Gillingham & Shaftesbury Guide August 2020

Daylight Murder by Rik Lonsdale
‘These are the last two to be had anywhere in town,’ said Sergeant Scotty McWade as
he put on a mask and handed one to his boss, Detective Inspector Guy Farley.
‘Better start wheeling them in,’ said Guy, donning his own mask.
The murder had been brutal and bloody, but that didn’t worry Guy, murder was his
speciality. The motive seemed obvious, the victim wore expensive clothes but had no
wallet, watch, phone or car keys. The body lay near the last ATM in the town. It should
have been easy to solve too, a murder on the high street of a provincial town during
market day, there were fifty witnesses.
Scotty introduced them, one after another, into the makeshift interview room. Guy
questioned them. From the little old lady buying a few veg to the hotel manager ordering
the weeks fresh produce, even the youths trying to hide their forbidden skateboards,
they all told the same story.
‘There were two of them attacked him with knives. They didn’t stop when he fell but
carried on. Then one of them rummaged in his pockets taking everything out while the
other watched us.’
‘What was their hair like?’ asked Guy’
‘I couldn’t say, they wore caps.’
‘What about their clothes?’
‘I didn’t notice. They were covered in blood, it went everywhere.’
‘Did you see their faces?’
‘Of course not, they were wearing masks.’
They were wearing masks. Of course they were wearing masks, everyone was.
‘I could use a pint,’ said Sergeant Wade after the last witness had left, ‘seeing how
the pubs have reopened today.’
‘I disapprove of drinking on duty,’ said Guy, ‘but this time I think I’ll join you.’
They went first to The Shepherds Legs Inn. The crowd in the pub were all trying to
keep their distance from each other. Scotty headed for the bar, but before he got there,
his boss said. ‘Not here Scotty, come on we’re leaving.’
‘What’s wrong with the Shepherds, Guv, it’s a good pint?’
‘I think we’ll do better elsewhere, Scotty.’
It was the same in The Rustic Rover, The Venal Vintner, The Melodious Monk and
The Flag and Flutter.
When they got to The Socket and Spanner, Guy said, ‘We’ll take a table outside, by
the door. And we’ll just have a half.’
Scotty’s face fell. The Socket was renown for its Steampunk Heavy, one pint could
change your view of the world.
They sat for three hours nursing half a pint. The crowd inside became more
boisterous. At closing time they began to stream out.
‘Time for action, Scotty’ said Guy. He pointed
out two men, ‘you take the blonde-haired bloke
and I’ll take the other.’
After the two had confessed at the station
Scotty finally plucked up the courage to ask his
boss how he knew it was them.
‘This is why you’re still a sergeant and I’m the
Inspector,’ said Guy, ‘They were the only people in
the whole town without masks.’
Scotty kicked himself, of course the masks
came off, all that blood!
The Royal Chase Hotel
Sunday Carvery
12pm – 3pm
01747 853355
BOOKING ADVISED
6 01747 823699 • vale-advertising.co.uk Please tell retailers where you saw their advert
7