A Quiet Death by Alanna Knight Read Free Book Online Page A

Mrs McGonagall, quite distraught about a missing female relative. Ramsey listened with an expressionless face.
    Then abruptly he led them to the mortuary and raised the sheet on a girl who had been pretty and voluptuous too. Surprisingly, however, the medical exchanges between Ramsey and Vince, including the fact that Polly Briggs had been a virgin, made nonsense of an unwanted pregnancy or indeed of prostitution.
    Vince was also puzzled. 'I wonder why she committed suicide, then. An unhappy love affair, do you think?'
    'Perhaps,' said Dr Ramsey.
    'Have you any theories?' Faro asked.
    'No. None at all. Now if you will excuse me, gentlemen...'
    Faro looked sharply at the young doctor. His negative was a fraction too emphatic, his first eagerness to be helpful had faded rather suddenly. It indicated a refusal to discuss the subject any further, unusual between two doctors with a common background.
    As they left that sad icy room of death they almost cannoned into a constable ushering a wild and distraught-looking man towards the door.
    'Another poor soul come to identify a victim. God, how I used to hate those moments,' said Vince, 'when there is nothing you can say or do to give any comfort.'
    At the front door, Faro paused. 'I think I will just pay my respects to Superintendent Johnston before I leave.'
    Vince looked up at the clock. 'And I have a surgery in half an hour. See you later, Stepfather. Enjoy the play.'
    'Are you not coming too?'
    'Not tonight. I have an engagement.' With a gentle smile, 'Besides I've seen McGonagall's Macbeth twice already.'
    'Oh. Is it worth my while?'
    Vince laughed. 'Knowing your sensitivities, I wouldn't recommend it if I had any doubts. But this is a performance not to be missed. You have my word,' he added as they parted.
    Faro was warmly welcomed by Superintendent Johnston, who had called upon his assistance on several occasions to investigate murder or fraud cases where there was involvement with an Edinburgh area.
    'What brings you here?'
    'My stepson, Dr Laurie, had business with Dr Ramsey. Concerning the girl who was found drowned. The suicide.'
    The Superintendent nodded sympathetically. 'That was Briggs, her father, just gone along to make the formal identification. Poor man, he'd just heard about it. Someone read it in the paper and told him. Apparently the lass has been missing for weeks now. Tinkers they are, left their travelling circus in Fife. He's been searching for her everywhere.'
    Faro looked up with new interest. 'I wonder, could I have a word with him before he leaves?'
    At the Superintendent's puzzled glance, he said: 'My stepson lodges with the man McGonagall who came in earlier today. A young relative, a girl, was friendly with the dead lass. She is also missing.' His enquiring glance brought no response. Obviously the Superintendent knew nothing of any misfortune to Kathleen Neil.
    'McGonagall, eh? We thought he might have done her in. Gave orders to have him watched. Looks weird and wild enough. But you can't go on appearances,' he added in what sounded like regret.
    Promising to dine with the Superintendent and his wife on some future visit, Faro excused himself quickly and walked towards the mortuary where Polly's father was just emerging.
    Overcome with grief, the tears spouting from his eyes, Briggs sobbed noisily into a large red handkerchief. To question him at such a time seemed a terrible intrusion into his agony.
    'My condolences, sir,' said Faro. 'Come, let me help you to a seat—over here.'
    'She's dead, my bonny bairn,' was the savage reply. 'What can you do to help?'
    'I am a detective inspector, sir. We have knowledge that her friend Kathleen Neil with whom she lodged at the McGonagalls' was with her a few weeks ago. She is still missing. I am trying to trace her and any information you have might be of considerable assistance.'
    'Kathleen Neil, that one. What's she done?'
    'Nothing as far as I know. My enquiries are on behalf of her relatives who are