Death at Coombe Farm (DI Tremayne Thriller Series Book 4) by Phillip Strang

Author:Phillip Strang [Strang, Phillip]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-02-08T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Clare could see that Napoleon wasn’t an easy horse to ride. Even though the horse was friendly towards her, he still reacted when she first mounted him.

‘Show him who’s in charge,’ Callum, the farmhand, who had chosen a smaller and calmer horse, said.

‘That’s the problem, he is,’ Clare said.

‘Napoleon needs to burn off excess energy.’

Once they were away from the stables and heading up the track, Napoleon wanted to gallop. ‘He’s fast,’ Clare said.

‘Faster than most horses around here. Mr Selwood, the older one, bought him for that reason. Now there was a man who could control a horse, not that Napoleon liked him.

‘Why was that?’

‘Old Ted reckoned it was because the man mistreated the horse.’

‘You don’t agree?’

‘Mr Selwood and Napoleon, they were alike. Both strong-willed, both attempting to exert control over the other. Napoleon, he’s a smart animal. Mr Selwood could control him by willpower, mind over matter. Cathy, she showed the horse love, and the horse responded. With her, he wanted to please. No doubt, he’d be like that with you, but first, he needs to show you what he’s capable of, not wanting you to forget.’

‘He’s doing a good job.’

At the top of the track, the two riders stopped to look over the view. ‘It’s beautiful up here,’ Clare said.

‘Too much death for me,’ Callum said.

‘What’s your story?’

‘Not much to tell. I’ve worked here for the last few years. I’m a local, wasted my time at school. I need to be on the land, not in a stuffy office, and as for university and a career, that’s for others.’

‘Old Ted, what did you reckon to him?’

‘He was fine. Not very sociable, but he taught me plenty. I’ve taken over his responsibilities.’

‘He was shot up here.’

‘It doesn’t make any sense, not Old Ted. If he knew anything, he’d not talk.’

‘Everyone seems to believe he knew something.’

‘We’re a good people for gossiping in Coombe. People talk to people, that’s all.’

‘But you’re not so good at keeping quiet, are you, Callum?’

‘I’ll admit to it, but there’s nothing I know that you don’t know already. I mind my own business, the same as Old Ted.’

‘It didn’t stop him being murdered. How would you fancy a bullet in your head? Did you see the body? It’s not a pretty sight, a man’s body, its head with a bullet in it. Is that what you want?’

‘Not me.’

‘Then tell me the truth. What did Old Ted know that is important?’

‘Mr Selwood used to meet someone up here.’

‘Do you know who?’

‘I saw them once. Old Ted was with me, although we were not visible, at least to Mr Selwood and the man he was talking to. It was early, he told me to tell no one.’

‘Why would Old Ted do that?’

‘That was the man. He didn’t get involved. Whatever happened, happened for a reason as far as he was concerned. If Mr Selwood wanted to build three hundred houses up here and change the village forever, then that was his business, not Old Ted’s.’

‘We were always told it was to be a low-impact, low-cost housing development, down in the village.

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