Murder Lies Waiting

by Alanna Knight

  ‘You missed our moment of big drama,’ Harry said.

  ‘Yes, a body was discovered on the beach near Kames Bay, must have been washed up and lay there when the sea went out at low tide,’ said Peter.

  ‘How awful. Do they know who it was?’

  ‘No idea, as yet,’ he replied.

  Gerald said: ‘I’ve told him it is most likely one of the passengers from that sailing boat wrecked in the storm the other night.’

  ‘I expect you’re right. They were still searching for bodies, so this is probably one of them.’

  ‘Surely it’s a long way from the Kyles, though,’ Harry said.

  ‘That’s the way with drowned bodies, especially with island currents.’

  And I remembered Orkney and how corpses from wrecked boats could be washed ashore as far away as Norway. I felt very sorry for that family who had gone out on a day’s pleasure trip from Glasgow. After the agonising wait for news, an even greater ordeal lay ahead, dreadful for some family member to come to Rothesay, identify and collect the body.

  A silent servant hovered, Harry excused himself and Peter said to Gerald: ‘Call at the house tonight if you can manage, will you? It would make Mother happy, she hasn’t seen you for a while, always asking, you know.’

  The way he said it held reproach and Gerald’s sigh of resignation indicated that he was well aware of his shortcomings as the adopted son who lived just minutes away but seriously neglected his parents.

  I saw Peter’s expression as he watched Gerald leave without a word. He sighed deeply and I suddenly wanted to know more about his enigmatic foster brother.

  ‘There’s quite a big age gap between you, isn’t there? That can’t have always been easy.’

  He nodded. ‘Ten years and that doesn’t make for the best relationship between siblings. He was seven years old, I was seventeen, keen on the girls. Very full of myself, I was, and fed up at being expected to take him everywhere with me.’ He paused and then said: ‘I wasn’t the perfect elder brother model and to be honest I resented sharing my father and mother, who were pretty indulgent, with this new member of the family, but they had been close to his parents, and after their tragic accident and knowing I was keen to leave home and join the police in Edinburgh anyway, and being their only child, I suppose they wanted to fill the empty space.’

  He shook his head. ‘I’m sure he was grateful enough, glad to have a home with us, but there was always from my point of view something missing. Even then Gerald was always his own person, he treated Mother and Father with the proper respect, but I don’t think he ever cared deeply for any of us, or anyone.’

  With a sigh, he continued: ‘Until he met Harry. And then the whole scene changed. They would have liked him to go to university and study law – disappointed that I had refused, now Gerald also declined. He seemed very lacking in any sort of ambition and content with an assortment of office jobs through the years. He even moved to Glasgow for a while. Then, like I said, a couple of years ago he got to know Harry Godwin and, despite having always had his own place at home – our house which was far too big for the parents, anyway – he decided to move into the hotel. I think the parents were pretty miserable and Mother still misses him.’

  ‘I can understand that, but surely a fellow past thirty needs to feel independent of the family home and have a place of his own?’

  I had sat down while he was speaking and in the short silence he looked at me quickly. ‘Are you all right? You look a bit done in.’

  He didn’t know about my accident and I said: ‘Fell off the bicycle. But nothing to get alarmed about.’

  ‘Sure?’

  ‘Just a few bruises – nothing a bit of sticking plaster couldn’t deal with,’ I said lightly. ‘Dr Richards came to my rescue in the hotel motor car.’ Suddenly Peter’s remarks about Gerald touched hints of another troubled family relationship.

  ‘Richards’ cousin is my boss,’ he sighed and added rather wearily, ‘Inspector Rudd doesn’t particularly like being reminded of Tom, some sort of family feud, I believe.’ I had one more urgent question. ‘Has your inspector been in Rothesay long?’

  ‘Just a couple of years, promoted from Dundee.’ That was a relief from the Sarah Vantry angle and if Peter thought my interest was odd, his face didn’t show it.

