‘I honestly haven’t a clue,’ Ally admitted. ‘I can’t believe it’s any of the village lads, but I can’t think who else could have killed Archie.’
‘His family perhaps?’
‘Well, I sometimes think it must be, and then I think it can’t be.’
‘I can’t help you there I’m afraid!’ Linda glanced at her watch. ‘I’d best get back because I’ve a load of desserts to make for the Craigmonie. Glad you liked my cake!’
‘I certainly did,’ Ally said. ‘Just don’t leave it here because I’ve had an overdose of calories this afternoon.’
‘We will get to Seascape one of these fine days,’ Linda said as she put the remainder of her cake in the box and made her way to the door.
As Ally cleared the tea things away, she couldn’t help thinking that the fun run might have scuppered Linda’s plans for dinner at Seascape, but hopefully it would take everyone’s mind off Archie’s murder. She just hoped that it was as uneventful as possible.
TWELVE
Ross, having done an afternoon working at the surgery, appeared just after six o’clock, accompanied, as usual, by Ebony. ‘I’ve just passed a group of brawny young men heading up this way,’ he said.
‘Ah, they’ve started practising for their fun run on Saturday then,’ Ally said, ‘because they’ve a long way to go before they get to their beer and barbecue – not to mention the prize!’
‘Best of luck to them,’ Ross said as he brought in a bag. ‘And how are your guests today?’
‘Well, Greg is particularly belligerent, and none of them are really happy now that no one’s been arrested. And Patti and her daughters are watching something on Netflix. The girls, predictably enough, are becoming very bored. There’s not a lot for them to do. And Amir wants them to stay here for the moment.’
‘So, what’s Greg so angry about?’ Ross asked.
Ally rolled her eyes. ‘He obviously wants to get back to his cabin building, and I get the impression that he doesn’t much care who’s arrested, as long as someone is, so he can leave. And,in his own words, he thinks the earl and Micky could have been in cahoots!’
‘Always a possibility, I suppose!’ said Ross cheerfully. Then, seeing Ally’s face, added, ‘Not likely though!’ He dug in his bag and produced a carton of eggs. ‘Will gave me these, so I thought we might have omelettes or something?’
‘Great idea!’ Ally agreed. As she spoke, she heard someone stomping around in the hall.
She exchanged glances with Ross and peeked round the corner of the door to see Greg taking off his walking boots and placing them in the cupboard under the stairs, where the shoes were kept.
‘Everything OK, Greg?’ Ally asked, realising that he’d seen her.
‘I’ve just been for a walk up on the moor to try to wind down a little,’ he said. ‘But, damn me, no sooner had I set off than all these young guys start running past me! What’s going on?’
‘Well, the earl has organised a fun run for Saturday, a sort of mini marathon of ten or eleven miles. It’s for the competitors in the games really because they’ve all been feeling very low since Archie’s death, and they’re obviously practising this afternoon. The earl’s laying on a barbecue at the castle at the end of the race, and a prize for the first one back.’
Greg snorted. ‘I suppose they’re all glad that they don’t have to compete against Archie because he’d be bound to win it if he was here. Doesn’t itmatterto the earl that one of these guys could be the killer?’
‘Of course it matters,’ Ally said sharply. ‘But they can’t all be killers, and they need something to boost their morale. And keep them healthy!’
He didn’t look convinced.
‘It would be good to go up there on Saturday to watch therace as they come round the loch, and then we’re all invited to the barbecue afterwards,’ Ally added.
‘Huh!’ Greg shook his head. ‘I guess I’ll find something better to do.’
‘I think the girls would like it,’ Ally said. ‘They’re becoming very bored here, and it would be something more interesting for them. In fact, you could all do with cheering up!’
‘I’ll put it to the vote,’ Greg said, climbing the stairs.
Ally sighed as she closed the door. ‘That man is really bitter,’ she said to Ross.
‘Yes, he sounds it. I think it would be good if you could encourage them when they have breakfast in the morning,’ Ross said.
‘I will,’ Ally agreed.
