Chapter 21 #2
Ross had gone home for twenty-four hours because he was having a bed delivered for one of his cottages, and he also had visitors leaving very early the next morning.
Ally was rather looking forward to having a quiet day on her own and getting a few outstanding chores done.
She could hear the others in the dining room now, but only three for breakfast.
The girls, as usual, wanted cooked breakfasts and Patti, also as usual, did not.
‘We hear cousin Joel’s in trouble,’ said Janey conversationally.
‘He always was a pain in the arse,’ Patti said as she helped herself to cereal.
‘Somebody punched him yesterday evening,’ Julie said, ‘but we don’t know who.’
And I’m not about to tell you, Ally thought.
Breakfast passed without incident or any phone calls, the girls asked if they could play with Flora in the garden, and Morag – still tut-tutting and shaking her head – made herself her usual mug of tea when she was done with the cleaning.
When Murdo arrived with the mail at half past ten, he was quite excited. ‘It’s all happenin’ up at the castle,’ he said. ‘There’s two police cars, and the boss man himsel’ is there.’
‘Do you mean Kandahar?’ Ally asked.
‘Looked mighty like him,’ said Murdo. ‘Tall and dark.’
‘Any sign of Angus?’ Ally asked.
Murdo shook his head. ‘Didn’t see him at all.’ He looked around. ‘Any tea on the go?’
Morag drained her mug. ‘I’ll make you one,’ she said, standing up. ‘Have you been down to the Craigmonie yet?’
‘No, but I’m bettin’ one of their residents has got a right sore head this mornin’,’ Murdo replied gleefully.
‘Aye, well his ma’s given up her breakfast so she can go down there and hold his hand,’ said Morag, handing him a mug.
‘Good old Angus gave him a right bashin’,’ Murdo said with approval. ‘And he likely deserved it, cos I’ve seen him at close range after the other night in the bar, and he’s lookin’ for trouble, that one.’
‘Aye, well, there’s always troublemakers around,’ Morag added sagely. ‘Anyway, I’m headin’ for home now.’
Murdo drained his tea. ‘I’d better be off too.’
‘See you in the mornin’ if the Lord spares us,’ Morag said as she took off her pinny and donned her purple anorak.
After Morag and Murdo had left, and Ally had cleared the dining room, Amir Kandahar appeared.
‘I’m sorry to trouble you,’ he said to Ally, ‘but I wonder if I could have a quick word?’
‘Yes, of course,’ said Ally, leading him into the kitchen, where he sat down but declined the offer of tea.
‘I’ve just had one at the castle,’ he said.
‘You’ve been talking to the earl then?’
Amir sighed. ‘Indeed I have. Did you know that we had to arrest Angus Morrison, the earl’s ghillie?’
‘Yes, Hamish called in yesterday evening and told us what had happened,’ Ally replied.
‘He wants us to release Morrison immediately, but we’re keeping him in custody for a further twenty-four hours.’
‘Can I ask why?’ Ally enquired. ‘I know he punched Joel Watson, but he was extremely provoked. And Joel is really belligerent, you know. He’s upset a lot of people since he arrived here.’
‘We don’t exactly approve of what he did,’ Amir said, ‘but that’s not why we’re keeping Angus Morrison in. We have reason to believe that there could be some truth in what the argument was all about.’ He pointed towards the door. ‘I trust Mrs Armstrong hasn’t made any attempt to leave?’
Ally, astounded, shook her head. ‘Do you mean that Patti Armstrong did ask Angus to get a gun?’
‘I can’t rule that out at this stage. Morrison is not exactly a talkative man, so I need a further twenty-four hours to get through to him.
And I will,’ Amir said firmly. ‘The earl is adamant, of course, that Morrison would do no such thing, and he’s not at all happy that we’re keeping him in custody.
But I don’t want Morrison back here until I’ve questioned him further.
I just wanted to keep you in the picture and to ensure that Mrs Armstrong remains within these four walls.
’ He hesitated. ‘I’ve told you this in confidence, Ally, so please keep it to yourself for the moment.
Now I must go.’ He smiled at her as he stood up.
‘I think we’ll all be very glad to see the back of this family.
Hopefully, they shouldn’t be here for much longer. ’
After he’d gone, Ally wondered if he was just being optimistic or if he was about to make a breakthrough. And did he really think there was any truth in what Tom had overheard Patti asking Angus?
When Ross phoned later, Ally told him only that Angus was still in custody, and that Amir had called in but was giving nothing away apart from asking her to ensure that Patti wasn’t planning to escape.
‘That sounds ominous to me,’ Ross said. ‘In fact, I was wondering if these two widows were still talking to each other, after one’s uncle flattened the other’s son.’
It was very obvious next morning that the two women were indeed not talking to each other.
Patti came downstairs early, at half past seven, wanting only coffee and toast before disappearing into the sitting room to watch the breakfast programmes on TV.
Julie and Janey appeared at nine o’clock for cooked breakfasts or, more correctly, for scrambled eggs on toast, which thankfully did not necessitate any sous-chef to assist with sausages.
They ate quickly, then joined their mother shortly before Wendy made an appearance.
Ally felt sorry for the lonely figure sitting at the small table by the window in solitary state. Wendy seemed to be staring into space as opposed to enjoying the view.
‘Good morning!’ Ally said brightly. ‘What can I get you this morning?’
‘Nothing, nothing.’ Wendy sounded sad. ‘Just coffee, please. I’ve got little appetite at the moment. I’ll just help myself to fruit juice and cereal.’
Ally nodded. ‘How’s Joel? Has he recovered?’
Wendy shook her head wearily. ‘He’s spending most of the time in his room because he still looks pretty bad.
His nose isn’t broken, thank God, but it’s very swollen and bruised, and then his eye is also quite swollen…
’ She glanced towards the door and lowered her voice.
‘Interesting that they’re keeping his assailant in custody, don’t you think?
I’m hoping he’s going to be jailed for assaulting an innocent man.
Patti, of course, thinks the sun shines out of her uncle’s you-know-what, and all she talks about is that boy – Tom, is it? – and what a liar he is.’
‘This is a very tense time for all of you after what you’ve been through,’ Ally said diplomatically. Understatement of the year, she thought.
Wendy made her way towards the sideboard and helped herself to some cereal, and when Ally returned with the coffee, she said, ‘It’s the girls I feel sorry for. Naturally they love their mom, but Patti’s turned in on herself. She’s very self-obsessed, you know. Always has been.’
Ally didn’t feel she could say anything other than to offer a further platitude. ‘I do hope this nightmare ends soon,’ she said truthfully, ‘and that you’ll all be able to go home.’
But the nightmare was not about to end.