by Carly Reid
Reenie, Grant and Mrs Mack had been served early, and had already secured a table set up in a partition of the hall.
“Hi, there.” Amy’s greeting was friendly. Jessica smiled warmly back as Amy continued: “Are you enjoying the carol concert?“
“Yes, very much.” Jessica replied. “I have to report on it for the Herald, but I would have come anyway. I just loved all the children singing. Their little voices. Adorable.”
Amy smiled. Then she dropped her voice and said to Jessica in hushed tones: “I completely forgot to ask you earlier. Did you speak to Bill Johnston’s wife?“
Jessica didn’t know how to reply, and she didn’t really want to have this conversation in a public setting. However, looking at Amy’s hopeful face, she relented.
“Yes and no. I mean, I did speak to her, briefly, although not about her husband’s murder. It wasn’t appropriate, not the right time. But anyway, it doesn’t matter. It turns out that she was nowhere near the pub that evening, she has an alibi for the whole time. So, I don’t know who killed your boss, but it can’t have been his wife.”
Amy’s face fell. “Are you sure? She definitely had it in for him. I heard them having a huge argument in the office – more than once.”
Jessica wondered what she was thinking. Did Amy really believe that Samantha Johnson was to blame for the death of her husband? Or, has she realized the danger she was in herself and desperately wanted to pin the blame on someone else? Or – and Jessica didn’t like to admit this third option, even to herself – what if Amy was responsible for the murder of her boss, and was trying to set Samantha Johnston up?
The two young women had come to the front of the line and Jessica was forced to stop her train of thought, and pay attention to the tempting array of home-baked Christmas goodies. Not just because she wanted to find some ginger shortbread for Ealisaid, but because she wanted to report effectively on the evening’s proceedings. The selection of refreshments on offer were definitely a big part of that.
* * *
A number of people headed to The Ram’s Heid after the concert, and on a whim, Jessica decided she would go too. Reenie headed home, not wanting to leave the puppy for too long, and Grant had to make sure his mother got home safely. Ealisaid was having a rare evening out and Jessica wanted to join her. Plus, she felt, it would be a good opportunity to see if there was anything to find out at the pub itself.
If anything, it seemed to have got darker. The earlier fog had dissipated, allowing the lights to stand out against the deep inky sky. Above them, constellations stood out sharply, and if Jessica concentrated she could see the faint blur of the Milky Way. The scent of woodsmoke drifted in the air. As they walked over the cobblestones towards the pub, Ealisaid filled her friend in on Craig’s fight with Bill Johnston.
“He’ll no’ mind if I tell you, Jess. In fact I think he’s finally coming round to the idea of telling the police.”
Jessica wondered what Ealisaid was basing that on. Her own view of the situation was quite different; nothing about Craig’s earlier demeanor or what he’d said had indicated he was having a change of heart. Still, she listened to what her friend had to say.
“Craig used to live wi’ his mum up here, just the two of them. They moved from Glasgow years ago, after his dad left. Craig’s got his own wee place now, a flat, but his mum still has her wee hoose.
“Well, she was needing some electrical work done and they got Bill Johnston in to do it. I don’t know why, as Ian Johnston is cheaper. And it turned oot that the work was more extensive than he originally thought, and he had to do quite a bit o’ rewiring. Craig wisnae there when it was all decided, but his mum gave Bill the go-ahead.”
Ealisaid paused, and quickly glanced at Jessica to check her friend was following. Jessica nodded, and Ealisaid resumed her tale.
“So the first Craig knew of the extra work was when a huge bill arrived. I mean, it was massive, and there was just no way that his wee mum could afford it. Craig tries to help her oot, but even as the bar manager he’s no’ exactly rakin’ it in. So she was left wi’ this big debt and no way to pay it.”
Jessica was horrified. How stressful for the poor woman, and for Craig as well. She began to see where the root of the argument lay.
“That was a few months ago, and Craig managed to get Bill Johnston to agree to a payment plan. They paid as much as they could every month. It’s no’ like Bill to be charitable, but anyway, the agreement was made, they’ve been paying it up.”
Jessica interrupted.
