The Thread of Evidence Read Online Free Page B

admit. But there’s something odd about him. Too fond of the chapel, I say. They’re always a bit odd, them very religious types.’
    â€˜He’s got enough cause to be queer, with that on his conscience,’ Ceri said stubbornly. ‘Probably goes to chapel to try to wash out his sins.’
    â€˜That nephew of his – the one on the paper in Cardiff – he seems a nice enough young chap,’ observed the farmer.
    â€˜Yes, he’s a nice bloke – comes in here quite often for a drink. He stays with the old man quite a lot since he’s taken up with Mary Ellis-Morgan.’
    The wrinkled old man at once became animated.
    â€˜Now there’s a grand girl for you – that Miss Ellis-Morgan. Always got a smile when you go down to the surgery. Nothing’s too much trouble for her. I don’t know how those three doctors down at Carmel would get on without her.’
    Ceri agreed. ‘Two bachelors and a widower like her father must take a bit of looking after. About time those two boys found themselves a wife.’
    â€˜Some hope of that in Tremabon. All the young people clear off as soon as they can. It’s a wonder that David and Gerald haven’t moved to some more lively place.’
    Ceri frowned at the dialogue between his two customers, which was stealing his thunder over the news of the bones.
    â€˜I wonder what doctor the police will get, to look at these remains,’ he said, pointedly bringing the conversation back onto his own tack.
    â€˜What’s going to happen next, then?’ asked Jenkin. ‘Did your spy in the post office tell you anything else?’ Lloyd looked suspiciously at the speaker.
    â€˜She’s not my spy, Jenkin. I can’t help it if people make me their “confidant”. But I did happen to hear Lewis John mention that Aberystwyth rang back to Griffith and told him that County Headquarters in Cardigan will be sending some detectives up first thing in the morning. Until then, Wynne Griffith has to stand guard up on the cliff all night. Rather him than me, especially looking after a corpse.’
    â€˜Serve him right!’ the farmer growled vindictively. ‘It’ll pay him out for the time he pinched me over that tractor licence.’
    Ceri produced another half-smoked cigarette and lit up. No one had ever seen him with a whole one. He seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of butts.
    â€˜I wonder how Roland Hewitt will take this bit of news?’ he mused.
    â€˜If he’s got a clear conscience, he shouldn’t give a twopenny damn,’ replied Jenkin.
    â€˜A bit hard on the nephew. All this talk and him being engaged to the doctor’s daughter.’
    â€˜I don’t see what that’s got to do with it,’ objected the farmer.
    â€˜I don’t know this nephew. What’s he look like?’ asked the third member of the trio at the bar – who, until now, had been an attentive but silent listener to the scandal.
    â€˜Tall chap, bit on the thin side, but with a good pair of shoulders on him,’ volunteered Ceri Lloyd. ‘A nice-looking fellow, fair hair.’
    The landlord stopped suddenly and stared through the window into the twilight outside.
    â€˜Well, talk of the devil – his car has just pulled up outside. I saw him passing earlier on. He must be having another weekend with his lady-love.’
    There was the slam of a car door outside.
    â€˜Now don’t go saying anything,’ warned Ceri. ‘We’re not supposed to know.’
    There was an awkward silence as they waited for the journalist to walk from his Morris Minor around to the front door of the Lamb and Flag.
    Bending slightly to let his six feet clear the low doorway, Peter Adams came into the bar parlour. He said a cheerful ‘Good evening’ to the group leaning against the counter.
    There was a ragged mumble in reply, and a couple of the regulars at the other end slipped