Murder in the Highands

by Penelope Sotheby

  “I understand that she may not have loved Snelling, but what would be her motivation to murder him in a violent manner?” asked Inspector McNair as he listened in rapt attention.

  “In this scenario, she has enjoyed her time with Snelling; the sensual interludes, the romantic hotel and the novelty of a new love must have proven to be intoxicating. She may have felt torn between her love and loyalty for her husband and the lust that she felt with Snelling.”

  “In this scenario, you believe that it is possible that she felt torn between lust for her lover, Mr. Snelling, and the strong ties of love that she felt for her husband. If that was the case, then what is her motivation?”

  “If Katie truly loved her husband, I believe that she would be capable of nearly anything to protect her relationship with the man she loved. She enjoyed the fun and thrill of a secret romance, but she was never willing to leave her husband or sacrifice her marriage for Snelling. Her husband found out about the affair, loses his temper and sues for divorce. This was a catastrophe for Katie. She may have felt forced to do whatever was necessary to protect her marriage.”

  “Once again, you have proven invaluable. You have given me a lot of good information. I will have the lab research the soundproof qualities of the stone used in the construction of this hotel. I believe that I will take your advice and arrange to interview Katie Munro.”

  The Inspector stood up and said, “I want to thank you for your assistance in this case. I look forward to taking you out to dinner to celebrate when this case is closed.” Inspector McNair left the lounge and Diane was left alone with her thoughts.

  Chapter 7

  Diane sat in the lounge after the Inspector left. She was in possession of several new pieces of the puzzle; she just needed to put it together. She thought about all the likely scenarios that led to Mr. Snelling’s death and realized that she was still not sure of the identity of the killer.

  Mr. Munro seemed a likely culprit, but jealous husbands normally committed murder in fits of passion, not in a cold, calculated manner. Using bats in a soundproof room took real creativity and planning. She could not recall seeing a more bizarre set of circumstances in a murder case. She was convinced that she was unlikely to see anything to match it in the future.

  She returned to her room, changed into her favorite pajamas and powered on the laptop. She opened the file containing her book and started typing. She knew that a good night’s rest would help her see the case differently in the morning, but she was wide awake. Writing always helped her to focus, so she began working on her book.

  As she worked on the novel, a small detail kept bothering her. Bats were used in the murder of Mr. Snelling. Bats were animals. Simon Berry, a guest of the hotel, was arrested for threatening to blow up a research facility that used animals for testing. Diane spun those facts around in her mind. It was possible that Simon had given up his violent ways to express his views, but to attack a local veterinarian with animals seemed bizarre and potentially motivated by something other than jealousy.

  Diane stopped typing and stared at her laptop. Was Simon involved? This was conjecture at this stage, but it did warrant a bit more research. The blue glow of the laptop illuminated a woman in deep concentration. It may not prove to be anything, but Diane had a feeling, an instinct that there was something more to Simon and his decision to spend a few nights at the Glen Gorm Hotel.

  She returned to typing and decided to tell Inspector McNair her thoughts about Simon when she spoke to him again. The words flowed easily as she worked on her novel for another hour before going to bed.

  The next morning, Inspector McNair arrived at the hotel early. This investigation was far from over, and he wanted to make every minute of the day count. He wanted to get this case solved. He looked at his reflection in the rear-view mirror. The dark circles under his eyes were getting darker and more pronounced every day. His reflection revealed the exhaustion he felt. He hoped to solve this case soon; he needed the rest.

  Up until last night, he thought he was through with the Munros and could cross them off his list of potential suspects. Mr. Munro was jealous and had demonstrated his lack of discretion regarding his displays of emotion, but he had not considered Katie Munro to have a motive for murder, until now. Last night at the lounge, Diane Dimbleby presented him with a convincing argument that proved there might be more to Katie Munro than he previously thought.

  The hotel manager greeted him at the front desk with a less-than-cheerful salutation. This case was dragging on, and he needed to wrap it up so that he could allow the guests and staff to leave the hotel. The manager called the Munros’ room and spoke with Katie. Katie would be right down, she told the Inspector.

  “I need to speak with Mrs. Munro privately, is there an office available?”

  “You can use my office, Inspector, I hope you let us go home soon.”

  “That makes two of us,” he answered.

  Katie Munro did not keep him waiting at the front desk for long. Looking at this petite woman, he was unsure that she would be capable of the cold-blooded cruelty required to murder Mr. Snelling. She was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, her light brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she spoke in a soft, gentle voice. Mrs. Dimbleby convinced him to speak with Katie, but he was far from convinced that this woman could harm anyone or anything.

  “Mrs. Munro, I am terribly sorry to disturb you early in the morning. I hope you don’t mind. I just have a few questions.”

  “Inspector, I don’t mind in the least. I am happy to help any way that I can, although I’m not sure I can tell you anything useful,” she said in a voice barely above a whisper.

  He looked at Katie and tried to be objective. He had been a detective for many years, and he knew that he did not have to ask a lot of questions to uncover the information that he needed from a suspect; he just needed to ask the right questions. Snelling’s killer had lured bats into his room and used them as a weapon. He wondered if this soft-spoken, demure woman had any knowledge of animal behavior that may prove interesting.

