Abattoir Blues by Peter Robinson Read Free Book Online Page B

with Ian now for about six years. We got the place when I was still with Lenny and Ian was two, but these past four years we’ve been on our own. One thing led to another. Funny, but we never thought about the age thing. People say I look younger than I am, and Michael looks older than he is, more mature.’
    Annie glanced at the photos on the mantelpiece again. Alex was right. They made a handsome couple, seemed natural together, and no casual viewer would notice an age difference. ‘Where’s Lenny now?’ she asked.
    ‘God knows. Or cares. Last I heard of him he was working on the ferries from Immingham to Rotterdam. Up to something, no doubt, some scam or other. Lenny was a loser, but it took me a long time to realise it.’
    ‘I presume that if Michael does a lot of digital photography, he’s got a computer, right?’
    ‘We share mine. I’ve had it for ages, since before we met. He’s just about computer literate. I pretty much had to teach him everything he knows. He hadn’t used a computer before we got together.’
    ‘Not even at school?’
    Alex shrugged. ‘Maybe. He never spoke much about school. He certainly didn’t know his way around a computer, anyway.’
    ‘We might need to examine it later.’ It was a delicate situation. Annie knew the rules on computers. No one but a qualified techie was supposed to touch one, and only then after it had been photographed from every angle, including what was showing on the screen and where the various devices were plugged in at the back, front or sides. Although this wasn’t a crime scene, if any information gleaned from Michael Lane’s computer indicated that a crime, or crimes, had been committed, then its value in court would be greatly diminished if Annie and Doug Wilson had been interfering with it first. On the other hand, she wasn’t at a point in her investigation where she had any reason to bring in the CSIs and have it removed. If there was incriminating information on it, there was nothing to stop Alex from erasing everything after Annie had left. She decided to have a quick look before then, with Doug Wilson and Alex Preston present as witnesses. She asked Alex if that was all right.
    ‘It’s fine with me,’ said Alex. ‘Now?’
    ‘Later will do. We have a few more questions first. Does Michael have a steady job at the moment, or has he managed to get on a photography course?’
    ‘He’s doing his A levels at night school, so he has a better chance of getting in college next year, if he does well, but he’s still unemployed. And it gets him down sometimes. He does odd jobs to help make ends meet.’
    ‘What sort of odd jobs?’
    ‘Farming stuff, mostly. That’s all he knows, apart from drawing and photography. But there’s plenty of it about, depending on the time of year. A lot of it’s unskilled, of course. Casual manual labour. Harvesting and such like. But he’s got a real knack for sheep shearing, and that makes good money sometimes. But it’s all so seasonal. Why are you asking me all these questions? Has something happened to him? Has he had an accident? Or done something stupid?’
    ‘Why would you think that?’
    Alex studied the backs of her hands. Annie noticed how long and tapered her fingers were, how nicely manicured and clean the nails. ‘He can be a bit hot-headed sometimes, that’s all. When he gets frustrated. I don’t mean with me or Ian. He’d never lay a finger on us, and I’d never stand for it. Not after Lenny. So what is this all about?’
    ‘It’s nothing to worry about, really,’ said Annie. ‘His father’s neighbour’s farm was broken into on Saturday night. A valuable tractor was stolen.’
    ‘Beddoes?’
    ‘That’s right. Do you know him?’
    ‘I’ve never met him, but Michael mentioned him sometimes.’
    ‘In what way?’
    ‘He said Mr Beddoes never liked him. Used to chase him off his land. Called him a layabout and a retard. Michael said Beddoes seems all right on the surface, but he