‘Not so much a problem, chief, more a mystery and it’s right up your street.’
‘I’m intrigued. Go on.’
‘McIntyre’s admitted everything, okay? But here’s the thing, he says when he left the Commercial, Rebecca Barlow was lying on the floor by the back door.’
Munro set his cutlery on the table and frowned.
‘Are you saying what I think you’re saying?’
‘Aye, he knows nothing about her being trussed up like a scarecrow, and I believe him.’
‘Does it matter?’ said West. ‘After all, he’s admitted he killed her. Surely that’s all we need.’
‘By jiminy, Charlie! Of course it matters!’
‘I don’t see how.’
‘Loose ends, lassie. They have a habit of tripping you up. This investigation’s not over yet!’
‘Where are you going at this time of night? You haven’t finished your supper!’
‘There’s someone I have to see. Look after Murdo, I’ll not be long.’
* * *
Still reeling from her brother’s astounding transformation from a handsome high-flyer to a destitute beggar ravaged by hunger and scarred by the cold, Barbara Muir, reluctant to receive any more guests, ignored the persistent rap at the door until the thought of a neighbour confronting her visitors forced her from her chair.
Pulling her gown tight around her waist, she took a deep breath and flung open the door to find Munro, hands clasped behind his back, teetering on the balls of his feet.
‘James,’ she said, despondently, ‘I had a feeling it might be you.’
‘I think we need a wee chat, Miss Muir. May I?’
Electing to stand, Munro allowed Muir to make herself comfortable and did his best to offer a reassuring smile.
‘It can’t have been easy,’ he said, ‘seeing your brother like that. Are you okay?’
‘Aye, I’ll get over it. Funny thing is, I’m not sure if I’ll recognise him if he shaves that beard off. Can I get you a tea?’
‘No, but thanks for the offer.’
‘Something a wee bit stronger, perhaps?’
‘Not while I’m driving.’
‘Of course. Silly me.’
‘About Daniel,’ said Munro, ‘he didnae tell you he was coming, did he?’
‘No.’
‘So it must have been quite the surprise when he turned up?’
‘You’re not wrong there,’ said Muir, ‘although if I’m honest, it was more a shock than a surprise.’
‘I’m curious,’ said Munro, ‘perhaps you can help me out.’
‘I’ll certainly try.’
‘Apart from Daniel mentioning the names “Rebecca” and “Alan”, my colleague and I never actually said why we were here.’
‘Oh, you’re quite right!’ said Muir. ‘Now I think of it, no, you didn’t.’
‘And yet you weren’t at all surprised that your brother was being arrested. Why is that, I wonder?’
Muir stared at the unfinished jigsaw and said nothing.
‘I’ll tell you what I think,’ said Munro. ‘I think you knew exactly why we were here but I need to hear it from you so you can either answer a few questions here or if you’d rather, we can do it more formally.’
‘Formally?’
‘At the station.’
‘No, no,’ said Muir. ‘Here will do.’
‘Good. Now, I know about your brother, Miss Muir. In fact I know everything about him. Where he lived, his occupation, what kind of motor car he drove, I even know that you and he were separated at an early age.’
‘That’s right,’ said Muir. ‘We were.’
‘And it goes without saying, I’m sorry about the circumstances, they were nothing less than tragic but tell me, after all these years, how on earth did you find him?’
‘I didn’t. He found me. And I don’t mind telling you, I took some convincing when he turned up on the doorstep.’
‘I’m sure. When was that, roughly?’
‘Oh, seven or eight years ago, I’d say. Maybe more, maybe less.’
‘And was he a regular visitor?’
‘Not at all,’ said Muir. ‘Once a year, regular as clockwork, between Christmas and Hogmanay. He’d always bring a card and a wee gift.’
‘But this time he made a special trip, did he not? To meet Rebecca Barlow?’
Muir, beginning to feel uncomfortable, glanced furtively at Munro and fiddled with the jigsaw.
