Murder by Suicide by Veronica Heley

Author:Veronica Heley [Heley, Veronica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ostara Publishing
Published: 2010-12-13T08:00:00+00:00

10

Running her fingers through her hair, Ellie checked in the hall mirror that her neck wasn’t reddened with love bites before opening the door. It was Kate, in her long black coat, holding a laptop and a large pizza. Her wide smile turned to a frown as she saw Roy hovering in the doorway to the living room. ‘Bad timing?’

Ellie hesitated, torn between ‘yes’ and ‘no’.

Roy put his hands on her shoulders from behind. ‘Kate, isn’t it? Ellie and I have just been discussing when we can get away for a holiday together.’

A look of anxiety passed over Kate’s face before she made herself smile and say, ‘Oh, well in that case …’

Ellie didn’t like Roy forcing her hand, so she disengaged herself and, knowing that she was being contrary, drew Kate into the hall out of the rain. ‘Come on in. Filthy night. Lovely to see you. Roy’s just leaving.’

Kate and Roy stretched their mouths into sort-of-smiles. Roy would perhaps have argued, but just then the doorbell rang again.

Dear Rose stood on the doorstep, trying to hold up her umbrella while clutching a box of cakes from the Sunflower Café. ‘My, what weather! I remembered how much you liked chocolate éclairs, Ellie, so I thought I might just pop these in …’ She took in the figure of Roy standing close behind Ellie. ‘But … perhaps it isn’t a convenient time to …’

‘The more the merrier!’ said Ellie. ‘Come on in. Pizza and cakes for supper. Wonderful. Roy’s just leaving.’

‘Oh, this is Roy, is it? I’ve heard so much about you, Roy. I’m Rose, a very old friend of Ellie’s.’ She tried to shake hands with Roy while still holding the box of cakes and the umbrella. Kate dumped her stuff and helped Rose fold up the umbrella and take off her coat. Still Roy did not go.

He bent over Ellie to murmur in her ear, ‘I’ll ring to find out when you’re free and come back later, shall I? We still have so much to discuss.’

The doorbell rang again. This time it was Tod from up the road. His hair was rumpled and wet, his clothes looked as if they had just been thrown on. As usual. Ellie hadn’t seen Tod for some time. Not since his mother had bought him a computer, in fact. It was lovely to see him, but she wished he had chosen another evening to call.

‘My computer’s broke. I’ve just been swimming and Mum’s not back till late today, so … party, is it?’ he asked, dropping his school case and a plastic bag smelling of chlorine on the floor. ‘Pizza, great!’

He had no qualms about walking right through them into the kitchen. ‘Yes, do come in, Tod,’ said Ellie, beginning to laugh.

‘I’ll phone for another couple of pizzas, shall I?’ said Kate, dialling with the familiarity of an old friend.

‘None of that salty fish on them for me,’ said Rose, draping her coat over the newel post at the bottom of the stairs.

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