Page 98 of Death at a Scottish Halloween

But what had happened to the other Duncan?

Chapter Twenty-Three

The next day, Baird was transported to a psychiatric hospital in Edinburgh. I was surprised that Isobel had promised to visit him there while he recovered. She had an amazing capacity for forgiveness, and she’d believed him. “It sounds like something my dramatic brother would do,” she said after Baird told her and Ewan everything.

He would be charged, but Ewan had to work with the prosecutor on exactly what charges Baird would face.

I was physically and emotionally drained. So was poor Abigail. When everyone left, we turned to one another.

“Nap?”

“Yes, please. I’ll check on Tommy, and then I’m crashing in the guest room, if that’s OK.”

“You are always welcome.”

Upstairs, I made sure I had everything ready for the All Hallow’s Eve ball that night. I would prefer a night in, but I had to be there. It was Ewan’s party, and I’d promised to be his date.

I tossed and turned and then gave up trying to sleep. I snuck downstairs and headed to my office. I pulled up all the tests onthe second Duncan. I had an idea that he’d been accidentally poisoned by the bottles. But something had set him off that night.

Where could he have been? A place where someone had scared him to death. Everyone had been so involved searching for a killer that poor Duncan number two had been shoved aside. There were CCTV cameras everywhere in this town. There had to be a video of him somewhere. Well, not at the bothie where he’d been staying, but the rest of the town.

There was a camera outside my office. I decided to start there.

The night he ended up at my front door he’d stumbled forward. He kept glancing behind him. But he’d been coming from the part of town where the pub was a short walk down the hill.

My stomach grumbled. While I’d been shoving coffee down my throat most of the day, I hadn’t eaten.

I went down to the pub to get something to eat. I wasn’t up to cooking, I was so tired.

There were a few people in the pub. I was surprised to see Robert McClendon and his friends.

I sat down at the bar. “I thought you kicked them out,” I whispered.

She rolled her eyes. “Grandad let them back in, provided they behaved.”

“I wonder why they’re still in town?’’

“They’re going to the party tonight. I heard his wife is coming into town. Should be interesting since several of his girlfriends will be at the party as well.” She smiled evilly.

“You’re looking for some kind of reality show fight, aren’t you?”

She shrugged. “I just want that guy to get what he deserves.”

I hated to admit I felt the same way.

“Rumor mill was insane this morning. Everything from Baird tried to kill everyone in the caravan park, to there was some sort of witch sacrifice. I usually love this time of year, but I’m ready for it to be over.”

I laughed.

“I have shepherd’s pie. Do you want some?”

“Have I ever said no to that question?”

She giggled. “Coming right up. Pint or coffee?”

“Water.” She appeared shocked. “Long night ahead, and pretty sure I’ve consumed forty ounces of coffee today.”

She frowned. “I thought you were cutting back.”