Death of a Liar by M. C. Beaton Read Free Book Online

see Anka again.
    â€œWhat! I would ha’ thought you’d be desperate to get back to your sheep and hens and rural boredom.”
    â€œTell you what,” said Hamish, “there’s no need for me and Dick to be up here. When you leave, take Dick with you.” He told Jimmy about finding the cigarette packet, the discarded cigarette, and the tyre tracks.
    â€œWell, now I’m here,” said Jimmy, “I may as well go round the village and see if I can dig up anything. Damn! Where did all those black clouds come from? To add to my misery, it’s going to rain. I’ll give it the whole day and then I’ll take Dick Fraser off with me.”
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    Questions, questions, questions, thought Hamish later that day, and no answers. The wind had risen, sending squalls of lashing rain into his face. Dick had greeted the news that he was returning to Lochdubh with delight. He said he would take Sonsie and Lugs with him.
    Hamish waited until Dick was entertaining Jimmy and the policemen with sandwiches and beer from Sophie Mackay’s shop and hurried off to see if Anka was at home.
    His heart gave a lurch when she opened the door to him. He privately chided himself that he knew nothing really of her character.
    â€œOh, Hamish,” she said. “Come in. Not more questions?”
    â€œChust wanted to see how you were,” said Hamish, the sudden sibilance of his accent showing his nervousness. He reflected that he had rarely seen such beauty outside the pages of a glossy magazine. Of course, Priscilla Halburton-Smythe was beautiful, but there was a generous warmth and sexiness about Anka that was lacking in Priscilla, he thought disloyally.
    He followed her into the kitchen. “Do you watch a lot of television?” he asked, indicating the set.
    â€œI keep it on for company. Oh, there’s your fiancée.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThat news presenter. Your policeman told me you are getting married.”
    That’s it, thought Hamish bitterly. He’s got to go.
    â€œI am not engaged to be married to Elspeth or anyone else,” he said stiffly. “We were engaged at one time but it didn’t work out. I don’t know why Dick told you that.” Oh, yes, I do, he thought savagely. And I want to deal with that problem, now.
    â€œI’ve just remembered something,” he said. “I’ll call later.”
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    He marched back to the camping site where Dick was sitting by the fire. “Where’s Jimmy?” demanded Hamish.
    â€œThe shop’s closed and he wanted whisky so he’s gone to Kinlochbervie. He’ll be back to take me to Lochdubh.”
    â€œAnd when you’re there,” said Hamish coldly, “you can start packing and you know why. I’ve told you before not to interfere in my private life and I’m sick of you.”
    The rain had stopped, but a high wind was sending ragged clouds flying across the moon. Hamish walked to the beach and stared at the crashing waves, beginning to feel he had been too cruel, and then wondering why.
    Dick sat miserably by the fire. He would have to go back to Strathbane and its dirty drug-ridden streets, and leave the paradise that Lochdubh was to him. He heard the noise of a boat’s engine coming at speed along the coast. To distract himself from his woes, he raised a powerful pair of binoculars and focussed them on the approaching vessel. It was a powerboat. He registered with alarm that a masked man was at the wheel and another masked man was holding a gun.
    Dick hurtled down the beach and flung himself on Hamish and drove him down into the sand as a bullet whined over their heads.
    â€œKeep down,” shouted Dick. “Someone’s trying to kill you!”
    He lay panting on top of Hamish as the boat roared off into the night.
    â€œThat was close,” he gasped.
    They staggered up from the beach in time to meet Jimmy. When he heard the news, he phoned