Hamish Macbeth 03; Death of an Outsider hm-3 Read online

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“It’s not that,” said the minister’s wife. “It’s just he’s such a know-all. It’s a crofting community round here. They don’t like being told how to run things, particularly by an outsider, but Mr. Mainwaring, that’s his name, will tell them what they are doing wrong. Not in a nasty way, mind. But as if he’s laughing at them. His poor wife. He won’t even leave her to run the house, but supervises her cooking. He even chooses her clothes for her!”

  “The fiend!” cried Hamish, registering extreme shock, very gratifying to the minister’s wife, who had not had such an appreciative audience in years.

  “Have another scone, Constable. Yes, she is a member of the Women’s Rural Institute and gave us a very good lecture on how to dry and arrange flowers. Most stimulating…She was doing very well, but he walked in at the question time and started grilling her – his own wife!”

  “Fancy!”

  “Yes. And she turned as red as fire and began to stammer. Wicked it was. And…”

  The sound of a car crunching on the gravel outside made Mrs. Struthers turn as red as fire herself. “I had better go,” said Hamish, not wishing to waste time talking to the minister.

  But as he rose to his feet, Mr. Struthers, the minister, came in. He had a pale face and pale-blue eyes and a thin mouth. His tow-coloured hair was carefully sleeked down. Mrs. Struthers, rather flustered, made the introductions. “I trust you have not been gossiping,” said the minister severely.

  “On the contrary,” said Hamish, “your good lady has just been encouraging me to visit the kirk on the Sabbath. She was telling me all about your powerful sermons.”

  He shook hands with the minister, collected the small television set, and said goodbye. The minister’s wife went to the window and watched the tall figure of the constable as he walked away with a rather dreamy smile on her face. “Such a fine man,” she murmured.

  Hamish ambled up the main street, comfortably full of tea and home-made scones and jam. At the top, opposite the police station, he noticed an old cottage, set a little back from the road, with a sign outside which said, PAINTINGS FOR SALE.

  There was what appeared to be a teenage girl digging the garden. As if aware she was being watched, she turned around, saw Hamish, and came up to the garden gate. Her figure was as trim and youthful as a girl’s, but Hamish judged her to be about the same age as himself – in her thirties. She had an elfin face, a wide smile, and a mop of black curls.

  “Jenny Lovelace,” she said, holding out a small, earthy hand.

  “Hamish Macbeth,” said Hamish, smiling down at her. “Is that an American accent?”

  “No, Canadian.”

  “And what are you doing in the wilds of Sutherland, Miss Lovelace?” asked Hamish, putting down television set and two grocery bags on the ground and shaking her hand before leaning comfortably on the gate.

  “I wanted peace and quiet. I came over on a holiday and stayed. I’ve been here four years.”

  “And do you like it? I gather they don’t like incomers here.”

  “Oh, I get along all right. I like being alone.”

  “I get the idea life has been easier for the incomers since a certain Mr. Mainwaring arrived. He sounds like a right pain in the neck.”

  Jenny’s face hardened. “Mr. Mainwaring is about the only civilized person in the whole of this place,” she said sharply.

  “I always go and put my big foot in it,” said Hamish sadly. “It comes from not being in the way of talking to pretty girls. My mind gets all thumbs.”

  Jenny giggled. “Your mind doesn’t have thumbs,” she said. “Gracious! What’s that terrible howling coming from the police station?”

  “It’s my dog, Towser. He wants his food, and when he wants his food, he screams for it. I’d best be on my way.”

  “Drop round for a coffee,” said Jenny, turning away, as Hamish stooped to pick up his belongings.

  “When?” Hamish called after her.

  “Any time you like.”

  “I’ll drop by the morn,” called Hamish, feeling suddenly happy.

  Towser’s howling stopped when he saw his master. He lay on the kitchen floor and stared at Hamish with sorrowful eyes. “I’ve got some liver for ye,” grumbled Hamish, pouring oil in a pan. “See, low-cholesterol oil, good for your fat heart.” The doorbell on the police-station extension sounded shrilly. Hamish made a move to answer it. Towser started to howl again.

