BLACKDOWN (a thriller and murder mystery) by D. M. Mitchell

to meet someone, and he was in no rational state of mind at the time,’ said Reeve. ‘He could not be sure afterwards what his son had said to him.’
    ‘So what was Jonathan doing late in the evening in Devilbowl Wood? He had to be there for a reason.’
    ‘I’m afraid we go over old lines, Mr Blackdown. My concern now is with the cases put before me by your father.’
    ‘So we let it lie? We simply blame the Beast of Blackdown?’
    Reeve sighed, steepled his fingers. ‘That is not the pressing business I have to attend to, much as Jonathan’s death caused such anguish at the time. It would be in your best interest, too, if you did not pursue it so vigorously. You are in danger of taking on your father’s obsessive mantle in chasing a cause, and as you say, it can sometimes do more harm than good.’ He smiled that same indeterminate lawyer’s smile again. ‘And looking at you, I can only assume you do not have the funds to pursue matters.’
    Thomas Blackdown’s jaw stiffened. ‘I do not need lawyers to pursue matters,’ he said. ‘I carry all I need with me.’
    ‘I wish you luck. But back to the matter in hand. I said I had something for you, left you by your brother in his will.’ He drew out a sheet of rolled-up parchment from a drawer, untied the ribbon and laid it out. ‘In his will he bequeathed to you two trunks, which have remained in his room. Also the sum of three hundred pounds and such of his possessions as you deem fit to take, including his wardrobe and his favourite horse, saddles and associated tack, etcetera, etcetera.’ He rolled it back up. ‘Your father is aware of the will, but at the request of Jonathan he does not know about this element of its contents. Jonathan was concerned your father might disapprove of you benefiting in any way from his death and so block the will.’ He took a bag of coins from a cupboard and placed them on the desk. ‘Gold and silver,’ he said, ‘and banknotes, all to the tune of three hundred pounds.’ He rose from his seat and pulled on a bell cord by the window. ‘My advice is to take what is offered you and forget everything that has happened here. You cannot do anything about it, and you are far from welcome. Why stay to inflame matters?’
    Moments later, Addison knocked at the door and came in, breathless from having dashed to Reeve’s call. ‘Yes, sir, Mr Reeve,’ he said.
    ‘Take Mr Blackdown to Jonathan’s room, Addison. He is to collect the two trunks left him by Master Jonathan Blackdown.’
    ‘Very good, sir,’ said Addison, backing out of the room and looking at Thomas to follow.
    ‘I reiterate, Mr Blackdown,’ said Reeve. ‘Take what is given to you and leave Blackdown Manor forever. You must know that Lord Blackdown has long ago removed you from his will and that you have no call on this place after his death, which, as you can see, is not long away. Your presence only makes matters worse for him. It will be best for both of you if you part now and go your separate ways.’
    Thomas Blackdown rose from his seat. ‘And if I take your advice must I pay for it?’ he replied, his lips in a faint sneer. ‘I thank you, but I take no counsel from leeches.’ He went to the door. Paused. ‘And I aim to stay here in the Blackdown Hills till my business is concluded and my brother’s killer brought to trial. You forget, this is the place of my birth, it is my homeland. I am a Blackdown, and no pen and ink scratching away my name from a piece of parchment can wipe that away, much as my father would like to believe. So goodbye for now, Mr Reeve. We’ll no doubt speak again.’
    ‘You fight a hopeless cause, Mr Blackdown.’
    ‘In my life I have fought what seemed many hopeless causes, Mr Reeve.’
    ‘It will be for your own good,’ he said with a hint of intimidation in his words.
    Blackdown sensed the threat and looked at Reeve thoughtfully. ‘Do you fight a cause of your own here?’
    ‘I know the ill feeling in the town and