“So what was the problem now, then? If Craig and his mum were paying off what she owed, why would they fight now?”
Ealisaid looked at her. “You really did overhear quite a bit, didn’t you!”
Jessica flushed and opened her mouth to reply, but Ealisaid continued:
“No, it’s OK. Well, what happened wis that Craig’s mum had started to get worried about Christmas, and she asked if she could reduce the payments – just for a couple of months – so she could afford to get a few treats in, and so on. And Bill Johnston said no. Craig was furious, and the next time that Bill came into the pub, he had a go at him. And he wisnae just angry that he’d said no to that, it also brought up everything that Craig really felt – that Bill Johnston had duped his mum from the start, and had done work that didnae need doing. He felt that Bill had deliberately made sure that Craig wisnae there when he told her about the extra work. So they had this fight – just a verbal one, but still – in the pub. It ended when Craig threatened to bar him from the pub, then Bill Johnston threatened to take Craig’s mum to court before walking oot.”
Jessica digested this. Once again, she regretted having said to the police that she would report back. The sick, dread feeling was building up again. She hadn’t expected to have to tell them that one of her friends had a strong motive. Then she had a brainwave.
“But it couldn’t have been Craig, could it? He was working behind the bar all night. He wouldn’t have had time to murder anyone! It was busy, or so he says. And that would be easy to prove.”
Ealisaid looked at her strangely.
“Well, no, I don’t think he did it, Jessica.”
Jessica hastened to reassure her friend.
“I don’t either, obviously. But I am just thinking from the point of view of the police. A suspect needs to have the opportunity as well as the motive. So he’s got a motive. But he didn’t have the opportunity.”
Jessica felt the feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach begin to lessen. What a relief. Now there was nothing to really report, surely?
Ealisaid was replying.
“Aye, I suppose that’s true. He wouldnae have had the time.”
Jessica smiled, her panicky feelings now almost completely gone. She tucked her arm through Ealisaid’s as they completed the final few steps to The Ram’s Heid. The old inn looked lovely on the winter evening. Without the small stage and crowds of people in the way, Jessica could really appreciate the warmth and welcome of the old building, a golden glow shining through each of its windows, the Christmas tree in open area outside acting as a beacon, and the conversation and noise that issued forth whenever anyone opened the door.
There was a rich, traditional holly wreath adorning the front door of the pub – Jessica knew that it had been one of Reenie’s earliest Christmas commissions. She had done a wonderful job, the dark green foliage was still glossy and the berries a deep, ruby red. Reenie had deliberately selected the non-spiky variety of holly –“It wouldn’t do for anyone to get a bit of jaggy holly in the face on their way to get a wee drink!” she had said. ‘Jaggy’ was the Scots word for ‘spiky’ and was one of the few memories that Jessica had of her grandmother when, as a small child, she had visited her in Scotland. “Watch out for the jaggy nettles!” her granny said, and Jessica, ever an obedient child, kept away from all suspicious looking greenery. She chuckled to herself. Christmas had a way of making you nostalgic.
In the next moment,
unbidden, the vision of the previous Christmas came back upon her again. This time, it was a memory of Mike’s mom decorating a tray of sugar cookies, some of them shaped like holly, others like golden bells. She shook her head, as if the memory would somehow physically dislodge itself.
Luckily, at that moment, Magnus Smith turned up – clearly about to head into the pub himself. He smiled at Jessica and Ealisaid. “Good evening! Are you headed in for a wee Christmas drink? Would you let it be my treat?”
Jessica wasn’t sure how to respond, but Ealisaid had already answered for both of them. “Thanks Magnus, that would be very kind of you indeed! We’d be happy to accept. I’ll just be staying for the one, mind, but I’ll return the favor another time.”
The three of them went into the pub where quite a crowd was gathered.
...And the Pub
Craig, having anticipated another busy evening after a community event, had brought in another staff member to serve behind the bar. The young woman had short, curly, red hair and wore a short black bar apron over her black pants and t-shirt. While not a uniform exactly, Craig also wore all black, although he favored a bar towel flipped over his shoulder instead of an apron. He looked up briefly as they entered and nodded his hello, then went back to pouring the drink he was in the middle of serving – a pint of Guinness it looked like, by the way he paused to let it rest halfway through. Although the pub was indeed filling up, Ealisaid, Jessica and Magnus easily found a table – one of the booths near the fire.
