She heard the unmistakable sound of fluttering, lots of fluttering. She shined the torch above her head and saw a cloud of bats flying overhead in the eaves of the old attic. Suddenly, a bat swooped in and sailed right past her head.
She assessed her situation and decided that maybe it was best all-around if she called it a day. She shined the torch upward, illuminating the bats once more, then quietly walked to the attic door. She closed the attic door softly and turned off the torch, then made her way down the creaky stairs and to the corridor towards her room.
Chapter 5
Diane sat back in the wicker chair and gazed at a delightful view. It was a beautiful summer’s day; the sky was a brilliant blue with fluffy white clouds. Sunlight danced on the waves of the sea. From her seat on the terrace, the view was peaceful and serene. Inside the hotel, all was not peaceful nor serene.
The staff were still grumbling about the rubbish search yesterday, the guests were losing patience with the police and Juliana and Malcolm, and the kitchen staff were planning a mutiny unless they were allowed to go home. A valet and a maid had tried to escape last night, but they were quickly returned to the hotel. Meanwhile, there was still a dangerously unhinged killer on the loose, or perhaps a wild, vicious animal. The result was a palpable tension. Diane was convinced that unless this case was solved soon, the situation might escalate into anarchy.
She looked at the view and waited patiently for her lunch to arrive. She always enjoyed having lunch outside on the hotel terrace when she stayed at the Glen Gorm Hotel. The incredible view and the delicious food were always a relaxing combination. She noticed that her food order seemed to be taking longer than normal, which she assumed was retaliation for the rubbish search.
Diane realized she needed to solve this case before total chaos gripped the hotel. To a casual observer, it may appear that she was relaxing and on holiday, but nothing could be farther from the truth. The view and the fresh air were a potent drug; they were vital to the clear, analytical thinking that she needed to solve this case.
Yesterday had been very productive. She thought about the new clues that had come to light. She watched the seagulls flying above the water and considered how the clues fit together. She also wondered about the mysterious woman that Malcolm had mentioned. Who was this woman that was having an affair with Mr. Snelling? Could this be a motive?
Diane was so deep in thought that she did not notice that Inspector McNair had joined her until he greeted her.
“Mrs. Dimbleby, if I may have a word?”
“Inspector McNair, if you would like to join me for lunch, I believe I can accommodate your request,” Diane answered warmly. Inspector McNair had dark circles under his eyes from lack of rest. Diane concluded that he was the type of detective that did not sleep until a case was solved.
“If I will not be intruding, I would love to accept your offer. I am famished,” Inspector McNair admitted as he sat down in a wicker chair at Diane’s table.
“I am not surprised. With a case as pressing as this one, I would not hesitate to say that you are not eating or sleeping very much.”
“You are correct in your assessment. It sounds like you understand this line of work very well.”
“My late husband was a detective at Scotland Yard.”
“The Yard, that is impressive. I bet you do know a thing or two about the messy ones, the cases that grip you until you solve them or you go mad in the attempt.”
“Yes, Inspector McNair, I do, and this case seems to be messy indeed.”
“I find it exasperating when the murderer gets creative. If only they would stick to the tried-and-true methods such as shooting or stabbing. With the right forensics team and a solid motive, those cases can be solved without much fuss, unlike this one.”
“Inspector, I am glad that you are joining me for lunch, although I should warn you that service may be less than stellar today. I seem to have made enemies of the kitchen staff.”
“Would it be worth it for me to inquire how that may have happened?”
“I am afraid that is a story best left for after the investigation is concluded.”
A surly waitress arrived at the table with Diane’s lunch order. The soup smelled delicious, and the sandwich was piled high with roast beef. The Inspector did not need a menu; he ordered the soup and sandwich as well. The waitress did not say a word as she took down his order and left the table in a huff.
“I would recommend having your food tested for toxic or poisonous substances,” Inspector McNair said with a smile.
“The cook may be a bit eccentric, but the food here is quite good. I am willing to take the chance,” Diane answered cheerfully, then switched gears, “You are obviously not here for lunch.”
“No, I am afraid not. I am still in the thick of this investigation, I was hoping that we might be able to compare notes. I am sure that a writer of murder mysteries has not been sitting idly by watching television in the middle of an active homicide investigation.”
“Detective, you are quite right, I have not been sitting idle at all. What do you know about Mr. Snelling and his romantic life? Was he having an affair with a married woman?”
“He was the local veterinarian, and he came to the hotel to meet his lover, a Mrs. Katie Munro. Mrs. Munro is married, but separated from her husband, a Mr. Thomas Munro.”
The waitress returned with the Inspector’s order. He dug into the sandwich as though he had never seen food before.
“Inspector, was Mr. Munro aware that his wife was having an affair?”
“Yes, he knew about it. Although he knew that his wife was involved in an adulterous relationship, he still lived with her. They maintained the façade of being married even though they were in the middle of divorce proceedings. The couple’s separation and divorce were kept secret. Their family and friends were unaware they were even having marital issues.”
Diane thought about Mrs. Munro. What must the woman of Mr. Snelling’s dreams be like? She concluded that this woman must be extraordinary to inspire someone, perhaps her husband, to commit murder. If so, the obvious suspect, the jealous husband, was really a suspect.