  Hamish ran and wrenched open the door. A middle-aged man stood on the step. He was tall, well-built, and had a large round head and neat prim features, small round eyes, a button of a nose, and a small primped mouth. Although he must have been nearly sixty, he had a thick head of brown hair, worn long so that it curled over his collar. He was wearing a waxed coat with a corduroy collar, gabardine breeches, lovat stockings, and brogues – and a red pullover. English, thought Hamish. They aye love thae red pullovers.

  “Come in and I’ll be with you in a minute,” gabbled Hamish as Towser’s howling rose to a crescendo. Hamish darted back to the kitchen and put the liver in the frying pan. When it was ready, he cut it up into small pieces, arranged it on a dish, and put it in front of the dog.

  “So we’ve lost one fool of a policeman to find another,” said a sarcastic upper-class-accented voice from the doorway of the kitchen. “Let me tell you, Constable, that I am going to write to your superiors and say that feeding good butcher’s meat to a spoilt mongrel takes precedence in what’s left of your mind over solving crime.”

  “Sit yerself down, Mr. Mainwaring,” said Hamish, “and I’ll attend to you. I havenae had time to draw breath since I arrived.”

  “How do you know my name?”

  “Your reputation goes before you,” said Hamish. “Now, we can stand here exchanging insults or we can get down to business. What’s the crime?”

  William Mainwaring drew out a kitchen chair and sat down and looked up at the tall policeman. He took out a pipe and lit it with precise, fussy movements. Hamish waited patiently.

  “You ask me what the crime is?” said Mainwaring finally. “Well, I’ll tell you in one word: ‘Witchcraft’.”

  ∨ Death of an Outsider ∧

  2

  There’s one parish church for all the people, whatsoever may be their ranks in life or their degrees,

  Except for one damp, small, dark, freezing cold, little Methodist chapel of ease,

  And close by the churchyard there’s a stonemason’s yard, that when the time is seasonable

  Will furnish with afflictions sore and marble urns and cherubims very low and reasonable.

  —Thomas Wood

  Witchcraft,” said Hamish Macbeth. “Jist let me get my notebook.” He licked the end of his pencil and looked with delighted curiosity at William Mainwaring.

  “Yes, witchcraft,” said Mainwaring testily. “Last week, I found crossed rowan branches placed outside the door. I am an expert on local folklore and knew this was to put a hex on us. Two days later, I found fingernails – the same thing. Then, last night, my wife was making her way home from the Women’s Rural Institute when three witches jumped over the churchyard wall and started cackling and howling about her.”

  Hamish bit the end of his pencil thoughtfully. “Who is it that wants to drive you away?” he asked.

  “Oh, everyone, I should think,” said Mainwaring.

  “And why is that?”

  “Because we are incomers and English.”

  “And nothing else?”

  “No other reason whatsoever,” said Mainwaring. “I am by way of being a leader of the community. They are a simple people here and look to me for guidance. It should be easy for you to find out the culprits and arrest them.”

  “But if you are a leader of the community and looked up to,” asked Hamish blandly, “then why do they want to get rid of you?”

  “We’re English, that’s all. And you don’t expect rational behaviour from these people. Also, the attack was directed against my wife. She is probably the target, now I c
ome to think of it. She is a highly irritating woman.”

  Hamish blinked. “In that case,” he said, “perhaps it would be better if I had a wee word with Mrs. Mainwaring.”

  “Agatha has nothing to tell you that I cannot. You will probably find it is some of those bitches at the Women’s Rural Institute. I attended one of my wife’s lectures, and I could feel the atmosphere was hostile.”

  “And at what time did this take place last night?”

  “At ten o’clock, or as near as damn.”

  Hamish looked at his shorthand notes. “Why did you not report the matter to Sergeant MacGregor?”

  Mainwaring laughed. It was a pleasant and charming laugh, at odds with the words that followed. “MacGregor is a fool, and I have had reason to complain about him to his superiors on two occasions. I knew you, his replacement, would be arriving today and decided I would be better with fresh blood. You do not appear particularly intelligent to me, but, with my guidance, I should think we might get somewhere. I have experience of this sort of thing.”

  “Witchcraft?”

  “No, no, man. Detective work. Did my bit in the army. Not supposed to talk about it, but the little grey men in Whitehall called me in from time to time to ask my help.”

  “And do you often talk to little grey men?” asked Hamish, deliberately misunderstanding him.

