Chapter 15

Kenny punched the postcode from the scrap of paper into the satnav so it would steer him to the address the policeman had given him when he had been released. His first priority was to recover his computer and the memory stick so he could restart his search for whoever was controlling him.

The address proved to be a non-descript building in the heart of one of Glasgow's industrial estates. A small plaque to the side of the entrance declared what the premises were - Strathclyde Police - Technical Laboratory - he read.

The procedure for recovering his property was the worst form of bureaucratic nightmare. Reams of forms had to be read and signed and he had to establish his own identity beyond any doubt. Fortunately he had his passport with him and the clerk behind the counter reluctantly accepted that as proof that he was who he claimed. All in all it took almost two hours before several large plastic bags containing his possessions were brought out.

Kenny ignored the digital camera equipment and other odds and ends, instead making sure that the computer and the memory stick were in the bags before he would sign the final forms. The base unit for the computer was big enough to be immediately obvious but it took some rummaging to confirm that the memory stick was also there. Kenny slipped the stick into his pocket and also snagged his mobile phone from one of the bags. He signed the release forms and was able to leave the lab at last.

Once back at his car, Kenny carefully placed the computer base unit on the back seat so that it wouldn't be bounced around and then he plugged his mobile into the charger unit mounted on his dashboard. He climbed in behind the wheel and headed back in the direction he had just come from.

Kenny's destination now was back across Glasgow and eventually back into Fife. He decided that he would make for Rosyth, from where Scotland's only ferry link to mainland Europe sailed. He was taking a chance that he would be able to book onto the ferry once he turned up, but his knowledge of the link suggested it wasn't that busy and it was a fair bet there would be space.

The journey up the A80/M80 and M9 to the Forth Road Bridge took less than an hour and Kenny was soon navigating his way through the little village of Rosyth. He skirted the large naval base and located the ferry terminal easily enough. He parked up in the large carpark and made his way to the booking office.

Rosyth only had one outward sailing every two or three days. Kenny's luck held, as there was indeed a sailing due to embark and he had plenty of time to secure a berth. His gamble paid off when the booking clerk also confirmed there was plenty of space on the next sailing. He was able to produce his passport and the clerk helped him fill out the necessary paperwork then rang up the ticket and took Kenny's cash. With all of the prerequisite documentation, he returned to the car and moved over into those spaces clearly sign-posted for those planning on using the ferry that would need to pass through passport control.

The ferry sailed at 17:00 and Kenny knew he had several hours to kill. He used some of that time to key details of where he wanted to go into is satnav unit. His plan once he docked in Belgium's Zeebrugge was to head for the South of Spain. That was about the only place outside of Scotland that he had any real knowledge of - having spent four different summer holidays in Spain's popular 'Costa' resorts.

Programming the satnav took all of fifteen minutes and Kenny decided he still had plenty of time to make the short ten-minute trip from Rosyth into the much larger town of Dunfermline to pick up an essential item. He found a large Curry's electrical store easily enough and used his credit card to buy a powerful Toshiba notebook computer with built-in wireless functionality. Kenny also paid for an Internet service package and a 3G card to go with the computer so that he would be able to use it immediately. Within an hour he was back at Rosyth and joined the queue of cars going through the control point and rolling on to the large Superfast Ferry.

Drew was trying to catch up on some of his other cases when the phone on his desk rang.

"MacIntosh," he answered.

"Sir, it's Sergeant Miller at the front desk. I've got a young girl here asking to speak to someone about a Mr Kenny MacGovern. Isn't that the guy you're interested in?"

"I'll be right down," Drew replied.

He dropped the phone in to its cradle and dashed from his office.

When Drew arrived at the front desk of the station it was to find the duty sergeant talking to a young girl of perhaps fourteen or fifteen.

"Sir, this is Kim Park. She says she needs to speak to somebody about Kenny MacGovern."

"Thanks Sergeant, I'll take it from here," Drew replied. He turned to the young girl and smiled, trying to put her at her ease. "Why don't we just find somewhere a little more private to talk?"

Drew raised the flap on the counter to let the girl through and gently steered her in the direction of one of the interview rooms. He called over his shoulder at the desk Sergeant.

"Miller. Could you rustle up a can of coke or something for our visitor?"

Drew settled the girl into a chair and waited until the Sergeant brought a can of coke for her to drink before asking her what he could do to help.

"Okay - Miss Park was it? The Sergeant said you wanted to speak to someone about Kenny MacGovern. What can I do to help you?"

The girl was clearly very nervous at being inside the police station and she fidgeted, wringing her hands together and keeping her eyes focussed on her own lap.

"It's okay, take your time," Drew encouraged her.

"Ummm, some policemen came to my house to speak to me earlier this week," the girl managed to get out before stopping once more.

