Chapter 18
EIGHTEEN
After Amir had gone, Ally sat down at the kitchen table and removed the still-life picture from the wall.
Turning it over, she stared at her Post-its around Archie’s name, wondering where on earth to start.
She realised that she’d never got round to removing Greg from the one o’clock position, and he was hardly likely to be a main suspect now – in fact, she should probably start a new ‘clock’ for him too.
So, could Archie’s murderer be Patti? Or Angus?
Or could it even be Tom? Tom was already positioned at ten o’clock, so perhaps she should push him up to eleven?
And definitely remove Greg from one, but who to replace him with?
Should she leave Patti at twelve o’clock and also place Angus at twelve, the chief suspects?
Or was it someone else altogether? Ally had rarely felt as confused as she did now.
Someone was tapping at the door, so Ally hurriedly replaced the picture on the wall, ensuring that there were no Post-its peeking out from behind the oranges, lemons and grapes.
‘Can I come in for a minute?’ An anxious-looking Wendy was standing there.
Ally noted how drawn and exhausted looking she was. ‘Of course!’
‘Thank you.’ Wendy slumped into a chair. ‘I honestly don’t know which way to turn,’ she said.
‘Tea? Coffee? Something stronger?’ Ally asked.
‘Tea would be lovely,’ Wendy replied. ‘Black, two sugars with a slice of lemon, please.’
‘You’ve had a ghastly time, Wendy,’ Ally said as she handed over a cup of tea.
‘It’s been a nightmare,’ Wendy admitted. ‘I can’t get my head round the fact that both my brother and my husband are gone. It’s too much!’ Her voice wobbled, and her eyes filled up. ‘And now the detective is questioning Patti. Patti! What’s going on, Ally?’
‘I don’t know,’ Ally replied.
‘I shouldn’t burden you with my woes,’ Wendy continued, ‘but I don’t know where else to turn!
My son, Joel, will be here soon. He flew here overnight, and he’s picking up a car at the airport, so should be here by late afternoon or early evening.
You’ve no idea how pleased and relieved I’ll be to see him. ’
‘I can believe that. And he should bring some comfort,’ Ally said.
‘Yes, but what’s really worrying me right now is the girls.
I mean, they’re only teenagers, and they’re caught up in all this awful business, and they’ve been so brave.
’ Wendy sipped her tea. ‘As for their mother, well…’ Words seemed to fail her for a moment.
‘She’s been no comfort to them because she’s so wrapped up in herself.
We’re all in this nightmare, and the police don’t seem to be getting any closer to finding the killer.
I mean some person seems set on killing this whole family! ’
‘I sincerely hope not,’ said Ally, looking at her in horror.
‘We’re all too scared to go out, and Patti’s shut herself in her bedroom, and I don’t know what the hell to do!’ Wendy burst into tears.
Ally felt desperately sorry for the woman.
She squeezed Wendy’s hand. ‘I really don’t know what to say, other than if there’s anything I can do…
’ She thought for a moment. ‘Don’t forget that you and the girls are free to go out, so perhaps you could have a stroll down to the Craigmonie and wait for your son to arrive, have a late lunch or something?
’ Then another thought struck her. ‘But what about Patti? She’s not allowed to leave the malthouse under any circumstances, so we’re going to have to organise some food for her. ’
‘Oh, Patti doesn’t eat much – she’s always on some diet or other. I guess your wonderful breakfast would last her all day.’
The trouble was Patti wasn’t eating her wonderful breakfasts but surviving on toast or cereal. Of course, having both your husband and brother-in-law killed within days of each other wouldn’t necessarily improve one’s appetite.
At that point, Flora, who’d been asleep, woke up and put her head on Wendy’s knee.
‘Your dog is a tonic,’ Wendy said. ‘The girls love her and adore taking her for walks but’ – she drew breath between her teeth – ‘I wonder if it’s safe? I mean the killer could be lurking around anywhere, couldn’t he?’
‘You think there’s only one killer?’ Ally asked.
‘Yeah, because there’s got to be a connection, hasn’t there?’ She stared at Ally for a moment. ‘Do the police think it’s Patti? Is that why that detective was questioning her?’
Ally knew she had to choose her words carefully. ‘I think it’s possible they might think she could be a suspect, but she’s not the only one.’
‘Does the detective confide in you then?’
‘No, but he did stress that Patti must not leave the house because she’s one of several suspects.’
Wendy nodded. ‘I don’t know what went on between Archie and Patti, but if he hurt her as badly as Patti claims, I suppose I can understand her wanting to get rid of her own husband, but why mine?’
‘I’ve no idea.’
‘Don’t get me wrong because I really am quite fond of Patti, but I know their marriage was in trouble.
