Hawke's Tor by E. V. Thompson Page A

perhaps half-a-dozen men wearing the garb favoured by miners were drinking.
    â€˜You’ll be here looking into that terrible business up on the moor,’ he said, as they seated themselves at one of three tables in the room. ‘The whole village is shocked. We’ve never had anything like it around here before and I still can’t believe it! Do you have any suspects yet?’
    â€˜One or two,’ Amos replied, laconically. ‘I believe the victim used to work here for you?’
    â€˜Yes, Kerensa was a very cheerful girl, the customers liked her.’
    â€˜From what we’ve been hearing she liked them too … perhaps a little too much?’
    â€˜I wouldn’t say that, but she was a single girl and fancy free.’
    â€˜And so she might have been, but most of your customers aren’t!’
    â€˜Well … this is a small village. Those who live here thrive on rumours and the like. She did her job well enough and I had no cause for complaint.’
    The Ring o’ Bells landlord was inclined to be less garrulous now, but Amos persisted.

    â€˜From what I have heard very few men complained, although it might have been a different story where the women were concerned. Did your wife like her?’
    Now Alfie Kittow was clearly uncomfortable, ‘They had very little to do with each other. Kerensa’s place was down here in the bar and Florrie rarely comes down, she says the atmosphere doesn’t agree with her.’
    â€˜We would like to speak to her, so perhaps you’ll take us up to see her after we’ve eaten?’
    â€˜I’m afraid that won’t be possible, she’s gone away for a while. She’s expecting, you see and … well, she’s had a number of miscarriages and lost babies before. She blames the sort of life we lead here, at the Ring o’ Bells, so has gone off to her family. If everything goes well and the baby’s all right she’ll stay there until it’s a bit stronger, then she’ll either come back here or I’ll sell up and join her there – but I’d rather you kept that bit of information to yourself.’
    Perspiration glistened on Alfie’s upper lip now but Amos had not finished questioning him. ‘When is the baby due?’
    â€˜She’s probably had it already, but I haven’t heard from her for a while. I keep telling myself I must try to find out what’s happening, or go up and see her – and the baby. Trouble is, I’m not much of a writer.’
    â€˜We’ll need to get in touch with her, so we would like her address, please.’
    â€˜That’s another problem. I haven’t got it written down and my memory has never been very good for names at the best of times. I can’t remember the exact address, although it’s in Wiltshire. I could take you there if I had to, but why do you want to speak to Florrie, she wasn’t even here when Kerensa was murdered?’

    â€˜We need to follow up every possible line of inquiry, speak to anyone who knew Kerensa Morgan.’
    â€˜Then you’re going to be kept busy enough right here in Cornwall without gallivanting off to Wiltshire. We’ve had half the miners on Bodmin Moor in the Ring o’ Bells at some time or another and they all knew Kerensa. She was a very popular girl.’
    Amos thought Alfie was more confident now he believed they had accepted his story about his wife and he said, ‘We’ll be busy, certainly, but I intend calling in as many of my policemen as necessary to help – and if I think going to Wiltshire to interview your wife will be helpful then either Sergeant Churchyard or myself will go there. Of course, if we can narrow down the list of suspects right here in Cornwall that won’t be necessary. That’s why we’re here talking to you now. We thought there might perhaps be someone in particular who seemed close to Kerensa … or who caused