‘Yes, really,’ Hamish confirmed. ‘I clearly remember Micky just leaving the tent at the same time as myself when we heard the shot. They’ve arrested the wrong man! They must release poor Micky immediately!’
‘Hamish, are you absolutely sure about this?’
‘Of course I’m sure! Where have they taken him?’
‘Fort William, I believe,’ Ally replied.
‘Well,’ Hamish said, getting to his feet, ‘I’m going to Fort Williamright nowbecause they can’t keep that young man – silly though he is – in custody for something he damn well didn’t do! And, on the plus side, he can provide an alibi for me too!’
‘That’s wonderful,’ Ally agreed, thinking of how delighted Morag and Murdo would be, even if it probably meant that her guests were going to be under her roof for an indeterminate length of time.
Hamish refused all offers of refreshment and set off for Fort William at full speed.
Shortly after he’d left, Ally saw Greg and Wendy drawing up in their hired car. As she pulled the kitchen door behind her, she heard them talking and stood listening with the door only slightly ajar. Obviously, they had no idea whatsoever that Micky McConnachie was possibly going to be released, and Ally wondered how they’d react when they did.
‘Thank God they’ve finally found the killer,’ Greg was saying.
‘Ihope you’re right,’ Wendy said.
Ally could hear them going into the sitting room and tiptoed across the hallway, duster in hand, just in case either of them came out and spotted her.
‘Thank God Patti’s now agreed that the business is mine,’ Greg was saying, ‘so at least she won’t be interfering.’
‘She’ll be expecting a share of the profits though,’ Wendy pointed out. ‘How did you manage to get her to agree to all that?’
There was silence for a moment before Greg replied, ‘Let’s just say that she’s got her freedom now, so we’ll see what she does with it…’
Nothing further was said, and Ally could only hear the rustle of newspapers, so she headed back to the kitchen.
Was what Greg said important? Should she tell Amir when next he appeared? Or was she translating what he’d said wrongly? Because it seemed to her that Greg was doing pretty well out of his brother-in-law’s demise. He and Wendy could bring their son into the business, which could now be run the way Greg wanted, with no interference from Archie – or Patti either. And wherewasGreg when Archie got killed? They weren’t going to be too happy at Micky’s release because it didn’t now seem likely that any of the family would be going anywhere any time soon.
ELEVEN
Later, when Ross got back, Ally told him about Hamish’s visit.
‘Is he certain that he saw Micky at the tent?’ Ross asked. ‘I mean he’d probably had a few drinks by then.’
‘He seemed very certain, and he’s bolted off to Fort William to tell the police what he saw. Fortunately, the family here have no idea about this. They just seemed delighted thatsomeone’sbeen arrested so that they can go home.’ She told Ross about what she’d overheard.
‘Ally, don’t read too much into that,’ Ross said. ‘I mean his wife said to you, didn’t she, that the two men didn’t get on all that well business-wise, so of course Greg’s going to enjoy a certain amount of freedom that he didn’t have before.’
‘Yes, but it was also the way he referred to Patti,’ Ally said. ‘She’s excluded from the company altogether, apart from getting a share in the profits.’
‘I expect that’s how she wants it,’ Ross said. ‘I can’t see her as much of a businesswoman, and what does that matter if she gets her share of the profits for doing nothing?’
‘I suppose you’re right,’ Ally admitted grudgingly.
‘Youwantit to be Greg, don’t you?’
Ally pulled a face. ‘I just don’t want it to be someone from Locharran.’
‘That’s understandable, and I can see why you might suspect Greg. I’ve no doubt the inspector will be here again before long if they’re releasing Micky, so let’s wait to see what he thinks.’
Yet again, Ally found it difficult to get to sleep.
An elated Morag appeared next morning. ‘They let our Micky go yesterday evenin’,’ she said, ‘and thank God for that! Not that they should ever have arrested him in the first place! And, thank the good Lord, they seem to have lost interest in Bobby too.’
Ross had had to go home first thing in the morning because of a visitor problem, and so Ally was having to cope with the sausages along with everything else. ‘I’m so pleased, Morag.’
