CODE TO MURDER, page 31
“One final thing, Mr Pettigrew. We know it was Eddie Hogarth who authorised your beating and he is being charged with that. We have evidence SCL provided funding through a company in Holland to do the commodity trading. Can you confirm that?” asked Ben.
“Yes,” replied Pettigrew who now seemed resigned to his fate.
“What was your relationship with SCL?” asked Ben.
“I guessed what kind of an outfit they were and did my homework on them. I approached Hogarth and asked him for funding and told him the plan, knowing it would be right up his street, and they put up the capital and took the biggest share of the profits,” said Pettigrew.
“Was James Anderson aware of this relationship?”
“No.”
“So what was the beating for?”
“They knew James had been killed and were pushing me to get the information needed to carry on with the trading. When you asked me about takeovers, I had to mention their name as I knew you would also ask Alan Millar, and they were not happy with that either.”
“The Organised Crime Team will want to talk to you later about your involvement with SCL, and they will also be charged with insider trading. I will leave you in their hands.”
Back upstairs, Ben and Julie met with Emma and updated her on what Pettigrew had said about the bitcoin accounts for her to update the financial investigation team.
After lunch, they came back to her with some feedback, which she relayed to the rest of the team.
“From what they can tell at this stage, the financial investigation team believe there are two potential scenarios: the first is that Pettigrew is lying and he does have another bitcoin account and that is where the funds were transferred to. His pot of gold if he ever gets out of prison. The second is that Anderson told Pettigrew it was a two-person account, but in fact it was three, needing two authorisations to transfer funds, with two of the three set up to be from Anderson. That would have meant that James had the ability to transfer funds out on his own, but Pettigrew would need his signature. I’ve been told this will be an ongoing investigation and may take some time to track the funds, if it is even possible.”
“In other words, that’s as much as we are going to get for the foreseeable?” asked Ben.
“That’s about it, sir.”
“Okay, Emma, thanks.”
Once Ben was sure everything was as good as done, all reports, evidence in place and as far as possible the case against Pettigrew was bulletproof, he and Julie drove over to Dollar to see Diane Anderson.
CHAPTER 88
“Good morning, Mrs Anderson,” said Ben as she let them in and they went through to the living room.
“It must have been a traumatic day for you yesterday, getting that email through with the video from James,” said Ben.
“I could hardly believe it, Chief Inspector. When I saw it at first, I was so angry at Richard and the adrenalin kicked in. I confirmed that our solicitors had the hard copies of the documentation and the video, then phoned you. After that, I fell to pieces and had to get my sister to take Kayleigh for the night. I cried my eyes out, feeling all sorts of emotions all at the same time: anger at Richard, who I thought was a friend, anger at James for getting into that situation and not telling me about it, and ultimately the sadness and pain of losing him. I loved him so much,” said Mrs Anderson.
“Would you mind showing me the email on your iPad, Mrs Anderson?” asked Ben.
She handed Ben her new iPad, open at her emails, but started to cry again as Ben opened it up.
“I think a cup of tea would be a good idea. Julie, could you take Mrs Anderson through and give her a hand?” said Ben.
When they left the room, Ben decided he should do a quick check to see if there were any other emails from James Anderson, including in the deleted folder. He was relieved to find nothing there, but he would get the digital forensics to do a check on the service provider side later on.
Mrs Anderson and Julie came back in with the tea and Ben put the iPad back on the coffee table.
“We have charged Richard Pettigrew with the murder of both James and Mike Williams, which I know will be of little consolation to you, but at least justice will be done,” said Ben.
Mrs Anderson nodded.
“I genuinely believe James was coerced into using the AI software in the way that he did,” said Ben. “I believe he tried hard to put things right.”
Ben explained to Mrs Anderson what had happened at Glencoe with Colin Smith.
“So, despite what he believed and the guilt he clearly lived with, James was not responsible for Colin’s death. It was a tragic accident,” said Ben.
“That is reassuring to know, Chief Inspector. I appreciate you telling me.”
“The one outstanding issue we have is trying to track down the funds made using client data to facilitate the insider trading. The bitcoin account has been cleared. It may be that Pettigrew has emptied the account, and our financial investigations team are trying to trace the funds, but it is not an easy thing to do when bitcoin is involved,” said Ben.
“I am sorry I have to ask this, Mrs Anderson,” continued Ben, “but do you or James have any bitcoin accounts or have you ever had them?”
“I have never had any. I don’t know anything about bitcoin, and I am not aware of James ever having had one,” answered Mrs Anderson, adding, “but then there is so much I didn’t know,” before starting to get upset again.
“It goes without saying, Mrs Anderson, but if you receive any more emails from James I do need you to get in touch with me immediately,” said Ben.
Ben took a sip of tea then continued.
“I take it the extended holiday in Florida as a surprise for Kayleigh was a precursor to you all moving out there?” asked Ben.
