Blood On The Wind

By Ann Morven

You never know where murder will strike. This brilliant short whodunit first appeared 1993 in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Darling Newspaper Press
• Release date: Jan 19, 2009
• ISBN: 9781452309859

Book preview

BLOOD ON

THE WIND

by Ann Morven

© copyright Ann Morven

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Smashwords Edition 2009

Published by Darling Newspaper Press

http://www.booktaste.com

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PO box 176, Kalamunda, Western Australia 6926.

First published by Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, 1993.

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THE willy-willy nearly took my ute wagon as I drove over the red plains to Cattlecreek. Then it was raining bullybeef tins. One of these gouged my handbag on the passenger seat as I braked to a halt, and I read on the faded can-label Use before Feb 1898.

There’s plenty of history in rubbish tips of the Australian Outback, but the twister also brought a crimson cape that caught my fancy. Stiffer than ordinary silk, its edges were embroidered in fine gold thread. I held two corners of the garment, letting the gale spread it out for me, which is when I noticed the bloodstain.

Caked from the centre, its dark presence claimed most of that rippling expanse. The breeze pricked my neck.

It is bull’s blood, I reassured myself. It will wash out. Keep it. I drove on to join the rodeo.

Although back of nowhere,