Page 92 of She Saw What He Did

‘Right,’ said Scott.

Gareth threw his work gloves into a cupboard and beckoned to Scott.

‘I’ll show you the gun room. Wendy will confirm what I’ve said.’

‘Oh yes,’ she said, filling the kettle, ‘the cartridges have gone.’

‘Do you remember when you last saw them all there?’

Gareth looked at Wendy.

‘Gareth went on a shoot. That was a week ago. They were there then, weren’t they Gareth?’ said Wendy.

Gareth nodded.

‘Have you heard any more on that murder?’ she asked.

‘He’s not at liberty to comment,’ said Gareth with a grin. ‘Isn’t that right son?’

Scott wished he wouldn’t call him son.

‘Ellen’s determined to get to the bottom of it,’ said Wendy.

‘We all are,’ said Scott, more sharply than he’d intended.

‘Oh, I know,’ said Wendy, touching his arm affectionately. ‘You all work so hard. Now, would you like a fresh bread roll with your tea or one of my home-made Bakewell tarts?’

‘Bakewell tart,’ said Scott without hesitation.

‘Let me take the boy to the gunroom,’ said Gareth irritably. ‘I’ve got farm work to do.’

Scott rolled his eyes at the term boy and followed Gareth up the stairs, passing ornately framed photographs of Gareth’s prize sheep. The gun room was another flight up.

Gareth flung open a door on the right and led Scott to an ornate cabinet where several rifles were displayed.

‘You have a permit for all these?’ asked Scott stupidly.

‘I wouldn’t let you in here if I didn’t have permits, now would I? I’m a farmer. I showed my permits to Ryan when he came checking.’

‘Right,’ said Scott.

Gareth pulled a set of keys from his pocket and unlocked the rifle cabinet.

‘Here’s where I keep the cartridges,’ he said, opening a small drawer beneath the guns.

Scott lifted out a box.

‘Are all the guns here?’

Gareth pulled a rifle from the cabinet and handed it to Scott.

‘See, now there’s a space. There’s a place for each of my guns. They’re all accounted for.’

Scott studied the gun and then handed it back.

‘You’re absolutely sure the cartridges have gone missing? You couldn’t be mistaken? You didn’t move them or …’

‘I keep a tight rein on this gun room.’

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