  “God give me patience,” cried Mainwaring, his face turning a mottled colour. “M. I.5, you fool!”

  “Is that a fact!” exclaimed Hamish, his eyes round with wonder. “Aye, I can see we’ll have your witches in no time at all, at all, with a brain like yours to help with the work.”

  “You can start off with Mrs. Struthers, the minister’s wife. She runs the local WRI,” said Mainwaring.

  “How long have you been in Cnothan?” asked Hamish.

  “Eight years.”

  Hamish was not in the least surprised that someone who had been in Cnothan for eight years was still regarded as an outsider. “And why did you come here?”

  “My aunt was Scottish. She left me the house and the croft in her will. I like fishing and hill walking. I am a crofter, of course. I have two hundred Cheviots.”

  Hamish stared blankly ahead. In his experience, incomers were often misguided romantics who thought they could get away from their troubles by leading a simple life in the Highlands of Scotland. They often took to drink. But there was no sign of the drinker about Mainwaring. Hamish wondered whether, as a retired army man in Chelmsford or somewhere like that in the south of England, he might have been considered very small beer. Mainwaring liked throwing his weight around and had probably, instead of selling his aunt’s house and croft, chosen to stay in this small pond to perform as a big fish.

  “I will call on you tomorrow,” said Hamish, “and tell you how I got on. Address?”

  “Balmain. It’s about two miles outside the town on the Lochdubh road.”

  Hamish wrote it down.

  “Goodbye, Constable,” said Mainwaring. “But you will find the hostility is directed against my wife. She puts people’s backs up.”

  “I have found,” said Hamish slowly, “that married people often don’t think much of each other. I mean, if the couple is popular, each one takes the credit. If unpopular, each assumes the other is to blame.”

  Mainwaring turned in the doorway, his eyes bulging. “Are you aware of what you have just said?” he shouted. “You are a cheeky blighter, and if I don’t get results from you by tomorrow, then I’ll have you out of Cnothan so fast, your feet won’t touch the ground!”

  “I wass thinking aloud,” said Hamish sadly. “A bad, bad fault. Now don’t fash yourself, sir. Arresting the witches is part of my job.”

  The crash of the door as Mainwaring slammed out was his only answer.

  “I shouldnae ha’ said that,” mourned Hamish, fishing a packet of biscuits out of one of the shopping bags, opening it, and giving one to his dog. “But of a’ the conceited men!”

  He helped himself to a biscuit and stared into space. There was something about Mainwaring that didn’t ring true. That ‘cheeky blighter’ was the sort of thing an ex-army man would say in a bad play.

  He decided to go out and collect as much gossip about Mainwaring as he could before seeing the minister’s wife again.

  He made himself dinner, walked Towser, and then set off down the main street, reflecting that there was no point in trying out MacGregor’s car until he had farther afield to go.

  He went to the churchyard with his torch and poked about. Great Celtic crosses reared up against the night sky. Frost was already glittering on the gravel paths. They were raked smooth and there was not a sign of even one footstep. Deciding to have a word with Mrs. Mainwaring the following day and persuade her to come with him and show him exactly where the witches had appeared, Hamish went back to the churchyard gate and let himself out. Down on the waterfront was a bar called The Clachan. Hamish pushed open the door and went in. It was a dreary smoke-filled room with a juke-box blaring melancholy country-and-western songs from a corner. It was a Monday night and so few of the regulars were in, having spent all their money on the Saturday. Hamish ordered a bottle of beer and took it over to a table by the window and sat down.

  The cowboy on the juke-box, who had been complaining that his son called another man Daddy, wailed off into silence.

  The door opened and a tall, slim man walked in. Hamish observed him curiously. He had carefully waved hair, hornrimmed glasses, a sallow skin, and buck-teeth. He was wearing a city suit of charcoal-grey worsted with a checked shirt, and tight waistcoat under a camel-hair coat.

  He ordered a gin and tonic and then turned and faced the room. His eyes fell on Hamish. He hesitated and then walked over. Incomer, thought Hamish. No local would approach a strange policeman. The minister’s wife, who felt such gestures to be her duty, did not count.

  “You’re Macbeth,” he said. “I’m Harry Mackay.”

