McQueen's Agency by Maureen Reynolds Read Free Book Online Page A

little bit of the way with you?
    ‘No, Mr Knox, I don’t mind.’
    ‘I keep telling you to call me John,’ he smiled as he locked the door.
    With the sun shining and everything looking green and fresh, Edna reviewed her terror following the morning’s incident. Perhaps the man had been running to catch the bus and collided with her accidentally. That would explain the collision … but not the fist aimed at her face.
    John was chatting as they walked and she tried to put it out of her mind. It was so pleasant being with him and she was sorry his wife had died so young.
    They reached the top of Paradise Road before she realised he had walked her home.
    ‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ he said. ‘Do you want me to come for you in the car? It’s no bother.’
    She felt her face go red. ‘Oh no, John. I like the walk.’
    She watched as he strode away and wished she had taken up his offer. What if there were other foggy days? Was the unknown man watching her and waiting for another chance to strike her?
    She was glad when she reached her front door. Billy would be doing his homework and mum would be making the tea and all would be right with the world.
    Wouldn’t it?

8
    Tam put Rover’s lead on him and walked the few yards to the shop. He needed bread and milk but in the passing, he picked up a newspaper.
    He always made porridge for himself every morning, saving a small amount for the dog who lapped up the warm milk and oats. With them both fed he settled back in his armchair with a cup of tea and the Courier . There was still a lot of news about the Coronation and Hillary’s victory at Everest but he skimmed over most of it.
    He liked to read the intimations column to see if anyone he knew had died but there were no names that rang a bell today.
    He was folding the paper to put it away when he noticed the small news item tucked away in the corner of the page.

    B ODY F OUND
    The body of a man was found in the vicinity of Broughty Ferry yesterday. The man who was approximately forty years old was wearing a navy duffle jacket, blue shirt and black trousers.

    Tam read the item again. It sounded like Harry he thought.
    Then he left the flat quickly with Rover trotting at his side and made his way to the Police Station in Bell Street.
    The constable on the reception desk looked up as the elderly man walked in.
    ‘I’ve come about the man found on the beach at Broughty Ferry,’ said Tam.
    ‘Can I have your name and address, Sir?’ asked the constable, pulling over a large pad and pen.
    ‘Tam … I mean Thomas Burns, 23 Gellatly Street.’
    The constable wrote this down and then looked at Tam. ‘You say you’ve got information about the victim.’
    ‘Yes. I think it’s a man called Harry Hawkins who was a seaman on the ship, The Mary Anne .’
    The constable looked up from his pad. ‘Are you a relative Mr Burns?’
    ‘No, I only met him the once, in the City Centre Bar on the corner of Dock Street.’
    ‘So why do you think it’s the same person?’
    ‘The description in the newspaper matches, and I know he was reported missing. He was leaving Dundee the next day, but he was on his way to meet someone when he said goodbye to me.
    ‘Did he say who this person was?’
    ‘No, but I got the impression he was nervous about it. I went to the docks the next morning to have another chat with him but he never showed up and The Mary Anne sailed without him. I was worried at the time but didn’t know what to do.’
    ‘Were you drinking with him, Sir?’
    ‘Yes, we had a couple of rums together but he wasn’t drunk if that’s what you’re thinking. He was fine when we parted company and, as I’ve told you, I’ve been worried about him ever since.’
    The constable put his pad away and told Tam to wait and someone would see him.
    Tam sat down on the hard wooden bench and hoped he wouldn’t have long to wait. He had left Rover outside, tied to the railings.
    Tam felt apprehensive in the police surroundings but