just see them doing it too. What's this man Jay like?'
'Disgruntled, is how I'd describe him. He didn't quite make it to the top, but he thought he should have. I transferred him recently, out of Leith to another division; he accepted it at the time, but I could tell that he didn't like it. I don't think he liked me either.'
'Why not?'
He chuckled. 'It's not compulsory. Greg might seem like a quiet, sober, middle-aged man, but inside that drab exterior there lurks an ego at least as big as mine.'
'How did he get the job? Murtagh said something about him having friends.'
'He does. He's got Masonic connections for a start. I guess the First Minister must have sent out scouts and his name came up. He's no security expert, but I guess that isn't the main requirement for the post any more.' He looked at her. 'This is not good. What are these plans of wee Tommy's that you mentioned?'
'He intends, and I quote, "to take a lot tighter control over the police service". He also wants me, as his Justice Minister, to go along with it. He wants you, as he put it, to "lower your profile and stop interfering". Or else.'
'He's threatening us?'
'Exactly. If we don't play ball he'll do some leaking of his own, about you and me.'
Skinner laughed. 'But he doesn't have anything to leak. Or didn't until now. Innocent we may be, but what would the tabloids do if they were tipped off that we've been together in your flat?'
'Murtagh and Jay didn't know we were coming here,' she protested.
'They didn't have to, not necessarily. Do you know how small they can make bugs and cameras these days?'
Aileen gasped. 'Jay might have bugged this place?'
He shook his head. 'Relax, I don't really think so, not for a moment. But just to be on the safe side give me a spare key and I'll have the Strathclyde Special Branch sweep it. And this…' He reached across her and switched on her bedside radio, pressing pre-set buttons until he found Clyde Two, then turning up the volume. 'Enjoy that, boys,' he growled.
'God,' she whispered, 'the very thought of it. Bob, I've been silly.'
'No dafter than me,' he replied. 'Besides, when you showed up at the airport this morning ... it brightened my morning, that's all I'll say.'
'Mine too.'
They were silent for a while, avoiding eye contact, each thinking private thoughts.
'So you are going along with Murtagh's scheming?' he asked, eventually.
'It's going to happen, whether I do or not'
'What is, exactly?'
'The First Minister is legislating to give himself the right to confirm every appointment at assistant, deputy and chief constable rank; he will also have to approve all short-lists for interview. Beyond that, he will take added powers to intervene directly and fire those whom he decides are not performing properly, or are in dereliction of their duty.'
'He's taking command of the police?' Skinner was incredulous.
'Effectively, that's what it means. He showed me the enabling bill yesterday; he's had a team of civil servants and policy advisers working on it in secret. The draft's finished, the preliminaries are under way and it'll be ready for introduction to the Parliament next week.'
'Will he get it through?'
'I'd say so. He's persuaded the coalition partners to back it; he's promised them that approvals and confirmation will be virtually automatic, and that the firing power will only be invoked in extreme cases.'
'And they believed that?'
'They believed in the additional Cabinet post he's offered them. That'll be unveiled next Monday. But it's not just them. The SSP will support it as well, I'm sure, and probably the Greens. I wouldn't be surprised if the SNP do as well.'
'Don't tell me you believe his assurances?'
'No more than you do, but the majority of my party colleagues will; those that don't will obey the whip.'
'What if ACPOS, our chiefs' association, comes out and opposes it unanimously?'
'Then I'd guess that Tommy's spin machine will portray you as self-interested
'Disgruntled, is how I'd describe him. He didn't quite make it to the top, but he thought he should have. I transferred him recently, out of Leith to another division; he accepted it at the time, but I could tell that he didn't like it. I don't think he liked me either.'
'Why not?'
He chuckled. 'It's not compulsory. Greg might seem like a quiet, sober, middle-aged man, but inside that drab exterior there lurks an ego at least as big as mine.'
'How did he get the job? Murtagh said something about him having friends.'
'He does. He's got Masonic connections for a start. I guess the First Minister must have sent out scouts and his name came up. He's no security expert, but I guess that isn't the main requirement for the post any more.' He looked at her. 'This is not good. What are these plans of wee Tommy's that you mentioned?'
'He intends, and I quote, "to take a lot tighter control over the police service". He also wants me, as his Justice Minister, to go along with it. He wants you, as he put it, to "lower your profile and stop interfering". Or else.'
'He's threatening us?'
'Exactly. If we don't play ball he'll do some leaking of his own, about you and me.'
Skinner laughed. 'But he doesn't have anything to leak. Or didn't until now. Innocent we may be, but what would the tabloids do if they were tipped off that we've been together in your flat?'
'Murtagh and Jay didn't know we were coming here,' she protested.
'They didn't have to, not necessarily. Do you know how small they can make bugs and cameras these days?'
Aileen gasped. 'Jay might have bugged this place?'
He shook his head. 'Relax, I don't really think so, not for a moment. But just to be on the safe side give me a spare key and I'll have the Strathclyde Special Branch sweep it. And this…' He reached across her and switched on her bedside radio, pressing pre-set buttons until he found Clyde Two, then turning up the volume. 'Enjoy that, boys,' he growled.
'God,' she whispered, 'the very thought of it. Bob, I've been silly.'
'No dafter than me,' he replied. 'Besides, when you showed up at the airport this morning ... it brightened my morning, that's all I'll say.'
'Mine too.'
They were silent for a while, avoiding eye contact, each thinking private thoughts.
'So you are going along with Murtagh's scheming?' he asked, eventually.
'It's going to happen, whether I do or not'
'What is, exactly?'
'The First Minister is legislating to give himself the right to confirm every appointment at assistant, deputy and chief constable rank; he will also have to approve all short-lists for interview. Beyond that, he will take added powers to intervene directly and fire those whom he decides are not performing properly, or are in dereliction of their duty.'
'He's taking command of the police?' Skinner was incredulous.
'Effectively, that's what it means. He showed me the enabling bill yesterday; he's had a team of civil servants and policy advisers working on it in secret. The draft's finished, the preliminaries are under way and it'll be ready for introduction to the Parliament next week.'
'Will he get it through?'
'I'd say so. He's persuaded the coalition partners to back it; he's promised them that approvals and confirmation will be virtually automatic, and that the firing power will only be invoked in extreme cases.'
'And they believed that?'
'They believed in the additional Cabinet post he's offered them. That'll be unveiled next Monday. But it's not just them. The SSP will support it as well, I'm sure, and probably the Greens. I wouldn't be surprised if the SNP do as well.'
'Don't tell me you believe his assurances?'
'No more than you do, but the majority of my party colleagues will; those that don't will obey the whip.'
'What if ACPOS, our chiefs' association, comes out and opposes it unanimously?'
'Then I'd guess that Tommy's spin machine will portray you as self-interested
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