  “You don’t look as if you belong here,” said Hamish.

  “Oh, I was brought up here, but I spent a good part of my life in Edinburgh,” said Mackay.

  “And what brought you back?”

  “I’m an estate agent. I work for Queen and Earl.”

  “I didn’t pass your office in the main street,” said Hamish.

  “No, you wouldn’t,” said Mackay. “Estate agents are regarded with suspicion. My office is on the other side of the loch, among the council houses.”

  “You can’t do much business in this part of Sutherland,” said Hamish, watching as the estate agent lit a cigarette with a gold Dunhill lighter.

  “Oh, it would surprise you, Macbeth. Do you know Baran Castle?”

  “Aye, it’s that big place over to the west. Bought by an American last year.”

  “Well, I sold that,” said Mackay proudly. “It’s not the locals who give me the business, but the foreigners and ex-patriots. I sold that castle for over a million pounds. And Kringstein, the local big cheese, bought Strachan House and the estates from me as well. So, how’s crime getting on in Cnothan?”

  “I have the case of witchcraft already,” said Hamish.

  “The haunting of the Mainwarings? Someone wants that pillock out of here and I can’t blame them. Stuck-up bastard.”

  “He hasn’t crossed you, has he?”

  “I thought he meant to,” said Mackay with a grin. “He’s bought two more houses and crofts outside the town. Why, nobody knows. He uses the crofts, but the houses just stand empty. His own place is decrofted, and he got the land at the other two decrofted as well. That would be about six years ago. I thought he was going to compete with me by putting them on the market, but not him. Crofts are a pain in the neck to an estate agent anyway.”

  There was a short silence while both contemplated the peculiarities of crofting. The word ‘croft’ comes from the Gaelic coirtean, meaning a small enclosed field. In early times in the crofting counties of Shetland, Orkney, Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty,
Inverness, and Argyll, there was a belief that lengthy tenancy gave right to a ‘kindness,’ or permanency of settlement. But the Highland Clearances of the last century, when the crofters were driven off their hill farms to turn Sutherland into one large sheep ranch, had caused bitter hardship. The Crofting Act was passed to ensure security of tenure; this ended landlord absolutism. Once a crofter had tenancy of his croft or hill farm, he could be sure of no interference from the landlord and he no longer had any fear of being driven off. The crofter could also get the land decrofted – that is, buy it from the landowner at a reasonable price – but few crofters did this. Most were fearful of change, preferring to hang on to their small uneconomical croft units and collect the government grants. Sometimes unscrupulous estate agents let their clients who were buying an old croft house as a holiday home believe that the croft land went along with it.

  This practice left the buyers to find out for themselves that crofting land must be worked all the year round or the tenancy is refused by the Crofters Commission, and the assignation of the croft can be blocked by the neighbours anyway, who put up objections to any incomer simply as a matter of habit.

  Hamish broke the silence first. “Was there no objection to him getting the other two crofts when he had one already?” he asked.

  “People didn’t dislike him as much then as they do now. The two crofts are adjoining the one he inherited from his aunt. But they’re surrounded by moors for miles. There are no other crofters near enough to him to put up a fight. Most of the crofts are to the other side of Cnothan. Besides, it’s happening all over. Some of these crofters have enough land to make up a good-sized farm. Of course, unlike Mainwaring, they don’t bother decrofting it, for they’re afraid of losing the government grants if they do.”

  “And no objection from the landowner?”

  “Kringstein. Couldn’t care less. You know he hardly gets any rents to speak of from the croft land. Besides, the crofter has more power in the matter than the landowner. The landowner’s got to sell to the crofter if asked and at a ridiculously low price, too. Mainwaring’s not short of a bob, and I could have got the owners of these houses a lot more money. He went along with cash and they sold cheap.”

