Callum pulled a face. ‘Notallday.’
‘But why would he suddenly decide to kill Archie Armstrong after all this time?’ Ross asked. ‘They were married for the best part of twenty years, weren’t they?’
‘Because he finally had an ideal opportunity,’ Callum said. ‘He probably hoped his niece might decide to stay in Scotland with her daughters perhaps. He hasn’t got many relatives, you know.’ He grinned at them. ‘I’d put my money on Angus! Anyway, I must go now, so enjoy your meal!’
As they examined their menus, Ally’s brain was racing. Callum’s remarks had provided food for thought. Perhaps she should check up on Angus? His alibi had been that he was being questioned by the police about the break-in, but could he have got to the games before or afterwards? Would Amir be able to confirm the time that Angus was actually being questioned?
SEVEN
As they walked up the hill arm in arm, Ally asked, ‘What do you know about the two under-ghillies who work with Angus?’
‘Not much,’ Ross admitted. ‘The senior gamekeeper, Gordon Soutar, is almost a younger version of Angus. Keeps himself to himself, a bit like Angus in that respect.’
‘What about the younger one?’
‘Oh, that’s Tom Hamilton,’ Ross replied, looking thoughtful. ‘He came out of agricultural college a year or so ago and has been sending the local girls’ hearts aflutter ever since. Good-looking lad, favoursvery tightjeans.’
‘So they’d both easily be able to get their hands on the gun cabinet keys?’
‘I expect so,’ Ross said. ‘I didn’t see either of them at the games, but I believe that Tom, the heart-throb, is quite friendly with the McConnachie lads and often drinks with them in the Craigmonie Bar in the evenings. He would have access to the gun cabinet keys, so it’s unlikely he’d fake a break-in. Have you ever been in Angus’s office?’
‘No, I haven’t,’ Ally replied.
‘Well, I have, and it’s total chaos in there!’ Ross said. ‘It’slike someone set off a bomb! There’s all sorts of paperwork strewn over the desk, the floor, every available surface. That’s Angus’s filing system! But I’ll tell you something: any document you might want, Angus will find it – on the floor, under the desk, anywhere! In an instant. No problem.’
‘I think I need to talk to these under-ghillies,’ Ally said. ‘Because I’m not likely to get much help from Angus.’
‘Your best bet would be Hamish,’ Ross said. ‘He does all the hiring and firing, with Angus’s help and approval, of course.’
‘Good idea,’ Ally said. ‘It’s time I paid him a visit. Apart from anything else, I’m longing to see the babies again. Now I must update the board.’
‘The board?’ Ross repeated. ‘I’d forgotten about the board! Do you really think it’s helpful?’
‘Well, yes, I do,’ Ally admitted. ‘It’s been helpful in the past, and it could be useful now!’ As they entered the malthouse door, Ally added, ‘Let me show it to you!’
She removed the painting from the wall, turned it over and laid it on the kitchen table.
Ross studied it for a moment or two. ‘You’ve put Angus very low down.’
‘Well, I didn’t think…’
‘You heard what Callum said. It could be Angus.’
Ally moved Angus up to four o’clock and resolved to double-check his alibi with Amir.
‘And while you’re at it,’ Ross said, ‘you need a Post-it for the earl too.’
Ally pulled a face. ‘I don’t somehow think Hamish would have had anything to do with it.’
‘Ally, if you’re going to do this properly, then you can’t rule anyone out without good reason.’
Ally sighed but placed Hamish at five, alongside Ivan and Wendy. That didn’t look right somehow.
‘And both of Angus’s trainees,’ Ross said, frowning at theboard. ‘You’ve only got Tom, though I’d have him much higher up, say at ten o’clock.’
‘OK,’ said Ally, pulling a face as she moved Tom up from seven. ‘I’ll add Gordon at six too just to keep you happy.’
Ross went home in the morning to supervise another day of boiler-fitting, and Ally decided to visit Hamish and Magda later.
