Bunburry--Murder in High Places by Helena Marchmont

Author:Helena Marchmont [Helena Marchmont]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bastei Entertainment
Published: 2019-07-31T13:10:47+00:00

6. The Police Arrive

The screaming continued. David, followed by Oscar and Alfie, ran through the dining room and into the grand hall. A waitress was leaning against the wood-panelled wall, hysterical.

And at the foot of the stairs knelt Charlie Tennison, holding Isobel who lay limp in his arms.

“No!” howled Tennison, shaking his wife, whose head flopped sideways, revealing bloodstained hair. The marble floor was stained red.

Alfie froze. Had Charlie Tennison just murdered his wife? Had he been incensed by her flirting? Was this Alfie’s fault? He had wanted to provoke Tennison into attacking him, not Isobel. It was his fault. He shouldn’t have drunk so much.

The waitress tottered towards Oscar and collapsed on to his shoulder. He had to put both arms round her to keep her upright.

David was already speaking urgently to the 999 operator. Rosemary Savile came running in from another part of the house and knelt down beside Tennison. Alfie saw her take Isobel’s pulse and remembered she had been a nurse. She looked up at her husband and briefly shook her head. Guests were beginning to gather at the edge of the marble-floored hallway, gawping.

Rosemary got up and quickly shooed them back down the corridor to the dining room.

“I’m afraid there’s been an accident. If you wouldn’t mind giving us a moment, I’ll have coffee brought to you.”

She came back to Tennison and put her hand on his shoulder.

“Charlie,” she said softly. “Charlie, I’m so sorry, she’s gone.”

“No!” It was a bellow of despair. Charlie held his wife closer, his face next to hers.

“Charlie, my dear. Come with me, come on now.”

He shook his head stubbornly, clinging to the body.

“I’m sorry, Isobel, I’m sorry,” he whispered, tears pouring down his cheeks. “I never meant to hurt you. I love you.”

Alfie saw Rosemary exchange a shocked look with David. But she stayed where she was, stroking Tennison’s hair as though he was a distraught child. It was clear they couldn’t get him away from Isobel except by brute force.

He was sobbing now, repeating over and over again how sorry he was, and how much he loved her.

David turned to Alfie and Oscar. “Nothing more we can do until the emergency services arrive,” he said in an undertone. “Oscar, take Lucy into the library and get her a drink. Alfie, you stay here and keep an eye on Charlie, and I’ll get the other guests occupied.”

Even if he hadn’t been instructed to stay, Alfie couldn’t have gone anywhere. He felt queasily sluggish. He leaned against the wainscoting and watched Oscar half-drag the waitress now hiccupping with sobs into the library.

Suddenly, there was a mechanical whirring from somewhere nearby, and Alfie nearly jumped out of his skin. The grandfather clock on the other side of the hall chimed the hour, eleven o’clock, and Alfie was still shivering when the final knell died away. Charlie Tennison didn’t seem to hear anything as he cradled his wife’s body.

He wasn’t sure how long it was before he heard the sound of approaching sirens.

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