Maid of the Mist by Colin Bateman Read Free Book Online Page A

and I will shoot you. Do you swear that?'
    Bobby nodded.
    'Say it.'
    'I swear I won't lay a finger on her.'
    That's better. Now just remember it.'
    Corrigan pushed his chair back and stood. He looked down at Bobby and said: 'You need an ashtray.'
    Bobby followed his gaze and saw that the forgotten cigar clamped tightly in his hand had burnt clear down to the tip, burning his fingers in the process, and he hadn't even noticed. Now he did. Now he felt the pain. He gave a little yelp and let go of it, pushing back in his chair and cupping his burned fingers protectively in his other hand as the glowing remnants of the cigar peppered the paperwork on his desk.
    Corrigan turned to the door. He still had the gun in his hand. When he reached it Bobby called after him. 'Corrigan – I'm sorry.'
    'Don't apologize to me, Bobby. Apologize to her.'
    Bobby nodded.
    Corrigan opened the door.
    'Just one thing,' Bobby said. 'Was it loaded?'
    Corrigan looked at him. He raised the gun.
    He pointed it.
    He pulled the trigger.

11
    Corrigan had just parked outside Turner House when a car door slammed behind him and a young woman in a black trouser suit and high-heeled ankle boots came clip-clipping up to him.
    'Inspector Corrigan, isn't it?' she said, her head jutting forward and her smile small and slightly self-conscious, which made him think maybe she wasn't sure about her teeth. She looked to be roughly his age. She had red hair, cut short. Her nose was slightly turned up, as if it had been thumped repeatedly by a small person. 'Madeline Hume, Channel 4.1 left a message for you. You didn't get it?'
    'I got it. Ignored it.'
    'Oh. You gave the story to someone else.'
    'I didn't give the story to anyone. It's not mine to give.'
    He continued to walk towards Turner House. She followed after him. 'Why not?' she said to his back. 'She's being held here at your request.'
    Before he rang the bell he said: 'Because I have a few loose ends to tie up.'
    'Maybe I can help.'
    'I doubt it.'
    He rang. In the three weeks before it was answered she said: 'Are you being deliberately nasty, or have I done something to annoy you?'
    'Deliberately nasty.'
    'The woman's in there, isn't she? The one who went over the Falls?'
    Corrigan nodded wearily.
    'They wouldn't let me in to talk to her.'
    The door opened. Annie Spitz nodded out at him, then rolled her eyes at Madeline Hume. 'I thought I told you to fuck off!' she barked.
    Madeline turned to Corrigan. 'Sisters,' she said, 'always stick together.'
    Corrigan was as surprised by Annie's venom as Annie herself evidently was. She blushed and waved her hand in front of her face. 'God, I'm sorry,' she said hurriedly, 'it's been pandemonium this morning.'
    'Annie,' Corrigan said, peering forward to see if the big woman with the shotgun had him in her sights, 'tell me Tarriha's finished with her. Tell me I don't owe him any more money.'
    'Who's Tarriha?' said Madeline.
    'Tarriha,' said Annie, 'is not only finished, but gone. Split.'
    'Oh for Jesus . . . what about Lelewala?'
    'Who's Lelewala?' said Madeline.
    'Lelewala's gone too. She wouldn't stay. What could I do? Before you ask, Nicola's gone too. Took Aimie. Must be the cooking.'
    'Nicola . . . ?' began Madeline.
    'Jesus, Annie, I thought this was a secure house . . .'
    'Hey, c'mon, it's secure for those who want to be secure. It's not a prison.'
    Corrigan tutted. Annie glared. 'Did they say anything? Did they give any indication of where they were going?'
    'Who?' Annie said, exasperated. 'Which one? They weren't moving collectively.'
    'Any one.'
    'Nicola's gone home. Said someone . . .'
    'That fat bastard . . .'
    'Listen to me . . . she said someone was coming to look at the house. At least, she wrote someone was coming to look at the house.'
    Corrigan threw up his hands and blew out some air. 'OK. OK. Lelewala. Did she revert to English?'
    'I don't know. She didn't say anything. She just ran out.'
    Corrigan let out a deep sigh and leaned his head against the door