Free The Bull Slayers: Inspector Faro No 9 by Alanna Knight

taking shelter -'
    'Spying -' she interrupted, pointing a finger at him.
    'I beg your pardon?'
    'Spying,' she repeated accusingly. 'Of course, you're a policeman.'
    Taken aback, he stared at her. 'What makes you think -?'
    'Oh, don't bother to deny it. I saw you going into the police station this morning. I guessed right, didn't I?' she demanded triumphantly. 'You're here about Sir Archie?'
    Faro remained speechless as she continued: 'You'll get no help from Constable Dewar, I'm afraid. He's not very good at his job. Or that poor doomed fellow Yarrow, who's in charge -'
    'What makes you say he's doomed?'
    She looked at him strangely. 'I just know such things. I can see them written in people's faces.'
    'Indeed. Psychic, are you?' he said mockingly.
    She shrugged. 'Sometimes. I know things. I get flashes about people. Like you - like policemen,' she added sourly.
    With the kitchen table between them, they glared at each other, adversaries poised in anticipation of the next move.
    Finally, she gave way, and with a shrug walked over to the back door. Opening and closing it a few times, she nodded and said grudgingly: 'You did a good job, I'll say that for you. Thanks. I didn't feel very secure or very comfortable with it open to the four winds.'
    'So you're a town lady?'
    'Ye-es. How did -?'
    'Country folk don't lock doors.'
    ''Touché.’ For the first time she smiled, an expression, Faro admitted reluctantly, that quite transformed her face.
    As he walked towards the front door, she said: 'What about the cupboard then?'
    Faro looked at her and went over to the offending door. A vigorous tug and it responded. Turning, he gave her a grin of satisfaction. 'That's all it needed.'
    'I see,' she said slowly. 'Brute strength! That was the answer.'
    Faro merely nodded and preparing to take his leave, he asked: 'How long have you been living here?'
    'Oh, about a month - on and off. I come and go.'
    'You're not from these parts, are you?'
    'Neither are you,' she said sharply.
    Again Faro was taken aback, but before he could reply she said: 'I'm Irish. I took you for a Scot at first, but your accent isn't quite right.'
    Faro smiled. 'That's very perceptive of you. I'm from Orkney.'
    She opened the door. 'I've never been there.'
    On the doorstep he turned. 'Are you staying here long?'
    'Depends,' she said suspiciously.
    Faro was about to ask 'On what?' As if reading his thoughts, she added: 'Depends on when my money runs out.' Poking her head out, she looked at the sky and dismissed him with the words: 'The rain's stopped. You can go now.'
    As he stepped outside, she said, 'Name's Imogen Crowe.'
    'Pleased to meet you, Miss Crowe,' he said, feeling hypocritical.
    'How do you know I'm "Miss"?' she demanded.
    'That's easy.' He pointed to her hand. 'No ring.'
    And as he walked away, she called, 'What's your name?'
    'Faro. Jeremy Faro.'
    'Is that Sergeant or just plain Constable Faro?'
    'Just plain Mister will do nicely. I'm an insurance assessor,' he said acidly, in time to see a grin of mocking disbelief on her face as she banged the door behind him too quickly for politeness.
    Going over that brief conversation, he didn't even give her credit for guessing he was a policeman, although that was extraordinary. He must take more care in future. There might be others about Elrigg as sharp as Miss Crowe, but he doubted that.
    He didn't like her. He had no logical reason except hurt male pride and something about her that quite illogically nettled him. And almost angrily he shook his head, in an attempt to dismiss her completely from his thoughts.
     
    At the inn a letter from Vince awaited him. 'Have managed to get an invitation to Miss Gilchrist's eightieth birthday celebration. Arriving with Owen and Olivia on Saturday. Plan to take an extra couple of days off, give Balfour a chance to become better acquainted with the patients! If you're not too busy with crime, I'd appreciate the opportunity of some decent tramping about, go to Hexham and walk