“What would you like Ealisaid? And you, Jessica?”
“I’ve got the car parked at the back of the shop. I’ll just take a ginger beer’” replied Ealisaid. Jessica was coaxed into an Irish cream liqueur – a concoction she had become fond of. It was something that both her mom and Reenie had always had around at Christmas, and was made up of white wine, whisky and cream. It was quite sweet and sticky – although not as much as eggnog – and Jessica enjoyed it in moderation.
“Be right back!” Magnus headed over to the bar, to await his turn amongst the throng that had gathered there. Jessica’s eyes followed him over, all thoughts of Christmas past completely gone from her head. Her thoughts drifted somewhere else entirely, a fact that was not lost on her friend.
“What are you looking at, Jess?” teased Ealisaid. It had been obvious from the minute Jessica met Magnus that she found him attractive, but, as Jessica often argued with herself, that was simply an objective fact. It didn’t mean she had to act on it. It was still too soon, she had told herself – and Ealisaid – on many occasions. She had only been in one serious relationship and it didn’t feel like she was completely over Mike. In fact, lately, with all the memories that kept drifting to the surface, it was almost as if she had gone backwards rather than forwards.
“Hmm?” Jessica stalled, but she knew that she couldn’t put her friend off for long. The two women had grown very close in the months since Jessica’s arrival, and at times Jessica felt that Ealisaid could read her mind. She wouldn’t put it past her friend – it would be in keeping with her elfin, Celtic appearance. Ealisaid was slight and very fair skinned, with long jet black hair and vivid green eyes. If there was such a thing as a Scottish fairy, that’s definitely what she was, in Jessica’s opinion – and surely that would make her a mind-reader too.
“Yes, I was looking at Magnus. Yes, I like him and I think he’s good company too, but that’s as far as it goes. We are friends…and colleagues.” Jessica finished lamely, realizing that she probably wasn’t convincing Ealisaid at all.
“I know, you’ve told me this already. I just think, you know, Christmas – it’s kind of magical, isn’t it? Maybe you should ask him out and just see.”
“Ealisaid!” Jessica was surprised at her friend.
“Too far? OK, fine. A word of caution though, Jess – don’t wait too long. Life is for living. Grab your happiness while you can!”
Jessica laughed. “What’s got you in the mood for romance? It couldn’t have anything to do with a certain someone arriving soon, could it?”
A pink tinge appeared in Ealisaid’s porcelain cheeks.
“Maybe!”
Ealisaid’s girlfriend Solveig had been working for months on an archaeological dig, followed by analysis time in a laboratory in her home country of Sweden. The fully-funded project had tight deadlines, and she was only now getting a short break. Jessica was looking forward to meeting her when she came to stay with Ealisaid and Mairead for Christmas. Jessica knew that the long-distance relationship was sometimes hard for her friend, but equally she knew that both women had commitments that they were prioritizing right now. Perhaps things would change in the future.
“Here comes Magnus with the drinks. Enough talk of dating! Let’s just relax and have a good evening, forget about the police, and the murder, and just focus on having some fun.”
Jessica knew her friend was right, but she didn’t agree straightaway. If the opportunity came up, she knew she probably wouldn’t resist doing a little more sleuthing.
The next hour passed companionably and quickly, as time spent with good friends tends to do. Eventually, Ealisaid decided that she had best get home and asked Jessica if she wanted a lift, to avoid walking either through the park in the dark, or the longer route through the streets. Magnus offered to see Jessica home safely if she wanted to stay for one more, and, feeling that she still owed Magnus a drink, Jessica decided she would. She managed to ignore Ealisaid’s meaningful looks as she left the bar.
“Same again for you Magnus?”
“Aye, that would be lovely.”
