Death of a Perfect Wife (16 page)

‘Behave yourself, woman,’ said Hamish, suddenly sick to death of her.

With amazing speed, he moved in under her guard, swept her up in his lanky arms, dumped her head first in an enormous plastic rubbish bin, and, deaf to her cries, strolled off.

That’s that, he thought with gloomy satisfaction, I may as well go back to the police station and resign.

The desk sergeant looked up as Hamish ambled in. ‘Upstairs, Macbeth. The super’s screaming for you.’

‘So soon?’ said Hamish, surprised. ‘Did PC Graham fly in on her broomstick? Never mind. Better get it over with.’

‘Come in, come in, Hamish,’ said Superintendent Peter Daviot. ‘Sit down, man. Tea?’

‘Yes, thank you,’ said Hamish, sitting down on a chair facing the desk and putting his peaked cap on his knees.

‘It seems, Hamish, that there’s been a bit of a crime wave in Lochdubh and Sergeant Mac-Gregor’s being run ragged.’

‘Is he now?’ asked Hamish with a smile. He did not like MacGregor.

‘Milk and sugar? Right. Here you are. Yes, on due consideration, we have decided you should finish up the week here and return to Lochdubh. Here are the keys to the station.’

‘Thank you.’ Hamish felt suddenly bleak. Why had he risen to that stupid Graham woman’s insults?

The door opened and Detective Chief Inspector Blair heaved his large bulk into the room. ‘Oh, you’re here, are you?’ he said nastily when he saw Hamish.

‘Yes,’ said Mr Daviot. ‘It seems you made a bad mistake in suggesting that Hamish be taken away from Lochdubh. There’s been nothing but crime for the past few days.’

‘I know,’ said Blair heavily. ‘I’ve been there on a drugs report. Baking soda, it turned oot tae be.’ His Glasgow accent grew stronger in his irritation. ‘Dae ye know what I think? I think them damp villagers are making up crimes so as tae get this pillock back.’

The superintendent’s face froze. ‘Mind your language in front of me, Mr Blair,’ he said. ‘Are you questioning the word of Colonel Halburton-Smythe, for example?’

‘No, no,’ said Blair hurriedly. ‘But it did look a bit suspicious, ye ken, considering nothing happens there from the one year’s end tae the other.’

‘Except murder,’ put in Hamish.

‘Do not forget Hamish solved that woman’s murder,’ said the superintendent. ‘I am just telling him he must go back and take up his duties there.’

‘Uh-uh!’ said Blair, his face creased into an unlovely smile. ‘Why I came up, Mr Daviot, is to tell you we might be discussing Macbeth’s dismissal from the force.’

‘What! Why?’

‘He assaulted PC Graham.’

‘You assaulted a policewoman, Hamish?’

‘It was self-defence, sir.’

‘Haw! Haw! Haw!’ roared Blair.

‘Will you stop cackling, Blair, and give me an outline of the complaint?’

‘PC Graham has just come into the station. She said she was patrolling the beat when Macbeth here suddenly picked her up and threw her in a rubbish bin.’

‘Is this true, Macbeth?’ No more ‘Hamish.’

‘She said she could beat me up and approached me in a threatening manner,’ said Hamish. ‘I was fed up wi’ her. I chust picked up the lassie and dumped her in wi’ the rubbish.’

‘I can hardly … this is very serious … very serious indeed. Oh, what is it, Sergeant?’

The desk sergeant had just entered. ‘It’s three women and a man frae the tower blocks,’ he said. ‘They say they’ve come to defend Macbeth here. They say they saw Graham attacking him and Macbeth being forced to defend himself. They say when they helped Graham out of the bin, she said she was going to get Macbeth charged with assault and they say if that’s the case they will all go to court as witnesses for Macbeth’s defence.’

‘We must not let this get into the newspapers,’ said the superintendent, horrified. ‘Get rid of these people, Sergeant, and say that Macbeth is not being charged. Shut Graham up at all costs. Good heavens, just think what the tabloids could make of this. Macbeth, I suggest you go back to your quarters and pack and leave for Lochdubh in the morning. Blair, I am surprised at you! In a situation as potentially explosive and damaging to the police as this you should get your facts right. Macbeth, wipe that smile off your face and get going!’

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of other books in the Hamish Macbeth series simply contact The Book Service (TBS) by phone, email or by post. Alternatively visit our website at www.constablerobinson.com.  

And the following titles available in 2010 …

Death of a Gossip

Death of a Cad

Death of an Outsider

Death of a Perfect Wife

Death of a Hussy

Death of a Snob

Death of a Prankster

Death of a Glutton

Death of a Travelling Man

Death of a Charming Man

Death of a Nag

Death of a Macho Man

Death of a Dentist

Death of a Scriptwriter

Death of an Addict

A Highland Christmas

Death of a Dustman

Death of a Celebrity

Death of a Village

Death of a Poison Pen

Death of a Bore

Death of a Dreamer

Death of a Maid

Death of a Gentle Lady

Death of a Witch

Death of a Valentine