Chapter 19: laid to rest

Over the next few weeks the necessary but solemn duties of arranging and attending Glen's funeral and of probating his estate had to be carried out. Gavin took on most of the responsibility, as Christine still wasn't functioning properly.

Glen had left instructions that he wanted to be cremated rather than buried and family and friends gathered at Craigton Crematorium. The turnout was surprising, with many of Glen's work mates showing up to pay their respects and even George and Felicity from St Mungo's Heights were there.

Two faces stood out for Gavin amongst the assembled mourners however; two that he was less pleased to see. Towards the back of the small chapel sat DIs MacIntosh and MacLean and Gavin wasn't happy about it. He knew that the police sometimes did attend funerals of murder victims on the basis that it was possible the killer would also be unable to keep away.

The Minister performed the service flawlessly and the hymns were the tried and tested standards for funerals everywhere - the Lord is my shepherd and Abide with me. Christine and Fiona cried throughout and Lizzie joined them, despite only knowing Glen briefly.

Gavin had asked to be allowed to say a few words and he made his way to the small lectern the Minister had been using.

"Glen Anderson may not have been my natural father, but I came to think of him as my 'dad' in every way.

"He was a fine man who lived for his family and who gave his love freely and without reservation. He worked hard and instilled in me basic values - honesty, loyalty, the need to do my best at all times, to respect others, to be charitable and many more.

"For a boy newly orphaned at eight-years-old, he was a rock of solidity and gave me great comfort in a frightening and lonely world.

"Glen is already sorely missed by his family, by mom and by Fiona and by me. We have lost a very good man, but have the memories of him that will hopefully sustain us in the months and years ahead.

"I know he would want me to thank all of you for coming here today to show your respects. In many ways he was a quiet man who kept himself to himself, but he would have been moved that so many are here today.

"Dad, for the times we shared - good and bad, for the love between us, for all that you gave me that helped shape me into the young man I am today, I'll miss you.

"For the quiet advice, for the steadying hand, aye and especially for the bollockings when I deserved them, I'll miss you.

"For the constant support, encouragement and obvious pride in even my smallest achievement, I'll miss you.

"Dad, wherever you are, I love you and I'll try to live up to the example you've always set me."

There wasn't a dry eye in the chapel as Gavin finished speaking and walked back to Christine and the girls, his own tears streaming down his face. Christine and Fiona hugged him and sobbed quietly into his chest.

At the end of the service there was a quiet hum as Glen's coffin began to move on a conveyor belt and two deep velvet curtains swept closed to mask its progress towards the incinerator. That moment, so final and cruel, caused Christine and Fiona to wail out loud and Gavin hugged them tighter.

Piped music played as he led them to the doors of the chapel and Christine composed herself to join Gavin in thanking each and every mourner as they filed passed them.

"My deepest condolences," Drew MacIntosh said to Gavin, "please forgive me for intruding on your grief but I've been unable to contact you and we need to talk."

He handed Gavin a card and passed on to shake Christine's hand and whisper his condolences to her too.

"What did the policeman give you?" Christine asked.

They were cleaning up Gavin's apartment after family and close friends had been round after the cremation. Everyone had left now and only Gavin, Christine, Fiona and Lizzie remained.

"His card. He said he's been unable to contact me and that he needs to have a word," Gavin answered.

None of them had thought that the only contact address or number that the police had was for Christine's house.

"Why does he need to talk to you?" she asked now.

"I've no idea mom. I guess I'll just have to phone him to find out."

The reading of Glen's last will and testament the next day was a less harrowing experience than the funeral had been. Unsurprisingly, Glen had left his entire estate to Christine or, in the event that Christine's death preceded his own, it was to be divided equally between Fiona and Gavin.

Over the next week or so Gavin helped Christine manage the many small, practical things that needed done. The joint bank account had to be changed into Christine's name. Glen and Christine's mortgage had been secured using endowment policies and these needed to be claimed following Glen's death - Gavin was pleased that at least his mother would own the house outright after that. Glen had a life assurance policy and that had to be claimed, he had also paid into a works pension fund and Christine would receive a pension from that.

There were so many little things that were taken for granted each and every day and which, with Glen's death, had to be changed over into Christine's name

Gavin wasn't sure how long his mother would stay at the flat, but he paid for a re-direct of her mail for three months so that it would come to the apartment.

By mutual consent, their Christmas was a very low-key event. None of them felt like celebrating and memories of how happy previous Christmases had been only served to deepen the sense of loss.

