Smile and be a Villain Read Online Free Page B

him.’
    I thought I disguised the little wave of unrest that swept through me, but Alan took my hand. ‘You must remember that I’ve seen his face only covered with blood and—’ I swallowed hard – ‘and flies. I tried not to look. In any case I’ve lost touch with most of my American friends; it’s been many years since I lived there. But I suppose there’s just a chance. What’s the man’s name?’
    â€˜Abercrombie. William Abercrombie.’
    Alan and I looked at each other. I swallowed again. ‘Alan, wasn’t that the name …?’
    PC Partridge came to full alert.
    Alan cleared his throat. ‘I don’t know anyone named Abercrombie, and I don’t think my wife does.’ I shook my head. ‘But it’s not a terribly common name, and we heard it just this morning in connection with a visitor to the island. If I understood correctly, he is a retired clergyman from America who has been doing a great deal of volunteer work at St Anne’s. I don’t think they mentioned his given name. You may want to talk to the chap who’s filling in there for the vicar.’
    â€˜Mr Lewison, yes. Thank you. I’ll speak to him right away. And you’ll let me know if anything else comes to mind?’
    â€˜Of course. And, constable, I have a question if you don’t mind. Has the cause of death been confirmed? That is, if you can give me that information.’
    â€˜The autopsy hasn’t been done yet. The body’s had to be flown to Guernsey for that, but there’s little doubt about the fractured skull. It looks like a most unfortunate accident, but you’ll understand we have to be sure. Of course we need to find out about next of kin and so on, and the American Embassy will have to be notified.’
    â€˜No end of headaches, in short. We’ll leave you to it.’
    â€˜They’ll miss him up at the church,’ I said when PC Partridge had left.
    â€˜I suppose they will. Although …’
    â€˜Oh, you noticed that, too, did you?’
    â€˜I noticed that one of the women seemed less enthusiastic than the others about the man. If it is the same man.’
    â€˜C’mon! How many Americans named Abercrombie do you think there are on this island?’
    â€˜One less than yesterday, at any rate.’ He stood up and stretched. ‘Are you as ready for a nap as I am?’

FOUR
    A s the years have advanced, I’ve become more and more fond of afternoon naps. The trouble is, if you keep them short they’re not terribly satisfying. And if you sleep as long as you want to, then getting to sleep at night becomes a problem. It’s all very well if there’s something you want to do that will keep you up late, but from what I’d seen, it didn’t seem likely that there was much nightlife in Alderney. Unless one counted the bats and hedgehogs.
    When we woke up it was mid-afternoon, and we decided to find the police station to check on what more, if anything, had been discovered about the man on the cliff. Someone in the shop next door told us where to find the station. It was only a few yards away, up a side street called Queen Elizabeth II Street (another royal visit, probably), but known to everyone, predictably, as ‘QE2’ Street.
    â€˜Victoria Street. QE2 Street,’ I commented. ‘For a place that isn’t actually part of England they’re sure devoted to the royal family.’
    â€˜I believe they’re quite loyal to the Queen,’ said Alan. ‘It’s their government that’s independent, not necessarily the hearts of the people.’
    We passed a small bookshop on the way to the station. I was tempted to stop, but first I wanted to hear what the police had to say.
    The station turned out to be in part of a very imposing building. ‘Courthouse?’ I ventured.
    â€˜My dear, I don’t know. It does say “Court