Page 89 of She Saw What He Did

His jaw tightened, and he stopped his reading to drink from the water bottle. The plan was perfect, he realised. Everything had been planned meticulously, right down to the last second. It looked great on paper, but he wondered how well it would work in reality. Whatever was in that box, he realised now, most certainly meant annihilation for whoever was close at the time. He thought of Abby Miller and felt a pang in his stomach. He shook his head angrily. That wasn’t his problem. If people would interfere then they got what was coming to them. At precisely 7pm on 24th July the country would come to a standstill. He checked the calendar and realised that was in two days’ time.

*

Scott switched off the computer. He should just make it in time to the pub for the footie. No one could say he didn’t work properly. Just because he put his feet on the desk didn’t mean he was slouching. Not like bloody Ryan, who was out of the office more than he was in it. It really wasn’t fair that Ellen went to Porthaven. He clicked the phone over so calls would be diverted to his mobile and was about to lock up when it rang. It was Farmer Richards at Oldham Farm.

‘Great,’ Scott muttered. ‘No doubt one of his sheep has escaped.’

‘Hi Gareth,’ he said.

‘You’re still there then?’

‘Yep, I’m still here. Some of us never stop.’

Gareth scoffed, and Scott bit his lip to stop him saying something he regretted.

‘What’s up?’ he said instead.

‘Something odd,’ said Gareth, his voice serious.

‘Found a sheep you don’t recognise?’ laughed Scott.

‘Cartridges have gone missing from my gun cabinet.’ Gareth said flatly.

Scott’s tired brain suddenly woke up.

‘What do you mean?’

‘What do you think I mean?’ said Gareth sharply.

‘When did they go missing?’ asked Scott.

‘Well, not long ago I reckon. I’m not regularly using the guns. But I keep a record of cartridges. They’re pricey things. I had four full boxes and a half-used box. The half-used box has gone and quite a few cartridges from a new box. I keep the shotgun and cartridges together. I went to get cartridges. Damn rabbits are …’

‘Yes, I know. So was that today?’

‘Yes. I know I haven’t used them. Now, I ask you, who the blazes would steal cartridges?’

Or, you never had them at all, thought Scott.

‘You haven’t had a break in?’

It was a stupid question. There just weren’t burglaries on St Cecilia’s.

‘Don’t be stupid boy, of course I haven’t.’

‘You’re sure you haven’t misplaced them?’

‘You can ask Wendy. She keeps the place tidy. She agrees with me.’

‘I’ll come over in the morning’ said Scott.

‘Where’s Ellen then?’

Scott took a deep breath.

‘She’s off to Porthaven in the morning.’

‘That murder again is it?’

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