Allegra Fairweather_ Paranormal Investigator - Janni Nell [44]
“How well do you know him?”
“About as well as anyone in the village, I suppose. He’s always been aloof. Kept himself apart from us. It was different when Lady Flora was alive. She got involved in the village activities. She let us use the grounds of Maitland House for the annual fetes. We raised enough money to build the community hall.”
“What kind of relationship did Flora have with Sir Alastair?”
“I dinnae think he beat her, if that’s what you mean. In fact I’d say she was very much the boss in their relationship.”
I tried to imagine a woman bossing Sir Alastair and failed.
“That’s why,” Douglas continued, “I cannae believe he’d beat Lady Justina.”
A thought struck me and I asked, “Did Lady Flora have her own money when she married Sir Alastair?”
“The rumor is she had all the money. Sir Alastair had the title and the stately home.”
“And now he has everything. Absolute power. And you know what they say about absolute power.”
“It corrupts absolutely.”
We were interrupted by the arrival of some customers. They weren’t from the village. They looked like day trippers from the city. I left Douglas to look after them and went for a walk along the loch.
I walked in the opposite direction to the Dedfield Rose and soon I reached Furness Wharf. A couple of small pleasure craft were anchored nearby and there were some boats for hire. I wandered over to the boatshed and the little shop that sold bait and nautical things.
The guy behind the counter was in his thirties. He had longish fair hair, a beard and sea-blue eyes.
He looked me up and down. “Are you the paranormal investigator?”
I told him I was and introduced myself.
“I’m Jason,” he said. “I won’t shake your hand. I’ve been cutting bait. What can I do for you?” He leaned forward and said sotto voce, “Want me to tell you about the ghostly doings on the loch?”
I smiled at him. “Please.”
He laughed. “There aren’t any.”
“No, really,” I played along with him. “You can tell me.”
He shook his head. “I was joking. Whatever you’re looking for isn’t in the loch.”
“Where is it?”
He laughed again. “How should I know? I’m not exactly a believer in this supernatural stuff.” I was pretty sure he was lying but I didn’t call him on it. I wasn’t here to question him…or at least that wasn’t the only reason.
“How much does it cost to hire a rowboat?” I asked.
He named a figure. Then he asked, “Can you row?”
Trying not to be offended at his implication that I couldn’t, I said easily, “I think I might be able to manage it.”
He looked at my shoulders as though assessing my strength. “You want to take a boat out now?”
I shook my head. “I’ll get back to you.”
“Any time,” he said.
I bought a soda and a sandwich and took them outside. Dangling my legs from the end of the wharf, I munched while I stared at the loch. It was dull grey but calm. I thought about McEwen and his bitten body and the pile of fish that had been left in its place. Nothing made sense.
I twirled the facts around in my mind, arranging and rearranging them. But, like a poorly made jigsaw, the pieces refused to fit together.
When the breeze became chilly I left the wharf. I spent the afternoon hanging around the village talking to the people I met in the street, but no one shed any light on my case.
When afternoon threatened to turn to evening I headed back to Mac’s. The bar was filling up when I arrived. I saw Mrs. Ferguson sitting in a corner. Her tiny fingers were wrapped around a half-empty glass. The liquid inside looked like Guinness. She caught sight of me and beckoned me over.
“How are ye, lassie?”
After we had exchanged the usual pleasantries, I asked, “Is something wrong?”
“Why?” Her eyes sparkled mischievously. “Because I’m drinking so early in the evening? No. But at my age I dinnae feel the need to deny myself anything. By tomorrow I could be dead.” She stared contemplatively into her glass. “I’m the