uppermost in most peoples' minds. Pulling
together and presenting a common front in times of adversity was
all very well when you were certain of your neighbours but when it
was possible that the murderer might be sitting at the same table
introversion and circumspection became the order of the
day.
Alex Ross was the exception to
the rule. He drank too much whisky and, to his wife's obvious
embarrassment, had quite a lot to say for himself. Jenny, whom Ross
was very fond of, did her best to humour him and tried to prevent
him becoming too loud in his opinions by diverting his attention to
other matters. Ross' wife Morag, a woman of large physical presence
and wearing for the occasion a purple dress smothered in sequins
and a matching hat which she kept on throughout the dinner, tried
to minimise the damage to her pride by smiling broadly at everyone
in turn and asking where they planned to spend their summer
holidays.
Ross eventually grew wise to
Jenny’s intervention and decided to bait Nigel Saxon about the
speed with which Saxon Medical had obtained official approval for
their product. For the first time since he had met him Fenton saw
Nigel Saxon lose his good humour. Ross, despite his inebriation
sensed it too and was inspired to greater efforts. He said loudly,
"If you ask me the funny handshake brigade were involved!"
There was uneasy laughter and
Jenny leaned across to Fenton to ask what he meant.
"Free masonry," whispered
Fenton in reply.
Saxon managed a smile too but
Ross was still intent on goading him. "Or maybe it wasn't," he said
conspiratorially, "They're too busy running the police force!"
There was more laughter but
then Ross suddenly added. "I think it was more like the Tree
Mob."
Fenton had no idea what Ross
meant and gathered that many other people were in the same boat but
it certainly meant something to Saxon for the colour drained from
his face and his hands shook slightly as they rested on the table.
"I think you have said enough Mr Ross!" he whispered through
gritted teeth.
Jenny and Fenton were
mesmerised by the change that had come over Saxon and a complete
silence came over the table before Ross who like many drunks seemed
absolutely amazed that he had managed to offend anyone said loudly,
"What's the matter? It was only a wee joke man."
Ian Ferguson quickly stepped in
to defuse the situation by getting to his feet and saying, I've no
idea what this is all about but I'm going to have some more wine.
Anyone else?"
Glasses were proffered and the
moment passed.
"A fun evening," whispered
Jenny in Fenton's ear.
"We'll go soon," Fenton
promised.
As the table was cleared Jenny
was engaged in conversation by Liz Scott the lab secretary and
Fenton found himself standing beside Ian Ferguson.
"Have you had any more thoughts
about the stuff we found in Neil's cupboard?" asked Ferguson
quietly.
Fenton shook his head and said,
"No. You?"
"No, but it's worrying me,"
said Ferguson.
"In what way?" asked Fenton
"I think we should have told
someone."
"Who?"
"You know, someone in
authority, the police."
"Why?" asked Fenton, knowing
full well that he was being obtuse but perversely wanting to hear
his own fears expressed by somebody else.
"We know that the killer is
using anticoagulants and we know that Neil Munro had a whole
cupboard full of them hidden away in his lab."
"Neil couldn't have been the
killer."
"I know that but it's an
uncomfortable coincidence don't you think?"
Fenton didn't get a chance to
reply for they were joined by Charles Tyson and Nigel Saxon who
asked them if they were having a good time. He held up a bottle of
whisky in front of them. Fenton declined but Ferguson offered his
glass to have it topped up.
"Dr Tyson tells me you are on
duty on Sunday morning Ian is that right?" asked Saxon.
"All too true I'm afraid. Why
do you ask?"
"I have to dismantle the Saxon
analyser some time in the afternoon. I wondered if you might be
willing to stay on to give me a
together and presenting a common front in times of adversity was
all very well when you were certain of your neighbours but when it
was possible that the murderer might be sitting at the same table
introversion and circumspection became the order of the
day.
Alex Ross was the exception to
the rule. He drank too much whisky and, to his wife's obvious
embarrassment, had quite a lot to say for himself. Jenny, whom Ross
was very fond of, did her best to humour him and tried to prevent
him becoming too loud in his opinions by diverting his attention to
other matters. Ross' wife Morag, a woman of large physical presence
and wearing for the occasion a purple dress smothered in sequins
and a matching hat which she kept on throughout the dinner, tried
to minimise the damage to her pride by smiling broadly at everyone
in turn and asking where they planned to spend their summer
holidays.
Ross eventually grew wise to
Jenny’s intervention and decided to bait Nigel Saxon about the
speed with which Saxon Medical had obtained official approval for
their product. For the first time since he had met him Fenton saw
Nigel Saxon lose his good humour. Ross, despite his inebriation
sensed it too and was inspired to greater efforts. He said loudly,
"If you ask me the funny handshake brigade were involved!"
There was uneasy laughter and
Jenny leaned across to Fenton to ask what he meant.
"Free masonry," whispered
Fenton in reply.
Saxon managed a smile too but
Ross was still intent on goading him. "Or maybe it wasn't," he said
conspiratorially, "They're too busy running the police force!"
There was more laughter but
then Ross suddenly added. "I think it was more like the Tree
Mob."
Fenton had no idea what Ross
meant and gathered that many other people were in the same boat but
it certainly meant something to Saxon for the colour drained from
his face and his hands shook slightly as they rested on the table.
"I think you have said enough Mr Ross!" he whispered through
gritted teeth.
Jenny and Fenton were
mesmerised by the change that had come over Saxon and a complete
silence came over the table before Ross who like many drunks seemed
absolutely amazed that he had managed to offend anyone said loudly,
"What's the matter? It was only a wee joke man."
Ian Ferguson quickly stepped in
to defuse the situation by getting to his feet and saying, I've no
idea what this is all about but I'm going to have some more wine.
Anyone else?"
Glasses were proffered and the
moment passed.
"A fun evening," whispered
Jenny in Fenton's ear.
"We'll go soon," Fenton
promised.
As the table was cleared Jenny
was engaged in conversation by Liz Scott the lab secretary and
Fenton found himself standing beside Ian Ferguson.
"Have you had any more thoughts
about the stuff we found in Neil's cupboard?" asked Ferguson
quietly.
Fenton shook his head and said,
"No. You?"
"No, but it's worrying me,"
said Ferguson.
"In what way?" asked Fenton
"I think we should have told
someone."
"Who?"
"You know, someone in
authority, the police."
"Why?" asked Fenton, knowing
full well that he was being obtuse but perversely wanting to hear
his own fears expressed by somebody else.
"We know that the killer is
using anticoagulants and we know that Neil Munro had a whole
cupboard full of them hidden away in his lab."
"Neil couldn't have been the
killer."
"I know that but it's an
uncomfortable coincidence don't you think?"
Fenton didn't get a chance to
reply for they were joined by Charles Tyson and Nigel Saxon who
asked them if they were having a good time. He held up a bottle of
whisky in front of them. Fenton declined but Ferguson offered his
glass to have it topped up.
"Dr Tyson tells me you are on
duty on Sunday morning Ian is that right?" asked Saxon.
"All too true I'm afraid. Why
do you ask?"
"I have to dismantle the Saxon
analyser some time in the afternoon. I wondered if you might be
willing to stay on to give me a
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