  “I do not mean to be insensitive, but I need to know a few details about your relationship with Mr. Snelling. You may start by telling me how you met.”

  The expression on Katie’s face changed, and she looked as though she might begin to cry. “This is very hard for me, Inspector, I hope you understand, I still can’t believe that he is dead.”

  “Take your time, Mrs. Munro.”

  “I met James at Westhill, it’s the lab that I work at in Inverness. We conducted experiments on animal behavior. I am not sure how it all started. I enjoyed working with him. It was a nice change to have someone that I could talk to about my work that really understood it, that was genuinely interested in the research I was conducting. He was so attentive to me, even in the lab. He was romantic and attentive, not like my husband.”

  Inspector McNair was struck by what Katie said, not about her relationship but about her line of work. He was disappointed in himself. How could he have been so careless as to overlook a vital detail that could be important to the case?

  “Your research that you conducted in animal behavior, what animals did you use for your experiments?”

  “Squirrels, mostly.”

  “Squirrels, that must have been fascinating and lively research,” he said with a warm smile.

  “Yes, it is. Squirrels are very energetic.” Katie answered, brightly. She no longer appeared to be on the verge of tears. She looked at the Inspector and seemed to relax as she laughed about the squirrels.

  “Tell me, Mrs. Munro, did you conduct research with any other animals, such as bats?” he asked.

  Katie no longer looked relaxed. Her demeanor changed as she repeated the word, “Bats?”

  “Yes, bats, did you and Mr. Snelling conduct research on bats and their behavior?”

  “Yes Inspector, we did.”

  “How interesting. I appreciate your time this morning, I will be in touch if I have any more question
s,” he said as he stood up and walked to the front of the desk.

  Katie stood to leave, “I hope you find whoever is responsible, this has all been so terrible.”

  “Yes, it has. Thank you, Mrs. Munro.”

  Returning to the front desk, he requested the manager ring Mrs. Dimbleby’s room. She rolled her eyes and called Diane’s room. There was no answer. He needed to see Diane before he left the hotel. He thanked the manager and looked at his watch. It was 8:30 in the morning. Perhaps she was having breakfast, he reasoned.

  His hunch proved to be correct; he found Diane in the cheerful, sunny breakfast room. She had just sat down to enjoy a cup of tea and full Scottish breakfast when she saw the Inspector.

  “Inspector, good morning, care to join me?”

  “As much as I would love to say yes, I am in a hurry. I need to speak with you.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  The Inspector pulled up a chair beside her, “I hope you don’t mind the close quarters, but I don’t want to be overheard.”

  “You are quite alright, Inspector, what did you want to tell me?”

  “You were right to suspect Katie. I interviewed her this morning and made an interesting discovery. I need to investigate further, but I may be close to making a real breakthrough.”

  Diane was overcome with curiosity. “What did you discover?”

  “Mr. Snelling and Katie were more than lovers, they were coworkers. They worked together at a research facility that conducted research on animal behavior.”

  “That is interesting, it can’t be a coincidence.”

  “I don’t think it is either, I just need to investigate this lead and see where it goes.”

  “What type of animals did she and Mr. Snelling work with?’

  “Squirrels, and prepare yourself for this, bats.”

  “Bats? Inspector, I would have to say you may be onto something. Where are you off to in such a hurry?”

  “I am going back to Inverness. I want to check out the lab, ask a few questions.”

  Diane thought about Simon, the bats, and his criminal record. She suggested to the Inspector, “If you are going to ask questions at the lab, I would find out if they had received any threats recently.”

  “That’s not a bad idea, I will be sure to check into that. I have got to get going, I’ll talk to you soon.”

  Chapter 8

  It was after lunch when Inspector McNair arrived at the Westhill Research Laboratory in Inverness. Trees shaded the parking of the modern glass and metal building. He selected a parking place for visitors in the shaded part of the lot and walked to the entrance. He opened the door and was blasted with a wave of cool air. It felt good after the long drive. He nearly fell asleep twice on the drive over. He swore to himself to get some sleep very soon.

  He showed his badge to the receptionist, who asked him to have a seat in the lobby. She left him alone waiting in a room of concrete and black leather chairs. It was contemporary in a cold, scientific way that reminded him of a modern art gallery. He checked the text messages on his phone while he waited for her to return.

  A few minutes later, the receptionist introduced him to Doctor Parks, the head of the facility. Doctor Jonathan Parks was an older man with thinning gray hair and wire frame glasses. He looked like the stereotypical college professor, thought the Inspector.

  “I am Detective Inspector McNair. I need to speak with you if you have a moment.”

  “Yes Inspector, please come with me to my office where we can talk in private. Can I get you anything, tea, coffee, bottled water?’

  “Thank you, no.”

  Doctor Parks led him down a well-lit corridor to an office that was sparsely furnished except for the bookshelves overloaded with files and binders. The doctor invited him to be seated.