 

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Hasty Death emm-2 Read onlineEdwardian Murder Mystery 02; Hasty Death emm-2The Constant Companion Read onlineThe Constant CompanionHamish Macbeth 14 (1999) - Death of a Scriptwriter Read onlineHamish Macbeth 14 (1999) - Death of a ScriptwriterGinny Read onlineGinnyHamish Macbeth 10 (1994) - Death of a Charming Man Read onlineHamish Macbeth 10 (1994) - Death of a Charming ManHamish Macbeth 03; Death of an Outsider hm-3 Read onlineHamish Macbeth 03; Death of an Outsider hm-3The Love from Hell ar-11 Read onlineThe Love from Hell ar-11The Scandalous Lady Wright (The Regency Intrigue Series Book 4) Read onlineThe Scandalous Lady Wright (The Regency Intrigue Series Book 4)Hamish Macbeth 17 (2001) - Death of a Dustman Read onlineHamish Macbeth 17 (2001) - Death of a DustmanHamish Macbeth 13 (1997) - Death of a Dentist Read onlineHamish Macbeth 13 (1997) - Death of a DentistThe Paper Princess (The Royal Ambition Series Book 7) Read onlineThe Paper Princess (The Royal Ambition Series Book 7)Rainbird's Revenge: HFTS6 Read onlineRainbird's Revenge: HFTS6The Perfect Gentleman (The Love and Temptation Series Book 7) Read onlineThe Perfect Gentleman (The Love and Temptation Series Book 7)Sir Philip's Folly (The Poor Relation Series Book 4) Read onlineSir Philip's Folly (The Poor Relation Series Book 4)The Witches' Tree--An Agatha Raisin Mystery Read onlineThe Witches' Tree--An Agatha Raisin MysteryDeath of an Outsider Read onlineDeath of an OutsiderHamish MacBeth 03 (1988) - Death of an Outsider Read onlineHamish MacBeth 03 (1988) - Death of an OutsiderAgatha Raisin and the Perfect Paragon Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Perfect ParagonDeath of a Chimney Sweep Read onlineDeath of a Chimney SweepThe Dreadful Debutante (The Royal Ambition Series Book 1) Read onlineThe Dreadful Debutante (The Royal Ambition Series Book 1)Something Borrowed, Someone Dead Read onlineSomething Borrowed, Someone DeadAgatha Raisin and The Murderous Marriage ar-5 Read onlineAgatha Raisin and The Murderous Marriage ar-5The Highland Countess Read onlineThe Highland CountessDeath of a Chimney Sweep hm-1 Read onlineDeath of a Chimney Sweep hm-1The Skeleton in the Closet Read onlineThe Skeleton in the ClosetSusie Read onlineSusieAgatha Raisin and Kissing Christmas Goodbye Read onlineAgatha Raisin and Kissing Christmas GoodbyeRegency Gold (The Regency Intrigue Series Book 2) Read onlineRegency Gold (The Regency Intrigue Series Book 2)The Marquis Takes a Bride Read onlineThe Marquis Takes a BrideHamish Macbeth 16 (1999) - A Highland Christmas Read onlineHamish Macbeth 16 (1999) - A Highland ChristmasDeath of a Liar Read onlineDeath of a LiarHamish Macbeth 01; Death of a Gossip hm-1 Read onlineHamish Macbeth 01; Death of a Gossip hm-1Love and Lady Lovelace (The Changing Fortunes Series, Vol. 8) Read onlineLove and Lady Lovelace (The Changing Fortunes Series, Vol. 8)Death of an Honest Man Read onlineDeath of an Honest ManThe Desirable Duchess Read onlineThe Desirable DuchessDeception (Daughters of Mannerling 3) Read onlineDeception (Daughters of Mannerling 3)A Highland Christmas hm-16 Read onlineA Highland Christmas hm-16Polly Read onlinePollyThe Savage Marquess Read onlineThe Savage MarquessAgatha Raisin 03 (1994) - The Potted Gardener Read onlineAgatha Raisin 03 (1994) - The Potted GardenerPushing Up Daisies Read onlinePushing Up DaisiesDeath Of An Addict Read onlineDeath Of An AddictBanishment (Daughters of Mannerling 1) Read onlineBanishment (Daughters of Mannerling 1)Amaryllis Read onlineAmaryllisHamish MacBeth 06 (1991) - Death of a Snob Read onlineHamish MacBeth 06 (1991) - Death of a SnobThe Paper Princess Read onlineThe Paper PrincessHamish