‘Come, come,’ said Munro, ‘you know Miss Barlow, she’s the one who bought the old Commercial.’
‘I know who she is.’
‘So Daniel, he went to see her?’
‘He did. And he was quite distraught, too. No, not distraught, more angry. Aye, angry.’
‘And do you know why?’
‘Aye of course, he’d lost his business. He said Barlow owed him some money and he was here to collect.’
‘Did that not strike you as a bit of a coincidence? Your brother finding an ex-colleague in the house that once belonged to your step-parents?’
‘Aye, now you mention it, I suppose it was, but I never gave it much thought. It must be what they call six degrees of separation.’
‘I think you might be right,’ said Munro. ‘So, your brother and Miss Barlow, what happened next?’
‘Apparently she didn’t have the money. I thought he was talking about a hundred pounds but when he told me how much exactly, I nearly fell off my chair. I told him, it’s not as if she’s going to be carrying that amount around her handbag. I said he’d have to give her time to arrange a transfer or something, so he went back.’
‘To the Commercial?’
‘Aye.’
‘And then?’
‘He came back,’ said Muir, ‘about a half an hour later. His head was mince, he was shaking, he was all over the place. He told me what had happened. What he’d done. He said he’d burn in hell.’
‘So you offered to help?’
Muir nodded.
‘I did,’ she said. ‘I sent him on his way. I told him not to worry, that I’d take care of it.’
‘So you dressed her in a coat and hat and propped her up in the garden?’
‘I did, aye.’
‘What on earth inspired you to do such a thing?’ said Munro. ‘Was it village folklore? Something to do with the rowan?’
‘In a way,’ said Muir. ‘I’m not capable of digging a grave and when I saw the tree, well, that was the best I could think of.’
Munro eased himself into the armchair, leaned towards Muir, and rubbed his chin.
‘Have you any idea how serious this is?’ he said, softly. ‘Have you any idea at all?’
‘Of course, James! I’m not daft, it’s murder! He’ll be away a long time.’
‘I’m not talking about Daniel,’ said Munro. ‘I’m talking about you.’
‘Me? But I’ve not killed anyone! I’ve not done anything wrong!’
‘On the contrary, Miss Muir, you failed to inform the authorities about a murder you knew had taken place. You failed to inform the authorities of the location of the body. You failed to tell them that you knew who the perpetrator was and, to make matters worse, you made every conceivable effort to disguise the body and cover your brother’s tracks. To coin a phrase you’re no doubt familiar with, that’s what we call perverting the course of justice and the penalty for that could be as severe as the one Daniel’s likely to get.’
‘Oh dear God!’ said Muir. ‘Are you joking me?’
‘I’m afraid at times like these, my sense of humour deserts me.’
‘I thought I was doing the right thing!’
‘From where I’m standing, and no offence, you appear to get confused over what’s right, and what’s wrong.’
‘Excuse me?’
‘I know about the Commercial,’ said Munro. ‘I know you struck a deal with Miss Barlow to sell it. And I know you syphoned off the proceeds from your stepmother’s account, and I was willing to let th
at go but this, this I’m afraid, is altogether more serious.’
‘So, you’re arresting me?’
‘No, I cannae do that,’ said Munro. ‘I’m not a serving officer, that will be up to someone else. You have a choice. I can make a call and have someone pick you up, or if you’d rather not let your neighbours see you leaving in the back of a police car, you can come with me now.’
‘Where to?’
‘Dumfries. A nice chap by the name of Detective Inspector Byrne will take care of you.’
‘Let’s do that,’ said Muir. ‘Just give me a moment to put a sign in the shop window – “closed until further notice”.’
Epilogue
Conscious of the fact that a steak supper with a glass or two of red followed by a whisky chaser and a large bar of chocolate on top of a twelve-hour shift would send West into a self-induced state of hibernation, Munro, nonetheless, slipped his key into the lock, gently closed the door, and padded softly down the dingy hallway towards the darkened lounge.