Jessica headed to the bar to get the drinks, and as luck would have it, managed to get served at once. The pub was less busy now, with many people having headed home – it was still a school night, after all. Jessica decided she would get a soft drink this time. She had an early start herself. Tomorrow was copy deadline day, and the paper had to be ready by the end of it.
“What can I get for you, Jessica?”
She was served by Craig, and on impulse, she decided to ask him about his feud with Bill Johnston. The Carol Concert followed by two glasses of liqueur had put her in a mellow mood, and she really felt there was nothing that couldn’t be worked out if they all just communicated better.
“Craig…I hope you don’t mind me asking, but Ealisaid told me a little about your fight with Bill Johnston. I was just wondering –“
“Ealisaid told you what?” Craig’s reaction was as swift as it was suspicious. Perhaps this had not been a great idea after all.
“Well…she didn’t exactly tell me anything I didn’t already know. I overheard the two of you talking about it. Anyway,” Jessica continued, hoping to get her question out before he could interrupt again, “can I ask what made you go to Bill Johnston in the first place? I mean, I have heard several people say that Ian Johnston was cheaper.”
Craig looked a little less annoyed than he had at first, but his response was still wary. “If I tell you, it’ll go no further?”
Jessica was still trying to work out how to answer that when Craig continued anyway.
“Ian Johnston might be cheaper, that’s true, but have you not also heard the rumors about his workmanship?”
Jessica shook her head.
“Well, I don’t know how much truth there is to it, but I’ve heard that he can be slipshod, and also that he buys cheaper parts. And I’ve heard that the reason they are cheaper is because they are no’ exactly regulation, if you ken what I mean.”
Jessica did know what he meant – or she thought she did. Was Craig suggesting that Ian Johnson was using stolen goods?
“It just wisnae worth the risk, Jess, no’ for my mum. At least, that’s what I thought at the time. Now I wish I had avoided the Johnston brothers altogether. Nothing but trouble, the pair o’ them.”
Craig placed both the drinks on the bar, took payment and moved on to the next customer with a nod. Jessica didn’t know what to think, and instead focused entirely on carryi
ng the drinks back over to their table, edging past the tables and small groups of people without spilling anything. As she reached their booth, Magnus was relaxing back in his chair, his broad frame and strong arms still evident under the thick plaid flannel shirt he wore. His tousled, ruddy hair was lit from the glow of the fireplace beyond. He smiled at Jessica as she placed his drink on the table, and she felt a quick thud of her heart. Perhaps she should listen to Ealisaid, and take advantage of the Christmas spirit. What did she have to lose? She smiled back at him.
Magnus leaned forward, reaching for his pint. “Thanks, Jessica, slàinte.” He clinked his glass against her coke before taking a swift draught. “I have something to ask you.”
Jessica swallowed too quickly, almost choking on her drink. She coughed. “Yes?”
“Will you be in early tomorrow? I’d like your opinion on some of the photography before we lay the paper out.”
He just wanted to talk about work? Jessica tried hard to keep her expression even, not to let the disappointment she felt in the pit of her stomach show on her face. “Sure, of course I’ll look at your photos!” she replied, choosing in that moment to examine the droplets of condensation on the outside of her glass rather than make further eye contact with Magnus. Luckily, at that moment, a man – another farmer, Jessica guessed from his overalls and muddy rubber boots – came over and asked to ‘have a word’ with Magnus. Jessica nodded her assent, grateful for the interruption which would allow her to regain her composure. She sat back, taking another sip of her cold drink and glancing around from table to table as she let her thoughts drift. It’s fine just to work with Magnus she reasoned to herself. He’s good company, and a really excellent photographer. As she looked around the bar, her thoughts traveled unbidden back to Friday night. Busy as it was now, The Ram’s Heid would have been far busier then. More crowded, harder to see what was going on. She glanced over to the bar, where the red-headed staff member was serving a couple who had just arrived in from the cold. Jessica recognized them as Reenie’s neighbors. Craig was nowhere to be seen. As Jessica watched, they paid and took their drinks over to the table nearest the stove, probably in order to warm up. On an impulse, Jessica went over and started speaking to the woman behind the bar. Her name badge read ‘Cat’.