Page 52 of A Spell of Midlife Mayhem
‘I’ve dispatched those,’ the operator said. ‘Are you sure the man is dead?’
‘Yes. There’s no doubt.’
‘Can you tell me the circumstances involved?’
‘I don’t know. It may be a terrible accident. Or it may be... murder.’
‘The emergency services are on their way. Please remain calm and don’t touch anything.’
I was calm. The experience of being a high school teacher served me well in most circumstances, even such a terrible one as this.
I stepped away from Ronald’s body and studied the room. Everything appeared normal, but the desk where he had been working was almost clear. Only pens remained. The witch’s spell book and Ronald’s notes were gone.
Lydia spoke up, taking charge. ‘Penny and Melissa, go downstairs. Make sure no one leaves the house. One of you check outside and call anyone inside. The police might want to talk to them. Heather and I will find any other visitors in the house and bring them to the entrance hall. We’ll wait for the police there.’
The old couple had regained their composure, and Lydia guided them downstairs. I checked every room upstairs, twice, in case I missed someone. There was no one else, so I made my way to the entrance hall.
Lydia, Melissa, Penny and the elderly American couple were there, plus a family of four, who must have been wandering in the downstairs rooms.
But someone was missing.
‘Where’s Elvis?’ I asked.
Chapter 19
THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE arrived five minutes later. Three police cars in all careened to a halt, mere metres from the front entrance, and the ambulance drew up next to them.
I’d undergone a lot of change lately. But dealing with a murder at my workplace topped all the rest combined. And I’d only been there a few days.
The ambulance crew raced upstairs.
‘I’m Detective Inspector Pentecost.’ A tall, smartly dressed black woman flashed a badge to Lydia. ‘I’m in charge of this investigation. My officers will need to talk to everyone present. Until we know more, we will presume this is a crime scene. You’ll have to close Chirtlewood House until our investigation here is finished.’
‘Of course,’ Lydia said, her voice almost breaking with strain. ‘Anything to help. The gentleman who died—was killed—was often here. He was a—’
‘Please lead the way.’
