Michael drove up the long and winding track to an old farmhouse. "you know that this is likely nothing!" Brian stated, sensing Michael was perhaps getting his hopes up.
"I know, but I don't like coincidences!" Brian nodded. "you know, I haven't been up this way in years!" Michael stated parking his car in front of the stables. Michael looked to the woodland immediately behind the stables, wondering if that where the spotting was.
"I don't think, I've ever been this way" Brian responded. As they both got out the car an old man in his 60s came out the front door to meet them.
"Can I help you gentlemen ?" the old man asked. Michael stepped forward.
"yes sir, sorry to bother you!" Michael flashed his Police ID. "My name is DCI Michael Jardine from Strathclyde CID, this is my colleague DCS Holmes. We are following up on a call you made to the police a few weeks ago! regarding a woman you saw in the woods?" The old man looked at him confused.
"Glasgow?" Michael nodded. "I'm sorry that you have wasted a trip out of the city, but that turned out to be just kids mucking around, I apologised for wasting police time!" the old man stated.
"Sir, we are looking for a colleague, a friend really, she has gone missing and well... I really hoped that maybe your sighting was her, wishful thinking I know!" The farmer looked at them sympathetically.
"I'm sorry, I can't be of help to you, but it was a false alarm! With that stupid film crew about, the kids have been having a field day! Bloody Nuisance, if you ask me!" The old man slowly walked forward leaning to Michael. "I tell you, Kids these days don't know there born!" Michael smirked but couldn't help but feel deflated. He looked to Brian who nodded.
"well thank you for your time Mr..?" Michael looked defeated.
"Abernathy!" He responded.
"Thank you for your time, Mr Abernathy! Sorry to have bothered you!" Michael smiled shaking the farmers rough hands. Michael and Brian both headed back to the car.
"wait!"…. Mr Abernathy called after him and Michael turned back to him. "Did you say your name was Jardine?"
"Yes sir?"
"Your dad was a Sergeant, Right?" Mr Abernathy smiled.
"yes! That's right" Michael smirked.
"he used to come here with a young red headed boy"
"that would be my brother Ian!" Michael smiled, walking forward to speak to him further.
"he used to come to see the horses, I'm guessing you were not into horses! I would have remembered your face otherwise!" Michael smiled warmly.
"not really my sort of thing!" Mr Abernathy nodded turning to walk towards the stable.
"You know horses are good judges of character!" Michael followed Mr Abernathy to the stable door a massive horse poking his head out. Michael reluctantly stroked the horses maine looking back to Brian who smirked and leaned his back against the car. "I think he likes you," Michael smiled. "You know I have some old photos inside; likely your dad would be in one of them. If you'd like to come in to see?" Mr Abernathy smiled, Michael turned to Brian who nodded approval and stood up straight from the car intending to join him, when his mobile started to ring. Brian pulled the phone out of his pocket.
"it's Gordon, I should probably take it!" Brian stated.
"sure, I won't be long" Michael said to Brian, Brian stepping away to answer his mobile. Michael turned to Mr Abernathy "yes, I would like that" Mr Abernathy beamed turning to head into the farmhouse, walking across the drive.
"Brilliant! They are just in the back room, come in, do you have time for a cup of tea?" Michael smiled as he followed the Mr Abernathy into the farmhouse.
"CS Gordon" Brian answered his mobile.
"Where the hell are you?" CS Gordon said firmly, already annoyed. Brian paced around the car watching Michael disappear into the farmhouse.
"Mike and I are following leads on the investigation! Seeing where they lead us" Brian responded.
After a few minutes of silence. "Holmes! if you are not up to this let me know now!" Brian continued to pace.
"Sir, if anyone can find Jackie, or figure out what she was up to its Mike Jardine. I'm better to stick with him, and we will get to the bottom of things!" Brian tried to explain. "My team are investigating Jackie, going through her bank accounts, her emails everything! If Jackie or any of the others for that matter are dodgy my team will find that out. I assure of that!"
"from now on I want DI Jamieson to be briefed on your investigation!" Brian scoffed.
"sir?" Brian questioned.
"Jamieson reports straight to me, and at this moment in time I don't trust you or Jardine to do that!"
"that is hardly necessary!"
"that wasn't a request! It's an order!"
"C and D, operate independently sir!"
"Holmes, I don't want to have to go over your head, the fact that you are sleeping with the subject of the investigation does not bode well for you! neither is it that your undercover officer was killed!"
"ok ok, I will happily include DI Jamieson going forward!" Brian conceded.
"good! you, Jardine and Jamieson report to me at the end of the day! I want some progress by then!"
"yes sir!" Brian hung up the phone putting it back into his pocket, exhaling loudly. He looked up to see Michael appear out of the farmhouse. Shaking Mr Abernathy's hand and heading back to the car, Brian gave a small nod to the farmer as he opened the car door. Michael walked across to the car, opening the driver side door. They both got into the car.
"How was that?" Brian smirked.
"it was eh interesting, he did have some old photos of my brother Ian, small world!" Brian smiled "My dad liked horses a lot. I not so much!" Michael continued. "He invited me to come back when I have more time!" Brian laughed. "so..what did Gordon want?"
"He wants Jamieson to be included in our investigation!" Brian stated as he put on his seatbelt.
"Jamieson? That is just perfect!" Michael said exasperated.
"you don't trust Jamieson?" Michael shook his head "I could tell there was bit of bad blood between you in the interview!" Brian continued.
"it's not just bad blood, Brian, I think he is involved in this!" Michael turned the engine on, having put his seat belt on.
"you have evidence of that?" Brian stated shocked.
"Nothing that would stand up in court!" Michael lied, shaking his head, thinking of how scared Rob Gibson was when he spoke to him. "Listen… it just other that Robbie, Stuart, Stephen and yourself. I don't know who we can trust! Jackie's life depends on us being smart!" Brian nodded.
"ok, ok, we will only tell him what is need for the briefing!"
"Briefing?"
"oh sorry, Gordon also wants a briefing at the end of the day!"
"Great, just what we need!" Michael huffed as he turned on the engine, giving Mr Abernathy a wave and a warm smile as he drove off.