She did so, confirming that Patti was still in her room, then relayed this information to Amir.
‘I’m on my way,’ Amir said.
Ross was at the surgery this afternoon, helping his son, Will, with an overload of appointments. Ally wished that he was there as she tried desperately to think of any way in which she could overhear what Amir was going to be asking Patti. Perhaps she could be ‘gardening’ and might hear something through the window, or could she just listen at the door? A few years ago, she wouldn’t have dreamed of eavesdropping on anyone, but times had changed, and she was now desperate to know what Amir had found out and wanted to talk to Patti about. Wouldhe question Patti in the dining room, well away from the others? In which case, she could try that old trick of putting her ear to a glass pushed against the wall. Not that that worked particularly well.
Amir arrived via the back door, and the first thing he asked Ally was, ‘Where can I talk to this woman alone?’
‘Well, there’s the dining room, or the garden I suppose,’ Ally replied.
‘I don’t want any of the others to overhear this conversation,’ he said, looking serious.
‘The garden might be best,’ Ally suggested. ‘It’s a nice, sunny afternoon, and it’s very sheltered out there.’
Amir nodded. ‘That might be best so long as no one can hear from inside.’
‘Not from inside,’ Ally confirmed, already planning to listen in at the high wall which separated the main garden from the utility area.
‘I’ll go ahead then,’ Amir said, heading towards the sitting room, where she heard him say, ‘Mrs Armstrong, could I have a word with you alone, please?’
‘Alone?’ Patti snorted. ‘I’ve got nothing to say that can’t be heard by anyone here.’
‘Alone,’ Amir repeated.
‘Why?’ asked Patti.
‘Because I’m asking you to,’ Amir replied firmly. ‘I think the garden might be best.’
There was much murmuring in the background and grumbling from Patti. She got to her feet with a great deal of sighing before following the inspector out of the front door and into the garden at the side.
Ally wasted no time in dashing out of the back door, rushing past the washing lines and tiptoeing towards the wall. She could hear Patti still mumbling about being ‘singled out’, as she put it.
‘Please sit down,’ Amir said, obviously indicating the gardenseat. Ally wondered if he, too, was sitting on the other end of the seat or if he’d remained standing.
‘I understand that you visited your uncle on the Monday and the Tuesday, having arrived in Locharran on the Sunday evening?’
‘Yes.’
Amir cleared his throat. ‘You were overheard asking your uncle to provide you with a gun.’
There was silence for a moment before Patti exclaimed, ‘What nonsense!’
‘No, it doesn’t appear to be nonsense,’ Amir said calmly. ‘You were also overheard suggesting that Angus faked a break-in, so no one would suspect him.’
‘Who told you this rubbish?’ Patti asked, her voice shrill.
‘Are you denying this?’ Amir asked.
‘Of course I’m denying this! Why on earth would I want a bloody gun?’
‘Perhaps to kill your husband?’ Amir suggested.
‘Don’t be so bloody ridiculous! Why the hell would I want to kill my husband?’ Patti shrieked.
‘You tell me. Apparently, not only did Angus consider breaking in to get the gun, but he also told you the best place to hide it in the woods above the field where the games were due to take place the following day.’
‘Such bloody nonsense! Who on earth told you this?’ Patti’s voice had risen an octave or two.
‘You were overheard,’ Amir repeated.
