Back to the Village (everyone)

[Mr. Handy]

"We were recruited to do a job," says Bonnie, "to investigate the murder and get to the bottom of it, to find the truth, whatever it may be. We couldn't leave any stone unturned in our investigation."

[Philulhu]

”That’s as it may,” snapped Reverend McCallan, ”But if ye bring the devil doon on this village, ye’ll have me tae answer tae!”

[Mr. Handy]

"Let us hope the devil has the sense to stay away," says Bonnie. "We werena the first ones there, as it turns oot. Someone was there before us - recently. We found the footprints."

[Philulhu]

The Reverend studied Bonnie for a moment. ”Whose footprints?” he asked.

[Mr. Handy]

"We canna say for certain," says Bonnie, "but I have my suspicions. I believe Alex McMorn has a living heir, the same man who also recently read the papers ye told us about in the library at Inverness and most likely thus discovered his own ancestry. He would most likely be a descendant of Moira, who married a merchant from Aberdeen. When I asked at the library who else had read the papers, I was told it was Dr. McBride. He got very uncomfortable about the subject of the library, the papers, Moira, and the possibility that she had descendants, though we didna explicity tell him what we had discovered, merely asked innocent questions about his research."

[Philulhu]

”More aspersions?!” said the Reverend. ”Ye’ll get intae serious bother if ye go about talking about people like that.”

He paused then glanced about. ”How, err, reliable might this information be?” he asked.

[Mr. Handy]

"I trust the information from the library, both in the papers and from the librarian as to who read them last," says Bonnie. "I also trust my perceptions about Dr. McBride's reaction to merely asking if Moira could have living descendants and if he knew the name of the merchant she had married. I didn't know if she did or not until I saw how he responded. He wouldna have reacted that way if he wasna personally attached, and it also would explain his interest in the papers."

[Philulhu]

Reverend MacCallan sighed deeply. He looked up at the the church altar. ”I will pray for all involved,” he said.

[Snapper]

Ascot clears his throat. "On That topic, Reverend, there are ... Other needs for your services in that terrible manor."

Ascot looks at the others to see if he should keep going.

[Joajackson]

Ascot clears his throat. "On That topic, Reverend, there are ... Other needs for your services in that terrible manor."

Ascot looks at the others to see if he should keep going.

Father Ó Shaban gave a nod of approvement for the hunter to continue, just declaring something as an starting point.

"Yes, zere is a set of most displeasurable rarities of which ze men of cloz have to take care of in here. It seems zere was or is a desecrator of bodies in ze old Manor."

[BoyBlunder78]

Dr Douglas chips in, " Reverand we also stumbled across a journal which outlines what the Manorrls previous encumbent was upto and hints that possibky people in the village were aware. I'm afraid that something more tamgible than your devil may be at work."

[Mr. Handy]

"Aye," says Bonnie. "There are some old human remains that could use a proper burial - or reburial. Most of them appear to have been taken from the crypt."

[Philulhu]

Reverend MacCallan looked shocked. ”By all that’s holy…” he whispered, staring at them in disbelief.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and crossed himself. Opening his eyes again, he said, ”We must make sure the bodies are interred but first, have you informed the Police?”

[Snapper]

"To be honest, Reverend, we were so shocked, our first thought was to come to you. Forgive us if we've done the wrong thing. We're all probably not thinking too clearly just now. Even during the War, when we could we treated all of the dead with respect."

[Philulhu]

”Very well,” replied Reverend MacCallan. ”The first thing tae dae is to call the police. The bodies will need a proper Christian burial but the Police will want tae see them first. We can use my phone in the Presbytery.”

He bowed to the altar and lead the way from the Kirk to the manse next door. As they walked down the garden path, the sound of an engine could be heard. The Reverend stopped and craned his neck, looking towards the main road.

”That sounds like Constable Leslie,” he said, turning and making his way past the others as he returned to the main road. He raised his hand to attract the driver’s attention and they say a police car coast to a halt at the end of the path. Looking out of the window was the same grim-faced Constable who they had earlier seen in the woods.



He leaned over and wound down the window to speak. ”Reverend MacCallan, gentlemen, miss,” he said. ”Whit seems tae be the trouble?”

[Mr. Handy]

"Good morning, Constable," says Bonnie. "We saw some things when we were at the manor, and we wanted to tell the Reverend first, but he advised us to tell you."

[Philulhu]

Constable Leslie frowned. ”Witholding information is a serious offence,” he said formally.

”Whit was it ye foond?”

[BoyBlunder78]

"Aside from a hoard of old bones and descrated coffins we stumbled upon a corpse. Been dead for quite a few years, judging by the condition of the body. No signs of foul play mind you. We didn't want withhold any thing from you Constable but seeing that the poor man has been dead of seemingly natural causes and no one had found them, we though only to approach the good Reverand Macallan here for some spiritual guidance and hopefully perform some form of lasr rites so the deceaseds soul may find some rest. The police station was our next port of call." Dr Douglas explains sincerely to the Constable.

[Mr. Handy]

"Aye, just so," says Bonnie. "We're nae withholding information. We're sharing it with ye now."

[Philulhu]

”Ye should have telt me earlier, Miss,” said Constable Leslie. ”When ye were stood by the hoose.”

He switched off his engine and got out of the car. ”I think ye need to show us whit ye’ve foond,” he said. ”But first…” He moved around to the rear of his car and opened the boot. ”Given what ye’ve said, I think it will be safer for everyone if you place your weapons in here for safekeeping, before we go any further.”