by M C Beaton
Maggie could see Hamish's red hair above the crowd as he entered the room. There was a sudden silence and then they all crowded round him, soft Highland voices murmuring sympathy. Hamish took a glass of whisky and downed it in one gulp and then took another. If he's going to get drunk, thought Maggie, I'll never get back tonight.
Angela introduced Maggie to one and then another. Soon the room was full of the sound of chattering voices. A man came in with an accordion and began to play jaunty reels. More whisky was passed round. The carpet was rolled back and some of them began to dance reels.
Maggie, who had never been to a Highland wake before, was amazed at the noise and hilarity.
"They don't seem to be bothering much now about Hamish's dog," she remarked to Angela.
"Oh, these things are a celebration of death. Everyone goes to heaven," said Angela, "even poor Towser."
Hamish had joined in the dancing, his thin face alight, his long gangly limbs flying this way and that while they all cheered and clapped. More and more whisky, cigarette smoke, music and dance, people coming in from outlying villages bringing more bottles. By two in the morning, Maggie felt she had had enough. She had suggested twice to Hamish that they leave but he had ignored her.
"I'd better just go back to the police station and get to bed," said Maggie to Mrs. Wellington.
"That just won't do," said the minister's wife. "We'll find you somewhere. We have a spare bedroom. If you get your things from the station, we'll make you comfortable."
"I didn't bring an overnight bag," said Maggie. "I did not expect to be staying."
"Then come upstairs and I'll find you something."
When Maggie was wrapped in one of Mrs. Wellington's voluminous brushed nylon nighties, the minister's wife took away her clothes to wash. "They'll be ready in the morning for you, Miss Donald. Sweet dreams."
Maggie tossed and turned, trying to block out the noise from downstairs. Someone started playing the bagpipes. There was a noise as if someone had fallen over, and there was a crash of glass and then a noisy cheer. At last she fell into an uneasy sleep. She awoke early, feeling tired and jaded. To her surprise, her clean clothes were neatly laid on a chair at the end of the bed.
There was a wash-hand basin in the corner. Mrs. Wellington had put out a new toothbrush still in its packet and a tube of toothpaste and clean towels. Maggie washed and dressed and made her way downstairs. The manse was silent. She decided to go to the police station and rouse Hamish.
She expected him to be passed out in a drunken stupor, but when she got there, she found Hamish in the kitchen with a middle-aged woman. "I met you last night," said the woman. "I'm Miss Currie, Miss Nessie Currie."
Hamish looked at Maggie. "Could you give us a little time in private? I'll make you breakfast soon."
Maggie nodded and went through to the living-room. She waited and waited. She heard Nessie Currie leave and then, almost immediately afterwards, there was a knock at the door and someone else came in.
It was eleven o'clock in the morning when Hamish put his head around the door and said, "Breakfast's ready."
"More like brunch," said Maggie. "What was going on? Are people coming to report crimes?"
"No, they had some troubles they wanted help with."
"So you're the local psychiatrist as well?"
"We all help each other."
Maggie sat down at the kitchen table and tackled a substantial breakfast of bacon, eggs, and grilled tomatoes. "I think we'd better get back to Skag," she said. "I said we would be back last night, and this is not a day off."
"I forgot," said Hamish. "Go through and phone Deacon."
Maggie went through to the police office and closed the door behind her. She phoned the police station in Skag and asked for Deacon.
He listened while she told him about the funeral. "These teuchters are all mad," commented Deacon. "Don't worry about it. Get back as soon as you can."
Maggie went back to the kitchen and finished her breakfast. "I hae a call to make before we leave," said Hamish. "We'll deal with it on the way."
When they left the police station, he directed her to the seer's.
Angus Macdonald welcomed Hamish. "Don't worry, Hamish," he said. "You'll get another dog."
"I don't want another one," said Hamish. "This is Maggie Donald. You may ha' seen her at the manse last night."
"Oh, aye." The seer's eyes fastened on Maggie with an uncomfortably penetrating look. "I'll put the kettle on."