“Do you consider Mr. Munro to be a suspect?”
“It is too early in the investigation to name suspects. At this stage, I would say that I am open to nearly any possibility, although I do have to admit, Mr. Munro does have a solid motive,” admitted the Inspector as he took another bite of sandwich. “Thomas and his wife came down together for a wedding across the water in Mallaig. I’m sure he must have known that his wife’s lover lived in Skye and was in fact staying at the hotel also, but Mr. Munro denies knowing that.”
“Is it possible that as ghastly as the crime scene appeared and the existence of a love triangle, that this is not a murder? Do you think that Mr. Snelling may be the victim of death by misadventure?”
“You do bring up a good point. I have considered that as a possibility. However, at this stage, I must investigate his death as a probable murder. His affair with Mrs. Munro would be a strong motive. It is true that Mr. Snelling died of fright, but what was he so afraid of and what viciously attacked the room, but not the victim?”
“Inspector, I think I may have a theory that may answer the question of what attacked Mr. Snelling. I believe it may be bats.”
“Bats? What gives you the impression that it was bats?”
“I conducted a little research and discovered that animals can be lured or summoned by sound. A whistle was discovered in the rubbish yesterday. This whistle cannot be heard by humans, but can be heard by bats.”
“Are you quite sure that it was not a whistle for training dogs or other animals?”
“I conducted my own unofficial testing. The only creatures that reacted to it were bats.”
“Hmm, bats you say. I will consider that theory. I will have the lab test for the presence of bats at the crime scene. I am not sure that I want the details, but how did you manage to determine the whistle could
only be heard by bats?”
“Inspector, I followed the not-so-strictly-logical investigation technique known as a bit of luck and an educated guess.”
The unplanned lunch meeting with the Inspector gave Diane much to think about that evening. This murder was still an unsolved puzzle to put together. She felt as though she had acquired more of the pieces. Now, if she could just fit them together, she might be able to get a better idea of what was missing. At the very minimum, it would give her a place to start, because right now she was frustrated.
Without a new breakthrough or clue, her investigation was at a standstill. Right now, she had a few solid clues, but there just wasn’t enough to arrive at a logical explanation. It was maddening. She decided that the best course of action was to try to get some rest and start fresh tomorrow. A good night’s sleep was necessary for optimal cognitive functioning and this case required nothing less than optimal.
The following morning after breakfast, she decided that a change of focus might be just the thing to calm her nerves and sharpen her concentration skills. She returned to her room, sat down at her desk and powered on her laptop. She had enjoyed a good night’s sleep and now decided to focus her energy on her writing. Writing had always calmed her nerves and improved her ability to concentrate. She opened the file containing her book and started typing.
Chapter 6
Diane wrote for many hours that day and decided to reward herself after dinner with a pint in the lounge. She sat at a table, enjoying a sip of her reward when she saw Inspector McNair enter the lounge. He walked directly to her table.
“Are you still on duty?” Diane asked.
“Yes, I am. I consider myself always on duty during a case. Although, to tell you the truth, I do intend on having a drink the moment I have successfully apprehended a suspect.”
“Won’t you please join me?’ she asked graciously, offering to share her table.
“You are probably convinced that I am stalking you,” he joked.
“It would seem that way. Can I buy a round of your nonalcoholic beverage of choice?”
“Thank you, no, but I hope you allow me to buy you a drink. Your assistance has proven to be invaluable.”
“I am glad to hear that I was able to be helpful. I just wanted to do my bit.”
Inspector McNair looked at the other guests in the lounge and lowered his voice. “You were right about the bats. The lab tested the droplets of blood on the carpet and discovered that it tested positive for being bat in origin. Excellent work, Inspector Dimbleby.”
“Bats. Was it a single animal or several?”
“From the evidence that we have gathered at this stage, it would appear that there were several animals involved in the attack. The amount of damage and the severity of it support that theory. The blood found on the window also tested positive for bat. We are now actively searching for the injured animal.”
Diane had experienced a few minor twinges of guilt when she asked the hotel staff to dig through the rubbish. Discovering that the police could confirm her suspicions based on the evidence obtained in that search, now made all the delayed lunches and surly staff attitudes worth it. The staff may still be angry about being put on rubbish detail, but when the case was solved and the killer was arrested, their hard work would have made it possible.
“Now that we have the who solved thanks to your brilliant insight, what about the sound problem?” asked McNair “How was it possible that no one heard a single sound? A violent attack by several bats and a man screaming should have attracted the attention of the guests staying in the nearby rooms. I just don’t understand how no one heard a sound.”
“That problem bothered me as well. A man is alone in his room, and flying mammals suddenly attack him. It is enough to give anyone nightmares. I agree he would have been screaming as the bats attacked and destroyed his room. Considering the level of destruction present in that room, it could not have been anything less than chaos. Bats were breaking lamps and destroying paintings. It must have been quite a commotion.”
“Exactly. A man is screaming, lamps breaking and paintings being smashed. This incident generated enough noise to have woken up, at the very minimum, his next-door neighbors. The question remains, how did this terrible scene play out without anyone so much as hearing a cry for help?”
