Page 53 of Death on a Scottish Train

“Before all that happened, what was he like?”

The farmer shrugged. “Bit of a cold fish,” he said. “I thought it was because he was an accountant, and he didn’t like to talk. But now I know, he was an unfriendly sort.”

I nodded. “You and Angus were at the train celebration the night he died. Do you remember seeing anything?”

“The police asked us the same. We didn’t even remember seeing him there. It was crowded, though.”

“Maybe, you did see him but didn’t realize it. He wore a fedora and a trench coat, with black-rimmed glasses.”

He frowned.

“What is it?”

“I do remember seeing a man in a trench coat. I thought it was a bit warm for a coat like that indoors.”

“Do you remember when or what he was doing?”

Todd’s eyebrows went up. “Well, come to think of it, I did see a fellow going into one of the rooms off the main part of the station. There was someone with him. I only saw the backside of them, though. I couldn’t tell you if it was a man or a woman. Jacks blocked my view.”

“Do you remember what the other person might have worn?”

He sighed. “They wore one of those Scottish caps like the other servers on the train. And a black jacket, but that’s all I can remember.”

“You didn’t see their face?”

“No. I remember wondering if that was the loo, but then I was distracted when the conductor called, ‘All aboard.’ We hustled onto the train after that. I’d been standing a fair amount of time and was needing to have a good sit.”

“And the other person was dressed like the food servers on the train?”

“Yes. Wore a tam, one of those Scottish caps that they all wore. That much I remember.”

Had the killer blended in because he’d worn a uniform?

I texted Ewan:I have news.

Chapter Fourteen

While it had been a long day, I had promised to go with my friends to the Summer Arts Festival, which was up the mountain. None of us were volunteering tonight, but we wanted to show our support for the carnival and the artists and crafts people who had booths on the site.

I had a longtime love of arts and crafts. I looked forward to picking up some new purchases. Even though it had been almost a year that I had been living and working in the old church, I was still trying to make it my home.

While I didn’t like a lot of stuff around, I did have a love of being surrounded by beauty in both the clinic and the house. Making things pretty for patients helped to put them at ease and gave them things to look at while they waited.

Every few months, Abigail helped me switch things around in the patient rooms, so there were always pieces of interest. Those things could open up conversations with patients, who might be curious about the items. Once they were relaxed, they could more easily tell me what was really going on.

I met my friends behind the pub, where the shuttles were stationed to take people up and down the mountain. It was a way to control traffic, and to keep the downtown part of Sea Isle free of too many cars.

With Abigail, Tommy, Mara, Jasper, and Angie with me, we scored a private van.

“I’m sad we’re missing a new episode ofProfessor T,” Mara said.

“We can watch it tomorrow,” I promised.

“No,” she said. “Tomorrow is s’mores on the beach. Remember? You contributed to that one. And the big bonfire by the pier.”

“I forgot,” I said. “Maybe, when this week is over, we can catch up with the good professor.” We actually watched several different UK mysteries together. We called them wine and chill evenings, and we usually did them a couple nights a week.

Even though I didn’t believe in gossip, it was one of the best ways to keep in touch with what was going on in the town.