The Bull Slayers: Inspector Faro No 9 by Alanna Knight Read Free Book Online Page A

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    'Who is happily no longer with us,' said the first man, cutting short the weary man's shocked exclamation. 'It was just his pig-headedness after all, his sense of possession. Scared that I might find a treasure trove or some such nonsense. And, dammit, on what is, if there was any justice left in this country, my own land after all.'
    'Look, sir,' there was an attempt at mollification in the other speaker's voice. 'Not a bit of use going on like this. I know you have a right to feel resentment, but the police can't help you here. It's lawyers - good ones - you're needing.'
    'Lawyers, you say. I've wasted years trying to prove my inheritance. I've lived in a cramped, damp cottage when my rightful place should have been up there - in the castle. Damn you, man, you know all this, you know how unjust he's been, but you're on his side. He bought the law just as he bought everything else.'
    The other man's protest was cut short by a sound suspiciously like a fist thumping a table followed by a crash.
    The constable regarded Faro nervously, suspected this scene was making a bad impression and decided to intervene. Taking the law into his own hands, he marched to the closed door and rapped loudly on it.
    'Visitor to see you, Sergeant.'
    The door opened and, with a final curse, a young man exploded into the office and vanished out of the hallway.
    'I seem to have come at an awkward time,' said Faro, aware that his words were a masterpiece of understatement.
    Sergeant Yarrow did not rise to greet him. Perhaps this was due to the vexation caused by the angry young man's hasty exit, but Faro felt that his reception was less than cordial.
    Closer to Faro in age than the constable at the desk, he did not look nearly as fit. There was nothing of the rosy-cheeked countryman about his sallow complexion and heavily lined face. Only his eyes were remarkable, a bright pale blue with the iris clearly defined.
    As Faro introduced himself in his assumed role, he realised that the sergeant must once have possessed outstanding good looks with such eyes and black curling hair, now thin and grey.
    Even as he wondered what suffering had brought about this premature ageing, with a weary sigh Yarrow began impatiently rustling the papers on his desk, his gesture indicating that such callers as Mr Jeremy Faro were wasting his time.
    Put out by his attitude, Faro was almost tempted to reveal his true identity but thought better of it instantly. The whole point of his mission was to remain incognito. An insurance investigator was within his rights to interview the policeman who had examined the deceased after the accident and talk to the doctor who had signed the death certificate.
    'Was there a coroner's inquest?'
    Yarrow stared at him. 'Of course. A verdict of accidental death was recorded. You had better talk to Constable Dewar about it,' he added sharply, eyeing his piles of paper as if straining to get back to really important business. 'He has all the details and can let you see the statements.'
    So saying, the sergeant stood up to speed this tiresome time— wasting enquirer on his way. As he walked across the floor, Faro observed that he was lame and that the effort cost him some discomfort.
    He decided he would like to know a lot more about the Elrigg police and their curious hierarchy.
 
    Chapter 7
     
    Constable Dewar's reception of Mr Jeremy Faro, insurance assessor, was considerably more encouraging than that of Sergeant Yarrow. His eyes brightened, his eagerness to be helpful confirmed Faro's suspicions of a daily round with nothing more exciting than stranded animals or pursuit of the local poacher.
    Faro produced an official-looking notebook and said he wished to be taken to the scene of Sir Archie Elrigg's demise. Dewar regarded this activity with nervous anxiety. His eyes widened on being informed that this was the usual procedure when violent death was involved to which there had been no witnesses.
    'Coroner said there were no