Lying Dead by Aline Templeton

Author:Aline Templeton [Templeton, Aline]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Published: 2008-01-24T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Marjory Fleming woke just before seven, unrefreshed after a restless night and troubled dreams. The room must have been too hot. Or something.

She reached for her mobile. Bill was probably out by this time and the kids were always dead to the world at this hour, but at least she could leave a message.

Her heart gave a little skip of pleasure as she heard his voice. ‘Oh, hello, love. Didn’t think I’d manage to catch you. Sorry not to phone last night – I got tied up until it was too late.’

‘No, it’s all right. I knew that was what must have happened.’

His voice sounded flat and tired and she was immediately alarmed. ‘Bill? Are you all right? The children—?’

‘No, no, we’re fine. But look – sorry to have to tell you on the phone, but there was a bit of a problem with your father yesterday. He’d a bad turn – got violent, started lashing out—’

‘Oh no! Oh poor, poor Mum!’

‘Yes, poor Janet. That’s the worst of it, really. He hit her and she fell. No broken bones, just a mild concussion, so don’t get upset. One of her neighbours – James Brodie, you know? – he heard the noise and went round and raised the alarm, and the services were brilliant. I took her to hospital in Dumfries and they’re keeping her for observation overnight, but she’s going to be fine.’

‘Why didn’t you phone me, Bill?’ Marjory was almost in tears. ‘I wasn’t doing anything that couldn’t be interrupted.’

‘What would have been the point? I was quite glad you didn’t phone, quite honestly, because I’d have had to tell you about it when you couldn’t have got back anyway, and there was nothing you could do except have a wretched night worrying about it. Janet would have been furious with me.’

‘I’d still have liked to know,’ she protested stubbornly. ‘And – Dad?’

Bill sighed. ‘They’ve taken him for psychiatric assessment, to try to see if they can get him stabilized. But of course he can’t go back home. Janet mustn’t be left alone with him again.’

‘Of course not. Even she must see that now. But I still feel I should have been there. Or known what was happening, at least.’

‘It wouldn’t have made any difference, Marjory. You were just doing your job.’

Having guilt added to shock and dismay didn’t help. ‘I’ll get to the hospital the minute I can. We’ll try and catch an earlier train and I’ll go in on my way back. They can send a car to take Tam back from there.’

‘She’ll want to see you, but don’t worry about anything here. We’re managing fine. And you’ll have quite a bit to do today. I heard on the radio the man’s been charged.’

‘With murder?’ Her spirits rose. If he’d been charged, he must have confessed. They wouldn’t have had time for lab results on the tarpaulin. Then she frowned, as Bill went on, ‘Yes, that’s right. Didn’t you know about it?’

She certainly should have known.

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