  He said: ‘When Jack telephoned I was chatting to Harry and my name being mentioned, Jack immediately asked if he could have a word.’ He nodded eagerly. ‘It was great to talk again after all this long time.’

  I wondered about that. Jack was normally very uncommunicative on the telephone and seemed to treat talking to someone he couldn’t see with suspicion.

  ‘I told him how nice it had been meeting you,’ Peter was regarding me intently, smiling. ‘I had to tell him all about that. He was very interested.’

  I was certain he would be and asking some anxious questions about our departure. I had guessed right as Peter went on: ‘When are you leaving, by the way? I wondered if you might have a chance to visit the parents before you go. They enjoyed meeting you at the party but you know what it’s like, small chance with all that crowd for a proper conversation.’

  With one eye on Sadie, who gave us both a cheery wave as she flounced into the restaurant, I said it depended on whether she was fit enough to travel. Following my glance, he smiled. ‘Looks as if she’s made a good recovery. Of course, bring her along with you. She would be most welcome.’

  I smiled secretly. I didn’t doubt that. Peter was captivated by Sadie and obviously did not know that his rival was his friend Harry Godwin. The only one she had failed to impress so far was the enigmatic Gerald.

  I guessed it would be too late for the bicycle shop and thought I had better wait until Jack telephoned. He would expect me to be sitting around waiting. I didn’t mind, I was looking forward to speaking to him again. Meanwhile I’d enjoy a leisurely dinner with Sadie. However, I was to have it alone: she did not appear and neither did Harry. I watched Gerald leave with Peter, no doubt returning home to the Clovis house to spend the evening with their parents.

  I had just finished my last course and was having coffee when the telephone rang in reception. Harry wasn’t in the office, but I guessed it was for me. I picked up the instrument and heard Jack’s voice asking for Mrs Macmerry.

  It was such a delight to know it was him, and as always I was momentarily overcome by the magic of it all, the strangeness of hearing his voice as if he was sitting opposite me in the kitchen in Solomon’s Tower and not miles and miles away across sea and land.

  ‘Are you well, love?’ he asked. ‘You’ve escaped this infection? How is Sadie? When will you be home?’

  We both had a riot of questions and I could hear background noises. ‘Is Meg with you?’

  ‘No, I’m at the station. We got back yesterday, settling in nicely. Ma is making herself at home, finding out where everything is.’ I could just imagine. I thought guiltily of those dusty neglected areas as he went on: ‘Pa has already climbed to the top of the hill with Meg and Thane. I think he’s glad to be home, back to his usual disappearing tricks. Vanishes all day on the hill. Ma gets worried about him, thinks all dogs are pets who should sit by the fire and wait to be taken for walks every day. I’ve told her not to worry. She’s getting Meg ready for school again. We’re all fine …’ And so it went on, the minutes ticking away.

  ‘We miss you. When will you be back?’

  I said I hoped early next week.

  ‘Good, telephone the station. If I’m not around, leave a message …’

  A click and he was gone, I looked at the black instrument resentfully as if it was to blame that we had been cut off with still so much unsaid. I knew how much talking to Jack had made me long to be safe home again with Sadie, this new and very different Sadie from the one who was our housekeeper. Even though I had failed to solve her mystery, I felt that the visit to Bute had laid the ghost of Sarah Vantry to rest and proved that the past was no longer of great importance. She
would probably marry the besotted Robbie and forget about the whole thing, put it down to experience.

  How wrong could I be? Sadie and I were not finished yet, nor was Harry.

  I spent the rest of the evening reading by the log fire and decided to have an early night as I was beginning to ache, the aftermath of the accident.

  Sadie always had home remedies for everything, pills, potions and ointments, so I looked in to also tell her about Jack’s call. Her room was empty. As she was feeling so much better, I guessed she and Harry were spending one of their few remaining evenings together. Soon they would have to part and as she had never confided her feelings for Harry and had been quite secretive, I was glad that offering advice on her future was not one of my problems. The Sarah Vantry episode had been more than enough for me.

  I slept well enough and although my bruises had me feeling a bit sore and somewhat stiffer than usual, I was grateful to be none the worse for the accident.