It's like the Dark Ages, thought Maggie, as the seer put a blackened kettle on a chain over the peat fire.
"I'll tell you why I've come to see you, Angus," said Hamish severely. "This nonsense has got to stop."
"Whit nonsense?"
"And you call yourself a seer? I'm talking about Jessie Currie. Ever since you told her she would marry a divorced fisherman, she's evidently been going around painted up to the nines and behaving like a silly biddy. She hangs about the harbour when the fishing boats come in. Mrs. Maclean's threatening to scratch her eyes out."
"I see what I see," said Angus portentously.
"You're a mischief-making auld scunner. Either you get Jessie up here and tell her you've had another vision, one that says she's going to lead a quiet spinster life, or I'll start to wreck your reputation and you know I can do it, Angus. A wee whisper in one ear, a wee lie in another."
Angus looked at him thoughtfully. "As a matter o' fact," he said, "I did have another sight o' her future."
"I thought you might. Now I'm going to use your bathroom and then we'll be on our way."
Hamish disappeared through the back of the cottage. "So you won't be staying for tea?" the seer asked Maggie.
"No, we have to be going. We should have been back last night."
"You'll be a successful young woman, that you will," said Angus in a low crooning voice. "You say you despise being treated as a sex object but you'll use that very sex to get to the top. You're a hard-bitten quean, young as you are."
Maggie jumped to her feet, her face flaming. "I'll wait in the car," she snapped.
When Hamish came back, he looked around. "Where's Maggie?"
"In the car."
"Did you say something to her?"
"Och, no, the lassie wanted to be on her way." The seer was confident that Maggie would not tell Hamish what he had said, and neither she did.
"Did you thank the Wellingtons for putting you up?" asked Hamish.
"Oh, them; I didn't see anyone this morning, so I just left."
Hamish gave a click of annoyance at the back of his throat. "Go back to the village and stop at Patel's, the grocery shop."
Maggie did as she was told. Hamish went into the shop and emerged carrying a box of chocolates. "We'll call at the manse and you give that to Mrs. Wellington and thank her for her hospitality."
"How much?" mumbled Maggie. "I'll pay you for them."
"No need."
Maggie was suddenly desperate to get out of Lochdubh. In the masculine world of the police force, she was used to men flirting with her, men making passes at her, but never men correcting her social manners.
Mrs. Wellington thanked Hamish warmly for the chocolates. He said it was Maggie's idea. "Oh, yes," said Mrs. Wellington. "Thank you, Miss Donald." Maggie had a sinking feeling that the minister's wife had already judged her as a hard, ungrateful piece of work who wouldn't dream of buying chocolates for her.
She drove out of Lochdubh with a feeling of relief. Never given much to introspection, she nonetheless felt she was leaving some rather nasty insights into her character behind.
It was with a feeling of relief that she dropped Hamish at the boarding-house.
She then drove straight to the police station. The station sergeant leered at her. "Hey, Maggie, show us your knickers."
"Cheeky sod," retorted Maggie, batting her eyelashes at him, happy to be back in a safe, familiar world.
Deacon put his head round a door and saw her. "Welcome back, Mag
gie," he said. "Bring us some tea and get some o' thae doughnuts frae the stores and we'll hear whit ye have to say."
Maggie grinned. "Right, boss." As she turned to leave, she had the satisfaction of hearing Deacon say over his shoulder to someone in the room behind her, "That's a grand lassie. She'll go far."
Hamish went up to his room and sat on the bed and stared bleakly into space. Then he looked about. There was no sign of Towser's food or water-bowl or his leash. There was a soft knock at the door.
He rose wearily and opened it. Miss Gunnery stood there. "I took the liberty of taking away Towser's things from your room, Hamish. I hope I did the right thing."
"It wass verra kind and thoughtful of you, Miss Gunnery."
"I'm sorry I was so cross about you going off with that policewoman. I'll take you into Skag for a drink, if you like."
"Aye, that would be fine."
When they were seated in the pub, Hamish asked, "What's been happening?"
