Uneasy Relations (30 page)

“Whew. Thanks, kid,” Gideon said once they’d made their quick good-byes and were headed for the gate.

“Maybe I could triple it!” Lester was bellowing exultantly after them, the words muffled by a mouthful of ham and cheese. “I’ll be in touch, buddy!”

THEY
had been assigned the same seats, 17A and 17B, for the British Airways return flight to Heathrow, so as the plane banked on its ascent, they were once again treated to a panoramic view of the Rock and the clustered settlement at its base.

“There’s the Moorish Castle,” Julie said thoughtfully. “The prison. Is that where Rowley is now?”

“I imagine he’s still in a holding cell at New Mole House,” Gideon said, “but that’s probably where he’ll spend the rest of his life. It’s their one and only prison.”

“How awful. Can you imagine what must be like inside? What the cells must be like? No windows, no daylight, just cold, damp, six-hundred -year-old stone walls . . .” She shuddered and turned away. “Not that he doesn’t deserve it,” she finished.

“Mmm,” Gideon agreed just as he caught a whiff of Irish whiskey and sensed someone leaning forward from the row behind.
Oh, boy
, he thought.

“Actually,” the plummy familiar voice from Seat 18B intoned, “it’s closer to seven hundred years than six. It was constructed in 1335, on the site of a still older Moorish structure. And the term
Moorish Castle
, although in common use, has no basis in fact. More properly, it’s the Tower of Homage, which was part of an extensive, intricate complex of walls and courtyards—”

“Oh, dear,” Julie whispered.

“—presumably with some defensive capabilities, but primarily — and this aspect is quite interesting . . .”

Gideon sank back his seat and closed his eyes. It was going to be a long three hours.

As usual, I relied on a lot of expert counsel. In Gibraltar, Professor Clive Finlayson of the Gibraltar Museum patiently shared his vast knowledge of Iberian Neanderthal prehistory, and Detective Chief Inspector Emilio Acris of the Royal Gibraltar Police answered all my questions on the way they do things there. In addition, Stephen Davenport, General Manager of the wonderful Rock Hotel, provided information and many courtesies.

“Identification of Traumatic Injury in Burned Cranial Bone: An
Experimental Approach,” by Elayne J. Pope and O’Brian C. Smith,
Journal of
Forensic Sciences
, v.49, no.3, May 2004, was the impetus for an important part of
Uneasy Relations
. Dr. Pope was also extremely helpful in responding to further questions and in reviewing parts of the manuscript.

Forensic Chemist Martin McDermot of the Washington State Patrol’s Seattle Crime Lab educated me on explosives and also reviewed a part of the manuscript.

Stanley J. Rhine, Professor Emeritus, University of New Mexico, straightened me out on a few forensic matters with his usual enthusiasm and good humor.

My friends John Matthews and David Bailie, orthopedic surgeons both, provided very helpful information from their specialties and reviewed a section of the manuscript as well.

Thank you all most sincerely.

Gideon Oliver Novels
UNEASY RELATIONS
LITTLE TINY TEETH
UNNATURAL SELECTION
WHERE THERE’S A WILL
GOOD BLOOD
SKELETON DANCE
TWENTY BLUE DEVILS
DEAD MEN’S HEARTS
MAKE NO BONES
ICY CLUTCHES
CURSES!
OLD BONES
MURDER IN THE QUEEN’S ARMES
THE DARK PLACE
FELLOWSHIP OF FEAR

Chris Norgren Novels
OLD SCORES
A GLANCING LIGHT
DECEPTIVE CLARITY

Lee Ofsted Novels (with Charlotte Elkins)
ON THE FRINGE
WHERE HAVE ALL THE BIRDIES GONE?
NASTY BREAKS
ROTTEN LIES
A WICKED SLICE

Thrillers
TURNCOAT
LOOT