MURDER IN THE BARN an addictive crime mystery full of twists (Arnold Landon Detective Mystery and Suspense Book 1) by ROY LEWIS

Author:ROY LEWIS [LEWIS, ROY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books crime thriller, mystery and suspense
Published: 2021-04-18T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

1

The Senior Planning Officer listened to Arnold with an expression that lengthened in proportion to his mounting horror. He had wanted an uncluttered enquiry and he had obtained, instead, two meetings where not only had difficult matter been introduced against his will, but a degree of emotion had been aroused. And now he was being told that discussions and squabbles were taking place in Northumberland public houses, with threats of arson actually being made.

‘Are you sure of all this, Arnold?’

Arnold nodded unhappily. He had not wanted to destroy the Senior Planning Officer’s morning peace of mind, but he himself had spent a sleepless night, tossing and turning at the thought of what might have occurred during the hours of darkness. And when he had arrived at the office it was with the conviction that the Senior Planning Officer would have to be informed, or else Arnold himself could be described as being in dereliction of duty.

‘Arson.’ The Senior Planning Officer shook his head. ‘This really won’t do, Arnold. The matter of the planning application is still sub judice. We can’t have people taking the law into their own hands in an attempt to forestall the decision that may, or may not be reached by the Planning Committee.’ He reached for the telephone on his desk. ‘I shall make contact with Mr Rampton immediately. I shall have to lay the law down to him in no uncertain terms. This simply will not do!’

Arnold waited, standing in front of the Senior Planning Officer’s desk as he rang Rampton Farm. He could hear, faintly, the brrr-brrr of the phone, and he watched as the Senior Planning Officer’s face whitened, and tightened.

‘There’s no answer. You say you went out there last night?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘And the barn was intact then?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘You should have stayed,’ the Senior Planning Officer muttered, almost to himself. ‘You really should have stayed or gone down to the farm to warn them, or something.’

‘The farm seemed to be deserted, sir. No lights.’

The Senior Planning Officer replaced the telephone and began to chew at his nails nervously. He was proud of his nails; his action now demonstrated to Arnold that crisis was near. Then the Senior Planning Officer calmed, looked at his damaged nails and decided he could not be spared from the office.

‘You’ll have to go out there, Arnold,’ he said. ‘You’ll have to go and take them to task. Lay the law down to them. Explain the penalties they’d be looking at for arson.’ He looked blank for a moment. ‘What are the penalties for arson, Arnold — if it’s your own property?’

* * *

Normally a cautious, rather slow driver, Arnold now forsook old habits and drove quickly out of Morpeth, across country to pick up the military road past Chollerford and over the straight, uncompromising run to Greenhead. He gave no thought to the Senior Planning Officer’s last question; rather, he felt the dread of topping a rise and seeing a stark-ribbed, smoking ruin where the Old Wheat Barn had been.

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