A Deadly Drop by Diana J. Febry

Author:Diana J. Febry [Febry, Diana J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-05T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

It was gone lunchtime when Fiona caught up with Humphries. “What can you tell me about Brendon Murphy?”

“Fifty-six-year-old bachelor living in a rented cottage on the edge of Hinnegar Woods, worked for Sommer Fields Farms as a dairyman. The alarm was raised when he didn’t turn up this morning for milking. He was discovered in his car in the garage with the engine still running. Carbon monoxide poisoning is the presumed cause of death, but there was recent bruising to his face and stomach. The autopsy will be in a day or two. No history of depression or anxiety. He was a regular at the Suffolk Arms, where he spent most of his lunchtimes and some evenings. He was his usual cheery self when he was in there yesterday, claiming he knew who had killed Pat Thomas.”

“What! Why didn’t we know about this before?”

Humphries shrugged. “You should bear in mind he has claimed to have seen Elvis, Lord Lucan and aliens in the past, so nobody believed him. And various governments have tried to silence him.”

“What else do we know about him?”

“The people who had mentioned his poaching on Pat’s land described him as a free spirit and a wily one. He liked to think he mostly lived off the grid and on his wits. He was also a bit of a conspiracy theorist and didn’t own a television, computer, or mobile phone as he considered them all to be government-sponsored surveillance devices.”

“Nobody had suggested Pat had any alternative views other than being anti-hunt, so I doubt they were friends.”

“I’ve spoken to the pub landlord and I’m due to see a couple of his friends in half an hour.”

“Do you have a list of customers who might have overheard him saying he knew who killed Pat?”

“Not yet, but I will,” Humphries said. “How did you get along with Dando?”

“Apart from the fact he’s a total creep, he confirmed Pat was determined to kick up a stink over the appointment of Garland, so it’s more surprising nothing was found at the house relating to her. He says he didn’t arrange to meet her, but I’m going to check his alibi for the day.”

“You think it could have been him?”

“I can’t think of a motive, but he would be someone Pat would look forward to meeting and want to impress,” Fiona replied. “He’s also freelanced with complete freedom to move about, and he has military training.”

“Wouldn’t she have told someone if she was about to interviewed? If not her husband, the other hunt saboteurs.”

“You’re probably right, but I still need to check. He said something else interesting that I want to look into. He had the impression there was some history between Pat and Garland.”

“I wonder what it was. There’s quite an age difference,” Humphries said. “I heard on the grapevine she is standing down as the local rural officer. I spoke to a couple of constables, and they thought she was okay for a special. Quick to learn with a good sense of humour.

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