‘Well,’ said Joel, ‘I’m gonna try.’
He got back into the driving seat and off he went.
The outcome of Joel’s visit to the castle did not become apparent until Hamish came barging in the back door at half past six, just as Ross had poured out some pre-dinner drinks for Ally and himself.
‘You will notbelievewhat’s happened!’ he ranted. ‘And yes, I would have a wee drop of Scotch – if you’re offering it.’
Ross poured a generous measure of the whisky and handed it to Hamish. ‘So what’s happened then?’ he asked.
‘That man, that son, that what’s-his-name Watson…’ Hamish began, taking a large glug of his drink.
‘Joel,’ Ally supplied helpfully.
‘He comes barging into the castle, demanding to see me, while Magda and I are havingour afternoon tea!’ Hamish was plainly horrified at the intrusion to this ritual. ‘He wants to know what I plan to do about all the murders. The cheek of the man! “What am I supposed to do about all the murders?” I askhim. I also mention that we’ve only had these murders since his family arrived in Locharran, which isn’t strictly true, of course, but I wasn’t about to tell him that.’ He stopped for breath and more whisky.
‘I bet you felt like punching him on the nose,’ Ross said.
‘I’m not a violent man, but I must admit I did feel like it. But I told him that the police were doing their best and it wasthemhe should be talking to, not me.’ Hamish gave a heavy sigh.
‘Did he leave then?’ Ally asked.
‘No, he damn well didn’t. He gave me a long spiel about the stories Tom told him about Angus and Pat’s conversation, and how crazy it was that his poor Aunt Patti was under house arrest because of these lies. Well.’ Hamish shook his head and gulped some more whisky. ‘I very stupidly told him that he should be talking to Angus and not to me. Oh Lord, why ever did I say that?’
‘Did he go to talk to Angus then?’ Ross asked.
‘He did. I followed him, a discreet distance behind, down the drive to Angus’s cottage and watched him rap on the door. Angus came to the door, closed it behind him and faced Watson. “Why are you here?” he asked.’
Ally was agog now. ‘And then…?’
‘And then I could hear Angus asking grumpily, “What do you want?” You know how gruff he can be. And then Watson ranted on about Tom supposedly hearing this conversation, and did he know that his poor niece was now under house arrest for something she didn’t say? Then he demanded that Angus tell him where he could find Tom because it was time “that lad got sorted out”, and Angus said, like I did, that it was none of Watson’s business and, if he’d got something to say, he should say it to the police.’
‘Poor old Angus,’ Ross said. ‘This bloody Joel’s upsetting everyone.’
‘Well, Angus stood his ground, and so did Watson, and theargument got more and more heated until…’ Here Hamish drained his glass, and Ross hastily replenished it. Hamish gave him a nod of thanks and then continued with his story. ‘Angus told him to sod off, but Watson stayed put, still sounding off, and it was then that Angus punched him, hard. Really hard! Flattened Watson, who now has a bloody nose to go with his swollen eye!’
‘Oh my God!’ Ally stared at him in disbelief. ‘Tell me you’re joking!’
‘I’m not joking, and that’s not all. When Watson had recovered sufficiently to locate his phone, he called the police, said he’d been assaulted. The police arrive, big fuss; a Canadian visitor has been attacked and has a bleeding nose, a split lip, bruises coming up everywhere.’ Hamish sighed in exasperation. ‘Angus, of course, is totally unrepentant, and I don’t blame him. But poor Angus has beenarrested!’
There was a horrified silence for a moment before, in unison, Ally and Ross both repeated, ‘Angus?Arrested?’
‘Angus, for God’s sake! Angus would never raise his fists normally!’ Hamish took another large gulp. ‘This man has only been in Scotland for a couple of days and he’s already managed to get himself one black eye and, for sure, he’s going to have two of them before the day is out. And possibly a broken nose.’
‘And what about Tom while all this is going on?’ Ally asked. ‘After all, it was Tom who started all this by hearing the so-called conversation.’
Hamish shook his head. ‘He never got round to having a go at Tom, which is probably just as well. In the meantime, poor Angus is in custody tonight for only doing what any red-blooded male would do when provoked like that.’
‘Was it Kandahar who arrested him?’ Ross asked.
‘No, he’s in Glasgow apparently. It was two young, enthusiastic constables. They came racing up the drive with lights on, sirens blazing. God only knows what the village thought!’
‘Somebody’s got to gag that Joel,’ Ally said with feeling.
‘He’s certainly a troublemaker,’ Hamish agreed, ‘but it’s poor Angus I’m worried about! Angus in jail – unbelievable! I shall get straight on to Kandahar about having him released on bail. I cannot run my estate without Angus, and that’s all there is to it!’ He drained his glass.
‘Would you like another of these?’ Ally indicated the Scotch bottle.
‘Oh, just a wee one then, if you insist,’ Hamish said. ‘But only because Magda says I’m drinking far too much, but, my God, I need a drink today! I’ll bring a couple of bottles of my best, to boost your supplies, next time I pop in.’
