Murder on the Moor - C. S. Challinor [38]
“This is right awkward,” Rex began, splaying his hands on the table. “But I cannot help but notice that Donnie is a bit slow.”
“Aye, in some ways. But once you show him how to do something, he’s reliable and willing. And he has a special touch with animals, always brings stray cats and dogs home. He’s kind-hearted that way.”
“I can see that. And what aboot wi’ girls? How does he get on wi’ women?”
“You mean a girlfriend? He’s never had one, but he’s only seventeen.”
“The reason I ask is that Moira’s body was tampered with while she was in Donnie’s care in the stable.”
Hamish’s already florid face grew an even ruddier shade, infusing with blood all the way to his receding hairline. “Och, he might have taken a quick look, but I’m sure he didna mean her any disrespect.”
“You were there too, helping him in the stable.”
“It must’ve happened while my back was turned.”
Rex wondered. The man would not meet his gaze. “Going back to last night … You spent a bit of time talking to Moira.”
“She spoke to everybody. Such a nice lass. Verra outgoing. What a shame …”
“Did you see her after she went upstairs?”
“No, I never saw her again until she turned up in the loch.”
Rex shook his head slowly at him. “Now, I know that’s not true. I heard you approach her when she was aboot to take a bath.”
Hamish’s countenance darkened. “So?”
“She sounded a wee bit upset.”
“She was leading me on earlier. I dinna know why she would suddenly get so agitated.”
“There are boundaries, Hamish. Approaching a woman in her dressing gown might leave her feeling a bit vulnerable.”
“Look, I dinna know what happened to your ex-girlfriend. She slammed the door in my face. I was worried she would make a scene, so I just left.”
“You did not sound too happy aboot it.”
“Do you like rejection?” Hamish asked with a scowl.
“I tend to avoid getting into situations where I might get rejected.”
Hamish’s body seemed to implode as he sank back in the chair. “Aye, well. ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained,’ as they say.”
“I need to ask you aboot an argument you had with your wife this morning.”
“She told you?” Hamish expostulated.
“Helen heard you.”
“Is this placed bugged? There’s no bloody privacy!” Hamish paused a beat before resuming. “It was aboot something that happened a long time ago. It’s not relevant to your ex-girlfriend’s murder.”
“I need all the facts, if only to be able to eliminate them. Do you have any secrets you keep from your wife?”
“Shona?”
“Is there another wife?”
Hamish glared at him. “Of course not! I only meant, why should I keep any secrets from her?”
“She may keep some from you.”
“Like the smoking, you mean?”
“You know?”
“Aye.”
“Wouldn’t it be simpler if you just told her you knew?”
“If she thought I condoned her habit, she’d just smoke more, and we canna afford it.”
Rex wondered what bad habit of his own Hamish indulged in to make him tolerate his wife’s aberration.
“Look,” the hotelier said with a sigh. “My wife’s right upset aboot Moira. We had a drowning in our loch a couple of summers ago, if you must know. A wee lass at the hotel.”
Rex glanced up from his spiral notebook and studied the heavy face in front of him. “I’m sorry.”
“I didna want to bring it up as it’s not the sort of thing you want to broadcast. The parents were in the sauna at the time. You know how bairns are. She wandered away from the person supposed to be minding her and waded into the loch. She’d been talking aboot the magic dragon. She was right fascinated wi’ the idea of a fantastical monster living in the water.”
“How old was she?”
“Six or seven.” Hamish wrung his hands. “It was an accident, but all the same … Terrible publicity at the time. It’s a godsend there’s renewed interest in the Loch Lochy Monster. Rob Roy has promised not to allude to the drowning.”
“This was the subject of the argument between you and your wife?”
“Aye. Well, it’s a long story.” Hamish scratched his sandpaper stubble. “Will that be all?”
“Just one other thing. Did you need to get more coal for the heater in the stable?”
“What do you mean?”
“I just wondered