‘You deserve it,’ Ally said, ‘because you must be so stressed with all this going on.’
‘The two daughters seem fairly positive,’ Amir said as he attacked his breakfast with gusto, ‘and I think it helped when I told them that they’d soon be able to visit their mother.’
‘They’re convinced she’s innocent,’ Ally remarked.
‘Hmm,’ he demurred.
No more was said on the subject until they’d all finished breakfast. When they were sitting back with mugs of tea, Amir said, ‘She’s going to plead not guilty.’
Ally couldn’t help herself. ‘Do you think sheisguilty?’
Amir sighed as he sipped his tea. ‘It’s possible. Did you know that Angus Morrison has been released?’
Ally nodded. ‘Yes, the earl told me. But it’s not as if Angus gave her the gun, is it?’
‘Well, no, but he may have turned a blind eye to her getting one. Apparently, Patricia Armstrong convinced him that her husband was controlling and abusive, and that she couldn’t take it any longer. This is what she told Angus Morrison. What shedidn’ttell Angus Morrison, but has told me, is that she had been having an affair with Greg Watson for some time, and that it was he who planned all this. She claims it was he who broke in, stole the gun and also pulled the trigger.’
Ally and Ross exchanged glances as they let this information sink in.
‘So she’s saying that it wasGreg Watsonwho killed her husband, via the caber?’ Ross asked.
‘That’s what she’s saying,’ Amir confirmed.
This was beginning to make sense to Ally, whohad been surprised at Patti’s grief when Greg was killed. ‘So will Patti be released now?’ she asked.
Amir shook his head. ‘It’s all very well to put the blame on a dead man, who can’t defend himself. We need proof.’
‘How are you going to get that?’ Ross asked.
‘I don’t know. Mrs Armstrong swears she was visiting the toilet at the exact moment the shot was fired and that a “nice woman” was coming out just as she was going in and held the door open for her. She said they both jumped at the noise and the woman said, “What the hell wasthat?”’
‘Who was this woman?’ Ally asked. ‘Surely she could verify the story?’
‘Perhaps she could,’ Amir replied, ‘if we could only find her. I’ve put a notice out asking her to come forward, if she exists, which I’m beginning to doubt.’
‘For what it’s worth,’ Ally said, ‘I should tell you that Patti Armstrong was a great deal more distressed when Greg Watson was killed than she was when her own husband was, so it could well be that theywerehaving an affair.’
‘It’s possible,’ Amir agreed, ‘but that still doesn’t mean that he did the shooting. As I said before, it’s all very convenient to blame a dead man. Now I have the unenviable task of talking to Wendy Watson and trying to find out if she had any knowledge of the fact that her husband was having an affair with Patricia.’
‘They’ve probably just finished breakfast,’ Ally said, ‘so you want to catch her before she goes anywhere.’
‘Thank you,’ said Amir, ‘I will. On her own, so can you divert the two daughters somewhere?’
In fact, Julie and Janey had already returned to their room as Ally ushered Amir into the dining room, where Wendy was still lingering over a coffee, and shut the door firmly behind him.
‘I wonder how Wendy’s going to take this information,’ Ally said to Ross when she returned to the kitchen.
‘Perhaps she knew?’ Ross suggested. ‘If she didn’t, then there’s going to be hell to pay.’
There was a low murmur of voices which could be heard through the wall, although Ally had no idea what was being said and didn’t really want to know. And then there was shouting by a female voice and a door slamming.
Amir came into the kitchen and said, ‘Mrs Watson is not happy. I really don’t think she knew about the affair, but she does now. I fear that the atmosphere in this house is going to be very tense, Ally, if ever Patti Armstrong comes back here. Hopefully, they’ll all fly home as quickly as possible.’
‘I hope you’re right,’ Ally said. ‘She’s taken it badly then?’
‘I’m afraid so. I’m sorry I have to leave you now, but at the moment she’s inconsolable, so you’ll probably be on the receiving end. I’ve finished questioning her for now, but if she says anything of further interest, perhaps you could let me know?’
After Amir had left and Ally wandered into the dining room to clear away the breakfast things, she found Wendy standing and staring out of the window, her body racked with sobs.
