Death of a Dreamer by M. C Beaton

Author:M. C Beaton [Beaton, M. C]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Mystery, Adult
ISBN: 9781597222303
Amazon: 0446618136
Barnesnoble: 0446618136
Goodreads: 213475
Publisher: Warner Books
Published: 2006-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Eight

She may very well pass for forty-three

In the dusk with a light behind her!

—W. S. Gilbert

Priscilla was crossing the reception area when Hamish stopped her. “It’s urgent,” he said.

“All right. Let’s go into the lounge.”

“No, not there. Robin’s interviewing Jock’s wife.”

“Who’s he?”

“She. A detective.”

“Let’s use the office, then. Mr. Johnsons gone out shopping.” Priscilla selected a key from a whole bunch of them on a chain fastened around her slim waist.

“You look like the chatelaine of the casde. Do you have to work? Where are your parents?”

“They’ve gone to visit the Derwents over in Caithness. I don’t mind.”

She unlocked the door. “Help yourself to coffee and tell me what it’s all about.”

Hamish poured himself a mug from the coffee machine in the corner and turned and raised an eyebrow. “Not for me,” said Priscilla.

“Its like this,” said Hamish. “We were interviewing Jock’s ex-wife. She says Jock only offers to paint a woman’s portrait as a way of chatting her up.”

“He seems harmless enough, Hamish. I’m vain enough to want this portrait.”

“Priscilla, he’s got a record of assault. Angela Brodie had an idea that maybe jealousy was behind these murders. If that is the reason Effie was killed, then you could be next.”

“I don’t think so,” said Priscilla with maddening calm. “The portrait seems to be coming along all right. He’s just a large, friendly man. His only interest in me is as a subject.”

“I neffer thought of you as being naive,” said Hamish.

The door of the office opened, and Robin’s voice said sharply, “What are you doing, Hamish? Jimmy has taken Jock off to the police unit for further questioning, and he wants us there.”

Hamish turned in the doorway. “Remember what I said, Priscilla.”

“Remember what?” asked Robin as they got into the Land Rover.

Hamish told her about his fears.

When he finished, Robin said, “So you think the murderer might have been a woman?”

“It’s possible. I think that ex-wife of his could be capable of murder.”

At the mobile police unit, they found Jimmy questioning Jock. “You see why we are so suspicious,” said Jimmy. “You lied first time round. What’s to say you aren’t lying again?”

“I’ve told you and told you,” said Jock. “I had a late dinner widi Betty, and then we both went to our respective rooms. That would be around eleven o’clock in the evening.”

Robin studied Jock while the questioning went on. She could see what attracted women to this apparently friendly bear of a man. At one point in the questioning, he looked across at her and made a funny face, and she had to bite her lip to stop herself from bursting out laughing.

“You seem friendly enough with your ex-wife,” Hamish said.

“Och, I never was one to keep resentments. She’s the mother of my children. She’s a good mother.”

“So why isn’t she back in Glasgow with them?”

“She needs a holiday, and the children are being well looked after by her mother.”

“How did you first meet Dora?” asked Robin. “Some party in a gallery. We hit it off right away.

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