Death of a Liar Read Online Free PDF Page A

for,” said Hamish. “Who inherits?”
    â€œThere’s her will in this tin box along with instructions for her funeral,” said Dick. “Her brother, the minister, gets the money and the house.”
    â€œHe’s identifying the body,” said Jimmy.
    â€œShe wrote a lot of letters to the hospital in Strathbane, threatening them all with malpractice,” said Hamish. “No letters to sweethearts. No letters to friends.”
    A policewoman put her head round the door. “The dead woman’s relatives are here,” she said. “I’ve put them in interview room number two.”
    â€œRight,” said Jimmy. “You come with me, Hamish, and Dick, you keep going through this stuff.”
    Â Â 
    The minister, Donald Bentley, did not look as if he were a minister of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, or Wee Free, as the church is usually known. It is a strict religion, but the reverend was small and neat and beautifully tailored, with small features, pale-grey eyes, and patent-leather hair. He had a heavy gold watch on one wrist.
    His sister, Mrs. Josie Dunbar, was round and plump with small eyes almost hidden in creases of fat. Her face was partly shadowed by a large brown velvet hat like a mushroom. Hamish scanned a sheaf of notes which Jimmy had handed to him. Josie was a widow.
    â€œThis is a sad business,” intoned the minister. His voice was deep and plummy.
    Hamish thought that an odd description of a murder.
    â€œShe brought it on herself,” said Josie.
    â€œHow is that?” asked Hamish.
    She folded her lips. “I would rather not say.”
    â€œFor goodness’ sakes,” said Hamish, exasperated. “Your sister has been cruelly murdered and we need to know as much about her as possible to track down her killer.”
    â€œShe was a sinner,” intoned the minister.
    â€œHow?” barked Jimmy.
    â€œShe led a licentious life.”
    Jimmy sighed. “Mr. Bentley, your sister was a virgin. Her life couldn’t have been all that wicked.”
    â€œI had to banish her from my church. She made Mr. Garse’s life a hell on earth.”
    â€œWho is Mr. Garse?”
    â€œOur chanter.”
    â€œThey don’t have musical accompaniment,” explained Hamish to Jimmy. “A man simply strikes a tuning fork on the pew to start a hymn.”
    â€œSo how did she make this man’s life hell?” asked Jimmy.
    â€œShe threw herself at him. She waited outside his house to accost him. She sent him presents.”
    â€œWe’d better have a talk with this Mr. Garse. Write down his name and address and phone number.” Jimmy pushed a pad towards Donald.
    While the minister was writing, Jimmy turned to Josie Dunbar. “Did your sister confide in you? Did she say she was frightened of someone?”
    â€œLiz was mad,” said Josie. “Even as a wee lassie, she was always fantasising. And she was man-daft.”
    â€œIt’s amazing then that she managed to remain a virgin,” commented Hamish.
    To Hamish’s amazement, Josie threw him a roguish look and said, “She wasnae ever attractive like me. The fellows didn’t want it even when she handed it to them on a plate.”
    Liz was not the only fantasist in the family, reflected Hamish sourly.
    The questioning went on, but did not lead them to a single clue.
    Â Â 
    When the couple had left, Jimmy said, “You’d better get back up to Cromish and see if you can dig anything up, Hamish.”
    â€œI’d be better off to Perth,” protested Hamish.
    â€œI’ll get the Perth police onto things. Off you go, and take Dick with you.”
    â€œLet me know if you find out anything about the Leighs,” said Hamish. “I mean, Liz was tortured and Frank Leigh was tortured.”
    â€œThe two cases can’t be connected,” said Jimmy. “Off you go.”
    Â Â 
    The village of Cromish was