Page 80 of Death at a Highland Wedding
I start by telling him what we know of the reason Ross has arrested him. Then I say, “Has he indicated he has evidence?”
A derisive snort. “No. He is certain that his theory is enough.”
“At the site of Mr. Sinclair’s murder, you presumed you were the target.”
Beside me, Fiona stiffens.
Cranston meets my gaze. “Is that not obvious? Ezra was walking my estate grounds in the darkness of night, wearing my coat. Someone approached from behind and struck him.”
“Thinking it was you.”
“No one would have cause to kill Ezra. Me on the other hand?” A humorless smile. “The list is long and varied.”
“Is it?” Fiona says. “You upset and anger people, but have you done anything to truly make someone wish you dead?” She looks at me. “Apologies. I did not mean to interrupt.”
“It is a valid question,” I say. “The problem is that people’s reasons for murder rarely make sense to anyone else. Also, it is not clear that murder was the intention. A single blow to the head is not usually fatal. However, I definitely need a list of everyone at the house or in the area who might have reason to harm you, Mr. Cranston. If we can even prove that you were the likely victim, it helps your case.”
“Because I would not murder myself? That was, sadly, my primary defense. That I was almost certainly the intended victim, having angered so many people. I have been composing a list.” He looks at me. “Are you ready?”
I take out my notepad and pencil. “Proceed.”
His list is very close to our own. Ross has already told Cranston that he suspects he only meant to hurt Sinclair, and so Cranston gives me everyone in the area with a grievance.
Edith Frye, for suspecting he’s cheating them on the investment, which he swears he is not. James Frye would seem a possibility, but Cranston doesn’t think he has it in him. That could seem like an insult, but he doesn’t seem to consider it one, which tracks with what everyone has said about Cranston himself eschewing violence.
Mr. Hall, the former gamekeeper, and his children make the list. They have a serious grievance, which Cranston surprisingly recognizes as valid. He doesn’t apologize for it—just says they have reason to want to frighten him or get revenge.
Müller is next on the list. As we suspected, Cranston planned to fire him, and he’s not surprised that Müller understood his predicament.
“We spoke,” Cranston says. “Or I spoke and he listened, which he did not much like. I was furious about the traps. He made it seem as if I were lying about expressing concern over them. He acted as if I ordered the killing of the wildcat. Both were false, and to question me on that, in front of others, was the height of duplicity and insolence.”
I’m still not completely convinced Müllerwaslying about those twothings, but I won’t get clarity on that with Fiona here. If Cranston is exaggerating, it’s for her sake. I’m not even sure he’d admit to anything without her around. He’s adamant in that way of people who are either telling the truth or have convinced themselves they are.
“Anyone else?” I say.
“Locally, no.”
“Mrs. Hall?”
He shakes his head. “I realize some would question the wisdom of keeping on the housekeeper whose husband I let go. But it would have been cruel to also release her when I had no cause.”
“She does have access to your food.”
“And would poison me?” He shakes his head. “She is a sensible woman who understands I made an estate-management decision. Most people who purchase a property do the same.”
“They bring in their own staff. You believe she understood that but her husband did not?”
“I do not know her husband well enough to say. That is why he is on my list.”
“And their children?”
“They are angry. To them, I stole their family home and disrespected their father. It did not even help that I tried to hire them on.”
I frown. “You tried to hire Lenore and Gavin Hall?”
“Yes. The girl to work in the house and the lad to do some labor about the estate. The boy refused, but Lenore worked with her mother for months. It seemed to go well enough, and then she quit. Ezra thinks she had hoped if she proved a good worker, I would hire their father back and return them to the cottage. I did not—could not, as I had a six-month arrangement with Müller—but the girl apparently does not see it that way, and she has avoided me ever since.”
“You offered Gavin a job on the estate but not his father?”
