Free Legacy of Lies by Jane A. Adams Page B

interview, that sort of thing.’
    â€˜Did that happen this time?’
    â€˜Oh yes. Rupe’s latest obsession was treasure, you know, and everyone likes stories of buried treasure. Rupe saw it all as a bit of fun. I don’t think he took the stories seriously, but they did all tie in with his writing on other stuff: the supernatural ecology I told you about. Boggarts and bogles and fen lanterns are often associated with treasure.’
    Naomi recalled Marcus telling them this. ‘Did they print a picture of him?’ Naomi asked.
    â€˜Why yes. Very flattering it was too. He looked very dapper.’ He opened his desk drawer and rummaged around. ‘There,’ he said, ‘I’ve kept the clipping.’
    He slid it across the desk to Alec. ‘You’re right,’ Alec said. ‘Very dapper. He did love his clothes. His waistcoat collection must run to fifty or more.’
    â€˜What does it say?’
    â€˜Not a lot really,’ Alec told her. ‘“Esteemed local author” – he would have loved that – “Rupert Friedman sets off on another journey into our shared past. This time the focus of Rupert’s investigation will be buried treasure, and he would like to invite us all on his hunt.” Essentially it then goes on to appeal for local stories and oral traditions. Then a PO Box address through which they can contact him.’
    â€˜Was that his usual way?’ Naomi asked.
    â€˜One of them,’ Marcus confirmed. ‘When he first started out he was a bit worried about the cranks, but as time went on he worried less, I think.’
    â€˜There’s also an email and what looks like a mobile phone number,’ Alec said. ‘Marcus, I didn’t think Rupe had a mobile. If he had a mobile, why didn’t he call for help?’
    â€˜Because …’ Marcus opened the desk drawer again. ‘It was here, plugged into the charger. He rarely carried it with him, Alec. What he did was programme it to divert to voicemail and any messages he had he’d respond to later.’
    â€˜But he never carried it with him?’ Naomi would, she thought, have been lost without hers these days.
    â€˜He considered them rather vulgar objects,’ Marcus said. ‘He absolutely hated it if he was having lunch with someone and their mobile went off. He always said that if he’d arranged to see someone then that time was theirs and theirs alone and the rest of the world could shove off for an hour. So, no, he could only see the use in having one because it meant he didn’t have to use either his home number or that of the shop. He always said he could never understand why people wanted to be tethered to an electronic dog lead.’
    â€˜I can see his point,’ Alec said. ‘This is probably the longest time I’ve had uninterrupted by work in what … since our holiday last year. Marcus, can I take the phone, I might be able to find out who called him.’
    â€˜You can do that? Well, my boy, take it and welcome. I can barely make a call on the damn things. Rupert took me to buy mine and we asked the lad in the shop for the most basic he had in stock. It still sings and dances and does things I don’t even understand the names of. Did you find his laptop?’
    â€˜No, not yet.’
    â€˜And no idea what they might have been looking for at Fallowfields? That was a terrible business. You must have been terrified, my dear.’
    â€˜Nothing yet. We’re going back later to see if we can work out what they were looking for or if anything was taken,’ Naomi told him.
    â€˜But to be honest,’ Alec continued, ‘we aren’t familiar enough with what was there to know for certain. We wondered if …’
    â€˜If I’d come and take a look? I’d be glad to. I’m just so relieved that someone is finally taking this seriously.’
    â€˜Marcus, did the police give you