Page 225 of The Moon Sister
‘I’m afraid there is nothing you could say or do that would make me change my mind,’ Fraser was saying as they walked in. ‘I want what’s mine by rights, and that’s all there is to it.’ Then he noticed me sitting at the centre unit and threw a disdainful glance in my direction. ‘What’sshedoing here?’
‘Tiggy just wanted a word with you, Fraser.’
‘Really? Well, say what you have to, then.’
I watched him sit down opposite me; the fact that he was so sure of himself – that he didn’t even bother to take off his hat in front of his victim – fuelled me with the anger I needed to say what I had to.
‘It’s about the night that Pegasus was shot,’ I said, deciding this was no time to beat about the bush. ‘I told the police that I’d seen my attacker’s shadow in the snow and that he was wearing an unusual hat, shaped like a trilby. When I saw your shadow on the Great Room carpet earlier, I realised it was you that shot Pegasus and almost killed me.’
‘What?!’ Fraser stood up immediately. ‘Jesus, Charlie, I can’t believe that you two have sunk so low. I’m leaving now.’
‘Okay,’ I said calmly. ‘That’s fine. Cal’s down at your cottage with the hunting rifle we think you used to shoot at me and Pegasus. The police already told me they have the bullet, plus the casing, and all they need to do is match them up to your rifle. We’ll call them and get them to meet you there, shall we?’
‘I . . . you’re talking bullshit and you know it. Ulrika was with me that night – just go and ask her.’
‘We’re not interested really, are we, Charlie?’ I said lightly. ‘It’s up to the police to ask you and Ulrika questions. Go and phone them, Charlie. Bye then, Fraser,’ I said as I stood up and took my tea cup to the sink to wash it out, giving myself a chance to breathe and for Fraser to think. I saw Charlie move towards the kitchen door.
‘We both know it was you, Fraser,’ I commented quietly as I put the cup on the drainer. ‘And come to think of it, I’m suddenly remembering the rifle being aimed at me that night. I’m sure the police would be very interested to hear about it. They did say it could be classed as attempted murder. If the stag hadn’t been between us, it could have been me that was killed.’
‘Okay, okay, let’s talk,’ Fraser said. Charlie paused, one hand on the doorknob. ‘What is it you want?’ Fraser asked me.
‘Justice of course, for Pegasus and for me,’ I said as I turned round to him slowly and was pleased to see he’d had the grace to take off his hat. ‘But I also want it for Charlie. You’re only after a piece of the estate because it’s his, not because you love it. It would probably have to be sold to give you your share and then the hundreds of years of Kinnaird history would go down the drain. I think that would be a real shame, don’t you?’
‘You little bitch . . . !’ Fraser muttered as I watched Charlie approach him.
‘Enough, Fraser!’
‘It’s okay, Charlie, he can call me what he wants,’ I said evenly. ‘Especially as it’s all on tape anyway. And he’s already admitted it was him.’
‘I’ve done no such thing!’
‘I think you have,’ I shrugged. ‘Anyway, Fraser, it’s really up to you. Charlie and you share the same blood after all, and whatever you’ve done to him, he wouldn’t like to see his half-brother put away in prison, would you, Charlie?’
‘Of course not, no, Tiggy.’ Charlie nodded in agreement.
‘So, Fraser, I’m preparednotto tell the police that it was you who shot at Pegasus and me that night, if you’re prepared to give up your claim to the Kinnaird estate and leave the country.’
‘This is out and out blackmail!’ Fraser raged, but he stayed where he was.
‘Yes, I’m morally corrupt,’ I said, ‘but what can I do? So, what’s it to be? The choice is yours.’
Both Charlie and I watched as a gamut of emotion, ranging from rage to fear, passed across Fraser’s cold blue eyes. Eventually, he stood up.
‘You’ll be sorry you did this for him,’ Fraser shouted, stabbing one of his fingers towards me. ‘He’s pathetic – just ask his wife, or my ex-wife, for that matter. They’ll tell you.’ He walked towards the door.
‘I take it you’ve decided to leave the country?’
‘I’ll need a few hours to sort my shit out. You’ll grant me that, will you?’
‘We will. Oh and Cal will keep hold of that rifle of yours just in case you change your mind. Okay?’
Fraser looked round the kitchen, his entire body shaking with anger. Then he threw us both a look of such hatred, I shuddered. The man was pure evil and, for the first time, I felt glad I knew the words of the curse.
Without another word, Fraser turned on his heel and left the room.
Charlie and I listened as his footsteps retreated towards the back door, and we watched surreptitiously through the kitchen window as he climbed into his jeep, then, with a screech of tyres, exited the courtyard.
‘I’ll call Cal and tell him to get the hell away from the barn with the rifle. I’ll send him up to Lochie’s parents’ croft for now, just in case Fraser decides to hunt him down. He’ll never find him up there,’ Charlie called as he headed for the office.
