ‘I can’t do that.’
‘Okay,’ Margaret said, ‘you’ve made the other choice, then.’
‘He’ll see the two of us together and he’ll know right away something’s wrong,’ Davy said.
‘But we’ve got a chance to put things right,’ Margaret said. ‘Davy, you’ve got a chance to get on the right track after this.’
‘What do you mean?’ Davy said.
‘You could go in for the law,’ Margaret said. ‘I’ve got my own practice in Edinburgh and we’re always looking out for young people who’d make good trainees. Think about it. Now, we’d best make for Liniclate School.’
‘Will I follow you on the motorbike?’ Davy said.
‘Leave it here,’ Margaret said. ‘Jump into the Land-Rover with me.’
‘Okay,’ Davy said.
Margaret snatched her coat and headed for the door, Davy hurrying behind.
19
‘White they’ll never be,’ said the crow as she washed her feet
Margaret and Davy stood on the tiled flooring that surrounded the swimming pool in Liniclate School. The place was noisy with the constant lapping water and the shouts and squeals of children. Margaret observed Duncan closely as he swam closer and closer to the end of the pool where she and Davy were standing. Just as he touched the pool wall, she knelt down and seized his ear.
‘Hi, Duncan,’ Margaret said, ‘what a good swimmer you are! Of course all sharks are good in the water.’
‘Hi,’ Duncan said breathlessly. He spat water. ‘Who’s this, Davy?’
Davy licked his lips before answering. ‘This is . . . umh, I don’t know what she’s called . . . She’s, this is my new boss, Duncan. You’d better listen to her.’
‘Okay,’ Duncan said, ‘make it quick, girl. I don’t have much time.’
‘You don’t have any time, Duncan,’ Margaret said. ‘The game’s up.’
‘What do you think you are – a referee?’ Duncan said.
‘You’re not far wrong,’ Margaret said. ‘I’m a lawyer.’
‘I absolutely detest lawyers,’ Duncan said, ‘and I don’t think I like you either, sweetie.’
‘What my friends think of me, that’s what matters to me,’ Margaret said. ‘You don’t like me, that’s fine. I couldn’t care less.’
‘I can hardly wait to hear what you’ve got to say,’ Duncan said.
Margaret pretended not to have heard him. ‘I want everything to be fair and square on Lord Granville’s estate in North Uist. They’re not – far from it.’
‘Oh, sorry to hear that,’ Duncan said. ‘It won’t do to have one of old Liz’s cousins all upset. What’s your biggest problem?’
‘You,’ Margaret said.
‘God,’ Duncan said, ‘I didn’t even know that a lawyer would be acquainted with the likes of me.’
‘But I am acquainted with you,’ Margaret said, ‘and unless you do as I say, a legal person who’s far more important than me is going to get acquainted with you as well: the Sheriff.’
‘She knows everything, Duncan,’ Davy said.
‘She knows nothing,’ Duncan said. ‘Maybe about you, but she can’t harm me.’
‘First of all,’ Margaret said, ‘I make reference to the croft in Strumore. The one that belonged to Kirsty. You made that poor old woman sign a document that transferred the place to you. “Extortion of Assignation of Tenancy”, Duncan. Three years, at least. “Conspiracy to Circumvent Her Majesty’s Immigration Laws”, Duncan. Another two years. “Living on Immoral Earnings”, Duncan. They’ll seize everything that belongs to you – houses, vehicles, every bank-book you ever possessed – then you’ll get a massive fine and another stretch in prison.’
Duncan hauled himself out of the pool and stood facing the other two, his body dripping water and an expression of indignation on his face. ‘Look, I’m sorry we had to meet like this.’
‘You’re nowhere near as sorry as I am,’ Margaret said.
‘Or as I am,’ Davy said.
Duncan opened his mouth but no sound emerged for a full two seconds. ‘But surely you could forget about this . . . umh, for a small, quick consideration of some kind?’
Margaret burst out laughing. ‘Small? Quick? You’re not underrating yourself, Duncan, are you?’
There followed an awkward pause. Finally, Duncan turned towards Davy.
‘Davy, away and get me a towel.’
‘I’m no longer with you, Duncan,’ Davy said. ‘I’m with her now.’
‘I’ve told you what’s going to happen,’ Margaret said, ‘and you don’t like it. I’ll tell you now what I can do for you. You can take it or leave it.’
