out of the hospital. When he got to the car, he slammed his hands against the roof. This case was a nightmare. Nothing had gone right since the night Rosie Duff had died. And now he had the victim of abduction, assault and false imprisonment refusing to give a statement about his attackers. According to Ziggy, he'd been set on by three men. It was dark, he didn't get a proper look at them. He didn't recognize their voices, they didn't call each other by name. And for no good reason, they'd dropped him down the Bottle Dungeon. Maclennan had threatened him with arrest for police obstruction, but a pale and tired Ziggy had looked him straight in the eye and said, "I'm not asking you to carry out an investigation, so how can I be obstructing you? It was a just a prank that went too far, that's all."
He wrenched open the passenger door and threw himself into the car. Janice Hogg, who was in the driver's seat, looked a question at him.
"He says it was a prank that went too far. He doesn't want to make a statement, he doesn't know who did it."
"Brian Duff," Janice said decisively.
"On what basis?"
"While you were inside, waiting for them to give Malkiewicz the once-over, I made a few inquiries. Duff and his two bosom buddies were drinking down at the harbor last night. Just down the road from the castle. They took off about half-past nine. According to the landlord, they looked like they were up to something."
"Well done, Janice. But it's still a bit thin."
"Why do you think Malkiewicz won't give a statement? You think he's frightened of reprisals?"
Maclennan sighed. "Not the kind you're thinking of. I think he was cottaging down by the church. He's scared that if he gives us Duff and his pals, they'll stand up in court and tell the world Ziggy Malkiewicz is a poof. The lad wants to be a doctor. He's not going to take any chances with that. God, I hate this case. Everywhere I turn, it ends up going nowhere."
"You could always lean on Duff, sir."
"And say what?"
"I don't know, sir. But it might make you feel better."
Maclennan looked at Janice in surprise. Then he grinned. "You're right, Janice. Malkiewicz might still be a suspect, but if anybody's going to beat him up, it should be us. Let's go to Guardbridge. I've not been to the paper mill in a very long time."
Brian Duff strode into the manager's office with the cocky strut of a man who thinks he has the keys to the kingdom. He leaned against the wall and swept Maclennan with an arrogant stare. "I don't like being interrupted at my work," he said.
"Shut your puss, Brian," Maclennan said contemptuously.
"That's no way to speak to a member of the public, Inspector."
"I'm not speaking to a member of the public, I'm speaking to a piece of shite. I know what you and your moronic pals did last night, Brian. And I know you think you'll get away with it because of what you know about Ziggy Malkiewicz. Well, I'm here to tell you different." He moved closer to Duff, only inches away from him now. "From now on, Brian, you and your brother are marked men. You go one mile an hour over the speed limit on that bike of yours and you're pulled. You have one drink over the limit, and you're breathalyzed. You so much as breathe on any of those four lads and you're under arrest. And with your record, that means you're going away again. And this time, it'll be for a damn sight more than three months." Maclennan paused for breath.
"That's police harassment," Brian said, his complacency only slightly dented.
"No, it's not. Police harassment is when you accidentally fall down the stairs on the way to the cells. When you trip over and break your nose when you hit the wall." In a sudden, lightning moment, Maclennan's hand shot out and grabbed Duff's crotch. He squeezed as tightly as he could, then twisted his wrist sharply.
Duff screamed, the color draining from his face. Maclennan let him go and stepped back smartly. Duff doubled over, spitting curses. "That's police harassment, Brian. Get fucking used to it." Maclennan yanked open the door. "Oh dear. Brian seems to have banged into the desk and hurt himself," he said to the startled secretary in the anteroom. He smiled as he walked past her, out the door and into