Macbeth 06; Death of a Snob hm-6 Read onlineHamish Macbeth 06; Death of a Snob hm-6The Dreadful Debutante Read onlineThe Dreadful DebutanteAgatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Fairies of FryfamHamish Macbeth 22 (2006) - Death of a Dreamer Read onlineHamish Macbeth 22 (2006) - Death of a DreamerDishing the Dirt Read onlineDishing the DirtMinerva Read onlineMinervaDeath of a Nag hm-11 Read onlineDeath of a Nag hm-11Hamish Macbeth 18 (2002) - Death of a Celebrity Read onlineHamish Macbeth 18 (2002) - Death of a CelebrityQuadrille (The Love and Temptation Series Book 5) Read onlineQuadrille (The Love and Temptation Series Book 5)Death of a Glutton hm-8 Read onlineDeath of a Glutton hm-8The Westerby Sisters (Changing Fortunes Series) Read onlineThe Westerby Sisters (Changing Fortunes Series)The Scandalous Marriage (The Dukes and Desires Series Book 7) Read onlineThe Scandalous Marriage (The Dukes and Desires Series Book 7)The Adventuress: HFTS5 Read onlineThe Adventuress: HFTS5Death of a Valentine Read onlineDeath of a ValentineDeath of a Nag Read onlineDeath of a NagDeath of a Dustman hm-17 Read onlineDeath of a Dustman hm-17Hamish Macbeth 09 (1993) - Death of a Travelling Man Read onlineHamish Macbeth 09 (1993) - Death of a Travelling ManThe Loves of Lord Granton (The Changing Fortunes Series, Vol. 2) Read onlineThe Loves of Lord Granton (The Changing Fortunes Series, Vol. 2)Agatha Raisin and a Spoonful of Poison ar-19 Read onlineAgatha Raisin and a Spoonful of Poison ar-19To Dream of Love Read onlineTo Dream of LoveAgatha Raisin 04 (1995) - The Walkers of Dembley Read onlineAgatha Raisin 04 (1995) - The Walkers of DembleyHamish MacBeth 01 (1985) - Death of a Gossip Read onlineHamish MacBeth 01 (1985) - Death of a GossipDeath of a Maid hm-23 Read onlineDeath of a Maid hm-23Belinda Goes to Bath Read onlineBelinda Goes to BathDeath of a Kingfisher Read onlineDeath of a KingfisherDeath of a Charming Man hm-10 Read onlineDeath of a Charming Man hm-10Death of a Prankster hm-7 Read onlineDeath of a Prankster hm-7The Miser of Mayfair: HFTS1 Read onlineThe Miser of Mayfair: HFTS1Hamish Macbeth 05; Death of a Hussy hm-5 Read onlineHamish Macbeth 05; Death of a Hussy hm-5A Governess of Distinction (Endearing Young Charms Book 6) Read onlineA Governess of Distinction (Endearing Young Charms Book 6)The Westerby Inheritance Read onlineThe Westerby InheritanceDeath of a Hussy Read onlineDeath of a HussyHamish MacBeth 07 (1998) - Death of a Prankster Read onlineHamish MacBeth 07 (1998) - Death of a PranksterHamish Macbeth 20 (2004) - Death of a Poison Pen Read onlineHamish Macbeth 20 (2004) - Death of a Poison PenMiss Tonks Turns to Crime Read onlineMiss Tonks Turns to CrimeEdwardian Murder Mystery 01; Snobbery with Violence emm-1 Read onlineEdwardian Murder Mystery 01; Snobbery with Violence emm-1Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Wizard of EveshamHamish Macbeth 12 (1996) - Death of a Macho Man Read onlineHamish Macbeth 12 (1996) - Death of a Macho ManYvonne Goes to York Read onlineYvonne Goes to YorkA Highland Christmas Read onlineA Highland ChristmasSweet Masquerade (The Love and Temptation Series Book 4) Read onlineSweet Masquerade (The Love and Temptation Series Book 4)Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wykhadden Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Witch of WykhaddenThe Dead Ringer Read onlineThe Dead RingerAgatha Raisin 05 (1996) - The Murderous Marriage Read onlineAgatha Raisin 05 (1996) - The Murderous MarriageAgatha Raisin 07 (1998) - The Wellspring of Death Read onlineAgatha Raisin 07 (1998) - The Wellspring of DeathAgatha Raisin: As the Pig Turns ar-22 Read onlineAgatha Raisin: As the Pig Turns ar-22