Free The Ambiguity of Murder by Roderic Jeffries

it reminded him of the past when his parents had been alive and life had been so hard that even a glass of wine had been counted a luxury. ‘What did you think of the señor?’
    â€˜How d’you mean?’
    â€˜What kind of man did you think him?’
    Frau was very willing to list someone else’s faults, even if he found it difficult to put into words exactly what he wanted to say. Zavala had been arrogant, rude, and incredibly ill-mannered; a gypsy from Andalucia would have behaved with more dignity. He’d been stupid – thought he spoke good Castilian when it was South American argot. He’d treated the staff as if they were slaves, demanding they work themselves into their graves for a mere pittance. When he’d been asked for a new hedge-cutter to replace the one that was always breaking down, he’d said that he couldn’t afford it. ‘They’re all the same, the richer, the meaner.’
    â€˜Maybe that’s because they’ve more to lose.’
    â€˜And temper! Do something he didn’t like and he was shouting himself red in the face. Like the time Santiago and him were going on at each other. It got so as I thought maybe only one of ’em would be eating supper.’
    â€˜Who’s Santiago?’
    â€˜A local builder.’
    â€˜What was the row about?’
    â€˜The work he’d been doing. The señor said it hadn’t been done properly. Bloody fool! Everyone knows Santiago is the best builder in the area.’
    â€˜When was this – recently?’
    â€˜The oranges was ripe ’cause I was picking ’em for the house and carrying ’em up when I heard ’em at it. Good oranges, only he said they wasn’t as sweet as they ought to have been. As if he’d know!’
    â€˜Then it was in January or February?’
    â€˜You think oranges ripen in July?’
    Alvarez drained his glass. ‘This is really good.’
    â€˜You’ve the looks of someone who finds other people’s wine is always good.’ Alcohol went quickly to Frau’s tongue and he had half forgotten the need for caution. He stood, picked up the jug, refilled both their glasses.
    â€˜They tell me the señor was fond of the ladies,’ Alvarez observed.
    â€˜Couldn’t live without ’em, lucky sod.’
    â€˜And recently he’s been seeing a lot of one in particular?’
    Frau sniggered. ‘I reckon I’ve seen near as much of her as he has.’
    â€˜What’s that – wishful thinking?’
    â€˜I know what I see. I was working down the south side of the property, clearing some land, and had to come back for a handbill. Know what I saw?’
    â€˜Tell me.’
    â€˜When I came past the pool, there was a lot of laughing, so I…’
    â€˜Had a look to see what was going on?’
    â€˜I wanted to see they wasn’t trespassers, using the señor’s pool without permission.’
    â€˜Very commendable of you.’
    â€˜They always say you lot from Llueso are sarcastic bastards.’
    â€˜We need something to be in our favour. What did you see?’
    â€˜Him and her and not so much as a handkerchief on ’em. How about that?’
    â€˜People often strip off when they’re sunbathing and don’t expect anyone to be around.’
    â€˜They wasn’t sunbathing.’
    â€˜Are you saying they were active?’
    â€˜Well, not exactly,’ Frau said reluctantly. ‘But they had been just before I got there.’
    â€˜The vibes were still vibrating?’
    â€˜I’ve eyes. And doesn’t a ram tup a ewe whenever it gets the chance?’ Frau finished his drink, poured what was left in the jug into his glass, drank.
    â€˜You’re sure you’re not making all the better parts up?’ Alvarez asked.
    â€˜You calling me a liar?’
    â€˜Could be an optimist. It’s unusual for people to carry on like that if