Page 27 of A Very Bookish Murder (Ally McKinley Mystery #3)

‘Yes, they are. Amir says that he wants it all wound up, done and dusted, by the time of the funeral on Sunday. I suppose he’s hoping to have the case solved before all the likely suspects head for home.’

‘He’s a nice guy, Ally, but he’s no Sherlock Holmes, for God’s sake! I mean, the funeral’s the day after tomorrow, so I truly think he’s living in cloud cuckoo land!’

‘He’s bound to know stuff he hasn’t told me,’ Ally said defensively, ‘and I have an idea that just might be able to help.’

‘And what might that be?’ Ross asked, looking sceptical.

‘I thought we might have one last brainstorming session on an idea for a story, and I thought we could use the circumstances of Jodi’s death as a possible scenario.’

‘And how would that help?’

‘I thought I’d suggest that, if we had a final writing session here, they might be more relaxed, particularly if I could dose them with some gin and tonics and see if anyone lets anything slip.’

‘I think we need to drink to that,’ said Ross, digging a bottle of wine out of the cupboard. ‘And what about poor old Rigby?’

‘Perhaps I should ring Rigby this evening,’ Ally said, looking at the pine clock on the wall. ‘We don’t know if he’s been to the mortuary yet.’

‘I’ll guess he has,’ Ross remarked, handing her a glass of Shiraz. ‘But there’s only one way to find out.’

‘I thought I would phone him a little later because I was wondering if he was planning to come to the funeral,’ Ally said.

‘That’ll depend on the result of the DNA,’ Ross pointed out. ‘I don’t suppose he’ll come otherwise. But don’t leave it too late to phone him because I bet that Cathy makes him go to bed early! Which we should be doing, after our sleepless night!’

Ally laughed. ‘I’ll phone him shortly. Incidentally, I’ve been invited to a “girls’ night out” dinner at the Craigmonie with all of them tomorrow evening. A sort of farewell meal.’

‘The last supper?’ Ross raised an eyebrow.

‘Just as well I’ve got to be at home tomorrow night.

I think I told you that these Canadians who’ve booked the Big Barn for a couple of weeks aren’t arriving until late tomorrow evening.

Apparently, their flight doesn’t land until four or five in the afternoon, after which they have to pick up their car and then drive all the way up here.

’ He paused. ‘So, while you’re having some boozy last supper with the girls, what’s Brigitte’s husband going to be doing with himself, I wonder? ’

Ally shook her head. ‘No idea, but I assume he’s not invited. What do you fancy for dinner tonight? I have a couple of pasta dinners in the freezer.’

‘Sounds good,’ said Ross.

‘OK, I’ll heat up the oven and make a salad,’ Ally said.

They’d finished eating by half past seven, and Ally decided that, if she could keep awake, it was time to phone Rigby in case he did go to bed early. She was so accustomed to referring to him as just ‘Rigby’ that she still found it difficult sometimes to remember to refer to him as ‘Bob’.

‘Hello, Ally,’ he said. ‘How are you?’

‘I’m fine thanks, Bob,’ Ally replied, ‘but, more to the point, how are you ?’

‘Improving every day,’ he said.

‘That’s great.’ Ally hesitated. ‘I just wondered if…’

‘If I’d been to the undertaker’s?’ Rigby supplied.

‘Yes,’ Ally said.

‘I have been, and it was a traumatic experience seeing her one last time. I also got the results of the DNA test and, Ally, she was my sister. My sister, Joanne.’

Ally detected a little crack in his voice. ‘I’m so very sorry. But at least you know now, so I suppose that’s something.’

‘I’m glad to have found her, even if it was too late. It’s been a strange, almost life-changing experience, and now I feel the need to talk to everyone who knew her. And her child? Where are they? Have you heard anything?’

‘No, I haven’t heard anything about the love child,’ Ally replied, ‘but her estranged husband and his new lady friend are here. And perhaps Desdemona will come along too, given she was friendly with her in university.’

‘Then I have a lot of talking to do on Sunday,’ Rigby said. ‘I am coming to the funeral.’

‘Good,’ Ally said, ‘so long as you feel fit enough to make the journey.’

‘Cathy’s driving me over tomorrow evening, and Callum Dalrymple has offered us free bed and breakfast for the night once I told him the situation.

Isn’t that kind of him? He was very moved by the fact that Joanne was my sister and that her death had occurred in his hotel.

He said it was the least he could do, and he’s also laying on refreshments for after the funeral for anyone who wants to come. ’

‘He’s a good guy is Callum,’ Ally said.

‘I’m not altogether au fait with these humanist funerals,’ Rigby admitted. ‘But I hear that it was what she wanted.’

‘I believe so,’ Ally said. ‘The burial site is out near Brodale, and I guess it’ll be a new experience for us all.’

‘I’m hoping to be able to chat with everyone who knew her,’ Rigby added.

Ally wondered if she should warn him that not all the comments might be particularly favourable.

‘Amir Kandahar has been quite frank with me,’ Rigby said, ‘and I’m aware of the fact that, bestselling novelist or not, she wasn’t a particularly nice person.

’ Ally heard him sigh. ‘Perhaps if our mother’s attitude had been different…

? She would have had to become tough to survive, of course.

Who knows? Nevertheless, I’d so like to meet my niece or nephew. Do you suppose he or she will show?’

‘I’ve no idea,’ Ally said, ‘but there’s no sign so far, although there’s been plenty of press coverage. Anyway, I shall be dining with my guests at the Craigmonie tomorrow evening, so I may see you arriving. If not, I’ll see you at the funeral.’

‘I’ll look forward to seeing you, Ally,’ he said.

‘I’m sorry I can’t be with you tomorrow night,’ Ross murmured as, finally, they curled up together in bed, ‘even if I would have to cook my own dinner and dine alone!’

‘I’m sorry too,’ Ally said, although she was secretly relieved that it was a “girls only” do. ‘I have a feeling that I might well discover something tomorrow.’

‘Do not forget,’ Ross said sternly, ‘that one of these women could be a killer. A double killer at that! Perhaps I should hang around to make sure you don’t get attacked or something.’

‘Oh, Ross ! I wasn’t planning to interrogate them or anything – just let them chatter for a bit.

Perhaps I can persuade them, once they’ve had some gin, to loosen up a bit.

I’ve only got tomorrow because they all go home on Sunday.

’ As she spoke, Ally wondered yet again if she was barking up the wrong tree.

Could the killer really have come in from outside and been fortunate enough not to encounter any of the women?

‘What about Laura? Will she join you?’

‘I shouldn’t think so, although I shall ring and leave a message for her. And like I told you, I don’t honestly think that she’s the killer anyway.’

‘And like I told you , these feelings of yours are not necessarily accurate. Anyway, you’ll need someone to make some sandwiches, won’t you? You won’t want them drinking on an empty stomach. So I’m definitely staying until the early evening.’

Just before she fell into a deep sleep, Ally could only hope that the events about to take place over the next couple of days would not induce the killer to strike for a third time.