Death Witnessed: A 1930s Murder Mystery (Poison Ink Mysteries Book 2) by Beth Byers

Author:Beth Byers [Byers, Beth]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2019-05-18T16:00:00+00:00

10

GEORGETTE DOROTHY MARSH

Georgette stood in a rush and hurried across the teashop. She placed her hand on Miss Schmitz’s chest and noticed that she was breathing. “We need Dr. Wilkes,” she told Harriet. “She’s alive.”

Georgette unbuttoned the two buttons at the woman’s neck to help make sure Miss Schmitz was breathing as easily as possible. Georgette thought Miss Schmitz was at least somewhat aware. Slowly, the woman opened her eye. There was a look of utter agony in them. She didn’t speak, but she slowly took hold of her jaw. Georgette would have thought that she only had a bad toothache if not for that pain-filled gaze and the fact that she wasn’t speaking.

“It’s probably another of her games.” Mrs. Yancey moved the small, round table out of Georgette’s way and helped as Georgette lowered the woman to the ground, laying her carefully out.

“Perhaps,” Georgette replied quietly, but with a fierce glance she added, “but what if this isn’t a game and we did nothing?”

Mrs. Yancey winced as she stood up. “Mrs. Lawrence went for the doctor. I’ll shoo everyone out. If she’s really ill, she doesn’t need an audience. If she isn’t, well—she doesn’t deserve their help, does she?”

Georgette nodded. She took hold of Miss Schmitz’s hand. “Help is coming. You’re not alone.”

A tear slipped from Miss Schmitz’s eye, and Georgette gently rubbed the back of her hand. The door to the teashop was ringing as people stepped from the shop, so she didn’t notice when someone dropped to their knees next to her.

“Are you all right, Georgette?”

She glanced up and saw Detective Aaron and Charles. Charles was next to her while Detective Aaron crouched down by Miss Schmitz’s head. He was feeling for her pulse as Georgette stared blankly at the two men.

Beyond the Aaron men, the last few patrons were leaving with their gazes fixed on Georgette kneeling next to the woman. Mrs. Baker took in the scene with callous interest, Miss Hallowton had her hand to her mouth and looked sick, Mrs. Thornton was saying something to her children and had her daughter tucked into her shoulder.

Georgette heard her name called a time or two before she jerked back to the Aaron men. “I…she just slumped over. It was very sudden. I thought she might be dead.”

“Someone went for the doctor?” Detective Aaron asked.

She nodded. “I was having tea with Mrs. Lawrence when I saw that Miss Schmitz had collapsed. At about the same time, Miss Thornton noticed and started screaming.” Georgette continued to hold Miss Schmitz’s hand as another tear slipped down the woman’s cheek.

“Perhaps a heart attack?” Charles asked Joseph.

“She would be able to speak if she were having a heart attack,” Joseph replied.

“Her mouth hurts,” Georgette told them. “Or perhaps her jaw. She is in quite a lot of pain, I think.”

“Should we take her to the doctor’s house?” Charles asked. He looked at the door. “What is taking the man so long?”

Georgette let them worry about it while she hummed to Miss Schmitz, trying to make her feel better.

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