Hamish.
When Blair was carried up to the waterfront and was being examined by Dr Brodie, who had come hurrying up with a coat over his pyjamas, Jimmy said, ‘So who’s dead?’
‘An American tourist called Hal Addenfest. He was staying at the Tommel Castle Hotel.’
‘That’s the one you reported missing?’
‘The same.’
‘Let’s have a look.’ They walked down to where Hal was lying.
‘He got a sore dunt in the back of his head,’ said Hamish.
‘He might have fallen down the steps and dragged himself to the water’s edge,’ said Jimmy. ‘Look at what’s just happened to Blair.’
Another siren sounded in the distance. ‘That’ll probably be the ambulance from Braikie Hospital,’ said Hamish. ‘Blair must really have broken his leg.’
When Blair was loaded into the ambulance, Jimmy and Hamish were joined by the pathologist, Professor Jane Forsythe. ‘He’s got a crack on the back of his head,’ said Hamish.
She examined the body carefully and then straightened up. ‘I’ll be able to tell you better what happened to him when I do the autopsy, but, yes, I would guess he has been killed by a
blow to the head.’
The forensic team started their work. A cameraman took pictures. A small crowd of villagers had gathered on the waterfront.
‘His notebook’s missing,’ said Hamish.
‘What notebook?’ asked Jimmy.
‘He said he was going to be a writer. He took notes of what people said. He took Effie Garrard out a couple of times. I asked to see his notes about what she had said to him, but he
refused. I couldn’t press him because it wasn’t a murder investigation.’
‘And you think it is now?’
‘I think it always should ha’ been. I’ll be off and talk to the wee boys who found him, and then I’d better check if a rowing boat has been used. Someone could have taken
him out in a boat, cracked him on the head, and left him on the beach.’
‘So why not just give him to the fishes?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe someone planned to take him off in a car and dump him somewhere where we wouldn’t find him. I’ll start in the morning and talk to all the people
whose cottage windows overlook the loch.’
‘I’ll have plenty of men to help you. Every damn cottage seems to overlook the loch.’
‘I suppose you’re in charge of the case now, Jimmy.’
‘Aye. Great, isn’t it?’
‘I would suggest you start by reopening the case on Effie. I’ll tell you everything I’ve got.’
Jimmy sighed. ‘It’s going to be a long night. I’ll call on you in the morning. I want bacon, sausage, eggs, and whisky.’
Hamish grinned and touched his cap. ‘Yes, sir!’
Hamish went to the Hamiltons’ cottage. Their father said they had kept the boys up, knowing the police would want to talk to them.
Diarmuid and Sean were in the living room, drinking cocoa and being watched over by their anxious mother.
‘Now, boys,’ said Hamish, ‘how soon after you left your home did you find the body?’
‘About ten minutes,’ said Diarmuid. ‘We went out to throw stones in the loch. I thought it was a seal. Then I saw it was a deid man.’
‘Did you see or hear anything or anyone else?’
Their eyes widened with fright. ‘You mean the murderer might still ha’ been around?’ asked Sean.
‘Maybe.’
The boys looked at each other and then shook their heads. ‘It was awfy quiet,’ said Sean. ‘Not a sound.’
‘I’ll take statements from you both later. Off to bed with you and try to get some sleep.’
Mr Hamilton let Hamish out. ‘They’re good boys,’ he said.
‘I know,’ said Hamish. ‘They didn’t mean any harm. I doubt if they’ll be sneaking out for some time to come.’
As Hamish walked towards the police station, he saw police were already interviewing the villagers who had gathered. He decided to catch a few hours’ sleep, relieved that Blair was not on
the case or Hamish would have been allowed no sleep at all.
He set the alarm for six o’clock
When Blair was carried up to the waterfront and was being examined by Dr Brodie, who had come hurrying up with a coat over his pyjamas, Jimmy said, ‘So who’s dead?’
‘An American tourist called Hal Addenfest. He was staying at the Tommel Castle Hotel.’
‘That’s the one you reported missing?’
‘The same.’
‘Let’s have a look.’ They walked down to where Hal was lying.
‘He got a sore dunt in the back of his head,’ said Hamish.
‘He might have fallen down the steps and dragged himself to the water’s edge,’ said Jimmy. ‘Look at what’s just happened to Blair.’
Another siren sounded in the distance. ‘That’ll probably be the ambulance from Braikie Hospital,’ said Hamish. ‘Blair must really have broken his leg.’
When Blair was loaded into the ambulance, Jimmy and Hamish were joined by the pathologist, Professor Jane Forsythe. ‘He’s got a crack on the back of his head,’ said Hamish.
She examined the body carefully and then straightened up. ‘I’ll be able to tell you better what happened to him when I do the autopsy, but, yes, I would guess he has been killed by a
blow to the head.’
The forensic team started their work. A cameraman took pictures. A small crowd of villagers had gathered on the waterfront.
‘His notebook’s missing,’ said Hamish.
‘What notebook?’ asked Jimmy.
‘He said he was going to be a writer. He took notes of what people said. He took Effie Garrard out a couple of times. I asked to see his notes about what she had said to him, but he
refused. I couldn’t press him because it wasn’t a murder investigation.’
‘And you think it is now?’
‘I think it always should ha’ been. I’ll be off and talk to the wee boys who found him, and then I’d better check if a rowing boat has been used. Someone could have taken
him out in a boat, cracked him on the head, and left him on the beach.’
‘So why not just give him to the fishes?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe someone planned to take him off in a car and dump him somewhere where we wouldn’t find him. I’ll start in the morning and talk to all the people
whose cottage windows overlook the loch.’
‘I’ll have plenty of men to help you. Every damn cottage seems to overlook the loch.’
‘I suppose you’re in charge of the case now, Jimmy.’
‘Aye. Great, isn’t it?’
‘I would suggest you start by reopening the case on Effie. I’ll tell you everything I’ve got.’
Jimmy sighed. ‘It’s going to be a long night. I’ll call on you in the morning. I want bacon, sausage, eggs, and whisky.’
Hamish grinned and touched his cap. ‘Yes, sir!’
Hamish went to the Hamiltons’ cottage. Their father said they had kept the boys up, knowing the police would want to talk to them.
Diarmuid and Sean were in the living room, drinking cocoa and being watched over by their anxious mother.
‘Now, boys,’ said Hamish, ‘how soon after you left your home did you find the body?’
‘About ten minutes,’ said Diarmuid. ‘We went out to throw stones in the loch. I thought it was a seal. Then I saw it was a deid man.’
‘Did you see or hear anything or anyone else?’
Their eyes widened with fright. ‘You mean the murderer might still ha’ been around?’ asked Sean.
‘Maybe.’
The boys looked at each other and then shook their heads. ‘It was awfy quiet,’ said Sean. ‘Not a sound.’
‘I’ll take statements from you both later. Off to bed with you and try to get some sleep.’
Mr Hamilton let Hamish out. ‘They’re good boys,’ he said.
‘I know,’ said Hamish. ‘They didn’t mean any harm. I doubt if they’ll be sneaking out for some time to come.’
As Hamish walked towards the police station, he saw police were already interviewing the villagers who had gathered. He decided to catch a few hours’ sleep, relieved that Blair was not on
the case or Hamish would have been allowed no sleep at all.
He set the alarm for six o’clock
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