McAllister asked, “Anybody in the guest house, or anybody who chose to enter my room by the open window could have taken it.”
“I would need a lot of convincing that somebody casually took that risk simply to acquire a Swiss knife.” Frank was very positive. “It would make sense, though, if it was spirited away by somebody who saw more than commercial value in it.”
McAllister had to admit the strength of Holland’s convictions.
“Look,” Frank went on, “the more I think about this the simpler it becomes. You found the knife, John, on Monday when you were at Poll Salach with your botany group. You showed it to them, and O’Lochlen, and said you might pass it on to Curtis. Later that evening you discovered what might be O’Lochlen’s initials on it and then it is stolen from your room. Nobody else knew the knife even existed other than O’Lochlen and your people from Gregans Castle Hotel who were all safely back there.”
“And then somebody tried to murder you when you were out walking.” Ann shivered and put an arm around McAllister.
“Who?” Susan asked.
“O’Lochlen.” Holland affirmed grimly.
“But for Heaven’s sake why?” she pursued him.
“Because John found the knife and was the only person who had an opportunity to discover the initials. O’Lochlen realised he had made a mistake in not admitting ownership at Poll Salach and if the truth of this dawned on John then his suspicions would be aroused.”
“Suspicions of what?” Susan asked.
“This is the puzzle. We don’t know. But if my line of reasoning is correct, then John’s possession of the knife was regarded by O’Lochlen as sufficiently threatening to him to obliterate all traces of the knife and also obliterate all possibilities of John finding the initials and mentioning them to somebody. Curtis, for instance.” Frank was enjoying his role as sleuth.
McAllister was now feeling too tired to take part in the conversation but he was fascinated by the possibilities which Frank was opening up, and his theories about O’Lochlen wanting to obliterate him.
“All of this makes no sense whatsoever until we know why such a trivial item as a Swiss knife and a trivial incident as finding it at Poll Salach would drive O’Lochlen to such extremes.” Susan was equally enjoying her role as “doubting Thomas”.
“It can be only one thing.” Ann said with a strong sense of conviction.
“What’s that?” Susan asked.
“The association of the knife with the place. Poll Salach.”
“I’m sorry I don’t follow you , Ann.”
“I think I do!” McAllister was suddenly roused from his torpor. “I don’t know why I’m saying this but if the story is true so far, then the whole business has some connection with me finding Hyland’s body there!”
At that moment they heard a car stopping outside. They could see, through the elliptical window, the beams of the headlights pointing out to sea, and then being switched off. A heavy footstep approached on the gravel surface followed by a ring on the bell.
Holland went into the hallway and they could hear a muffled conversation. Then Frank entered the restaurant with Con Curtis.
“Well I’m glad to see you up and well again.” He said to McAllister, who thanked him and introduced him to Ann.
“I already met this lady in Galway when you were enjoying your slumbers.” Curtis laughed.
“Coffee or a glass of wine, or something stronger?” Susan asked.
“Coffee would be very welcome, thanks.” Curtis looked around expectantly. “It’s very quiet here tonight.”
“We decided to have a short rest after the excitement of the past few days.” Holland said, somewhat pointedly.
“I’m sorry about my part in that.” Curtis confessed.
“Oh no hard feelings really, I understand you had to do what seemed right at the time. Anyway, everything worked out well as we had only a few bookings and these were reallocated in the area to everybody’s satisfaction. The
“I would need a lot of convincing that somebody casually took that risk simply to acquire a Swiss knife.” Frank was very positive. “It would make sense, though, if it was spirited away by somebody who saw more than commercial value in it.”
McAllister had to admit the strength of Holland’s convictions.
“Look,” Frank went on, “the more I think about this the simpler it becomes. You found the knife, John, on Monday when you were at Poll Salach with your botany group. You showed it to them, and O’Lochlen, and said you might pass it on to Curtis. Later that evening you discovered what might be O’Lochlen’s initials on it and then it is stolen from your room. Nobody else knew the knife even existed other than O’Lochlen and your people from Gregans Castle Hotel who were all safely back there.”
“And then somebody tried to murder you when you were out walking.” Ann shivered and put an arm around McAllister.
“Who?” Susan asked.
“O’Lochlen.” Holland affirmed grimly.
“But for Heaven’s sake why?” she pursued him.
“Because John found the knife and was the only person who had an opportunity to discover the initials. O’Lochlen realised he had made a mistake in not admitting ownership at Poll Salach and if the truth of this dawned on John then his suspicions would be aroused.”
“Suspicions of what?” Susan asked.
“This is the puzzle. We don’t know. But if my line of reasoning is correct, then John’s possession of the knife was regarded by O’Lochlen as sufficiently threatening to him to obliterate all traces of the knife and also obliterate all possibilities of John finding the initials and mentioning them to somebody. Curtis, for instance.” Frank was enjoying his role as sleuth.
McAllister was now feeling too tired to take part in the conversation but he was fascinated by the possibilities which Frank was opening up, and his theories about O’Lochlen wanting to obliterate him.
“All of this makes no sense whatsoever until we know why such a trivial item as a Swiss knife and a trivial incident as finding it at Poll Salach would drive O’Lochlen to such extremes.” Susan was equally enjoying her role as “doubting Thomas”.
“It can be only one thing.” Ann said with a strong sense of conviction.
“What’s that?” Susan asked.
“The association of the knife with the place. Poll Salach.”
“I’m sorry I don’t follow you , Ann.”
“I think I do!” McAllister was suddenly roused from his torpor. “I don’t know why I’m saying this but if the story is true so far, then the whole business has some connection with me finding Hyland’s body there!”
At that moment they heard a car stopping outside. They could see, through the elliptical window, the beams of the headlights pointing out to sea, and then being switched off. A heavy footstep approached on the gravel surface followed by a ring on the bell.
Holland went into the hallway and they could hear a muffled conversation. Then Frank entered the restaurant with Con Curtis.
“Well I’m glad to see you up and well again.” He said to McAllister, who thanked him and introduced him to Ann.
“I already met this lady in Galway when you were enjoying your slumbers.” Curtis laughed.
“Coffee or a glass of wine, or something stronger?” Susan asked.
“Coffee would be very welcome, thanks.” Curtis looked around expectantly. “It’s very quiet here tonight.”
“We decided to have a short rest after the excitement of the past few days.” Holland said, somewhat pointedly.
“I’m sorry about my part in that.” Curtis confessed.
“Oh no hard feelings really, I understand you had to do what seemed right at the time. Anyway, everything worked out well as we had only a few bookings and these were reallocated in the area to everybody’s satisfaction. The
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