Diane thought about that question and took a deep breath. She was lost in concentration as she stared at a painting on the wall across from her. It was a painting of the Glen Gorm Hotel. The picture showed the Glen Gorm Hotel at sunset overlooking the sea like a mighty castle or fortress.
She stared at the painting pondering the question of the noise that no one heard when a thought suddenly occurred to her. The Glen Gorm Hotel was an old medieval castle. She looked from the picture to the walls of the lounge, and the solution came to her in a flash.
The hotel was not built of brick; it had been constructed of large blocks of stone. She stood up as the Inspector watched her with a quizzical look on his face. She walked to the wall and examined the stone. She returned to her seat at the table with an answer.
“This hotel was not built to resemble a castle, Inspector. It actually is an old castle.”
“My dear Mrs. Dimbleby, what does the construction of the hotel mean to this investigation?”
“The walls were built of heavy, thick stone. If the window and door was closed to his room, no one would have heard a sound. I would hazard to guess that you could fire a gun in Mr. Snelling’s room and not one single person would have heard it because the thick walls are acting as a soundproof barrier.”
The Inspector looked at Diane and tried to make sense of what she had just revealed. He also stood up and walked to the wall. He looked at the heavy stone blocks and thought about the stone walls in Snelling’s room. He would have forensics test the theory, but he felt confident that they would discover that what Mrs. Dimbleby said was correct.
“I never would have concluded that the walls were acting as a soundproof barrier. Well done.”
She was collecting more pieces of the puzzle. The blood on the floor and the window was bats, and the walls were soundproof, now what about a motive? Although Mr. Munro seems to have an obvious motive, was he the only possible suspect?
“I am sure you are aware of this, but with the clues you have in your possession, your next logical step would be to concentrate on a motive.”
“You are right, if I can establish a strong motive then I will feel like I am on solid ground with this case. I may even get some rest and eat a meal,” Inspector McNair said as he looked at Diane with a warm smile. “I do have Mr. Munro. He has a very strong motive but he also has an alibi.”
“He has an alibi? Have you interviewed him?”
“Yes, I did. I have never been a man who displays his emotions. I suppose I am naïve in my assumption that most people I come across maintain that same standard, chalk it up to my time spent in the Royal Navy and lifelong police work. I pride myself on my calm demeanor, but Mr. Munro seems to be opposite in every way. It was glaringly obvious that he was the jealous type.”
“Jealous? Do you believe he was jealous enough to commit murder?”
Inspector McNair recounted the details regarding Mr. Munro, “The husband is the quintessential jealous husband suspect. His jealous behavior has been observed by friends and probably even total strangers. He behaves poorly, and he knows about his wife’s affair.”
“You mentioned earlier that he has an alibi?”
“Yes, he and Katie both have an alibi that checks out. The night that Mr. Snelling was murdered, they were attending a wedding in Mallaig. The guests of the wedding reported seeing the couple.”
“The ferry runs late during the summer between the Skye and Mallaig, perhaps they came back on the ferry during the wedding?”
His calm demeanor slipped just a bit into frustration when he answered, “The ferry crews working that night remember seeing Mr. and Mrs. Munro coming and going right on schedu
le for the wedding. I have checked the ferry timetable, and everything seems to check out with their story.”
Diane quietly asked, “Where would they have been at the time of the murder?”
“They would have been on the mainland at the time of death. The ferry schedule for that night would not have made a return trip to the hotel and then back to Mallaig during the wedding possible.”
“Let me be sure that I understand, Mr. Munro is involved in a secret divorce from his wife. He is incredibly jealous, and he knew about her affair with Mr. Snelling. He has the best motive for murder, and he has a strong alibi. What about Katie Munro? Have you interviewed her yet?”
“No, I have not, I have been concentrating on Mr. Munro because of his temperament and motive. Mr. Munro was a jealous husband, and Katie was the wife with the lover. Why would Katie have killed the man she was willing to risk everything for, especially her marriage? The husband knew about the affair, so it was too late to silence Mr. Snelling if he threatened to expose her. I just do not see a clear motive.”
“Katie Munro may have a motive even stronger than her husband. A woman in love is capable of nearly anything.”
“Precisely, if she was in love with Mr. Snelling, why would she have killed him? She was involved in a divorce that would soon free her to be with her lover.”
“Inspector, let’s assume for a moment that it was not Mr. Snelling that she was in love with. What if she truly loved her husband, that he was the love of her life? Consider that Mr. Snelling may only have been a fling or a casual affair.”
“I believe I see where you are heading with this line of thinking; you are telling me that I need to look at it from a different perspective and consider that love is not the only reason women commit adultery. I believe that you are implying to stop being a caveman about my views on women.”
“I am sure you are not a caveman, but it is a mistake that men find easy to make. They forget that women can be motivated by lust only without love. I imagine that she met James Snelling and the sparks flew. There was a certain something about him that she found irresistible, and they began an affair. I assume that she enjoyed their time together. It was romantic and exciting to have a secret lover.”
Murder in the Highands Page 4
