A Quiet Death by Alanna Knight Page A

subsequently put under arrest for 'violent behaviour and abusive language and threatening bodily harm to Mr Wilfred Deane'.
    Faro cursed. 'My apologies, sir. This really is too bad. After all his promises of good behaviour too.'
    'I gather the young man is enamoured of Miss Deane.' The Superintendent raised his eyes heavenward. 'We must make allowances for infatuations. We older folk have lived long enough to regard falling in love as a temporary state of insanity,' he added with a sigh.
    Faro gave him a sharp glance. A married man with six children at the last count, Johnston no doubt spoke from a wealth of experience.
    Leaning forward resting his elbows on the desk, the Superintendent said: 'Well, Faro, what are we to do? I am reluctant to have this go any further—the scandal and so forth. We don't want to bring this into the court and neither—to give them credit, for I gather this is not the first offence—do the Deane family.'
    Rubbing his chin thoughtfully he added: 'If you could possibly guarantee his behaviour in future, the weight of your reputation will be enough to placate them, I fancy.' And when Faro looked doubtful, 'They are showing considerable patience and forbearing, you know. So is this young lady who is being constantly harassed. Do you think you could talk some sense into the lad?'
    He frowned over the constable's note again as if there was something he might have missed the first time. 'I gather the damage to property included the smashing of a window and a valuable vase in the hall. Chinese it was, cost a hundred pounds—'
    Faro groaned. What on earth had possessed Vince to behave in this ridiculous manner? 'I will settle the account. And you have my word that I will do my very best to ensure that my stepson keeps well away from Deane Hall in future.'
    As they shook hands, Johnston smiled. He looked relieved. 'It was good to see you again, Faro. Look, let's have dinner together. I'll consult the wife and see what we have on. Staying long?'
    'Alas, no. I'm due back at the Central Office early next week.'
    'In that case we had better make it lunch at my club tomorrow. Pity you're going so soon.'
    It was indeed, thought Faro, just three days to sort out the mess Vince was making of his life. Almost certain that Vince would lose his job over this fiasco and, what was worse, would not be given a reference. Faro realised there was a distinct possibility that he would not be returning to Edinburgh alone.
    The real tragedy was that Vince's reckless behaviour might have cost him his future as a doctor, for Faro could not imagine Sir Arnold, once he heard about this evening's events, ever letting the young madman set foot across his threshold to threaten his family and terrify his granddaughter.
    Accompanying him to the door, the Superintendent said: 'Until tomorrow, then?' And with a final sympathetic smile, 'As I said before, it's a pity you can't stay around until this business blows over. We'd all be happier if you were keeping an eye on the lad.'
    'And so would I, but I can't be keeper to a grown man. He has to lead his own life. For better or for worse.'
    'Caution him as best you can, Faro. If he does it again or makes a nuisance of himself in any way we'll have to put him inside. And if it comes to fisticuffs, as you well know, the scandal could finish him. Impress that upon him and for God's sake tell him to grow up. He'll soon meet someone else. There's better fish in the sea...'
    But the time-worn cliché didn't console Faro or Vince, or put either of them in a better frame of mind.
    Vince was pathetically eager to see him, a study in relief when he saw his stepfather walking down towards the cell where he was under guard.
    Faro's hopes, however, sank to zero when his stepson emerged. Always so spruce and elegant, now unkempt, unshaven, and looking as if he hadn't slept for several days, he had obviously been drinking heavily.
    Taking him firmly by the arm and saying, 'We'll talk later,' Faro