  Sadie was already at breakfast, looking rather tired but I made no comment. Dr Wills would be coming in to see her for the last time before we departed. She didn’t seem very interested as I outlined plans for the return journey on the ferry to Wemyss Bay and back to Edinburgh via Glasgow.

  She looked so sad, very different from the Sadie who had such boundless enthusiasm for our outward journey across on the ferry. I felt sorry for her, guessing that so much of her life had changed unexpectedly with the advent of Harry Godwin into her world.

  A pity he was so much younger.

  She asked me rather diffidently what were my plans for the day? I hadn’t any really since she seemed no longer concerned with her original idea, her obsession that had inspired this visit to Bute. I suggested that we might go for a bicycle ride, do a bit of exploring, if she felt up to it.

  She shuddered ‘You must be joking! After what happened to you with that bicycle, no thank you.’ A sigh. ‘And I’m still not feeling particularly energetic.’

  ‘In that case, how would you like to take up Harry’s offer of the motor car and I’ll drive you round the island. We can stop somewhere for lunch.’

  This suggestion was met by a blank stare. She didn’t want a drive round the island – at least, I thought, not with me.

  ‘I have things of my own I’d like to do before we leave, a bit of shopping, you know.’ She stood up and said: ‘See you later,’ as she wandered off towards Harry’s office.

  I set off for the bicycle shop. Although I had paid for the hire I knew I could not leave it at that. I must warn the owner how the brakes had failed on the steep hill from Vantry. Not only for myself, but for any future bicyclists.

  The owner, Mr Craig, did not look glad to see me. He scowled as I went into the shop. ‘First time I let you hire one of our machines, you had a puncture. The next time, the brakes failed. You don’t have much luck with bicycles, do you?’

  That remark made me furious, as if everything that happened was all my fault.

  ‘I could have been seriously injured yesterday. Faulty brakes on a steep hill are a dangerous matter.’

  He thumped his hands on the counter, his face scarlet. ‘Faulty brakes! Faulty, is that what you are calling them?’ I thought he was about to explode. He leant over and shouted in my face. ‘I’ll have you know, madam, I supply only the very best machines, the most expensive, and they are also the most up to date on the market. You couldn’t get any better in any of your big cities like Glasgow or Edinburgh – or down in England.’

  I realised he was sincere. I had hurt his pride and I apologised: ‘If you know the area, it was a very steep hill from Vantry,’ I repeated, ‘as well as a poor road surface.’

  ‘I know that area well,’ he snapped. ‘It’s not popular with bicyclists but we’ve never had any problems before. I’ll have you know this was not the fault of the machine.’ He stood up straight and said calmly: ‘After the lad told me, I carefully examined it.’ Taking a deep breath he looked at me gravely. ‘This wasn’t wear and tear, madam, it’s a brand-new machine. And it looked to me as if … as if, well, that brake cable had been tampered with.’

  ‘How could that be?’

  ‘It was in perfect condition when you left the shop …’

  A slow and terrible realisation was dawning. ‘You can’t mean someone deliberately cut the cable?’

  He shook his head. ‘That is exactly what I mean. On their return to the shop, I examine each machine after it has been hired. You had the same bicycle on each occasion, the other day when you had the puncture and again yesterday. There was no other hiring in between.’

  ‘But that is impossible.’ Even as I said the words, I realised the implications, what was involved.

  Mr Craig obviously believed me. He had calmed down and said: ‘I will need to provide new brake cables before this machine can be used again.’

  ‘In that case, as I am responsible, I will pay for them.’

  And I immediately handed over and paid for what he told me the cost would be. We parted on polite terms, although I knew he would be more than reluctant to see me again in his shop. Putting the few pounds in the till, he was satisfied.

  I left the shop but I wasn’t satisfied. I had a growing undeniable realisation that if those brakes had been cut, someone had tried to kill me. And that could only have happened while I was in Vantry visiting Lady Adeline.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Someone had tried to scare me off, perhaps even kill me.