‘Don’t tell me,’ said West, ‘you’ve been to Auchencairn and back?’
‘Jumping Jehoshaphat!’ said Munro, clutching his chest. ‘You cannae do that, Charlie! I’ve had a bypass!’
‘Tosh, you’re as strong as an ox,’ said West, switching the lights on, ‘you’re not going anywhere.’
‘I thought you’d be in your bed, Lord knows, you need the rest.’
‘Not as much as you, old-timer. You look like you need a drink.’
‘Aye, you’re not wrong. Make it a large one.’
Munro licked his lips and raised his glass.
‘Your very good health.’
‘You must be hungry,’ said West. ‘I’ll do you some cheese on toast.’
‘Much obliged. Has Murdo been behaving himself?’
‘Yup, good as gold, especially as he had your steak. I take it you went to see Barbara Muir?’
‘I did, and she’s now in the incapable hands of DI Byrne.’
‘Gawd, that means she’ll be released without charge come the morning.’
‘I’d not be surprised,’ said Munro, ‘as much as I like him, the man’s a balloon, but unfortunately folk like him are destined to succeed. He’d do well in government.’
‘So, what did you nick her for?’
‘Art and part,’ said Munro. ‘McIntyre ran to her after he’d killed Miss Barlow. She was the one who tried to throw us off the scent with all that jiggery-pokery about unexplained deaths and the wrath of the rowan.’
‘She’ll be going down for a while, then?’
‘Indeed she will, but it’s the folk in the village I feel sorry for.’
‘Why?’
‘They’ll have nowhere to shop, not unless someone takes it over, and that could take a wee while.’
‘Well, let’s hope they get it sorted before the sale goes through.’
‘Sale?’
‘Yup, your house,’ said West. ‘Are we going to see it again?’
‘Aye, next week, lassie. Does this mean you’re looking forward to it at long last?’
‘I think so, although the place does seem to be full of nutters.’
‘Och, away!’ said Munro. ‘McIntyre wasnae from the village, and neither was Barlow. It’s God’s acre, Charlie. Nothing ever happens there but good.’
‘Alright, then, you’re on. I’ll let you into a secret, I’m actually quite excited now.’
‘I’m glad to hear it,’ said Munro, knocking back his whisky. ‘Now, I’d start picking out some curtains, if I were you. Nothing modern, mind, you have to respect the age of the property.’
‘So you’re thinking something traditional, then?’
‘More antediluvian, Charlie. Aye, that’s the word, antediluvian.’
Character List
JAMES MUNRO (RETIRED) – Back to full health, aided in no small way by Murdo, his rescued Scottish terrier, the irrepressible James Munro has his suspicions roused by an unexplained death shrouded in folklore and superstition.
DI CHARLOTTE WEST – Now a force to be reckoned with, the headstrong Charlie West, preferring to shout rather than indulge in the gentle art of conversation, follows her instinct when a homeless man is the victim of an unprovoked attack.
DS DOUGAL McCRAE – Half man, half microchip, the technologically minded DS McCrae is torn between searching the darkest recesses of the internet to trace a suspect or sharing a fish supper with an alluring Scenes of Crime Officer.
DS DUNCAN REID – The maverick DS, whose appearance alone is enough to make people cross the street, goes it alone as he tracks down a violent drug dealer and uncovers a convoluted property scam along the way.
DCI GEORGE ELLIOT – The effervescent DCI Elliot, suffering at the hands of his wife’s vegetarian cooking, finds his loyalties pushed to the limit when his lifelong friend and ex-colleague, James Munro, over-steps the mark.
DR ANDY MCLEOD – Forensic pathologist Andy McLeod identifies a link between two seemingly unconnected deaths and reluctantly relinquishes any hope of getting a date with the sassy DI West.