And although Archie was my brother, I realise he could be difficult at times, and even violent, but to actually kill him…
I’d never forgive her if she laid a finger on him!
’ She blew her nose. ‘I’m telling you, it’s a nightmare. ’
‘I’m as keen as you are to find out who committed these terrible murders.
’ As she spoke, Ally worried for a minute if Julie had told her aunt about the incident in the barn and what Tom had overheard, but Wendy didn’t appear to know, and Ally decided not to ask.
And Julie had promised not to say anything.
‘Any time you want a cuppa and a chat, I’m here,’ she said, ‘but, hopefully, this nightmare won’t last much longer. And at least your son is on his way.’
‘Yes, he should arrive soon. And he’s booked in at the Craigmonie, and I’ll go down to welcome him, of course, but as far as accommodation is concerned, I’ll stay on up here for the sake of the girls, if that’s OK?’
‘Yes, of course it’s OK,’ Ally replied, wondering if she should charge less for one-person occupancy of the room now that Wendy was widowed. The same applied to Patti, of course, and it would be the decent thing to do.
‘Thank you, Ally, and thank you too for the tea and sympathy!’ Wendy said as she got up to go.
She’d only just got into the hallway when there was a knock on the back door, and in marched Hamish. ‘What the hell’s going on, Alison?’ he asked by way of greeting.
Ally, feeling a little weary by now, could only shrug. ‘I’ve no idea, Hamish. I only wish I knew!’
He sat down on the chair recently vacated by Wendy. ‘The police have been roaming around for hours, and they’ve really upset poor Angus. Angus, for God’s sake!’
Ally nodded. ‘I thought they’d be questioning him – and Tom.’ She lifted up a bottle of Locharran’s finest. ‘Whisky?’
‘Oh, go on then! Just a wee one!’ He sighed.
‘Neither Angus nor Tom are allowed to leave the castle grounds, and Kandahar has even posted a constable up there to make sure they don’t.
Angus isn’t talking, but Tom certainly is, and has been telling me about this supposed conversation he overheard between Angus and Pat.
I’ve never heard such nonsense!’ He accepted the glass of whisky and knocked it back in one gulp.
‘Mind you, I wouldn’t put it past Pat, you know.
She wouldn’t be the first to want to bump off her husband, but Angus would never have anything to do with that. ’
Ally picked up the bottle to refill his Scotch, but he hastily placed his hand over the glass. ‘Better not have any more,’ he said, ‘as my dear wife tells me I’ve been drinking too much of late – but is it any wonder?’
‘All I know,’ Ally said, ‘is that someone is lying. Is it Patti, or Angus, or is it Tom?’
‘It has to be Tom,’ Hamish said. ‘It’s not that I wouldn’t doubt Pat, but I certainly wouldn’t doubt Angus – never! This is the most ridiculous accusation, but how are we going to find out?’
Ally shook her head. ‘You must remember that blood is thicker than water, supposedly so anyway, and as a result Angus might have been sympathetic to his niece, particularly if he didn’t much care for her husband. Just a thought,’ she added hastily.
‘But Angus knows how flighty she is. He’d never agree to such a thing.’
‘Hopefully the police will find out,’ Ally said, smothering a yawn and longing for a few quiet moments with a cup of tea.
‘The sooner the better,’ agreed Hamish, ‘and we can be rid of this family. Where is Pat by the way?’
‘She’s rarely moved out of her room,’ Ally said, ‘but Wendy, her sister-in-law, has been very good with the girls. She’s just been in here and is plainly more concerned with finding out who killed her husband. Don’t forget that Greg Watson has been killed as well.’
‘I daresay she is,’ Hamish said with a sigh. ‘What’s she like, this Watson wife?’
‘She’s a sensible type of woman, but just now seems permanently worried and anxious, which I suppose is hardly surprising. But her son is arriving this afternoon, so that might help. Apparently, he’s booked himself in at the Craigmonie, but I’ve no idea how long he plans to stay.’
‘I have a feeling,’ Hamish said, ‘that you’ll be very relieved when they all go back to Canada.’
‘You are so right,’ Ally agreed.
‘Well, I must be on my way because I’m supposed to be going to the shop. But you will let me know, won’t you, if you see or hear anything relevant? Anything that might exonerate Angus?’
‘Of course I will.’
Hamish stood up and, as he got to the back door, he added, ‘Well, do you know, I’ve completely forgotten what it was I was supposed to be going to the shop for? Do you think it might have been milk?’
Ally smiled as she closed the door behind him.
When Ross appeared about five o’clock, he asked, ‘Have you had a nice, quiet day?’
‘You would not believe!’ Ally replied. ‘Where shall I begin?’ She then related the events of the day.