Murder in Paradise by Alanna Knight Read Free Book Online Page B

he was cautious, keeping a watchful eye on the bottle being passed around the table and being strong enough to refuse the constant refills.
    His companions were less circumspect. Morris was the reincarnation of a medieval host and when he wanted to make a point in his loud conversations, he would spring from his seat at the table into the middle of the room and flourish his fists, ready to fight anyone who disagreed with him. Such actions were greeted by roars of laughter and jeering, teasing comments, while the apples that had not found their way into the dessert but were reclining in a bowl alongside pears and oranges would be pelted at him.
    This behaviour caused a great deal of merriment with music hall songs in abundance and, as the wine took effect, Faro found himself caught up in the general innocent horse-play as befitted the medieval atmosphere.
    As he went up to bed at last, yawning and well-fed, his senses lulled by good living, he put aside his misgivings regarding Erland and told himself that a way must be found out of this tricky situation, but tomorrow would do for that.
    Tonight all he welcomed was sleep and his last thought as he closed his eyes was of Lena’s friend Poppy. She had paid him a lot of attention. Every time he glanced her way, she seemed to be smiling at him, her eyes shining.
    He sighed. Such a pretty girl.

C HAPTER S IX
    Next morning, there was a breakfast as huge as the evening meal consisting mostly of cooked ham, kidneys, tea, jam and what the assembled company referred to as Topsy’s ‘horrid eggs’, a huge platter which he consumed in vast quantities. Faro ate little as, seeing Erland, all his anxieties were renewed. The two lovers were engrossed in themselves, seemingly so happy and carefree that his conscience smote him anew. If only he knew what was right, what to do.
    Aware of his inexperience he would have given much for the advice McFie had to offer in plenty. He had never approved of this assignment and Faro, visiting him before he left Edinburgh, had found the retired inspector taken aback at Noble’s order to send the young policeman down to Kent in pursuit of a desperate criminal and murderer and alone to bring Macheath back to Scotland to stand trial. Shaking his head sadly he said: ‘They certainly do things differently since my day.’
    In retrospect, Faro felt there was something ominous in the old detective’s words. He had sent him the promised letter that he had arrived safely at Upton and was staying at Red House. Now in despair, he thought if only he could explain his predicament to McFie who would probably be in Sussex at this moment on his annual visit to his married sister. Alas, he did not know her address and by the time a letter marked urgent was forwarded from Edinburgh and a reply reached him, Erland and Lena would be married.
    Faro realised how much he had come to value McFie’s support. Newly arrived in Edinburgh, his fellow constables tormented him with their unceasing teasing. ‘This foreigner from Orkney – where on God’s earth was that and did they still live in caves?’ Their attitude was not much improved when rumour reached them that on the recommendation of Chief Inspector McFie the lowly beat policeman would shortly be promoted to Detective Constable.
    McFie had become his ally after Faro saved his life – so McFie claimed – by racing after his runaway carriage, leaping on to the horse’s back and bringing it to a standstill as it toppled on the icy slope of the Mound.
    His bravery earned him a grudging, though scornful, respect from his colleagues although Faro had not then known the occupant’s identity until he was called into the inner office.
    McFie was grateful, wanted to know all about him, his background and his father, Constable Magnus Faro’s fatal accident. They had never met as McFie had been serving with the Aberdeen police at that time.
    McFie learnt that young Faro was alone; his mother, blaming the Edinburgh police