AN INVITATION TO MURDER an absolutely gripping murder mystery full of twists by NORMAN RUSSELL

Author:NORMAN RUSSELL [RUSSELL, NORMAN]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books crime thriller and mystery
Published: 2021-11-08T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Eleven thirty, and all the guests had gone. The police had descended on Renfield Hall, sirens blaring. First the SOCO team, there to secure and investigate the scene of the crime, and then DI French, accompanied by DS Edwards. Lord Renfield had ushered the two detectives into the oak parlour, still in its festive array, and had asked Noel and Chloe to join them.

‘These are friends of ours who are helping me on a research project, French,’ he said. ‘I should prefer them to stay here.’

‘We know Mr Greenspan quite well,’ said French, nodding to the detective. ‘He’s welcome to stay, provided he observes the usual protocols in situations like this.

‘So, at just after ten thirty,’ he continued, ‘a man by the name of Lewis rang us at Jubilee House to tell us that someone who was not a member of the family had committed suicide here at Renfield Hall.’

‘That’s right. Lewis is my butler.’

‘I see. Now, the people who secure and examine the scene are still upstairs, and I shall learn a great deal about this incident from them later. What I want to know at the moment is what you yourselves witnessed.’

‘We witnessed nothing, Inspector,’ said Lord Renfield. ‘We were all downstairs in the great salon when we heard the shot. My daughter—’ French held up his hand to interrupt Renfield.

‘Yes, I know you were downstairs, sir. But I want to hear your account of what led up to the discovery of the body. For instance, are you able to tell me the exact time that you heard the shot?’

‘It was about a quarter past ten. I can’t be sure of the exact time. My daughter had left the table just a few minutes before, and as soon as I heard the shot I went to find her. Mr Greenspan and Mrs McArthur were with me. Jessica — my daughter — was standing outside the room covered in blood. Lying on the floor of the room was the body of a young man.’

DS Edwards looked up from his notebook.

‘Did you touch the body, sir?’ he asked.

‘Certainly not. My concern was entirely for my daughter. I took her out into the passage and tried to comfort her.’

‘Did any of you recognize the young man? Had he been a guest at the dinner?’ asked French.

‘Good God, no! A boy with green hair? I should think not.’

‘Was that room your daughter’s room?’ asked DS Edwards.

‘No. Jessica’s room is further along the passage. She heard a noise in Lady Clarissa’s Chamber and went in. I don’t know why they call her that. She was never “Lady Clarissa”. She was Clarissa, Lady Renfield. Why do people get these things wrong? Anyway, the boy was standing there, she said, with a revolver in his hand. She called it a revolver, but girls are not expected to know much about handguns. Then she said he shot himself.’

‘Hmm . . . Where is Lady Renfield?’

‘I don’t know where she is. She may be with Jessica.

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