Read Online Killing Cousins by Alanna Knight - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Alanna Knight
Tags: Historical fiction, Historical, Literature & Fiction, Crime, Genre Fiction, Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, Crime Fiction, Murder, Thrillers & Suspense
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Gibb who tried to support him.
'Francis, Francis, come away. There's nothing you can do.' And addressing Faro, Gibb said, 'I couldn't keep him away...'
Francis leaned forward heavily, his hands on the Odin Stone. 'Oh no, I shan't come away, not yet, not yet This is my wife ... my wife who's lying here. And I shan't rest until I find out who did this ... this horror...'
Three head-shawled women came forward to comfort him. They were like the furies in a play, thought Faro, recognising his mother and Inga St Ola supporting a weeping woman who could only be Norma Balfray.
The minister gathered them into his arms. Only he who had had the worst shock of all, the discovery of the two bodies, now seemed able to deal with the situation.
Faro was suddenly painfully aware of Inga's expressionless race, strangely detached from this scene of horror with eyes only for the man who had come back into her own life after twenty years.
After that first glance, Faro assiduously avoided looking in her direction. Devoting his attention to the Odin Stone he decided that whoever had stage-managed this scene had a keen sense of theatre. It was in the best traditions of a Wagnerian opera.
'Easy to see what happened. Young lad hopelessly enamoured of a married lady beyond his station in life,' said Sergeant Frith, who had returned to the fray and was looking considerably relieved. 'Lady died of a wasting disease and he tried to bring her back to life, remembering the powers of the Odin Stone. When that doesn't work, he does himself in.'
Faro regarded him heavily, wondering what on earth Frith read in his off-duty hours.
'I'll let the Fiscal know. He'll need to have a look. But there's no need for concern. Suicide while of an unsound mind. Happens all the time. Open and shut case, gentlemen,' Frith added firmly, buttoning up his coat as if he regretted the absence of his policeman's uniform.
Faro sighed again. This plot sounded much too clever for a simple-minded village lad to dream up, especially as Troller's association with the dead woman, he was to learn later, had been perfectly innocent. He had visited the castle almost every day to bring her a bunch of wild flowers. As for Francis, he had cast a kind and compassionate eye on the lad's infatuation.
Faro looked at Francis. The two deaths, even to those uninvolved, were cause for indignation and distress, but how much worse for the bereaved husband to find his dead wife laid out beside the village simpleton on the ancient stone of sacrifice. Two bodies, side by side, one still warm, one a week-old corpse, was against all the bounds of decency. Who could have played such a monstrous trick?
As the three women and Captain Gibb almost bodily removed the fainting laird from the scene, Sergeant Frith took the opportunity of being in command to address the crowd. 'Return to your homes, all of you, please. Nothing more to see.' He beckoned Erlandson aside. 'The corpse had better go back into the crypt. Regarding the deceased, I see no reason why he shouldn't be taken to his home—'
'One moment, please.' Vince stepped forward. 'I am assistant to the police surgeon with Edinburgh City Police and I should like to conduct a thorough examination of the body.'
'As you please,' said Frith, his weary tone indicating that it was a mere waste of time. 'I'm away to see if I can get across to Kirkwall. May I leave you in charge, Inspector?' And as the crowd were slow to disperse, he said to Erlandson, 'Would you - please?'
Stirring from his reverie, Erlandson said, 'Of course, of course.' And, holding up his arms wide in a gesture of benediction, he addressed the islanders. 'There is nothing any of you can do. Please return to your homes and God go with you.'
The watchers, who had increased with the growing daylight, now dispersed at his command, but with considerable reluctance and many backward glances. Their curiosity and appetite for the sensational was one Faro frequently encountered at a hanging
'Francis, Francis, come away. There's nothing you can do.' And addressing Faro, Gibb said, 'I couldn't keep him away...'
Francis leaned forward heavily, his hands on the Odin Stone. 'Oh no, I shan't come away, not yet, not yet This is my wife ... my wife who's lying here. And I shan't rest until I find out who did this ... this horror...'
Three head-shawled women came forward to comfort him. They were like the furies in a play, thought Faro, recognising his mother and Inga St Ola supporting a weeping woman who could only be Norma Balfray.
The minister gathered them into his arms. Only he who had had the worst shock of all, the discovery of the two bodies, now seemed able to deal with the situation.
Faro was suddenly painfully aware of Inga's expressionless race, strangely detached from this scene of horror with eyes only for the man who had come back into her own life after twenty years.
After that first glance, Faro assiduously avoided looking in her direction. Devoting his attention to the Odin Stone he decided that whoever had stage-managed this scene had a keen sense of theatre. It was in the best traditions of a Wagnerian opera.
'Easy to see what happened. Young lad hopelessly enamoured of a married lady beyond his station in life,' said Sergeant Frith, who had returned to the fray and was looking considerably relieved. 'Lady died of a wasting disease and he tried to bring her back to life, remembering the powers of the Odin Stone. When that doesn't work, he does himself in.'
Faro regarded him heavily, wondering what on earth Frith read in his off-duty hours.
'I'll let the Fiscal know. He'll need to have a look. But there's no need for concern. Suicide while of an unsound mind. Happens all the time. Open and shut case, gentlemen,' Frith added firmly, buttoning up his coat as if he regretted the absence of his policeman's uniform.
Faro sighed again. This plot sounded much too clever for a simple-minded village lad to dream up, especially as Troller's association with the dead woman, he was to learn later, had been perfectly innocent. He had visited the castle almost every day to bring her a bunch of wild flowers. As for Francis, he had cast a kind and compassionate eye on the lad's infatuation.
Faro looked at Francis. The two deaths, even to those uninvolved, were cause for indignation and distress, but how much worse for the bereaved husband to find his dead wife laid out beside the village simpleton on the ancient stone of sacrifice. Two bodies, side by side, one still warm, one a week-old corpse, was against all the bounds of decency. Who could have played such a monstrous trick?
As the three women and Captain Gibb almost bodily removed the fainting laird from the scene, Sergeant Frith took the opportunity of being in command to address the crowd. 'Return to your homes, all of you, please. Nothing more to see.' He beckoned Erlandson aside. 'The corpse had better go back into the crypt. Regarding the deceased, I see no reason why he shouldn't be taken to his home—'
'One moment, please.' Vince stepped forward. 'I am assistant to the police surgeon with Edinburgh City Police and I should like to conduct a thorough examination of the body.'
'As you please,' said Frith, his weary tone indicating that it was a mere waste of time. 'I'm away to see if I can get across to Kirkwall. May I leave you in charge, Inspector?' And as the crowd were slow to disperse, he said to Erlandson, 'Would you - please?'
Stirring from his reverie, Erlandson said, 'Of course, of course.' And, holding up his arms wide in a gesture of benediction, he addressed the islanders. 'There is nothing any of you can do. Please return to your homes and God go with you.'
The watchers, who had increased with the growing daylight, now dispersed at his command, but with considerable reluctance and many backward glances. Their curiosity and appetite for the sensational was one Faro frequently encountered at a hanging
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