Death of a Gentle Lady

in the provinces, particularly as the investigation concerns one of our nationals.’ Her English was obviously fluent and carried faint tones of an American accent.
    Hamish’s highland curiosity overcame him. ‘Is that an American accent, ma’am?’ he asked.
    ‘I studied at Harvard Business School before I entered the force,’ she said.
    ‘So what can you tell us about Irena?’ pursued Hamish.
    ‘Irena ran away from an orphanage in Moscow and lived on the streets. She was subsequently employed in a brothel, a top-class brothel, which is where she met her protector, Grigori Antonov. She travelled with him on business and, as you now know, stole a passport while they were in Istanbul and escaped.
    ‘You are Hamish Macbeth. You were engaged to be married to her. I would like to speak to you as soon as possible. Where is your office? Here?’
    ‘No, ma’am. In Lochdubh, a village about half an hour from here.’
    ‘Is that near this castle?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Yes what, Hamish,’ barked Daviot.
    ‘Yes, ma’am.’
    ‘Then I would like to make a start. You will take me to your police station and we will talk on the road.’
    ‘It’s getting late, Inspector,’ said Daviot. ‘Would you not like to wait until the morning?’ He cast his eye over the trays of canapés. Helen would just need to parcel them up, and he could take them home.
    ‘I would like to go now.’

    Hamish fumbled for the key in the gutter, hoping that Elspeth had left, and heaved a sigh of relief when his fingers closed on it. Anna, who had driven in her own car, stood behind him and remarked, ‘You are not very security-conscious.’
    ‘Oh, no one steals anything here,’ said Hamish.
    He ushered her in. The kitchen was warm. Elspeth had lit the stove. Lugs and Sonsie came running to greet him.
    ‘That is an odd cat, like a lynx,’ said Anna. ‘Is it safe?’
    ‘Yes.’
    She took off her huge peaked cap and placed it on the table.
    ‘Before we begin, ma’am …’
    ‘You may call me Anna when we are not officially on duty.’
    ‘Very well, Anna. I am very hungry and I’m sure you haven’t had time to eat anything. There is a very good restaurant here. Please let me take you for dinner.’
    ‘I would like that.’
    ‘Oh, I forgot. You are in your Russian uniform, and there are still a number of press about.’
    ‘I have my suitcases in my car. I will bring them in and change.’

    Hamish changed into a suit, collar, and tie while Anna was in the bathroom. He had helped her carry in two huge suitcases. One lay open on his bed.
    Anna eventually appeared wearing black velvet trousers, a white silk blouse with a low neckline, and a black velvet jacket encrusted with gold embroidery. Pay must be good in Moscow, thought Hamish. She went into the bedroom, opened the other suitcase, and dragged out a sable coat, which she put on.
    ‘I am ready,’ she said.

    To Hamish’s relief, the restaurant was quiet. ‘You should ha’ been here earlier, Hamish,’ said the waiter, Willie Lamont. ‘So many folk! Your lady is new to the village?’ He hovered hopefully.
    ‘Just give us a couple of menus, Willie, and go away,’ said Hamish.
    Willie came back with the menus. ‘Would you like some vodka?’ asked Hamish.
    ‘I will take some wine.’
    ‘Would that be an American accent?’ asked Willie.
    Anna turned pale eyes up to him. ‘You are a waiter, are you not? So wait. Do not ask impertinent questions.’
    When Willie had gone off again, Hamish said awkwardly, ‘You must forgive Willie. He used to work for me but he fell in love with the restaurant owner’s daughter. This is a very democratic village. You see, in the Highlands, everyone considers himself equal to everyone else. There are few class distinctions. If, for example, I considered myself superior to the villagers in any way, they would not gossip to me – and in the past that gossip has helped me solve cases.’
    ‘I looked up your file,’ said Anna. ‘You have had a lot of success and yet you are still a village policeman.’
    ‘I am not ambitious. I love this village. I do not want to leave.’
    ‘Odd. Let us choose what we are going to eat.’
    Hamish, mindful of his budget, settled for minestrone followed by spaghetti Bolognese. Anna chose a dish of antipasti and then an escalope Milanese.
    Willie came up again and asked them stiffly what they wanted to order. This time Anna smiled at him. ‘I am not American. I am Russian.’
    Willie looked alarmed.