Two weeks later
Dave is sitting at an octagonal table covered with blue padded material. He’s wearing headphones. The morning show radio interviewer sits forward over a mixing desk, talking into a large mike behind a circle of fine gauze.
“The shock waves from this have spread into many unexpected places. But after DNA testing the upshot is that my guest today in Edinburgh is able to sit with me in a radio studio while the man who almost succeeded in framing him for murder languishes behind bars. David Maclean, what should happen to Thomas Byrne? If you could decide?”
“I’d like him to have time to think about what he did. I don’t think he should ever be released.”
“That’s quite remarkable surely? After what you’ve been through most people would be crying out for harsher punishment. Revenge. A tooth for a tooth.”
“After what I went through, I couldn’t ever begin to wish the same fate on anyone else.”
“Not even Tam Byrne?”
“Not even Tam Byrne.”
“There have been many high profile victims of this affair. Sir John Campbell-Barclay and Walter Kirkhope both tragically lost their lives. Two earlier deaths may now turn out to be connected, not to mention the Cassidy killings which sparked the public outcry in the first place. Now the Scottish Prime Minister Jamieson Maclean - your own brother astonishingly! - the Prime Minister has been forced to resign in the face of massive controversy about what he knew when, and his conduct of the whole episode. Have you spoken to him since your release from prison?”
“Of course.”
“Can you cast any light on the mystery of his whereabouts, Mr Maclean?”
“I have no idea where he is, and I wouldn’t tell you if I did. But I will say that he’s been crucified by a lot of people who don’t have the first idea what they’re talking about. I owe him a massive debt of gratitude. He couldn’t have done more for me.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“That’s a bit hard to take on board...”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“So what now?”
“The death penalty must be abolished once and for all. It’s barbarous. This country deserves better than that. My campaign is called Life Aid. And I won’t give up until I get a result.”
“Well there you go. David Maclean there. Have you ever thought about going in for politics yourself?”
“Don’t do it son,” said Jamie Maclean, as he reached over Vaila’s sleeping form to turn off the radio.
YOU ARE READING
Capital Offence
Mystery / ThrillerTwo brothers, fired up with motorbikes, beer, women and the reckless relish of a summer night. A night which ends with the death of a policeman. As vehicles blaze Dave gives himself up so that Jamie can escape. Dave’s life spirals downwards. He disa...
