The Devil's Due: A Cooper and McCall Scottish Crime Thriller by Ramsay Sinclair (nonfiction book recommendations TXT) 📕

“I’m not sure. I don’t think so yet, because of—” I cut myself off with a tight-lipped grimace, scolding myself for sharing our investigation too easily. Even though I didn’t believe Lucy capable of murder, she could be covering for someone who did. “I, uh, don’t think we should be talking about this.”

“Of course. Private information, I’m sure. I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of your findings,” Lucy apologised sincerely.

“Finlay!” McCall distracted me from our Volvo, ready to go. Our people had everything covered.

“I’ve got to go,” I pointed at McCall. “My partner, work partner, I mean.”

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me.” Lucy raised her neat brows in humour.

“Well, yes. I suppose it is. Right. Uh. You can go,” I blurted out ridiculously and noticed an unnatural amount of sweat beginning to run down from my forehead. I never was any good at goodbyes.

“Oh.”

“As in, you’re free to go home, have a drink. Non-alcoholic, preferably. People in shock should stick to tea or coffee.” Talk about a tongue twister. “Or water. Water would be best.” I slicked my wavering hair back.

Lucy opened her lips, about to speak, but I couldn’t deal with any additional humiliation. I turned on my heel, headed straight towards McCall.

“It’s the devil’s work. He walks among us,” I overheard the auntie warn loud enough for all to hear, blaming Laura’s death on some evil religious figure. Laura’s bible was still tucked away neatly under my arm, no fear of losing it then.

“Actually, Lucy…” I turned back to her surprise and mine. “We can give you a lift home. Me and DS McCall.” I offered politely. “That’s an order, not a question.”

23

We drove away from the scene, leaving the death and ruined lives far behind us. We three sullen souls descended into a journey of solemn nothings down the roads of Dalgety Bay, none of us sure on how to strike up another conversation.

I glanced into my side wing mirror, which reflected Lucy’s face staring out of her back window. I observed her actions, the way her lips turned down at the corners whenever we passed a stray child outside after dark. To anyone who met Lucy, it would be obvious how much she cared for those kids. She sniffed silently and attempted to hold back more easy tears.

My hands absentmindedly patted my suit jacket, which had been placed on my lap in a pile. I couldn’t bear to put it back on, in case I felt another wave of heat. My hand checked the bagged ring still in my pocket. I couldn’t afford to lose what stray pieces of evidence I found otherwise. Both DCI Campbell and McCall would have my head on a plate in seconds.

McCall ground the gears, waking us all up from our inside thoughts. “Sorry. Is it this road, Lucy?”

Lucy sat forward in the seat to survey the road, squinting slightly for her eyesight gradually worsened in the dark. Some people don’t suit glasses, but Lucy wore them well.

“Yeah, thank you.” Lucy tended to overthank people, I’d noticed. Perhaps she felt an imposition to us or simply diverted to politeness when unsure of what else to say.

I had yet to figure her out.

The houses on her street were built into neat rows with well-groomed front gardens, a type of neighbourhood where nobody minded paying for a window cleaner. Through Lucy’s open curtains, a huge, wooden bookcase extended across one back wall, covered with coloured book spines.

“There we are.” McCall came to a smooth stop directly outside, showing off for the guest. McCall acted a complete maniac behind the wheel whenever we were alone, flying around corners and braking suddenly.

“That’s great.” Lucy held onto the door handle, ready to exit the vehicle. I also grabbed onto my door handle, ready to walk her to the house, but she declined my gesture. “Please, stay here. You’ve both done more than enough for me tonight. I’ll start to assume it is favouritism.”

I graciously gave a small wave at the woman, then licked my cracked lips.

“Thanks for the cooperation, Lucy.” McCall continued our final formalities, wrapping the night up. “We will keep in touch for statements, so don’t hesitate to call us if you need to.”

“Goodnight, DS McCall, and you, DI Cooper,” Lucy said quietly and willed herself to get out of the car, almost as though her legs were glued down. Going home alone after a night like this must have been tricky.

The door slammed shut behind, setting a small breeze escaping through the gap and whipped McCall’s hair into a frenzy. Lucy disappeared into her house, and a second light snapped on inside. I could just see through the windows that Lucy collapsed onto a chair, head buried into her hands. From what I already knew about the way Lucy cried, she’d started again.

“What was all that about?” McCall drove away, prodding my side.

I flinched away unexpectedly. “What was what about?”

“You? Being nice, thinking about others for once?” she chided. “You’ve gone soft.”

“Me, soft? Nah.” I enjoyed winding her up.

“Anyone would think you’re in lurve,” McCall shot me that knowing look.

“Not in love, per se. Think of it as excitement,” I hinted, thumbing Laura’s Bible absentmindedly.

“Wow. That moved fast. I mean, Lucy’s pretty and all, but I didn’t think she’d be your cup of tea?” McCall revealed her true intentions.

“What?” The very notion had me shocked. “She isn’t my cup of tea, you’re right. Too… smart. We couldn’t be more different if we tried.”

“Who were you talking about?” McCall withdrew her eyes from the road.

“Abbey.”

“Oh,” McCall deflated slightly.

“McCall, I’m not interested. I’ve met the woman once. Whereas me and Abbey, that’s a whole different ballpark.”

“Yeah, sounds as though it might be,” McCall retaliated in disgust at that information. “Well, she certainly is forward, brash, and loud. Like you.”

The police station gradually faded into sight, between mine and McCall’s bickering. After her emotional outburst at the house, I had to catch her up