Free Legacy of Lies by Jane A. Adams Page A

points bulletin and hope someone spots it.’
    â€˜So,’ Alec mused, ‘the best guess is that he drove here, with someone else who then left him either before or after the heart attack and drove off in Rupert’s car.’
    â€˜Makes the most sense. Of course, he could just as easily have driven out here to meet two somebodys and one drove his car off afterwards. Right, we’re there. Mind yourself, Naomi, the ground is very uneven and there’s tussocks and humps all over.’
    She released Napoleon’s harness and accepted the offer of Alec’s arm for the walk across the rough terrain. Naomi tried to imagine what it would have been like in the pouring rain. She could feel the dampness of the soil that slipped beneath her feet, the scent of thyme and bog rosemary rising up on the heated air. Alec had not been wrong about the rain, she thought. She recalled wet holidays imprisoned in the caravan, or the chalet her parents rented when their finances improved a bit. Playing cards and board games while horizontal storms raged at the windows and beat a tattoo on the roof so loud it drowned out the radio. She would not have chosen to come out here in that kind of rain.
    â€˜He was lying here,’ Fine said.
    Alec left Naomi’s side and she heard him moving slowly, casting about the scene.
    â€˜I don’t suppose the area was searched?’ he asked.
    â€˜Only in a general way. There wasn’t a mark on him and a phone call to his doctor suggested what the PM might show up. We cordoned the area for a couple of days, but didn’t have the manpower to keep anyone here. I’m sorry, Alec, but there seemed no need. To tell the truth I’m still not fully convinced any different.’
    â€˜Not even after those men came to Fallowfields?’ Naomi realized she sounded indignant.
    â€˜Why wait this long?’ Fine asked. ‘The funeral notice in the local paper had contact details for both the undertaker and the solicitor. Marcus Prescott was very careful to make sure of that.’
    â€˜Oh, why particularly?’
    â€˜Because Mr Prescott was anxious that anyone who had dealings with Rupert could get hold of someone. Apparently he’d mentioned some purchases he wanted to make, but Mr Prescott didn’t seem sure about the details. You’d have to ask him.’
    â€˜So, if Rupe owed someone money – legitimate money, that is – they could have spoken directly to the solicitor.’
    â€˜Or even gone to the shop,’ Naomi pointed out.
    â€˜True.’
    â€˜Of course,’ Fine went on, ‘I’m personally not ruling out foul play in one sense, especially considering those two that came to Fallowfields.’
    â€˜In one sense?’
    â€˜I always did find it a bit strange that he had no pills with him. My father’s got a dicky ticker and he won’t go from one room to the next without his medication. Seems to me some bugger might have frightened the old man so much his heart gave out and then took his pills away.’

Eleven
    M arcus had a tiny office at the rear of the shop. With Alec, Naomi and Napoleon all present, it was something of a crush. The young woman Alec had spoken to on the phone was minding the shop while they talked. Her name was Emma, Marcus told them, and she cleaned his flat for him and sometimes helped out in the shop.
    â€˜Sugar in your tea, my dear?’
    â€˜No, thank you. I’m not like Alec.’
    â€˜Sweet enough, I think.’ Naomi could hear the smile in his voice.
    They had been discussing the research Rupert had carried out for his new book.
    Marcus picked up the conversation where he had left it before preparing the tea. ‘Rupert usually advertised in the
Axholme Herald
. Occasionally he would use other local papers, but the
Herald
has a good circulation and usually served his purpose. They were always helpful, I believe, and once or twice even ran a little piece. Did an