Free Murder Among Us by Ann Granger Page A

stand insecurely on an upturned bucket. Both the animal's forelegs were distorted by swollen knee joints. It was also possessed of a very large head at the end of a ewe-neck and ears which flopped to either side. No one could have called it an endearing animal or supposed that any amount of currying and brushing could improve its moth-eaten coat. But Emma worked with dedicated ferocity, a small whirlwind of activity in jeans and gumboots.
    "I only wish I could afford to pay her something,

    poor kid! Even pocket money. But she does it all for love, works herself into a frazzle if I don't stop her. I have physically to pull her away. Mind you, she's a great help and the animals behave wonderfully with her. Horses and children, you know, operate on much the same wave-length. And I do give Emma her lunch when she's here all day. Anyway, her mum is a lawyer and wouldn't let me exploit her if I wanted to."
    ''And her uncle is in charge of the local cop-shop, as I understand it."
    "Chief Inspector Markby, yes."
    There was an awkward silence. Forty-eight hours had passed since the murder but the feeling of tension which hung over the whole district had not faded.
    "In charge of investigations into the death of your fellow history-buff, isn't he?" Finlay Ross laid the ghost firmly by naming it aloud.
    "Yes, poor Ellen. I can't bear to think of her. So— so dreadful. There are no words to describe it. Obscene, somehow. I keep seeing her, crouched in that gap between the wall and the wine racks . . . and the knife sticking out of her neck. She was all curled up like a foetus in the womb."
    "I'm an animal doctor not a human one," Finlay growled. "But my advice to you is go and see your medical man and get him to give you something for your nerves. You look, my dear, very stressed."
    "No thanks, I'm not a pill-taker. I know I'm stressed. Pills won't help."
    "Fine. Then try a tot of whisky."
    "Don't like that either. It smells horrid."
    Finlay looked shocked to the depths of his Scots soul. "My dear girl! The water of life! Smells horrid? Whatever next? Anyway, a word of caution: don't describe details of the appearance of the deceased to others. I realise I invited it and shouldn't have done. The police might not like it. Careless revelations can prejudice trials, inspire cranks, tip off murderers to cover their tracks or Lord knows what else. Or so I've been informed.

    MURDER AMONG U5 61
    Now then, let's look at the patient, shall we?"
    They walked together across the yard. Emma stopped her manic brushing of the donkey and stood back, purple-faced, sweating and dishevelled. She rubbed a grimy palm over her freckled face leaving it liberally streaked with grease. "Hullo, Mr Ross," she said doubtfully.
    "Hullo, Emma! You look about to succumb to spontaneous combustion. Why don't you go and sit down for a bit while I take a look at Maud here?"
    The donkey turned her ugly hammer head and leered malevolently at the vet, rolling her heavy top lip back to reveal discoloured teeth.
    "Yes, Emma, go over to my trailer and help yourself to some orange squash," Zoe urged.
    "I want to know what's wrong with Maud!" Emma stood her ground defiantly.
    "And you shall. I'll tell you what Mr Ross has to say just as soon as he's had a chance to look Maud over."
    "You're not going to put her down?"
    "Guid grief, no," said the vet cheerfully. "Go on, Emma, scram!"
    Emma returned him an uncertain smile and wandered away in the general direction of the rickety caravan which was Zoe's home. She cast many a mistrustful glance back at them as she went.
    "Move over, old lady!" ordered Finlay. Maud gave a deep groan and shifted about six inches. He ran practised hands over her, looked at her teeth which she allowed him to do with surprising cooperation, pulled affectionately at one of her long drooping ears and returned to the anxiously waiting Zoe. "Just walk her round in a small circle."
    Zoe took the halter and urged Maud to accompany her. The donkey lurched