“You know about that?” asked Mrs Anderson, somewhat surprised. “I’m sorry, I should have told you. I didn’t think it was relevant and, in my mind, it was something else we had lost that I didn’t want to think about.”
“Are you not going now?” asked Julie.
“I wasn’t planning to, but over the last few days I have had second thoughts. I’ve not long finished my PhD in Environmental Science at Stirling University and had been offered a research fellowship at the University of Florida. My parents live in Florida and James was going to take a position in a major software company out there. With all that has gone on here, I think it would be best for Kayleigh and me to still go and have a bit of a fresh start. As James said in the first email, he didn’t want us forget the memories but to go on to live our best lives. So that is what I am going to try and do.”
“I think that is a good idea, and we wish you and Kayleigh all the best,” said Ben as he and Julie stood up to go.
“Thank you, Chief Inspector, and thank you for all you have done,” said Mrs Anderson.
“You’re welcome, Mrs Anderson. Our team and the team from victim support will continue to help you in any way we can. Please remember you can always contact me directly if there is anything I can do for you. Goodbye, Mrs Anderson,” said Ben.
CHAPTER 89
After leaving Mrs Anderson, Ben and Julie headed back to Stirling to see Alan Millar at the Trade-IT offices.
“Hello, Mr Millar, I thought we should come and see you and update you on what has happened. I am sure speculation is rife throughout the office,” said Ben.
“It certainly is,” said Millar.
“Well, I can confirm Richard Pettigrew has been charged with the murders of both James Anderson and Mike Williams,” said Ben.
“I’m sorry we had to bring you into the police station like we did, but I hope you understand given the evidence, why we had to do so.”
“I do, Chief Inspector, it’s fine. I would never have believed it about Richard, though. You don’t come into your work ever expecting any of these things to happen – it is quite surreal.”
Ben updated Millar from a company perspective about what had been happening in terms of insider trading and the AI software and SCL, as well as confirming he was not aware of the existence of any bitcoin accounts.
“So, what do you think will happen with the company now, Mr Millar?” asked Julie.
“Well, there are a lot of hard working people in this business and at its core it is a strong company. We’ll no doubt have a big PR exercise getting round the customers to give them reassurance as the starting point.”
“What about the ownership of the company? What will happen there?” asked Ben.
“Good question, Chief Inspector. Richard will forfeit his shares and I don’t know what Diane will want to do with hers. I’ll need to speak to the solicitors and our non-executive directors. In many ways, all of that pales into insignificance given what has happened to James, Mike and their families. At the same time, I would hate to see the company go bust and 150 people lose their jobs, so I will do the best I can,” said Millar.
“Okay, Mr Millar, we wish you all the best with that. Good luck,” said Ben, as they left the offices.
“There’s a text from Kevin here confirming everything’s all done and files have been passed to the Procurator Fiscal,” said Julie. “Emma has also left a message to say Amy Robbins has regained consciousness and tests thus far show she should make a full recovery.”
“Oh that’s great. We’ll pop over and see her next week – take a big bunch of flowers with us and let her know what has happened, as long as the doctors say she is up to it.”
“There is also a message from Joan.”
Ben felt a knot in his stomach. He knew what it would be about.
“Her team found the clothing and the knife at the landfill sight – and it had Robert Cameron’s DNA on everything.”
Ben took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He then simply nodded. It was a bittersweet moment for them both. Knowing Cameron was the killer gave no satisfaction given the fact that two young children had been orphaned, and all because of his fixation on something that hadn’t been true.
As they walked towards the car park, Ben said, “I’m going for a walk, Julie. I’ll head up to The Wallace Monument over there – get a bit of fresh air. I need to clear my head. I’ll make my own way home.”
“Okay, Ben, but before you go could we sit in the car for a minute? There’s something I need to say to you.”
Ben guessed what it was likely to be about and wasn’t sure what Julie was going to say.
“I wanted to say, Ben, that we would never have got to the bottom of what happened in this case without you. As far as I can see, no matter what the doctors have said, I don’t see you as having lost any of your sharpness. I think it is in the police force’s interest as well as yours if you keep doing what you are doing. We will, of course, have to keep an eye on things, and if I see any signs of you getting worse and it impacting the job, and also if you get a confirmed diagnosis, we will need to talk again. But for the moment, I’m with you and will do anything I can to help. If there are any times you’re not feeling right, or if you need me doing anything extra to help you, just say.”
Ben clasped Julie’s hand in his and said, “Thank you, Julie, that means so much to me. I can’t thank you enough.”
Ben was tearing up and felt emotional, both with the case and about his personal situation. Julie could see it as well.
“You get off for your walk now, Ben,” she said. But as Ben got out the car, she added, “There is one proviso.”
“What’s that?” asked Ben, slightly apprehensive.
“I do all the driving!” said Julie.
