Murder at the Wild Haggis Bookshop: A totally unputdownable Scottish cozy mystery novel (The Highland Bookshop Murders Book 1) by Jackie Baldwin

Author:Jackie Baldwin [Baldwin, Jackie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Published: 2025-10-08T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-SEVEN

Despite Beth’s polite protests, a very nice but persistent doctor insisted she remain overnight for monitoring due to exhibiting symptoms of concussion. She’d ticked them off on her long fingers.

‘You lost consciousness, albeit briefly. You vomited. I noted nystagmus in your eyes which isn’t fully resolved yet. Also, when you move your head quickly, the room spins. I would be derelict in my duty if I didn’t admit you as a patient.’ She produced a blue and white hospital gown with a flourish.

Beth reluctantly accepted the gown. ‘Okay, you win,’ she said wearily, a tidal wave of fatigue threatening to carry her off into its depths.

‘I usually do,’ Dr Jones informed her, smiling to remove the sting. ‘I’ll leave you in Nurse Gordon’s capable hands. I’ll check back with you in the morning.’ With that, she departed, a woman on a mission.

Once she was tied into the gown and settled beneath the starched sheet and blanket, Nurse Gordon looked at her as she smoothed the covers, as if gauging her likely reaction to what she had to say next.

‘The police are here,’ she said, tentatively.

Beth pulled herself upright, her head swimming and acid flooding into her mouth.

‘Are they here to arrest me?’ she gasped, heart pounding.

‘What? No, of course not,’ Nurse Gordon soothed, looking confused. ‘They’re here because you’ve been a victim of an assault.’

‘Oh! Is that what they think happened?’ asked Beth, tears springing to her eyes.

‘Yes, I’m afraid so,’ the nurse said, patting her hand. ‘Can I send him in?’ she asked. ‘If you don’t feel up to it, I can ask him to return tomorrow.’ She adjusted the pillows so Beth could sit up more comfortably.

‘No, it’s fine. Best get it over with,’ Beth replied with a grimace.

A couple of minutes later, DS Hunter entered. His bulk seemed to fill the tiny space and for once he looked somewhat at a loss. His suit was rumpled and there were dark shadows under his eyes.

‘You look worse than I do.’ Beth grimaced. ‘Please, sit down.’

A smile twitched on and off. ‘It’s been a long day,’ he admitted, doing as she asked. ‘How are you feeling?’

‘A bit sore and sorry for myself. In all the years I lived in Glasgow, I was never assaulted just out walking about.’

‘The wound in your head has debris in it consistent with having been hit with a brick or large stone. Plus, an elderly lady looking out of her window saw you crumple on the pavement and someone wearing dark clothing run off down by the harbour. She phoned it in, that’s how I got to hear about it. I went to your address then figured you must have come here.’

‘So, someone definitely tried to hurt me…’ Beth said.

‘It appears to have been a targeted attack. Random assaults like this don’t really happen up here,’ he admitted, scratching his head and leaning his long body back in the chair. ‘The odd crime of passion, an attempted bag snatch, a drunken punch-up maybe, but nothing like this.

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