Scaring Crows Read Online Free PDF Page B

flyspray?’
    Like the genie of the lamp PC Scott appeared in the doorway and gave a prolonged squirt. She coughed. ‘Let’s go outside.’
    The heat met them as they stopped on top of the three steps and surveyed the country, the wide expanse of fields, huge trees, cows sheltering beneath them, swallows darting in and out of the barns. Straight across the field, to the right, she could see dark-blue slates through the trees. That must be Fallowfield.
    The silence was almost tangible, the air crystal clear and sharp with the scent of pure oxygen. This bright, pretty scene seemed miles away from the dark claustrophobia behind them. Murder seemed too ugly an act for this perfect summer’s day. For a moment she closed her eyes in order to blot it out, leaving the scented tranquillity to imprint on her mind. It failed.
    Even with her eyes tightly shut she could still see the two bodies.
    It must have been no more than a second later that she felt a tap on her shoulder. ‘Excuse me.’ It was a solid, country burr. ‘Don’t mind me asking but are you the lady detective they said was in charge?’
    He was tall with curly brown hair, a pale, sweating face and troubled brown eyes.
    â€˜Yes, I’m Detective Inspector Piercy.’
    â€˜Dave.’ He introduced himself. ‘Dave Shackleton. It was me that found them.’ He hesitated before asking quietly, ‘Was it Jack? Did he finally flip?’
    Confused she managed, ‘We can’t say, yet.’ Then curiosity got the better of her caution. ‘You think Jack murdered his father before turning the gun on himself?’
    The eyes were far too honest. ‘Well, what else?’
    â€˜Why would he kill his father? Had they quarrelled?’
    Shackleton blinked and looked even more troubled. ‘No, but I thought—’ he said awkwardly.
    â€˜It isn’t what we think, Mr Shackleton.’ She didn’t know whether she was consoling him or not, telling him something he wanted to hear.
    â€˜We think both were shot by a third person.’
    Shackleton looked stunned. ‘You mean ...?’
    She eyed him curiously. ‘You knew them well?’
    He nodded jerkily.
    â€˜Then you’ve had a shock.’
    Shackleton’s eyes were bright. ‘Known the family for years, I have. I just can’t believe ...’ He wiped beads of sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. ‘Of all the families I know,’ he said softly, ‘I would have sworn they would have ended their lives peacefully. Not like this.’ An expression of misery descended on his face like fog. ‘If you say it wasn’t Jack ...’ he began.
    â€˜It wasn’t Jack. It was someone else.’
    Shackleton gave a start. ‘Ruthie,’ he said hoarsely. ‘Is Ruthie in there too?’
    Joanna felt chilled. ‘There was a daughter?’
    â€˜Yes.’ There was a desperate tone in his voice. ‘Little Ruthie.’
    And Joanna made a natural assumption. ‘She was younger than her brother?’
    â€˜No,’ Shackleton said impatiently as though the girl’s age was the least important thing about her. ‘She was five years older than Jack.’ His eyes were focused fearfully on the door behind her. ‘Is she in there too?’ He switched his gaze back to Joanna. ‘Have you found Ruthie in there?’ There was a desperate, almost violent note in the tanker driver’s voice.
    â€˜No,’ she said dully.
    But now she had another, more urgent charge. Forget Fallowfield. There might be a third body, lying somewhere around the farm, in the barns or upstairs.
    Shackleton was shaking. His muddy-brown eyes fixed on Joanna and he knew exactly what she feared. ‘You think she’s in there too, don’t you?’
    â€˜A constable’s already checked upstairs.’
    There was an aura of deep grief around Shackleton. He had been shocked by the two