Murder in House by Veronica Heley

Author:Veronica Heley
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Mystery
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2009-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

Wednesday evening

Armand finally deposited them before an imposing doorway in Harley Street. He said he’d find somewhere to park and get back to them. Ellie coaxed and gently pulled Mia up the steps and propped her against the portal while she attacked the speaker phone. Finally they were indoors, where decor and receptionist announced that here ruled Peace and Quiet. Ellie gave her name and confirmed she’d pay all the bills for Mia’s treatment.

They sat down to wait but within a few minutes the receptionist said she was so sorry but there would be a further delay, an emergency, and she hoped they’d understand.

They waited. Mia wouldn’t release Ellie’s hand. Ellie thought longingly of her own home; of Thomas coming back tired from his day out, and Rose waiting to cook for them. She put the thoughts out of her mind, using the last of her paper tissues on which to blow her nose. Armand came to join her. The receptionist offered tea or coffee. Ellie accepted; Mia refused, drifting away into a doze, relaxing her hold on Ellie’s hand.

They waited.

Mia started awake, looking around, eyes wide with fear. ‘Where . . .?’

‘At the doctor’s. You’re quite safe.’

Mia repeated the word ‘safe’ under her breath, but clearly did not believe it. She hunched forward, her eyes restless, her breathing rapid.

Ellie tried to pray. Dear Lord, dear Lord. Be with Mia, and all of us. Give us courage. Protect us. Keep my loved ones safe.

Mia looked on the verge of passing out. How long would the doctor be? Was there anything Ellie could do in the meantime? Mia might or might not want to die, but she’d perked up no end when she’d thought about Ursula, had even managed to speak to her on the phone. If Mia wouldn’t eat or drink for her own sake, perhaps she would for Ursula’s?

Ellie tried it. ‘Mia, we need you to help us, so that we can keep Ursula safe. Could you manage to drink some soup, to give you strength? And then you can give us a better idea of what to say to her if you think she’s in danger.’

For a long moment Ellie thought Mia was too far gone to respond, but eventually she reached for the cup of soup, and managed to take a sip . . . and then two. She’d drunk the whole cup by the time Ellie and Mia were called in to see the doctor, and though wobbly, the girl managed to walk into his room unaided.

The doctor was dark-eyed and comfortable-looking. He reminded Ellie of Thomas, and she trusted him on sight.

‘Tell me all about it, eh?’ he said.

Mia looked at Ellie. The doctor looked at Ellie. Ellie obliged with a report on what she knew, cutting her story as short as she could. Mia’s friend Ursula had been worried when Mia disappeared, her parents weren’t worried, Ellie had gone looking, had found her a couple of hours since, and learned there was someone else hunting for Mia, of whom the girl seemed afraid.

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