A Question of Motive by Roderic Jeffries

anticipation. Amongst those who benefit from the señor’s death, there may well have been one prepared to commit murder in order to do so.’
    â€˜You will search for a motive in order to judge if this case is one of murder?’
    â€˜Motive makes murder. And there is possible motive in that the señor had a friend. A very close friend.’
    â€˜I fail to see the significance of that.’
    â€˜She was married.’
    â€˜You are suggesting an illicit relationship because you are unable to understand that a man and a woman can enjoy a platonic friendship?’
    â€˜In this case, there is evidence it was not platonic. Which means the husband may have known of his wife’s adultery and taken his revenge.’
    â€˜Then you will question the husband.’
    â€˜I think I will question the wife on her own, first.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜If she confesses her adultery, and can assure me her husband has no knowledge of it, it will eliminate him as a suspect.’
    â€˜You do not consider it your duty to inform him of her infidelity?’
    â€˜Certainly not my duty, nor even a moral obligation. Since Señor Gill is dead, the affair cannot continue. So where is the point of bringing pain to the marriage?’
    â€˜Your attitude is deplorable.’
    â€˜I would call it realistic.’
    â€˜To condone adultery displays depravity, not realism.’
    â€˜I don’t agree.’
    â€˜I have not asked for your opinion. What else do you have to report?’
    â€˜A very strong motive, judged by the present evidence. The señor had a bitter row with a local who was in his wood and whom he suspected was after birds. The feathered kind.’
    â€˜You know of birds without feathers?’
    â€˜It is an expression in common use.’
    â€˜What does it mean?’
    â€˜Young ladies.’
    â€˜You introduce the subject for no reason other than your depravity?’
    â€˜Santos, who is the gardener at Aquila—’
    â€˜There is no need constantly to waste time by telling me something of which I am well aware.’
    â€˜He heard the señor, who was below Barca, having a very acrimonious row with a man. The señor accused the man, in Spanish, of poaching thrushes and being a thief. Threatened to bring in the policia local.’
    â€˜You are claiming the poacher had a motive for the señor’s murder?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜That does not strike you as somewhat absurd – a man murders because he is accused of poaching and is called a thief?’
    â€˜When a Mallorquin is addressed in such terms, especially when correctly, he may develop a sudden, unthinking anger, which can turn to violence. It’s said to be a trait inherited from Moorish ancestors.’
    â€˜A nonsensical excuse for an unforgivable temper. Have you questioned this man?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Why not?’
    â€˜I don’t know who he was.’
    â€˜And see this as an excuse for not taking steps to find out?’
    â€˜Santos can give me no hint of his identity since he never saw him and didn’t recognize his voice.’
    â€˜You will not have considered that Santos may well be aware of who it was? You will identify and question this poacher.’
    â€˜But if—’
    â€˜But and if are words which have no place in the cuerpo.’
    â€˜Yet how does one—’
    â€˜By carrying out the order.’ Salas replaced his receiver.

SEVEN
    A lvarez remained behind the wheel until he had overcome emotions aroused by the drive up to Aquila. He finally stepped out of the car, crossed to the front door and rang the bell.
    The door was opened by a young woman, just short of twenty, who remained slim, as modern Mallorquin women were tending to do. Her face was round; hair, deep black; eyes, dark brown; nose, snub. Although not a close lookalike, she did remind him of . . . He couldn’t remember the name, only the passion.