Page 32 of Death on a Scottish Train

“I don’t think the killer did, but I want to check. And they could have misted the bee venom on there. It’s a stretch, I know, but I want to make sure.

“Again, the murderer most likely thought we would think it was just an allergic reaction. And they may have thought we wouldn’t check the lip balm.

“We need to keep that part of the case quiet from the public.” Though, we’d already spoken with Kiara who made the balm. I had a feeling she wouldn’t say anything that made her business look bad. From the way she’d reacted, I didn’t think she would want anyone to know we’d even spoken with her.

“It’s a very odd way to kill someone,” Henry said. “Using bee pollen. He dinnae seem like a man who would run around and tell people he was allergic. How would the killer even know?”

“Which may tell us that his murderer knew him well. Maybe it’s even someone we’ve already spoken to. But you know your boss, and he’s going to need proof, not supposition. If we can show other toiletries and such are tainted, we’ll know it is someone who had access to his house.”

I snapped my fingers. “That reminds me. He seemed to be a man who likes things tidy. There is nothing wrong with that, but I wondered if we might check to see if he has a cleaner who comes in to take care of things.”

“Good idea,” Henry said. “I’ll ask the boss when I go back up.”

The doorbell rang, and we all looked at one another. Then I checked the monitor by the door. After a few dangerous incidents where killers showed up at our door, Ewan had insisted on updating the security with cameras and monitors so we could always see who was on the other side of the huge oak doors.

It was Mara with a woman I didn’t recognize.

“Is everything OK?” I asked as I opened the door.

“Yes,” Mara said. “This is Kaitlyn Jacks, the sister of the deceased,” she added quietly. “She has come to identify the body.”

Mara gave me a face that said she had no idea what was going on with the woman and found her to be suspicious.

We didn’t need anyone to identify the body. Mara and Ewan had already done that.

“She drove in from Glasgow when she was notified about her brother’s death.”

Ewan had mentioned that he had a sister when I asked if the train set could be donated.There hadn’t been any pictures of her in his home. Though, other than trains, there hadn’t been many personal affects downstairs.

“I stopped into the pub for a late lunch and asked where I might need to go next,” the woman said. Dressed in a power suit of gray, with a white blouse, she appeared to be someone who was used to getting what she wanted. She had that air about her. “I was going to try the police station, but Mara says my brother is here. I’m ready to take him home.”

“I see. We can prepare him so you can see him, but I’m afraid we are several days away from releasing the body. His death is under investigation.”

Kaitlyn’s eyes narrowed. “Do you mean to say someone killed him?”

“As I said, his death is under investigation at the moment. Until we are finished, I cannot release the body.”

The woman’s eyebrows went up. There was something about her that was off-putting, and it wasn’t just her attitude. She acted like someone who felt that dealing with her brother’s death was an imposition.

We all mourned in different ways, but she didn’t appear at all sad.

“I wish the ACC had made that clear. I will be having words with him. All he said was that my brother had an allergic reaction and died.”

It didn’t seem right to say, yes, because his death was suspicious but that was all Ewan could admit.

“Right. Until all the evidence is gathered and processed, we need to keep him here.”

“We would be happy to make the arrangement for transport when we are done,” Abigail spoke up. She and Henry had been watching the conversation from the waiting room.

“Won’t you come in,” I said. “Abigail, can you please prepare Mr. Jacks so that his sister can see him?”

“Yes, ma’am.” She took off.

“I need to get back,” Henry said and left quickly for the door. He was probably headed straight to Ewan to tell him about this latest development.

“I have to get back to the pub, as well,” Mara said. “You are in good hands with the doctor.”

“Can I offer you coffee or tea?” I waved toward the coffee and tea bar we kept stocked in the waiting room. During regular business hours, we also had fruit and protein bars available for the patients.