Drew held his tongue, letting the silence draw the girl out. Inside he was seething - it appeared as if someone else was also investigating MacGovern. Why wasn't he aware of that?

"They wanted to know about me and Mr MacGovern," she added eventually.

Drew forced himself to remain quiet.

"They wanted to know whether I had done anything with Mr MacGovern, you know, sex things. I told them I hadn't and that Mr MacGovern was the best teacher ever."

The girl had clearly reached the most difficult point in what she had to say, as she stopped altogether and didn't appear to be able to go on. Drew heard her sobbing now and there was a definite trembling in her hunched shoulders.

"It's okay, Kim. It's okay. You're not going to be in any trouble, I promise you. Just tell me what's wrong."

"I lied," the girl blubbed, "I lied to the policemen. I ... I did ... I did have sex with Mr MacGovern. Lots of times."

The admission seemed to break a dam and the girl's hands came up to cradle her face, as her sobbing grew in intensity. Drew sat stunned by the admission. What the hell was going on? He thought furiously about how to proceed and knew he had to call in re-inforcements.

"Everything's going to be okay, Kim. I promise. Everything's going to be fine. Just wait here and I'll get somebody to help you clean up a little."

The next hour or so was something of a blur for Drew. His first concern was for the girl's welfare and her state of mental health. He initially corralled a WPC to help and then managed to drag in a doctor and counselling specialist. Once he had those in place his next priority was to get some kind of statement from Kim Park, something that would stand up in court. He also asked for the opinions of the experts as to whether the girl would be able to stand up to the rigours of giving evidence in a court case.

Once Drew was happy that these important things were underway he at last allowed his growing anger free rein. The fact that someone else had been investigating MacGovern without his knowledge incensed him and he was on the warpath trying to track down who was behind it.

Unfortunately communications within the station weren't always as effective as they should be. Much depended on how up to date people were in opening up files and keeping the computer record system current so that cross-referencing would work. In this instance it appeared as if he himself was behind and hadn't logged his interest in Kenny MacGovern. Someone else was clearly in the same boat.

When he re-checked the computer system he found that it had been refreshed and it now held details of the charge that had brought against the teacher and also the fact that it had been dropped. The officer in charge of the investigation was recorded as DI Roger Black - someone Drew knew quite well and someone he didn't like one little bit.

"Shit!" he cursed when he saw the name.

"The last thing I need right now is to get into a pissing contest with Black. I need to make sure the Chief backs me up and that I keep overall control over this. I'm not having that supercilious prick walking away with all the credit for my hard work!"

"Isn't that just bloody typical! I've been trying to track MacGovern down for two days and he's been locked up in this station all that time. What a fucking shambles!"

By the time the experts thought Kim Park had recovered enough to give a statement it was already after 18:00. The girl's parents had been contacted and had arrived at the station to be at their daughter's side. Mrs Park held her daughter's hand as she haltingly gave details of her relationship with Kenny MacGovern.

Mr Park's face was grim and angry looking as he listened to the details of his fourteen-year-old daughter having full-blown sexual intercourse with her headteacher. Drew suspected that the man would like nothing more than to have the opportunity of getting his hands on MacGovern at that very moment.

He took his time and gentled the girl through the process of making her statement then left the experts to discuss what would happen next with her and her parents. Drew himself made his next stop the Chief Superintendent's office so he could update Hugh Graham and enlist his support.

"So, it's like this Chief - Roger Black seems to have acted on an anonymous tip-off. He managed to get a search warrant - I'm betting the grounds for that must have been a bit dodgy - and he hauled Kenny MacGovern in. He charged the guy with having sex with a minor and then couldn't make it stick so he had to let him go.

"Black doesn't know anything at all about all the other stuff I've been working on and as far as I'm concerned he's had his try at MacGovern. I need your backing to warn him off so I've got a clear run at the teacher. I'm just waiting for the arrest warrant to be signed on the back of the statement from one of his young pupils."

Hugh Graham mulled over the details of what Drew has just told him. He was certainly not averse to putting one over on his opposite number in the Child Protection Unit, Chief Superintendent Ernie MacKay. From what Drew had said MacKay's man had blown his opportunity and couldn't really complain therefore if he was now told to butt out completely. MacKay wouldn't like it but he would have to accept reality.

"Okay Drew. Go ahead and assume you've got complete and sole authority. I'll make sure Black doesn't get in your way. He'll not be happy mind, so I hope you weren't expecting a Christmas card," Graham laughed.

"Duncan, have you heard about the Church of Cyberscience and what it can do for you?"

Duncan Hamilton's face took on the glazed look that indicated the trigger phrase had done its work. On the other end of the phone the controller knew that it was time to pass on some new orders for the Hamilton brothers.