"Well, drama after drama. Dermott Brett's wife arrived. Did you know he and June weren't married? His name had been in the papers. There was such a scene. She said she was divorcing him. It turns out that the children are Dermott's. He was leading a double life for years, but he would never tell his wife because he said she couldn't live with it and she would do something mad like commit suicide, and the one good thing that's come out of it is that she actually wants rid of him, so he can marry June. He said, 'Do you know, I never needed to have gone through all this?' "
Hamish's interest in the case was suddenly revived. "I wonder what that could mean," he said slowly. "It could mean that he had no reason after all to kill Harris. What else?"
"Cheryl and Tracey were picked up this morning on the Dungarton Road trying to hitch a lift. The police have them along at the station."
"Why were they running away?"
"Well, what I gather from that policeman, Crick, who's started gossiping because he's now bored with the whole thing, is that they were fed up with the dreadful food, the lack of talent, and the police harassment."
"Sounds reasonable. And what of Andrew and Doris?"
"It's so sad. They go for walks together, but they are so solemn. It's almost as if fear and worry are killing any love they might have had for each other."
"And the children? What of the Brett children?"
"As soon as the wife appeared, June fortunately saw her coming and took the children out through the back door and kept them away all day. With any luck, June and Dermott can now get married after the divorce and the children need never know."
"At least they're English," said Hamish with feeling.
"What's that got to do with it?"
"If they were Scottish, under Scottish law they would stay bastards for the rest of their lives. Being English, they will be legitimized as soon as the parents are married. But how did Dermott manage to keep up the deception for so long?"
"Like Harris, he's a travelling salesman, mineral water. He's away a lot. He must work hard and earn a good lot of money to keep two households running."
"Does he have any children by his marriage?"
"No, I gather not, from the informative Crick. And June changed her name to Brett by deed poll."
Hamish's brain, which had been temporarily frozen by grief, suddenly seemed to be working again. That brothel! He had forgotten about that.
"I've a few calls to make," he said. "I'll see you later. I tell you what ..." He thought of all Miss Gunnery's many kindnesses over the death of Towser. "I'll take you out for dinner tonight. There's a good Indian restaurant in Dungarton. Do you like curry?"
Miss Gunnery's eyes shone. "Love it."
"Then that's a date."
Hamish left her and walked along to the end of the main street to where he thought the house was that he had seen Harris leaving. It was a trim Victorian villa, set back a little from the road.
He went up and rang the bell. A plump woman, looking at first glance like any other Skag housewife, opened the door. She was wearing a summer dress and low-heeled shoes. Her brown hair was ferociously permed into hard curls and ridges. Her blue-grey eyes were hard and watchful and her mouth was small and thin, with a disappointed droop at the corners. She did not say anything, merely stood back to let him enter. She led the way into what in more respectable days would have been the front parlour. It looked a bit like a dentist's waitingroom. There were copies of glossy magazines on a low table in front of a sofa. A few occasional chairs stood about. A black marble clock ticked sonorously from the mantelpiece. Some dried pampas-grass in a bowl filled up the hearth. The room smelt of disinfectant and furniture polish.
"Well, whit can we dae for you?" she asked, folding her arms, her little eyes ranging up and down him.
"I am a police officer," said Hamish, "and I want to ask you a few questions."
"Here, now, I have nae quarrel wi' the police at all."
"I am not here to question you about running a brothel."
An angry flush rose up her face. "This is a respectable bed and breakfast, I'll have ye know. It's that Simpson creature you're wanting. I could hae you for slander. Off wi' ye."
Feeling foolish, Hamish made for the door. "Where does the Simpson woman live?"
"Next door."
Muttering apologies, Hamish took his leave, sheepishly noticing as he reached the gate a little sign which advertised "Bed & Breakfast" in curly script set by the gatepost.
The house next door did not look at all like a brothel from his limited experience. It had a trim, prosperous middle-class air. A new BMW was parked in the short gravelled drive at the side of the house.
