Murders Most Foul Page 24

  Indeed, once Archie knew the truth, he realised that they were both lucky to be alive, with ample reason to forget the past, including Mavis Rayne, and forge ahead to a new life. But Laurie had not been forgotten. As Mrs Faro she was firmly established as Clara’s devoted lady’s maid and companion, an enduring friendship between two women with much in common.

  There remained only one scene to remember before the curtain fell on this grim tale of murder and revenge.

  As Bodvale was being led away, the noise and confusion had stirred Archie from his drugged slumbers. He sat up and shrilly demanded:

  ‘What are all these policemen doing in my dining room? I did not give permission for them to enter.’ And to the still-struggling housekeeper: ‘And where is my supper?’ Trying vainly to focus his eyes on the coachman, firmly held between two constables, he said: ‘I am rather tired, Brown. I won’t be needing the carriage after all.’ This for his once-weekly visit to York Square.

  Paul was also being shaken by Vince who, fearing the worst, had rushed to his friend’s side. Paul tried to sit up; dazed, he shook his head violently as if to banish a more than usually disagreeable hangover.

  Looking at Vince, he managed a sheepish grin. ‘Sorry, lad, kept you waiting. I must have rather overindulged. No billiards tonight, think I’ll have an early night.’ Rubbing his eyes, he stood up, swayed and was neatly held by Faro and Vince.

  They had smiled wryly at each other. The bond that was to last a lifetime was forged.

  About the Author

  Alanna Knight has written more than sixty novels, three non-fiction titles on R.L. Stevenson, two true crime books, numerous short stories and several plays since the publication of her first book in 1969. Born and educated in Tyneside, she now lives in Edinburgh. She is a member of the Scottish chapter of the Crime Writers’ Association, and a founder member and Honorary President of the Scottish Association of Writers and of the Edinburgh Writers’ Club.

  www.alannaknight.com

  By Alanna Knight

  THE ROSE MCQUINN SERIES

  The Inspector’s Daughter

  Dangerous Pursuits

  An Orkney Murder

  Ghost Walk

  Destroying Angel

  Quest for a Killer

  Deadly Legacy

  THE INSPECTOR FARO SERIES

  Murder in Paradise

  The Seal King Murders

  Murders Most Foul

  THE TAM EILDOR SERIES

  The Gowrie Conspiracy

  The Stuart Sapphire

  Copyright

  Allison & Busby Limited

  12 Fitzroy Mews

  London W1T 6DW

  www.allisonandbusby.com

  First published in Great Britain by Allison & Busby in 2013.

  This ebook edition published by Allison & Busby in 2013.

  Copyright © 2013 by ALANNA KNIGHT

  The moral right of the author is hereby asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  All characters and events in this publication other than those clearly in the public domain are fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent buyer.

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  ISBN 978-0-7490-1357-8