Murder at Horseshoe Spa (The Solent Island Mysteries Book 5) by A. S. McClatchie

Author:A. S. McClatchie [McClatchie, A. S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: April Showers Publishing
Published: 2024-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

6

Everyone had gathered in the study in their sleepwear, a messy-headed and rest-deprived group who were swapping between confused, worried, angry and sad. A fresh fire flickered gently in the hearth, tended to by one of the servers from dinner.

They were debating between themselves as Genny and Remy walked in but fell silent as they stood before them.

Remy pulled himself into whatever state he could, and his usually reassuring tone was swapped for gruff and direct.

“I am DI Remy Cochran, and this is my colleague Genny Hadley, as some of you may know,” he said slowly. “There has been… there has been an incident tonight in the old wing. Rufus Howlett is dead.”

Allison broke down into screaming sobs, hugging Noah to her. The poor boy looked around, lost and confused. Tia cried softly into her hands, whilst Joe and Jonathon stood shocked and quiet.

“We have yet to establish if this was… if this was an accident, um…” He trailed off, clenching his mouth as he tried to continue.

“Do any of you have any information about what happened tonight?” Genny said. “You are not in trouble; we just need to know how this horrible accident occurred. Anything you saw, anything you heard.”

The room was a silent for a moment, before Barnaby stood up.

“I found him,” he said. “He was just… face down in the water. I couldn’t believe it.”

“And what time was this?” Genny asked.

“About 3.30am.”

“And why were you in the bathhouse at 3.30am?” Genny tried not to let her general dislike of Barnaby show in her voice, with little success.

“I was getting ready to bring the group downstairs. We always do a session in the early hours, wherever we go. I’d been guided by a spirit. I saw it, by the top of the staircase. It seemed to be beckoning me downstairs.”

Genny felt Remy tense next to her.

“The door was wide open when I went down there. I was just looking around, thinking how cool the bathhouse was, and how many ancient ghosts were probably walking the halls.”

“Maybe the ghost opened the door,” Joe huffed. “What an absolute load of nonsense.”

“I agree,” Whitney said. “His story doesn’t make sense. A man dies in the old wing, and he just happens to find the body? The ghost hunter guy?”

“What are you suggesting?” Barnaby squeaked.

“Maybe his death wasn’t an accident.” Whitney said what they were all thinking, and yet the impact rippled through the room.

Arguments started between them all.

“Enough!” Remy shouted, the pain in his voice sufficient to make them all quieten instantly. “Speculation is not helpful. We are investigating this. Answer our questions, and then be quiet.”

It was harsher than his usual style, but it was needed to keep the group under control.

Genny just wanted to reach out and hug him, but she steeled herself.

“DI Cochran is right,” she said. “Let’s get back to the events of the night. Barnaby – you said once you found Mr. Howlett that you went to the front desk for help.”

“Yes. Jeb was there, and he went into the private part of the hotel to fetch Rachel.

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