Free The Evil That Men Do.(Inspector Faro Mystery No.11) by Alanna Knight Page B

his young patient and that his behaviour towards her was under constant scrutiny, the subject of mocking comment.
    Faro could sympathise, since he was self-conscious as a guilty schoolboy in Barbara Langweil’s presence, certain everyone guessed his feelings for her.
    ‘I presume Grace never gave him any encouragement.’
    Vince laughed. ‘She regards him as a benevolent uncle. That he had any amorous inclinations had never occurred to her, I can assure you.’
    Realising they were slipping away from the vital subject once again, Faro said: ‘As you’ve drawn a blank in Edinburgh with consultant physicians, I wonder if Cedric went elsewhere.’
    ‘I suppose it’s a possibility, Stepfather, but rather like searching for a needle in a haystack. You’re thinking of London - some where like that?’
    Vince frowned. ‘I seem to remember he went to Aberdeen rather a lot. Something to do with the whisky business.’
    ‘Then that is perhaps where we will find our missing con sultant.’
    ‘I’ll put it to Adrian. See if he comes up with any names.’
    ‘We have to clear this up, lad, make absolutely certain that he was not a dying man, before we can proceed with the possible enquiry into a murder.’
    ‘My poor Grace,’ whispered Vince with some feeling.
    To which his stepfather added silently, my poor Vince. For whatever happened, if Inspector Faro succeeded in tracking down whoever poisoned Cedric Langweil, his triumph would shake the entire family to its very foundations and shatter the delicate fabric of Vince’s forthcoming marriage to Grace Langweil.
Chapter Seven
     
    ‘Vince has been called away to attend a sick child,’ Rose told her father when they met at breakfast.
    Faro was never at his best in the morning, especially when a murder case kept him awake half the night wrestling with theories, sifting through evidence, and discarding improbabilities. Since he was emotionally concerned with Cedric’s death and the outcome, he had fallen into a deep and exhausted sleep at dawn.
    Normally he always claimed he needed his first breaths of fresh air to sharpen his wits. Vince appreciated his stepfather’s approach to each new morning and the two men were normally silent as each read his own mail and their comments were few and only where strictly necessary.
    Rose, who saw her father rarely, was unaware that at breakfast time he was apt to be grumpy. She prattled at a great rate about her plans for the day. Grace was taking her to the shop where she could look at the school uniform and then they were to go on to the Botanic Gardens.
    Faro listened, polite but vague and trying to smile a little, just to please her.
    ‘You will enjoy that. I presume Grace will be calling for you in their carriage.’
    Rose frowned. ‘It is rather out of her way, Papa. I thought I would take the omnibus to Charlotte Square.’ And clasping her hands delightedly, ‘I do so enjoy public transport. We have nothing like that at home. It is quite thrill ing—’
    ‘Rose,’ he interrupted. ‘I must insist that you avail yourself of Grace’s carriage, or if you wish to explore, then you take Mrs Brook with you.
    ‘Mrs Brook—’
    ‘Yes, my dear. You see, it isn’t quite right for a young girl who is a stranger to Edinburgh to wander round unescorted.’
    ‘How am I to cease being a stranger if I can’t search out places for myself? I like my own company. Besides, I am used to going about Kirkwall alone.’
    ‘Kirkwall is not Edinburgh. There are dangers in a city that you would not encounter in Orkney.’
    ‘I’m not a child any longer, Papa,’ Rose said in wounded tones.
    ‘I am quite aware of that,’ he said coldly.
    Then, her heightened colour warning him that she was upset by his remark, he put his arm around her, hugged her to him.
    ‘I want you to be happy here, my precious. And safe. I realise your papa is a great fusspot, but do bear with me. Will you - please?’
    Resting her head against his shoulder, her