sent the wrong papers. She would be blamed for keeping the story running.
Mary turned on her heel and marched away.
Hamish fled to his police station and locked himself in to keep away from the press.
Then a note was shoved through the letter box. It read, “Let me in. Elspeth.”
? Death of a Maid ?
9
—Robert Burns
Hamish opened the door. “Come in, quick,” he said.
Elspeth slid in. She looked tired. “Great story, Hamish. I’ve been filing stories since I got back from Glasgow, and I haven’t had any sleep.”
“I think I’ll have a whisky,” said Hamish. “Feel like joining me? I felt at one moment I’d made an awful mistake. I could see the poor Currie sisters with their eyes streaming with tear gas and some of the locals being shot with stun guns.”
“I’m surprised our divine leader didn’t fly up. He and his wife breathe photo opportunities.”
“Maybe he was frightened he’d be massacred. Whisky?”
“Yes, I’ll join you, and then I’m going to bed.”
“Alone?”
“What sort of question is that?” demanded Elspeth angrily. “And what right have you to ask it?”
“I’m sorry,” said Hamish. “I don’t know why I asked that. Stop bristling at me and sit down. You look like Sonsie when the cat’s fur is up.”
“Where are the beasts?”
“Out for a walk. I lifted them out through the kitchen window.”
“How will you know when they want back in?”
“Sonsie leaps up and raps on the glass.”
“What came over that police inspector? Daviot said there were to be no arrests. Made a good story, though.”
“You didn’t, did you?”
“We all did. Why did she do it? She struck me as a career police officer.”
“I think she likes the authority her position gives her. I think someone like me really annoys her. Where’s Luke?”
“Up at the hotel with the other press. Mr. Johnson will be glad when the story dies down because he can’t give any tourists a booking. The press have taken up most of the rooms.”
“Isn’t that good for business?”
“Not really. The hotel relies on regulars to come back year after year. Most of the press will be gone by tomorrow.”
Hamish poured two shots of whisky and put a jug of water on the table.
“Aren’t you going to open your mail?” asked Elspeth, looking at a few unopened letters on the kitchen table.
“Probably bills. I’ll look at them tomorrow.”
Elspeth flipped through them. “Here’s one that looks personal, and the postmark’s Inverness.”
“Let me see.” Hamish opened the envelope and scanned the letter inside.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” he said.
“Probably,” said Elspeth. “What is it?”
“It’s from Mr. Abercrombie, that student’s father, you know the one who claimed that Sander had stolen his book. He says a woman came to visit him the other day and said she was a friend of his son’s and that they’d been at university at the same time. She was shocked to learn Sean was dead. She said she remembered Professor Sander had given him a job typing out his manuscript, a book on Byron. She said Sean went a bit mad after that and started claiming the book was his own. He kept swearing to come off the drugs.”
“So that’s one blackmailing theory out the window,” said Elspeth.
“No, on the contrary. There must be something else. Someone as pompous as the professor wouldn’t put up with a bossy charwoman unless she had something on him. Inspector Cannon wanted me to follow him. Maybe she was on to something. I think I’ll get back on it tomorrow. I’ll have a talk to the stepdaughter first. She may have remembered something.”
“I’ll come with you,” volunteered Elspeth.
“You’ll get me in trouble. I’m not supposed to have civilians in a police vehicle unless I’m arresting them.”
“But, idiot, we’ll take my car. You don’t want to be seen tailing him in a cop car.”
“Forgot that. I took Angela’s car the last time. But the neighbours saw me parked out all day and called the police.”
“A couple is better camouflage. Let’s guess it’s something to do with where he goes outside Braikie. In order to go to Strathbane or Inverness, he’d need to go along the main street. So we wait there.”
Hamish still hesitated. Elspeth surveyed him with amusement. “Yes, Hamish, we will take your odd animals so you don’t need to sit there working up courage to ask Angela to look after them for you.”
“Thanks. Angela was getting fed up with me. I’ll meet you here about noon. That’ll give me time to go and see the stepdaughter.”
¦
The following day was fine, with only an edge of cold heralding the coming of the long, dark Scottish winter. The very mountains in the distance were blue, as if taking their colour from the cloudless sky above.
The sea opposite Heather Gillespie’s house was calm. Seals lay on the beach, basking in the sunlight. At the sound of Hamish’s approaching vehicle, they started to waddle towards the sea like so many arthritic and elderly gentlemen.
To Hamish’s surprise, Tom Morrison, Heather’s ex-husband, answered the door. “Surprised to see me?” he said with a grin. “We’re back together. We’ll be getting married again next month.”
“That’s grand,” said Hamish. “Is Heather at home?”
“Come in. I’ll get her.”
When Heather appeared, she looked happy. Hamish hoped it would not turn out that she had murdered her mother in a fit of rage. He suddenly wondered why it was when he had been stalking the professor that the neighbours had all noticed his presence and yet had seen no one at all on the day of Mrs. Gillespie’s murder. Could someone have masqueraded as a postman, or as someone the neighbours would expect to see?
He realised Heather was looking at him with amusement. “I’ve asked you two times if you want tea or coffee,” she said.
“Sorry, I suddenly thought of something. Nothing for me, thanks. I wondered if you had remembered anything about your stepmother that might be useful.”
“I don’t think I can. Apart from humiliating me and breaking up my marriage, I don’t really know what else she got up to.”
“Did she ever hint that she had some sort of power over any of her employers?”
“No, she was too busy exercising power over me and Dad. I’m glad she’s dead. Dad’s cancer has gone into remission. They say it’s a miracle.”
“I know you’ve had a lot on your mind, what with the murder of your mother and getting your marriage back together, but when you get a quiet moment, think of anything she might have found out about anyone and let slip.”
She promised and Hamish left. Now to meet Elspeth and follow the professor.
¦
It was a long and boring day for Hamish and Elspeth. As evening approached, Hamish began to feel irritable because of the attraction Elspeth held for him. He wanted to say something and yet feared a rejection. Also, he