‘I’m almost on the point of desperation,’ Duncan said through chattering teeth. ‘I’ll take anything.’
‘Oh, I know that,’ Margaret said, ‘but there’s a little more than taking something involved in this. This is a deal. You have to give something, right?’
‘Right,’ Duncan said in a feeble voice.
‘I’ll throw these complaints against you into the fire,’ Margaret said, ‘and I won’t say a word to the police.’
‘I’m not leaving Uist,’ Duncan said.
‘Duncan,’ Margaret said, ‘I’m not asking you to do anything.’ She prodded his chest with her forefinger. ‘I’m telling you.’
‘But I’ve got to do something,’ Duncan said.
‘Correct,’ Margaret said. ‘Give me your solemn word: you’ll not set foot on North Uist ever again. You can do all the depredation you like in South Uist but steer clear of North Uist.’
‘Okay,’ Duncan said with some reluctance.
‘I’m not finished yet,’ Margaret said. ‘Sign this.’ She took a bundle of papers from her bag along with a pen and watched Duncan as he scribbled. When he finished, she took the papers from him and put them back in her bag.
‘What documents are these?’ Davy said.
‘They’re to do with the house in Strumore,’ Margaret said. ‘I’ve got power of attorney over Kirsty’s affairs now, and the croft’s mine.’ She inclined her head to Davy’s ear and whispered, ‘It’d make a terrific bachelor pad for some young guy – a kind of dacha in the country for him while he’s working in the city, know what I mean?’
‘Stop your blethering there,’ Duncan said. ‘I’m freezing over here.’
‘You certainly are, boy,’ Margaret grinned. ‘I can see that. I thought I was going to talk to a man when I came in here.’ She stared pointedly at his crotch. ‘The nuns in Daliburgh Hospital won’t be able to help you. You’d be better off going to Yorkhill in Glasgow – to the Sick Children’s Hospital.’
This brought a laugh from Davy. ‘Isn’t she funny, Duncan?’ he said.
‘Terribly amusing,’ Duncan said dryly.
‘Have we got an agreement?’ Margaret said.
‘Yeah,’ Duncan said, his chin pressed down on his chest.
‘There’s a good lad,’ M
argaret said. ‘Come here a minute till I give you a hug so that you can warm up a little.’ She wrapped her arms around Duncan’s body and began hugging him and patting him.
Duncan was obviously enjoying this. He panted and grunted.
Suddenly, Margaret forced him towards the edge of the pool. ‘You’d better stay on this side of the ford from now on,’ she said. ‘I was really looking forward to turning you in.’ Then she pushed him into the water.
Duncan tumbled backwards into the pool and made an enormous splash.
The children who had witnessed the struggle squealed with laughter.
20
A dash down north
The Land-Rover leapt out of the parking space at Liniclate School, taking the bends on the road to North Uist at high speed with the tyres screaming. On the causeway between Benbecula and North Uist, Margaret said, ‘You’re going too fast, Davy.’
‘Jesus,’ Davy said, ‘were you really going to tell on him . . . to the police, I mean?’
‘Yes,’ Margaret said. ‘Of course I won’t need to tell on you. One of them’s going to catch us if you keep driving at this speed.’
‘You live in Vallay, do you?’ Davy said.
‘Quite near,’ Margaret said. ‘Now, slow down.’
‘I can’t,’ Davy said.
‘Look, kid, slow down, you understand?’ Margaret said.
‘I can’t,’ Davy said. ‘Honest to God, I can’t.’
‘We’ve got plenty time,’ Margaret said.
‘You want to drive?’ Davy said.
‘Yes,’ Margaret said.
The Land-Rover came to an abrupt halt. Doors were opened, feet scurried around the car, and the doors were slammed shut. They took off, this time at a more leisurely pace.
‘I hope,’ Margaret said, ‘you’ve calmed down by the time you’ve to take the Land-Rover back to South Uist.’
‘Oh, have I got to take this back?’ Davy said.
‘Yeah,’ Margaret said, ‘you’re going to Lochboisdale.’
‘I am?’ Davy said. ‘What am I going to do about my motorbike?’
‘Leave it where it is just now,’ Margaret said.
‘How do I get the Land-Rover back to you?’ Davy said.
‘I don’t want it back,’ Margaret said.