Read The Evil That Men Do.(Inspector Faro Mystery No.11) for Free Online Page B

and motives were laid bare and subjected to enquiry and careful scrutiny. For the guilty man’s motive, he did not doubt, would not have changed since Cain had killed his brother, Abel. Gain, or jealousy or secret resentment that had festered over many years.
    What secrets were they about to unlock? Faro wondered. And how would their revelation affect, distort, or change for ever the hopes of marriage between Vince and Grace?
    Knowing that in his hands lay the outcome of an investigation calculated to destroy all hopes of two young people’s happiness, Detective Inspector Jeremy Faro was a profoundly unhappy man.
Chapter Four
     
    On being informed that Dr Wiseman was expected back in Edinburgh later that day, Vince and Faro set off to call upon Theodore Langweil.
    ‘If only we could have seen Wiseman first,’ said Vince. ‘This is most unfortunate.’
    The visit to Priorsfield at least promised to be both painful and brief.
    Faro observed Theodore Langweil narrowly as he read the postmortem report on his brother. His expression remained impassive. Although his hands shook as he laid it aside, such reaction was understandable, and his lips moved silently, as if repeating the monstrous conclusions of the report.
    A beloved brother murdered.
    Bewildered he gazed helplessly from Faro to Vince and back again. Then he shook his head several times like a man awakening from a dreadful nightmare as he searched for some explanation.
    ‘I cannot understand this at all. It is as I told you,’ he said dully. ‘We all knew that Cedric had been seriously ill, fatally ill, for the last six months. Wiseman will confirm that, whatever this wretched piece of paper says. Why don’t you ask him?’
    Vince said: ‘There is one possible explanation, sir. Knowing that he was dying, could he not have taken his own life?’
    ‘Impossible. I could never entertain such a thought, not for one moment. He was a courageous man. And he would never have done such a thing. He loved life.’ Silent for a moment, he looked towards the window with its darkening clouds.
    ‘The fact that it was to be short made it even more precious. He was determined to live it to the utmost. “Every minute of every hour of every day, Theo.” Those were his very words to me, here in this room.’
    ‘What about pain, sir?’ asked Vince gently. ‘Was he not afraid that he might suffer a great deal?’
    ‘He had learned to live with blinding headaches. He told us the consultant had assured him that with the help of a little morphine - near the end - the end would be speedy, total collapse, a coma, days only. But you are no doubt aware of all this, surely, Dr Laurie,’ he added irritably.
    Vince nodded. ‘It rather depends upon the exact location of the tumour.’
    With a sigh Theodore continued, ‘I know of one very good reason why Cedric would not have taken his own life. There was a very large insurance taken out at the time of Grace’s birth and this, as you know, would be forfeit if he had taken his own life.’
    Looking at their faces, he said, ‘I see you are not convinced, but I have one other reason for believing that he did not intend to die. There were important documents awaiting his signature.’
    He tapped a drawer. ‘They are still here in my desk’
    ‘May I ask what was the nature of these documents?’ Faro asked.
    ‘Transfer of business shares. Oh, nothing serious. We were merely selling some properties. I can assure you that we are not in danger of bankruptcy.’ Staring again towards the window, he frowned. ‘He also talked of revising his will.’
    ‘In what way revising?’ said Faro sharply. In his experience changed wills were frequently the cause of mysterious and totally unexpected family fatalities.
    ‘I am not at liberty to discuss such matters at present,’ was the scornful reply. ‘But I can tell you that the clauses under discussion related to the family business concerns only. I hope all this information satisfies