He rang the bell, which played a cheerful rendition of "Scotland the Brave." This time the door was opened by a woman in a dressing-gown. She had a thin face, large teeth, and prominent eyes. "Oh, come ben," she said cheerfully. "You're early in the day."
"It's the afternoon," said Hamish.
"Aye, well, we're used to folk coming in the evening. What's your pleasure?"
She led the way into a front room. In contrast to next door, it looked more like a family living-room. Someone had left some knitting abandoned on an armchair and the television was on. There was a small coal fire burning briskly in the grate. The sofa and chair were covered in flowered chintz.
"I am from the police," said Hamish.
"Oh, aye, whit dae you want now? Another subscription to the Police Widows' and Orphans' Fund?" Skating round this possible evidence of police corruption, Hamish said, "I hope I haff the right place. Is this a brothel?"
"You're blunt."
"I made the mistake of going next door first."
She burst out laughing. "That must ha' got the old biddy's knickers in a twist. I can tell you her gentlemen boarders, as she ca's them, drink mair than any o' the lot that come here. What dae ye want?"
"The man, Bob Harris, him that wass killed. Did he come here?"
"He came a couple o' times."
"Who did he see?"
"Mandy, both times."
"Can I speak to her?"
"Sure. But I doubt if she can tell you anything. It was a couple o' quickies, cheapest rate. I'll get her."
Hamish waited. A low voice from the television informed him quietly of the mating habits of tigers.
After some time the door opened again and Mrs. Simpson ushered in a pallid girl wrapped in a housecoat. Hamish did not belong to that sentimental class of men who consider that tarts have hearts. He had, during his police career, found them lazy, fidgety, nervous, and cheeky.
"Here's Mandy," said Mrs. Simpson, pushing her forward. "Don't take all day. She needs her beauty sleep."
Mandy picked at a spot on the end of her long nose and then pushed her lank hair out of her eyes. Hamish reflected nastily that even if Mandy slept a hundred years, she would still wake up plain and grubby.
They sat down on the sofa. "Now, Mandy," began Hamish, "I believe the dead man, Bob Harris, was one of your clients."
"Oh, hi
m. I usually cannae tell one from the ither. But I saw his picture in the newspapers."
"I feel if I knew a bit more about his character, then it might help me to find out who killed him."
"Och, it waud be the wifie."
"And what makes you say that?"
"He'd drunk a lot and he was suffering frae distiller's droop. Couldnae get it up. Said his wife had ruint him. Said she hated him. He said he'd be back but it was jist the same the next time. He smacked me around a bit, he was that mad. I rang the bell. We hae a bell in our rooms in case the clients get nasty and Mrs. Simpson came running in and ordert him oot."
"You must hear a lot of gossip from your clients. Has anyone mentioned seeing Bob Harris on the day he was murdered?"
"Aye."
"What did he say? Who wass he?" Hamish leaned forward.
"It was that man from the boarding-house."
"What? Next door?"
"Naw. The one where Harris was staying. Rogers. That's his name. Harry Rogers."
6
The whole world is in a state of chassis.
—Sean O'Casey
Hamish headed back along the beach in the direction of the boarding-house, loping his way through the long snakes of blowing white sand. He cut across the dunes towards the boarding-house and saw in the distance Rogers getting into his blue van. He ran even faster, shouting as he went, but the wind whipped his words away and he saw the van turn out onto the road towards Dungarton. Cursing because he hadn't a car and Miss Gunnery was probably still in Skag, he walked into the hall and found Maggie Donald standing there.
"Quick!" said Hamish. "Have you got your car?"
"Yes, round the back, but—"
"Come on. We've got to get Rogers."
They ran out and got into Maggie's car. "Where to?" she asked.
"The road to Dungarton. He's driving his blue van."
They sped off. "What's it all about?" asked Maggie, swinging neatly round a tractor.
"I went to the brothel."
"Why on earth ... ?"
"Rogers was a customer. And he said something to one of the girls about seeing Harris on the day he was murdered. Was there anything about that in his statement?"