Harry looked at the old solicitor. ‘Is that true? Did Shona leave a will?’
‘Even if she didn’t, he’d be entitled to it. But yes, they both have reciprocating wills. Brian will indeed inherit everything that was Shona’s, including her share of the hotel and the business.’ Deal drank some of the Scotch from the glass in his hand.
‘Dirty bastard,’ Fenton said.
‘Fenton!’ Deal said. ‘I have worked for your father and your family for a very long time. Long before you were born. I can assure you that nothing underhanded has ever been done. Every business deal your father made, every one that your grandfather made, was above board. I know for a fact that the housing deal he went into with Brian was legitimate. Shona knew of it, you and your brother knew of it. So why the accusations now?’
Harry was impressed by the old man’s outburst, silencing the two brothers.
‘I know, you’re right,’ Fenton said, ‘but this has got everybody shaken. Who would want to murder our brother and sister?’
‘Either somebody has a grudge or they stand to gain from it,’ Alex said. ‘If we can find somebody with either motive, then we can find our killer.’
‘Look, I know it doesn’t look good,’ Zach said, ‘us being out and about, but we’re not going to get anywhere turning on each other.’
‘That’s easy for you to say,’ Brian said, dabbing at his lip again. Missy came back in with another cloth.
‘This one has ice in it,’ she said, giving him the new one.
He crumpled the bloody tissue and put it in a pocket. ‘Thank you.’
‘The memorial is going ahead tomorrow?’ Dunbar said.
‘It is,’ Fenton said. ‘People are already here. They want to pay their last respects to my father. And now my brother and sister.’
‘The hotel is busy with his friends,’ said Deal. ‘I was talking with a few earlier, people I have known for many years. They said they were shocked to learn of Clive’s death, but they want to say a proper goodbye to Oliver. The ballroom is already set up.’
‘I suppose, under the circumstances, there’s no reason to postpone it. But I have to ask you not to leave the island,’ Harry said, looking at each member of the family in turn.
‘We hadn’t planned on leaving for another week,’ Fenton said. ‘We just wanted to see our houses, then make plans to rent them out. I don’t think any of us had planned to sell. Even Shona.’ He threw a look at Brian, but the older man was in too much pain with his rapidly swelling lip to give a comeback.
‘You know, son,’ Dunbar said, ‘for a doctor, you’re pretty aggressive.’
‘In my game, you have to be. I’m not aggressive to my patients.’
‘I should damn well hope not.’ Dunbar looked at Brian. ‘We’ll talk to Brendan. See if he remembers talking to you.’
‘Do that.’
‘However, if the fairground is on the other side of the hill,’ Harry said, ‘you could have killed Shona and then walked over.’
‘I swear to God I didn’t kill her.’
‘Don’t leave town, Mr Gibbons,’ Harry said. ‘We’ll talk again in the morning.’
Eighteen
Brendan Shaw was doing his stint as barman behind the Laoch Lodge’s bar.
‘Lounge bar at night, breakfast bar in the morning,’ he said with a smile. ‘What can I get you folks?’
Harry ordered a pint for himself and a Diet Coke for Alex. Evans had a lager and Dunbar had the same.
‘Put your money away, folks,’ Brendan said. ‘My mum says to look after you.’
‘Nonsense, son,’ Dunbar said, loosening his tie. ‘This is on Police Scotland. And you have a business to run. It’s not a charity you run.’
‘Unlike the Wolf family, eh?’ Brendan said, pouring the drinks.
‘What do you mean?’ Harry asked as Alex and Evans got a table.
‘Oh, nothing. I mean, Murdo Wolf made so much money, he created a foundation. He was a great philanthropist. So was Oliver. He strived to make the island the best it could ever be. No properties were ever run down or left in a state of disrepair. The hospital has the latest equipment and the schools are top class, even though we don’t have a ton of schoolkids. The ones we do have get the best education, with every one of them getting a scholarship to get a degree on the mainland. Aye, the Wolf family are tops.’
He handed over the pints and the Coke.
‘We saw your brother down at the fairground with your dad,’ Dunbar said.
‘Two peas in a pod, we are,’ Brendan said, grinning. ‘But I prefer to keep a bit more low key. Jack’s the showman. He loves enticing men to fight my dad. None of them have ever won, but I told Dad, one day some young Turk will come up there and knock your socks off. I wish he would retire, but he’s stubborn.’
‘It comes to us eventually,’ Dunbar said, waving Evans back over. ‘Grab a pint, son.’ Then he turned back to Brendan. ‘Do you remember talking to Brian Gibbons at the fairground this afternoon?’
‘Aye. I saw him there. I was having a wee wander around and bumped into him.’
‘When was this?’
‘Oh, early afternoon sometime. I don’t know the exact time.’
‘Okay, thanks.’
Evans took two pints back to the table as Harry carried his and Alex’s drink over. Dunbar said he never had two full hands when he was in a pub, in case he had to use one of them quickly. Harry said he would be more than happy to head-butt somebody if his hands were full.
‘I don’t think we’ll be having any problems in here,’ he added, looking around at the clientele. A couple who looked to be in their fifties, clearly American. Harry couldn’t tell if the biggest giveaway was the accents or the husband’s Hawaiian shirt. A young couple who were on holiday and a few of the other guests. Nothing that would cause
