There have been some allegations made, relating to yourself, that are extremely serious

Ann stepped out of the carriage and paid the driver. What a long and arduous afternoon. The minister had taken forever as he pondered the most suitable choices of hymns and paraphrases and she had not expected the undertaker to have so many questions. But she only wanted the finest casket for her husband. This would be a funeral many would attend, everything must be well taken care of.

As she walked up the drive, she worried about what to do with the children during the funeral.

Ordinarily she would have asked Margaret to keep them but she did not want to ask that woman anything. She would have to ask Miss Graham to stay at home with them.

She opened the door and noticed there were two black capes on the coat stand. Who could possibly be here when she was not at home?

Upon entering the drawing room she saw that there were two policemen on the sofa, the older one from the day before and another, this one with more braid on his shoulders.

They both stood up but did not smile. Her heart began to race.

“Gentlemen, what an unexpected pleasure. I do hope you have been offered refreshments?”

Her legs were trembling; she sat down with a thump in front of them.

Conspired

“Mrs Craig,” said the unknown man. “I am Detective Inspector Maccallister. You know my colleague Sergeant Donnelly.”

“Yes, yes I do.” Ann clasped her hands on her lap. “There have been some allegations made, relating to yourself, that are extremely serious.

“I shall itemise these and then you may speak. Do you understand?”

She clenched her hands tight and nodded. He cleared his throat then looked directly at her. His face was grey as granite.

“It is alleged that Robert Craig was never on the train over the Tay on December 28 1879. That he returned here at some time over the past few days. That, on realising he was alive, you conspired to murder him.

“During this undertaking, you involved two otherwise innocent men, both of whom are now also party to a crime.

“First, you had intimate relations with Dr Archibald Donaldson and he falsified the death certificate to state that your husband had been on the train and his body in the water for two weeks, when in fact he had three lesions in his heart, suggesting that he had been stabbed, and was in the water for less than two days.

“Secondly, you involved the manager at your husband’s mill, one Alfred Johnston.

“He had the murder weapon about his person. He insisted he did nothing apart from relieve you of this.” Fool, the man was a fool.

“In case, Mrs Craig, you are about to fabricate excuses, I shall relay the facts.

“Your neighbour Margaret Donaldson found out about you and her husband and says the relations took place in the summer house in the garden. She has evidence upon her husband’s clothing.”

Certified

He stared directly at her, his steely eyes unwavering.

“Your housekeeper Mrs Baxter found two bloodied handkerchiefs in your coat pocket, one yours, one belonging to Alfred Johnston; his initials were on them and the housekeeper recognised them.

“She brought those to Mrs Donaldson who then accompanied Mrs Baxter to the police station this morning along with the letter from the morgue. The letter which was certified by one Dr Archibald Donaldson.”

Traitors, the lot of them.

“I expect Mrs Baxter spoke to your assistant, her nephew Jimmy, Sergeant Donnelly?”

“Aye, she did that,” mumbled the sergeant, looking at his feet.

“Is there anything you would like to say, Mrs Craig?”

Donnelly got out his notebook and had his pencil poised.

Ann’s heart was pounding, yet she felt defiant. “Yes, what if my husband was trying to abduct my two dear children?

“What if he was attempting to kill me and so I had to kill him in self-defence?”

Why? Why did she mention the very possibility that she had killed him? Now she was the fool.

“These, Mrs Craig are all matters for the court to decide. But for now, we must ask you to accompany us to the police station for further questions.”

She felt stifled. “Can I see my children first?” She could hardly breathe.

“They are at the Donaldsons’ house. The doctor is elsewhere but Mrs Donaldson has kindly agreed to take care of them until further notice. It is best that you do not see them. “

Ann got to her feet and stumbled into the hall. Where usually a servant would rush to open the front door, there was no one. All was silent.

She pulled her black velvet hat firmly down to meet her high collar as the men put on their capes.

Outside, she looked back up at the house and saw a curtain twitch upstairs in the nursery.

So, her entire staff was in on this.

2015

Fiona and Pete walked into the kitchen and sniffed the air.

“Your mum been baking, Fi?”

“No idea. If so, it’s the first time for ages. She’s been kind of weird on the sedatives from the doctor, but she’s coming out of it.”

Fiona went to the foot of the stairs and hollered, “Anyone home?”

“Just changing out of my school uniform. Granny’s made scones.”

Pete’s eyes crinkled on hearing his voice.

They both sat down at the table and waited. The thud on the stairs was followed by a sudden halt. They both looked up at Jamie standing at the door, immobile, his mouth open.

“Pete, you’re back!” He ran into the room and flung himself at him.

“Hi, mate, how’re you doing?” Pete bent down to give him a big hug then pulled his ear the way he used to.

Dorothy joined them at the door and Pete stood up and went to give her a kiss on the cheek.

“Do they not eat in Australia? Look how thin you’ve got.”

“I know, lovesick.” He smiled at Fiona. “Dot, I’m so sorry about Stru, what a loss. How are you doing?”

“I’m fine just so long as no one is too nice to me,” she said, as she went to put the scones from the wire rack on a plate. “Put the kettle on, Fi.”

“So why did you leave, Pete?”

“Jamie, it’s a long story, but it was really bad of me. I hurt you and your mum and Granny and Pa too. You remember I used to tell you that some boys were just idiots? Well, turns out I was an idiot too.”

Jamie giggled.

“No, I was, really. I’m not proud of what I’ve done but I’m back here now and I hope we can be a family again.”

Jamie grinned from ear to ear.

More tomorrow.