Read Online A Question of Motive by Roderic Jeffries - Free Book Online

know.’
    â€˜According to Santos, the argument was about birds. The señor had said that someone was after them on his land, and it seems likely that’s who he was cursing for poaching. But how am I supposed to find out who was after the thrushes?’
    â€˜Thrushes?’
    â€˜That’s right.’
    â€˜How d’you know that?’
    â€˜I don’t, but that’s what the señor said to Santos. I suppose the señor saw a net or maybe a load of feathers.’
    â€˜So how would he know they came from thrushes?’
    â€˜There are a lot of people who can tell the make of a bird from its feathers.’
    â€˜Not difficult if it’s a peacock. Catching thrushes is illegal these days.’
    â€˜Quite.’
    â€˜I like ’em. Can’t understand why they were made illegal. No one says you can’t catch sparrows.’
    â€˜Ever heard of anyone wanting to eat one?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Then it’ll be because they taste lousy.’ Alvarez drank. ‘How can I be expected to identify an unknown man with no description, nothing to single him out from a thousand and one other men?’
    Jaime spoke reminiscently. ‘Thrushes weren’t in danger of becoming extinct. It was the EU made ’em illegal. I’d make the EU illegal. I bought three thrushes a while back. Cost the earth. Brought ’em back and said she could cook ’em for supper. You know what? I had to wait until you was out for supper, and so they weren’t real fresh.’
    â€˜Why did I have to be away?’
    â€˜Since they were illegal, you couldn’t eat one.’
    â€˜I’d have said it was a delicious partridge.’
    â€˜You can’t keep quiet and would have said as how you hadn’t enjoyed thrush for a long time. You’d know I’d broken the law and might have reported me.’
    â€˜She said that?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜Women can’t think straight.’ Alvarez had enjoyed thrushes when they could appear on the menu. He sadly remembered how Dolores had cooked them to perfection and made a memorable sauce to go with them. He could almost conjure up the exquisite taste in his mouth, but since he couldn’t succeed, he suffered frustration. How could she have let them forgo the pleasure of such a meal in the stupid belief he would report anyone? Irritated incomprehension then gave way to curiosity. ‘You bought them? From whom?’
    â€˜Why d’you want to know?’
    â€˜Because he might be the man who was netting in Barca and had a furious row with Señor Gill.’
    â€˜What if it was?’
    â€˜He might be able to help me.’
    â€˜You think he’d want to?’
    â€˜I won’t be arresting him or anything stupid like that. I just want to know who it was so I can ask him about the señor. I’d make it clear all I sought was information.’
    â€˜Can’t remember who it was.’
    â€˜Try harder.’
    Jaime drained his glass. ‘I’m telling you, I can’t remember.’
    â€˜You’re a poor liar.’
    â€˜You think I’m going to rat on him?’
    â€˜I’ve explained . . .’
    â€˜Didn’t hear.’
    â€˜Becoming deaf as you grow older?’
    â€˜That’s right.’
    â€˜But not disinterested.’
    â€˜How d’you mean?’
    â€˜I saw you in the square a week ago.’
    â€˜What if you did?’
    â€˜You were having a friendly chat with someone.’
    â€˜If you mean . . . I was at school with her. We just met by chance and were chatting about the old days.’
    â€˜And the old days were fun for her and you? I suppose you mentioned meeting her to Dolores?’
    Jaime didn’t answer.
    â€˜I suppose that, even if it was just good friendship, it’s better if she doesn’t know and get the wrong idea. By the way, have you remembered the name of the seller of the