“Agreed,” said Ben, and they both smiled before Ben headed off towards the Abbey Craig and The Wallace Monument, which stood majestically in the distance.
CHAPTER 90
The National Wallace Monument is one of Scotland’s most distinctive landmarks. It is immensely impressive, sitting on top of the Abbey Craig Hill and its wooded summit.
The stunning 220ft tower honours the famous thirteenth century Scottish warrior, Sir William Wallace, the story of whom was immortalised in the blockbuster movie Braveheart, produced and directed by Mel Gibson, who also played Wallace in the film.
Ben cut through the car park at the foot of the monument and went round the back of the visitor centre. He headed up the steep combination of roads and footpaths and zig-zagged his way up towards the top. He moved into the side as one of the regular shuttle buses to the top passed by.
Maybe I should have taken the bus, he thought to himself.
It wasn’t a particularly long walk – usually twenty minutes to half an hour – but he wasn’t at his best with everything that had been going on. He pushed on, however, diverging on to the footpaths hugging the hill and passing different wooden carvings symbolising different aspects of the monument. A good walk always helped clear his head, and in a way he felt the need to test himself. He wasn’t planning to go up the 246 steps inside the monument, taking him to the top. He wanted to get to the base and sit awhile in the sunshine.
Soon, he was at the top of the Abbey Craig and walked round the monument to the front. He saw an empty bench and sat down. He had completed the climb and hadn’t tripped or fallen, which was a relief to him in itself.
The panoramic views were simply stunning as he looked out over the city of Stirling, spying Stirling Castle, Cambuskenneth Abbey, Causewayhead, the windings of the Forth and the mountains to the north and west.
Ben started to reflect on the last few weeks: it had been tough, there was no doubt about it. He had a sense of relief they had been able to charge Pettigrew, but the whole thing saddened him in terms of how needless it all was, done simply out of greed, and the impact it’d had on the families.
The case being wrapped up meant he would now have to reflect more on his own situation. He was relieved Julie had agreed to help, and to keep an eye on him in case he started to deteriorate and he didn’t see it, and Clare would be doing that at home too.
Ben couldn’t help but reflect on the nature of artificial intelligence, given all that had happened. It could have real potential for good, for example in the health sector, like the work Mary Stewart was doing. It would no doubt also become important in fighting and solving crime. But it could also have the potential for real harm, as he had seen, when in the wrong hands. Ben also wondered what AI might mean for him personally. Would it be able to let people with dementia and other health conditions live independently for longer? Would there come a point where he would have to use artificial intelligence to replace what he would lose in terms of his mind and memories over time?
There was no doubt he was worried about what the future would bring, but what option did he have other than to take it as it came.
William Wallace wasn’t the only one who needed a ‘Braveheart’.
He then thought about something Diane Anderson had said to him: never forget the memories but live your best lives.
Ben hoped and prayed he would be able to keep hold of his memories, and in the meantime, what better advice than to live the best life he could, whatever that turned out to be.
EPILOGUE
One sunny Sunday afternoon, a year after the conviction of Richard Pettigrew for the murders of James Anderson and Mike Williams, Ben and Clare were sitting outside in the garden reading the newspapers for the week.
Ben said to Clare, “It says here the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Service has received their largest ever donation, and it is from a member of the public. Guess it’s probably from someone they helped out, or maybe one of their family members?”
“That’s interesting,” replied Clare. “I was reading in the Alloa Advertiser that more than twenty local charities have each received a donation, all at the same time. Sizeable amounts, it would seem.”
“Do they know who they came from?” asked Ben.
“No, only that they were all made by the same person, as each charity received a note saying, ‘Do good work – from AI’. Presumably the person’s initials, but nobody knows who it is. Apparently, all the envelopes had a Florida postmark.”
Ben looked up sharply from his newspaper. It couldn’t be – or could it?
He lifted his phone and googled ‘Diane Anderson’. Sure enough, her profile came up on different sites. It read, “Researcher in Environmental Science at Florida University – specialising in the application of artificial intelligence.”
Ben was understandably taken aback when he read that.
Then he smiled.
In AI speak, he thought it probably best ‘to maintain the dormant state’. Or in other words, this detective’s mind decided to ‘let sleeping dogs lie’, and he went back to reading the newspapers.
The End
I very much hope that you enjoyed reading this book. I am pleased to say that 10% of all author royalties from this book will be donated to charities supporting dementia research.
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About the Author
Pat McTaggart is a qualified accountant who, prior to writing, spent 25+ years as a Finance Director/CFO/CEO within the IT and Software sectors. He has a strong interest in social enterprise and the charitable sectors and sat on the boards of two charities.
In recent years Pat was a full time carer to his mum and dad before they passed away. He previously published two books of poetry in aid of the charity Alzheimers Research UK. He is a member of AlzAuthors who are renowned worldwide for their collection of literature and the work they do sharing Alzheimer’s and dementia stories to light the way for others.