  “Doctor Parks, I am sure you are aware of the death of Mr. James Snelling.”

  “Yes, I am. Bad business I am afraid.”

  “Yes, I am investigating his death, and I need your assistance.”

  “Inspector, you can count on my full cooperation.”

  “I need some information about Mr. Snelling and the research he conducted at this facility.”

  “He worked with Katie Munro. They worked with a number of species studying animal behavior.”

  “Is there anyone that may have worked with him that may be able to shed some light on his research here at Westhill?”

  “Let me see. If I am not greatly mistaken, I believe he worked closely with Rebecca Martin, a research assistant in the behavioral science laboratory.”

  “May I speak with her?”

  “I don’t see why not. I will see if she is available.”

  Rebecca Martin was a short woman with dark curly hair and an outgoing personality. She welcomed Inspector McNair into her small, cramped office.

  “Inspector, if I can do anything to assist in any way, please let me know,” said Doctor Parks as he turned to leave.

  “Doctor, can you provide a summary of the research that Mr. Snelling and Mrs. Munro conducted?”

  “Of course Inspector, I will have that ready for before you leave,” said Doctor Parks as he left Rebecca and the Inspector alone in the tiny room.

  “I heard about Mr. Snelling. How sad. He was such a nice guy.” She replied, as she took a seat at her diminutive desk and motioned for him to sit down.

  “Miss Martin, any information you can provide to me will be a big help. What can you tell me about the research that Mr. Snelling was conducting, particularly on the bats?”

  “I hate to tell you this, but not much. I have been busy assisting Doctor Kaplan with his research and was unable to spend much time with Mr. Snelling and Katie. I would help them set up the lab each day and compile data. Mainly, they worked together and rarely needed an assistant.”

  “What do you know about the bats?”

  “Not much about the experiment, but I had to be very careful setting up the lab when Mr. Snelling worked with bats. He was scared to death of them. He insisted that the bats that he worked with always be in cages. At all times. I thought it was a little strange, seeing that he was a vet and a scientist involved in animal research being scared of animals, in particular, bats.”

  “That is strange. How did you find out he was frightened of bats?”

  “Katie, I mean Mrs. Munro told me. I asked her about it one day, I wasn’t trying to be rude, I just wanted to know. She told me that he had been attacked by a bat at his office and had developed an irrational fear of them. From what she said, he was scared out of his wits of bats. All I know is that if the animals were not securely contained in a cage, he would get mad at me.”

  “What about Mr. Snelling? Was he well-liked by his colleagues here at the lab?”

  “Oh yes, aside from the bat thing, Mr. Snelling was friendly, nice and had a good sense of humor. I never heard anyone say a bad word about him. I still can’t believe he’s dead. It just doesn’t seem real.”

  “Rebecca, can you think of anything else about Mr. Snelling or his research that you would like to tell me?”

  The young woman seemed to be deep in thought. She finally shook her head and said, “No, nothing else comes to mind.”

  Inspector McNair remembered what Diane had said earlier that morning, “Have you or anyone here at the laboratory received any threats or has there been any acts of violence or vandalism?”

  “Funny you should ask that that. We have received some hate mail lately.”

  “Do you still have it?”

  “I don’t know why I kept it, but I have it right here. I suppose I didn’t throw it away in case something happened. It seems rather silly since it's not signed by anyone,” Rebecca said as she opened a drawer in her desk. She pulled out a small stack of letters and handed them to the Inspector.

  “Miss Martin, do you mind if I take these with me? I want to have someone look at them.”

  “No, I don’t mind at all. I feel better knowing you have them and maybe can do
something about them. I don’t know why we keep getting those letters. This facility researches animal behavior. We don’t harm them or anything. The animals here are lazy, well-fed and spoiled. I can show you if you want to see them.”

  “Some other time perhaps, Miss Martin. You have been very helpful. If you recall any more details that may help with this investigation, please do not hesitate to contact me,” he said as he handed her a card.

  He slipped the letters into his pocket. They had already been handled and contaminated, but they may still prove to be useful. He returned to Doctor Park’s office. The Doctor had a file waiting for him with all the information he had requested. He thanked the Doctor and rushed to his car. He was impatient to get back to the Glen Gorm Hotel.

  Chapter 9

  It was late in the afternoon when the Inspector returned to the hotel. He walked through the lobby and searched for Diane. He found her on the terrace having tea. He did not wait for the invitation; this time he walked straight to her table.

  “Are you expecting anyone?”

  “Only you, Inspector. I should have known you would find me out here having tea.”

  “Inspector Dimbleby, if I didn’t know any better, I would say you were teasing me,” he said in jest. He knew that he was not supposed to be calling her Inspector, but that was their little joke; besides, he reasoned she would have made a brilliant detective.

  “I would say you are right, I have a feeling your afternoon was productive.”

  “That is one way of putting it,” he said as he sat down.

  He told Diane about his visit to the lab and the hate mail, and Mr. Snelling’s irrational fear of bats. She listened attentively and then made a suggestion, “Have you searched Simon Berry’s room?”