  I was stunned by the enormity of what I now knew – that the brakes cable had been deliberately cut. But why, what was the possible reason for such an act?

  With no one to confide in, I felt terribly vulnerable, as if my potential assassin having failed once was lurking near at hand and ready to strike again. Still wrestling with my horror as I reached the hotel, I was going upstairs to see Sadie when Peter Clovis rushed in.

  ‘We have an emergency,’ he said, and to Harry: ‘Can I use your telephone? Something wrong with ours at the station. Seems out of action, it’s always happening.’

  Peter looked at me and gave me a brief nod. As both men disappeared into the reception office, I could hear voices and was curious about this emergency.

  At last they emerged, Peter saying to Harry: ‘They will notify him at once and he’ll come across from Glasgow, but these things take a little time.’

  Thanking Harry for the use of the phone, he seemed to notice me again, and taking my arm he led me over to one of the quiet corners. ‘We have a problem, Rose,’ he said, his face grave. ‘Not only the influenza, the severe storm and people drowned down the coast. Now we have a dead body.’

  ‘Yes, so I heard, one of the men from the sailing ship.’

  He shook his head firmly. ‘No, not from the sailing ship. We thought that too. It seemed the obvious thing to have happened. But no, they have recovered all the bodies, and this one at Kames Bay – well, it definitely isn’t one of theirs.’

  ‘From another ship?’

  He sighed. ‘There were no other wrecks or accidents reported. How are your bruises this morning?’ Without waiting for an answer – perhaps my shocked expression, resulting from my having just discovered what looked like an attempt on my life, suggested a different source of pain – he led me to one of the armchairs. ‘Let’s sit down and I’ll tell you about it. A man discovered this body at low tide – thought from a distance that it was a dead seal washed up.’

  ‘Could it be a local man?’

  ‘No, we are pretty sure of that. Not even a wallet to identify him. We have no information as yet.’ He looked very worried.

  ‘How did he drown? Was it an accident?’

  ‘We don’t know for sure. Dr Wills has had a look at the body but we need the procurator fiscal. That’s what I was telephoning about. It’s the usual thing in accidents but it can take a little time for him to be notified and get here from the mainland.’

  ‘What did Dr Wills think? Was it … a heart attack? Some visitor to the island, perhaps
a tourist staying in a guest house?’

  ‘We have no idea. Of course the man’s details – what we know of them – will all be circulated.’ He sighed. ‘The body was discovered by a St Colmac man out walking his dog. He’s very short-sighted, wears thick spectacles and his dog had rushed across to inspect what looked like a dead seal washed up and left by the ebb tide. He called his dog but it was excited and wouldn’t come to heel, so he went down to the sand to have a look. The dog was scratching at seaweed covering his find. When he saw a hand and realised it was attached to a human body, the man ran for Dr Wills who raised the alarm. Before rushing to the scene the doctor alerted the hospital, although, following the dog owner to the shore, he knew what to expect – a dead man, probably drowned in the night.

  ‘Wills couldn’t make more than a rough examination. He had another problem too: the dog owner who had made this gruesome discovery, one of his patients, had insisted on coming with him. He was very distressed and almost had a heart attack. Got a dreadful shock – he’s quite elderly and all that rushing about hadn’t helped. Wills had already attended him earlier in the week, in a panic about his invalid wife taking this influenza.’

  He paused. ‘We were summoned at the station and I went in the hospital ambulance down to the shore. I had a bad feeling that this was no accidental death, no body from the wrecked sailing boat. On the beach, when the doctor turned the man over, his head had been bleeding and he had what looked like a fractured skull. I suspected that he was already dead before he was put in the water. That head injury hadn’t been caused by a fall on the shore, there was nothing but wet sand, nothing that could account for the severity of the blow on the back of his head. He had been attacked.’ He paused and looked at me. ‘This was murder.’

  I must have looked concerned and as I listened, and made occasional comments, I could not help wondering why Peter was telling me all this. I think he read my mind for he smiled wryly.