– George Bernard Shaw Steel Ironside lay across the bed. There was blood everywhere. The meat cleaver which had struck a deep gash right across his neck lay discarded on the floor. Forensic men were dusting every inch of the room for fingerprints and combing the carpet for signs of clues. Donati turned and left the room, signalling to Hamish and to the two detectives, MacNab and Anderson, to follow. ‘Where are the remaining three guests?’ asked Hamish. Donati paused on the stairs. ‘They’re in the sitting room, waiting to be questioned. Mrs Todd is on her way here with Miss Kerr.’ ‘A meat cleaver,’ said MacNab. ‘It must hae been the Todd woman.’ ‘As far as we know, she didn’t leave Lochdubh,’ said Donati. ‘Her car engine’s cold. Jenkins discovered the body. He said he was uneasy. He said he heard thumping noises coming from Ironside’s room and went to investigate. He must have discovered the body minutes after the murder.
