‘Aye,of courseI was. With Murdo, my husband, the postie.’ She looked at him as if he should have known this. ‘I’ll have ye know I had two boys competin’ in them events, and a wee granddaughter in the dancin’, and?—’
‘And where were you standing in relation to this map?’ Amir interjected, handing her the field plan.
Morag scowled. ‘I was standin’ right next to Ally here. Wasn’t I, Ally?’ She looked across to where Ally was loading the dishwasher.
‘Yes, you were.’
‘And you stayed there all the time?’ asked Amir.
Morag gave him another of her looks. ‘Of course not! As soon as the caber tossin’ started, Murdo and me moved over to where our lads had been standin’.’
‘You saw or heard nothing suspicious?’
‘Nobody was runnin’ around with a gun, if that’s what ye mean? Whoever it was, it wouldn’t be anyone from Locharran, let me tell yethat! This is a peaceful place with law-abidin’ folk, but, of course, I canna speak for all themforeigners.’ She shook her head and took a large gulp of tea.
‘Foreigners?’ asked the inspector. ‘What foreigners?’
‘That man’sfamily, of course. All Canadians, them. And some folk from Fort William who could have been foreigners too. How wouldIknow?’
‘Oh, indeed,’ said Amir, exchanging glances with Ally. ‘And your husband stayed at your side throughout this time?’
‘Well, he went for a pee at some stage, I canna remember when.’ Morag frowned. ‘Me and Murdo don’t go around shootin’ people, you know? We have better things to do.’ She paused. ‘Even though he bloody well deserved that bullet!Cavortin’ around at village gatherin’s and winnin’ all the prizes, when our lads have been practisin’ all year! And they’relocals! It’s not bloody fair! Just as well Idon’thave a gun! Have you done with me?’ Morag scowled as she drained her tea.
‘Oh, indeed, Mrs McConnachie. Thank you for your help.’
Morag disappeared into the porch to remove her apron, hang it up and put on her purple anorak again. ‘See you tomorrow!’ she yelled at Ally. ‘If the good Lord spares me.’
‘Well, that’smetold,’ said Amir with a grin as he left.
Ally didn’t really think that Morag could be involved, but she couldn’t say the same for Morag’s two sons. Or any of the other competitors, for that matter. There seemed to be quite a few people who might have wanted Archie dead.
FOUR
Ross was helping his son at the veterinary surgery for part of the morning. ‘I must go too, love, so see you later,’ he said to Ally, kissing her, as he and his black Labrador, Ebony, made their way towards the back door, where Morag was still pulling on her boots.
Just at that moment, Murdo arrived with the post, and Morag trundled back into the kitchen.
‘Have ye heard thelatest?’ Murdo asked hopefully as he laid a couple of envelopes onto the kitchen table.
‘I expect you’re needing some tea?’ Ally said, knowing that Murdo liked to stop off on his rounds for constant refreshment.
‘Aye,’ he said. ‘I’ll just have a wee mouthful, if ye please.’ He nodded towards the front of the building. ‘I see the police car’s outside there?’
‘Yes, Detective Inspector Kandahar’s just leaving. He’s been talking to the Armstrongs,’ Ally replied, handing him a large mug of tea, which was Murdo’s idea of a wee mouthful.
Morag stood, hands on hips, and glared at her husband. ‘Have we heardwhat?’
‘The earl’s goin’ potty cos of that break-in they had at the castle when someone stole a rifle, and the police think it’ll likely be the one that was supposed to kill that Armstrong bloke.’ Murdo took a couple of long gulps. ‘And poor old Angus is awful worried cos he’s supposed to be lookin’ after all the guns.’
‘And are they certain that was the rifle that fired the shot?’ Ally asked.
‘Well,’ said Murdo, ‘you’rethe one that’s pally with that inspector! Did he not tell you?’
‘No, he didn’t!’
Murdo nodded. ‘They found that bullet stuck in the caber. I heard they’re runnin’ tests, but it looks like being the right kind of bullet to have come from one of the earl’s rifles.’
Ally was horrified. Sowasthat the weapon? It was too much of a coincidence not to be surely? She had no idea in which part of the castle the gun cabinets were, but she guessed that they were probably somewhere in the utility area at the back or in one of the outbuildings.
