‘I’m sorry,’ he said when he saw Ally. ‘My wife fell asleep in here last night. She was exhausted from crying, and I thought it best to leave her.’
‘That’s not a problem, Greg. Do you fancy breakfast?’
‘Don’t think I could eat much,’ he said, ‘but I’ll have some cereal, and coffee would be great.’
‘Same for me,’ said a female voice, and Ally turned to see Patti Armstrong had padded silently downstairs in her socks. She was wearing tight jeans and an oversized sweater, and she was perfectly made-up, her blonde hair immaculate. Ally tried not to gawp at this newly bereaved widow who, only last night, had looked a total wreck.
‘Have you managed to get some sleep?’ Ally asked solicitously.
‘Oh yeah,’ said Patti. ‘A little. The girls are still pretty upset though.’
How on earth had Patti recovered so rapidly, Ally wondered, from the death of her husband of twenty years, or whatever it was? Ally remembered then two points: Detective Inspector Kandahar saying something about ‘reverting to type’, and Morag’s suggestion that one of the family had fired the gun. Was that possible?
If nothing else, at least now Morag could do two of the rooms upstairs.
Amir Kandahar arrived at ten o’clock, just as Wendy had woken up and staggered into the dining room to join her husband and sister-in-law.
‘I’ll talk to them later,’ Amir said as he sat down at the kitchen table and opened up his briefcase, accepting a mug of tea. He sighed. ‘Let me know when they’reallin the dining room,’ he said, ‘but, in the meantime, could you take me through yesterday again in more detail – where you were standing in relation to the caber tossing area, and what, if anything, you saw going on among the other spectators?’
Ally looked at Ross, and they both shrugged.
‘The thing is,’ Ross said, ‘everyone’s eyes were riveted on Archie Armstrong. He’d already won the hammer throwing, his daughters had won the dancing and I guess that people were either grudgingly admiring the man, or hoping he’d trip up.’
‘Well, he certainly did that,’ Amir said drily. ‘According to the post-mortem, judging from the grazing on his ear, the bullet was fired from somewhere due east to where he was staggering around with the caber. Thank God a couple of people were videoing the event so we have a little film footage.’ He frowned and passed a piece of paper across the table. ‘This is a rough map of the field, with the tossing area marked off. Where exactly would you say you were standing?’
Ally studied it for a moment. ‘We were sort of south-east, I suppose,’ she said, pointing her finger at the likely spot and handing him back the sheet of paper.
‘We think the killer must have been hiding in the trees at the top of the hill, above where the mobile toilets were, but can you remember some of the people standing on this east side near you?’
‘Most of the competitors and their supporters were near where we were standing because it was the best viewpoint, and the Armstrong family, of course.’
‘Hmm,’ said the inspector, ‘that’s interesting. I think it’s time I spoke to them again.’
Ally could hear some movement in the dining room. ‘Let me have a look in there,’ she said.
There was still no sign of the two girls, but Wendy, looking dishevelled and blotchy, was pouring herself some fruit juice, her husband at her side. She was tall, like her brother, but gangly and not very strong-looking, with dark hair tied back in a ponytail. Patti was seated, ramrod straight, at the table toying with a bowl of cereal. They could probably manage coffee and toast, they said in unison, but nothing else. The girls did not want to come down and so they’d take some fruit upstairs to them, if Ally didn’t mind. Ally didn’t mind at all.
She went back into the kitchen and related the conversation to Amir.
‘Did you tell them I was here?’ he asked as he prepared to head towards the dining room.
Ally shook her head. ‘No, I didn’t.’
‘I’ll have a word with them then.’ Amir picked up his files and, as he got to the door, asked, ‘What about your cleaner? When can I speak to her?’
‘She’ll be down as soon as she finishes the bedrooms,’ Ally said.
‘Good,’ said Amir. ‘Don’t let her leave until I’ve spoken with her. And watch out for reporters because they’re likely to be here in force and probably knocking at your door. Tell them absolutely nothing.’
‘The girls are still in their bedroom,’ complained Morag as she arrived in the kitchen shortly afterwards, ‘but at least I’ve had a chance to tidy up the other two rooms—’ She stopped short as she saw Amir come in from the dining room.
‘Can I have a word, please, Mrs Mc…’
‘McConnachie,’ said Morag. ‘Just a moment while I have my much-needed cuppa.’
He looked slightly taken aback as Morag made her way tothe kettle and made herself a large mug of tea. ‘Ialwayshave a cuppa when I’ve done the rooms,’ she told him.
‘Just a few questions, Mrs McConnachie, if you don’t mind. I believe you were at this event yesterday?’
