"When I get nasty ones, as I do very occasionally, I never show them to her. I send them a stern reply, signed by me, warning them off if necessary.
I don"t burn them or shred them, though; I keep them for at least two years, in case there"s a repeat from the same source.
146.
AUTOGRAPHS IN THE RAIN."Almost invariably they"re signed too, with return addresses. When they
come in the mail, I always check them out and the addresses are always
genuine. When they come in the e-mail, I pa.s.s them back to the provider,
for them to deal with."
"Have you had any nasty ones, lately?"
"Only one or two in the last six months; we don"t get all that many. And
as I said, they were all signed and addressed. They"re in a file at the agency
in London where I"m usually based."
"Fine," Steele nodded. "I can have them checked out. What about your
Internet correspondence?"
"Some, but not much. Net-heads are too scared of being blocked out."
She paused. "There was one message, though, a couple of months back,
that I didn"t show to Lou. It came on Hotmail; it was unsigned and odd
enough for me to check it out with Microsoft.
"All they could tell me was that the holder of that mailbox was someone
called John Steed, and that he had logged on and registered through a cyber
cafe in Newcastle. Give me two minutes to boot up my laptop and I"ll show
you it."
She picked up a bag which she had laid on a chair, unzipped it and
produced a portable computer; clipped into the lid, beneath a transparent
screen was a photograph of a smiling black man. The detectives waited as
she switched it on and opened her e-mail folders.
She had just clicked on a file, and handed the computer to Steele, when
the Bankier sisters came back into the room. Lucy wore a worried look;
Louise followed behind her, carrying four china cups and saucers on a tray.
She laid one beside the sergeant, on a small table, as he looked at the
message, with Mcllhenney peering over his shoulder. "Hi Louise," they read silently.
This is a message to thank you for the major contribution you have made to world cinema during your outstanding career. However, every b.i.t.c.h has its day, as they say, and it"s in the nature of things that yours has to be over quite soon.
When that time comes, I hope that you will have a moment to contemplate the effect that you have had on the lives of the millions to whom you have provided an idle distraction, and that you will be able to judge at that time whether the sacrifices you have made along the way have been worth it after all.
John Steed.""What is it?" Louise asked.
"An e-mail I didn"t show you," Glenys confessed.
"Ah, one of them."
"You know?" the secretary exclaimed.
"Of course I do," Louise laughed. "Not even an actress is vain enough to a.s.sume that she only gets nice mail." She held out a hand to Steele. "Let"s see it."
The sergeant glanced at Mcllhenney, who nodded, grim-faced. She took the laptop from him and read. "You see what I mean?" the secretary said when she was finished. "It"s odd, but you couldn"t call it threatening."
Neil Mcllhenney and Louise Bankier exchanged meaningful glances.
"Until you see the signature," said the detective. He looked at the others.
"You three are probably too young to remember the TV series, and no b.u.g.g.e.r went to the movie they made a few years back.
"The name. John Steed; that was the name of the lead character. The series was called The Avengers.""148.43.Bob Skinner was rarely surprised; but even he was taken aback when Ruth buzzed through to his office to say that Detective Inspector David Mackenzie was at the front desk, asking if he might see him.
"The Bandit?" the DCC exclaimed. "I wonder what the h.e.l.l he wants.
Aye, sure I"ll see him. Have someone show him the way up."
When Ruth showed the Lanarkshire detective into the big wood-panelled office, she recalled his mockery of her boss at their first, unfortunate meeting. "Somewhere along the line" she mused, as she saw the expression on his face, "he has learned respect."
"Well David," said Skinner, as she left. "Does your mother know you"re out?" He grinned at the younger man"s momentary confusion. "I mean does your divisional commander know that you"re through here?"
"I"ve told Detective Superintendent Lillie that I had to come through to Edinburgh to pursue my enquiries, sir." He frowned. "How did you know she"s a woman?"
"You"d be amazed by what I know. For example, you"re an Albion Rovers supporter . . ." The inspector"s mouth fell open. "Don"t be embarra.s.sed about it, son," Skinner laughed. "It"s the main reason why I like you.
"Tell me though, did you tell the lady whom you were coming to see?"
Mackenzie gave a slight, awkward grin. "Not exactly. She"d have gutted me like a fish if I"d told her that; I said I had to re-interview a witness."
"But what if I hadn"t been in? Didn"t you think to call first?"
"I suppose I should have, but the thing is, it isn"t really you I"ve come to see. I want another chat with Ruth."
"Not under caution this time, I hope."