Home to Roost

by Gerald Hammond

  ‘We did a bad thing between us,’ Chrissie Dunbar added. ‘Now we’ll pay for it. The sooner we get it all over the better.’

  ‘If you say so,’ Keith said. ‘Would you like us to see to the beasts? We could arrange for them to be looked after until they and the standing crops and machinery can be sold.’

  ‘That’d be a weight off our minds,’ Brian agreed. ‘We’re grateful.’ He held out his hand and Keith and Ronnie both shook it firmly. They kissed Chrissie Dunbar on the cheek before making their escape. Such farewells seemed hard to understand until I realised that forgiveness was being exchanged.

  Brian got out paper and found two pens and soon they were writing away, almost happily, pausing to confirm times with each other or to ask the spelling of a word.

  We were quiet in the room, quiet enough to hear the sound of a vehicle which approached quietly and stopped fifty yards short of the house. I got up and went outside.

  Chief Superintendent Munro was approaching the house on foot, walking softly. ‘I was told that you were here,’ he said. ‘There had to be a reason.’

  ‘There is,’ I said. ‘Mrs Dunbar killed Ian Kerr and Mr Dunbar transported the body. They’re writing out their confessions now.’

  Mr Munro managed not to smile, but I could see the enjoyment flooding through him. ‘Very interesting,’ he said. He lowered his voice. ‘Superintendent McHarg is busy at this very moment, harassing Hempie Wright and Mr Youngson. We’ll give him a little more rope. Once I hear over the radio that he’s brought them in, then we’ll move. And I think he’ll find that the laird has a great deal more clout around Edinburgh than he supposes. Mr Youngson knows the Scottish Secretary, and I’ve seen him with my own eyes going off for dinner with the Chief Constable. You can leave this to me, Sergeant. It’s best that you go off and have your face seen to.’

  ‘Is that an order?’ I asked.

  ‘It is. I’ll confirm it with Mr McHarg. Come in and make a full report in the morning.’

  We went inside. Dunbar looked up and saw the uniformed figure. ‘We’re almost done,’ he said. ‘If you give us a minute to attend to things, we’ll be ready to come with you.’

  ‘Take your time,’ Mr Munro said. ‘There’s no hurry. Just no hurry at all.’

  Chrissie Dunbar pushed aside the papers and got up. ‘If we’re not leaving just yet,’ she said, ‘I’ll put something on for the lunch.’

  *

  We sat in the jeep, wondering what to do now that the excitement was over.

  ‘I feel sad, all of a sudden,’ Deborah said.

  A policeman, dealing every day with human tragedies, has to learn not to become emotionally involved, but I knew what she meant. ‘Don’t be,’ I said. ‘Mrs Kerr has a broad back. She’ll be all right.’

  ‘It’s not just for the Kerrs. The Dunbars were such a nice couple. She was pushed too far and she over-reacted. Now they’ll be apart for a long time, and that’s the one thing they’ll find hard to bear.’

  ‘The way the law works these days, it may not be so very long.’ A quick change of subject seemed to be needed before we became maudlin. ‘While Mr Munro coaxes Superintendent McHarg out on to a limb prior to sawing it off,’ I said, ‘I think I’d better be out of the way.’

  ‘Shall we go back to your flat? I seem to remember that our conversation was interrupted, last night.’

  ‘We will,’ I said, ‘but that’s for later.’ Evening and soft lights would be needed if we were to re-establish the mood. Besides, I had another idea. ‘Let’s go out to the club and shoot a round of Sporting.’

  ‘It’s cold and I’m tired,’ Deborah said. ‘I don’t think I’ll be a damn bit of good.’ She smiled suddenly. ‘Come on, then. Let’s do it.’

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