“Yeah, she didn’t do it,” Luther agreed.
“So you’re a detective now?” asked Sandy.
Luther ignored him. “She might not be lyin’, but she knows more than she’s lettin’ on,” he said. “She told him…” he repeated, mulling over it in his mind. “That could mean anything from warnin’ him of consequences of his actions to warnin’ him about someone who wanted to hurt him. Whoever did it, she knows who it is, or at least who they work for.”
“You don’t know that at all,” said Sandy, getting very irritated.
“Yeah, I do,” Luther insisted. “It’s all in her body language. That’s why she got so upset to hear that Leon was dead. Whoever did this… she was expectin’ it. Not only that, but she thinks she’s next. I’d put any amount of money on that.”
Luther had spent enough years in the mafia learning to read people and learning the language they used to dance around things like murders, hits, trafficking, and arrests that it was like he was translating Fiona’s fragmented and ambiguous language for the detectives. It was as clear to him as if she’d just come out and said it all in words.
“Where’s the kid?” Luther asked, suddenly feeling very nervous for the child. “Fiona’s daughter? We should get her someplace safe as soon as we can. If Fiona thinks she’s a target, then her daughter probably is too.”
“Alright, that’s about enough! You need to step back and let us do our job,” Sandy snapped.
“Well are we gonna stand ‘round and let his Yank run the show or are we gonna actually do some serious investigating?” Sandy said.
“Fine. I get it,” Luther said, nodding with his own annoyance now and perhaps a bit of hurt. He put up his hands and went to stand on the far side of the small observation room, leaning against the wall and folding his arms. His head was bowed a little and his eyes looked at the floor, but he kept listening to the conversation regardless.
“I thought what he was saying was pretty insightful, actually,” said Tosh, lowering her voice a little and staring at Sandy with daggers in her eyes, “if you’d maybe check your ego at the door.”
“I just think we should focus on the facts and not start jumping at inferences made by a criminal,” Sandy said, not bothering to lower his voice for Luther’s benefit.
Luther remained silent, not wanting to provoke this detective any further. He quite obviously didn’t want him there and as much as Luther wanted to help with the case, he had to admit and accept that he was not in law enforcement and really had no power here to do much of anything. His word didn’t mean much and wasn’t appreciated. Well, that’s a familiar feelin’, isn’t it?
For a while, Jimmy stood quietly, taking in what Luther had to say. He was deep in thought, but then his DC’s callousness got on his nerves. “Sandy! That’s enough!”
Sandy clammed up immediately and stared at his toes. “Sorry, boss.”
“Why don’t you take a uniform and get over to the daughter’s school. Make sure everything’s alright and then bring her back here. OK?”
“Yes, sir,” Sandy answered and grabbed the coat from the back of his chair. As he rushed by Luther, his mouth was still set in a hard line, but there was a half way apologetic look in his eyes.
“OK, we know that Leon Bradly made regular trips to Shetland and that Fiona definitely knew him. They had a heated discussion in which Fiona told him something important.” Suddenly, Jimmy looked up, realizing that Luther was still hovering on the other side of the room. The man looked like he was trying to blend in with the furniture and it caused a little frown to crease Jimmy’s brow. “Come on,” he said, waving Luther over with a smile.
“Now, you said she could have been warning him about consequences or warning him that someone wanted to hurt him. What if it was both?”
“What are you thinking?” Tosh asked.
Lerwick was small and the school not far from the police station. Before they could get very far into their conversation, Sandy suddenly came running back into the situation room. “She’s gone!” he blurted out. When Jimmy shook his head, he added, “Fiona’s daughter. Someone picked her up from the school half an hour ago. They had a note and everything, supposedly from her mother. She’s just...gone.”
“Dammit it!” Jimmy yelled and slammed down the file he’d been holding. Then he marched back to the interview room and threw open the door. “Your daughter’s missing, Fiona. Someone took her from her school. If you want to see her again, I’d suggest you tell us everything. You can start by telling us how you knew Leon Bradley.”
“Oh my god,” Fiona cried. “OK, yes, I knew Leon. He was my handler.”
Jimmy nodded, having suspected as much. “Witness protection?”
“Yes, but I swear, I don’t know who killed him. I...I think he’d developed feelings for me. I knew it was too dangerous, him coming up to see me so often. I tried to warn him.”
Jimmy nodded and left the room again. Once in the situation room, he turned to Tosh and said, “Stay here and talk to Fiona. Find out everything.” Then he turned to Sandy and Luther. “You two, with me. Let’s find this little girl.” When Sandy started to open his mouth, Jimmy shot him daggers and said, “Just do it.”