Drew read through the file once more. It had been more than ten days since Glen Anderson's funeral and still Gavin MacSween hadn't contacted him. He knew the boy would have a lot on his mind and had decided to give him Christmas and New Year before actively searching for him.

The file in front of him dealt with the rape and murder of one Nora MacSween. He had already been through it three times and wondered if it had any relevance to the death of Glen Anderson. He couldn't see any possible connection at all. What was of slightly more interest was that Nora had died so violently. Could that have given a motive for her son to grow up to become the vigilante?

Drew laughed at himself. He knew he was clutching at straws. The boy had only been eight-years-old at the time and there was nothing on the file that suggested any links to the people the vigilante had killed. No, there was nothing in this, but he still wanted to speak to Gavin one last time - just because he was thorough.

Gavin knocked on the door of the apartment and almost laughed out loud when George opened the door. George had somehow managed to get his hands on a vigilante T-shirt with its 'Let Glasgow Flourish' legend on the front and 'Support the Vigilante' on the back.

"I'm glad to see you looking so well," he said with a smile.

"Come in, Gavin, come in," George replied.

He followed the older man into the apartment and asked for a coke when George offered a drink.

"So, how are things?" Gavin asked.

"Good," George replied, "my company has been very understanding. Three cheers for the vigilante, that's all I can say. When he topped Tilbury, all of the details of the scam came out and cleared my name."

"I'm glad. It's like I said when you were in the hospital, you never know when things are going to get better, something always turns up."

"Look, about that night. I've never really thanked you properly for, well you know, for saving me," George said awkwardly.

"I'm just glad I was there," Gavin replied.

"If there's anything I can do for you, you just have to name it. I had plenty of time lying in the hospital to think about what you said. You were right you know, nothing's that important that you should put your family through something like that."

"Actually, there is something you can do for me," Gavin said.

"What?" George replied.

"You wouldn't mind endorsing my passport application would you?" Gavin asked.

"Don't be daft, of course I'll do it. That's nothing, I meant if there's something big you need then let me know," George answered.

"No, the passport thing is enough, honest."

Gavin rushed upstairs to get the passport application. He had left it entirely blank so that George wouldn't see the name that the passport was being applied for under. When he returned downstairs, he had George enter details of his occupation, his work's address, how long he had known the applicant and his own passport number.

"You have to sign the back of this photograph too. It needs to be endorsed with the words I certify that this is a true likeness of Gavin MacSween and then your signature - but if you just sign it, I'll write-in the words later."

Gavin showed George the photo.

"I see you got the standard terrorist look for the photo. Why do passport photos always turn out like that?" George asked.

Gavin dropped the photo, but quickly scooped it up and placed it face down on the table for George to scrawl his signature at the bottom.

"Thanks, George. I really appreciate this and as I said, it's good to see you looking so much better."

Gavin was determined to break the mood that had been hovering over them all and he planned to try and do that at Hogmanay. The start of the New Year would be a time for them all to start again and he hoped that what he was going to suggest would jump-start the recovery process effectively.

He knew there would be the traditional street party in the City Centre's George Square and he had managed to get tickets for Christine and the girls. There would be live bands and fireworks and he thought that was exactly what they all needed.

He knew his plans were starting to work when the girls got excited discussing what they were going to wear. Fiona had to be extra careful with her leg still in plaster, but that didn't stop her planning on getting dressed up in something sexy.

Christine joined the fun and the scene brought a smile to Gavin's face.

"Look, I'm sorry to disappoint you girls but remember this is Glasgow at the end of December. It's going to be bloody freezing out there and I think you should be thinking about putting on more layers, not baring as much flesh as you think you can get away with in public!"

"Oh you! Where's the fun in that!" Fiona challenged.

Gavin shook his head. He knew this was one argument that he would never win. Besides, Fiona and Lizzie did look especially hot in their little outfits - who was he to complain?

Christine smiled as she watched him hug both Fiona and Lizzie. She knew all three were sharing one bed and surprised herself by not letting that upset her. Given the major things that they had already shared with each other, polygamy didn't seem such a big issue to her anymore. They certainly seemed to be happy together and that's what mattered.

By 11pm they were all ready to go out to the party. George Square was only a five-minute walk from St Mungo's Heights and they laughed happily as they made their way along Sauchiehall Street. Gavin and Christine were well bundled up but Lizzie and Fiona wore short skirts to show off their legs and deep-cut cashmere sweaters to show off their cleavage. Fiona's crutches and cast spoiled her look a little, but she didn't look as if she cared.

Once they reached the square, they stayed on the fringes of the crowds so that Fiona wouldn't be in any danger. There were street vendors everywhere and thousands of revellers already gathered to party into 2009.