ALAN ‘DUFFY’ MACDUFF – Starting afresh after a messy divorce and a conviction under his belt, MacDuff establishes a successful security business until his past has him running for cover.
REBECCA BARLOW – A petite, attractive property developer with a knack for turning run-down rat holes into urban palaces is preyed upon by a jealous friend.
DI GREG BYRNE – Taking the helm in his first case as a DI, the hapless Byrne, floundering like a flatfish on the deck of a trawler, breathes a sigh of relief when the sagacious Munro becomes involved with the inquiry.
DANIEL MCINTYRE – A sharp-suited high-flyer with the gift of the gab and an eye for the finer things in life gets a wake-up call when his business suffers at the hands of the economy.
EMMA RILEY – Unwittingly lured into a life of crime, the down-to-earth office worker with a taste for the simpler things in life finds herself trapped in the underworld with no way out.
BARBARA MUIR – A respected shop keeper with the welfare of her customers at heart, Muir, whose uneventful life revolves around village gossip, hides a secret not even her family know about.
JOHN DRENNAN – A harmless, tattooed druggie keen to supplement his benefits with the proceeds of anything not quite legal, finds himself in deep water when a deal goes wrong.
DEREK FISHER – A harried nurse with a needy wife, two dogs, and children to support finds himself heading for a breakdown when one of his patients goes missing.
KAY GROGAN – An excitable Scenes of Crime Officer with a passion for fishing, forensics, and microfibres succumbs to the charms of the diffident DS Dougal McCrae.
More titles in this series
SHE – (Book 1)
The first encounter between rookie cop West and veteran detective Munro
With a serial killer on their hands, Scottish detective Munro and rookie sergeant West must act fast to trace a woman placed at a crime scene. Yet discovering her true identity, let alone finding her, proves difficult. Soon they realise the crime is far graver than either of them could have imagined.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CDFGPBM/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01CDFGPBM/
AVARICE (Book 2)
A murder in a remote Scottish town. Everyone knows something, but no one is talking.
The Police chief wants everything wrapped up before the upcoming regatta, but the locals are remarkably unforthcoming with helpful information.
Sassy and quick, London detective sergeant Charlotte West is roped in by DI Munro to help solve what is now a murder case.
It is good police work that will unravel the truth behind the crime, but not without ruffling a few feathers first.
Will the killer escape the sharp-witted detectives’ grasp?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IIGMW1W/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01IIGMW1W/
ENMITY (Book 3)
DI Munro and DS West return
&nb
sp; When it comes to frustrating a criminal investigation, this killer has all the moves and a spate of murders is causing havoc in the local police department. Enter DI Munro to catch the red herrings and uncover an elaborate and wicked ruse.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N06ITWI/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N06ITWI/
DUPLICITY (Book 4)
A killer tries to get one over DI Munro
When a foreign worker casually admits to the murder of a local businessman, detectives in a small Scottish town guess that the victim’s violent death points to a more complex cause. Money appears to be a motive, but will anyone believe that they might be in fact dealing with a crime of passion?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B071R92W9H/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B071R92W9H/
TERMINUS (Book 5)
Is it the end of the line for DI Munro?
Having been the victim of a hit and run accident, and despite being black and blue, DI Munro wastes no time trying to find out the identity of the perpetrator. But when prime witnesses turn up dead, they have a more serious case on their hands. With attempted murder upgraded to a full-scale murder investigation, can the police close in on a mysterious killer or will Munro be finally outwitted?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0756P2CQL/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0756P2CQL/
TALION (Book 6)
Is this the return of DI Munro?
Left to her own devices Detective Sergeant Charlie West struggles with the responsibility of a full-blown murder investigation when a man is pushed off a cliff. Once the police have discovered the identity of the dead man, and established his demise was definitely the result of foul play, the race is on to hunt down the murderer
PENURY: A bizarre death tests Scotland’s finest (Detective Inspector Munro murder mysteries Book 12) Page 21