‘So what was it, Marshall? Do you take their hearts out because you just like it? Do you do it because you can? Or do you have a nice little business going here?’ asked Joe. ‘I’ve been watching you for the past week. Your clinic at the Mission allows you to spot the down-and-outs who are healthy and, with a little care, their organs are suitable for transplantation, I’d guess. There’s a huge market out there, isn’t there, Doctor?’

Marshall’s face tightened. ‘There’s a need and I fill it.’

‘Your need, I take it?

Marshall was circling Joe; his anger was increasing. ‘Does anyone care what happens to these people?’ he said. ‘No one even noticed they were missing.’

‘Oh dear God,’ I said, finally finding my voice. ‘Kenny Cameron? Have you killed Kenny Cameron?’

‘Do you need to know?’ Marshall asked.

‘Yes, yes I do.’

‘Well then…I rather suspect I won’t be telling you.’ Everything went still. White-hot fury ran through my veins. I pulled Glasgow Joe’s knife from my pocket and ran hurtling towards Marshall. Lifting the knife high above my head, I brought it down in a slashing move and stuck the blade in his left anterior jugular vein. His eyes bulged, surprised at last. He held on to my arms, gurgling. Blood running out of the side of his mouth, he fell to his knees, almost pulling me over. Bent double, I watched as the life slipped away from the murdering bastard–was this how Kailash felt when she killed my father?

Blood will out, as they say, and I was my mother’s daughter. A mixture of Kailash Coutts and Mary McLennan.

I thought I saw Marshall’s fingers move in an attempt to crawl towards freedom, help–or me. We didn’t hang around to find out, only calling Duncan to let him know where to find Wee Elvis. We drove in silence through the dark streets of Edinburgh, heading for the Docks, where we could both see where we had been raised. Glasgow Joe and I walked hand in hand down by the Shore. I took a deep breath in, and stared around the Docks and the streets of Leith, drinking in every detail. It all looked beautiful to me, from the hookers in the doorways and the empty pleasure boats to the swans swimming on the Water of Leith.

‘I think it’s time we got out of here, darlin’,’ he said, holding me tight as my heart broke. ‘We’ve got the future waiting for us.’

Epilogue

I wished Kailash was there to tell me I looked fat. My hair would have been nicer if Malcolm had done it. I wanted Lavender to give me something to borrow.

My wedding day–again. Same man, almost the same place, but everything else so different.