Page 74 of Murder Most Haunted
‘What is it?’ asked Harold, straining to see.
‘It’s gone,’ he said, holding out the camera’s empty case for them all to see. ‘The bloody film is missing!’
Chapter45
Midge left Rona trying to console Noah and returned to her room to digest the latest revelation, via the kitchen. She opened the bedroom door as quietly as she could, in case Bridie had fallen back asleep, but was relieved to see her wife now dressed and sitting in the armchair reading one of her books.
‘Here you go,’ said Midge, placing a cup of tea on the side table next to her.
‘Thank you,’ Bridie smiled, brightly. She had put her make-up on. ‘I was thinking about that poor woman, what’s her name? The one whose husband has gone to get help this morning.’
‘Gloria,’ replied Midge, stepping into the bathroom to brush her teeth. ‘I’ll go and check on her in a minute.’
‘Perhaps I should come and introduce myself.’ Bridie raised her voice to be heard above the sound of the tap. ‘After all, you don’t know how long we’re all going to be stuck here together. Do you think that’s a good idea?... Midge?’
Midge’s gaze had been caught by something bright in the waste basket next to the sink. She stopped brushing but kept the tap running as she bent down to examine it more closely. It was Rona’s orange lipstick. She straightened and spat out her mouthful of toothpaste, pushing the waste basket back.
‘Perhaps,’ she replied.
She stepped out of the bathroom and Bridie rose up from the chair, her arms open. Midge accepted the embrace, trying not to notice how thin Bridie was now, her eyes focused on the window over her shoulder. Suddenly, Midge stiffened.
‘Wh-what is it, Midge? What’s the matter?’ Bridie pulled back and searched her face. But Midge’s eyes were fixed on the snowy landscape of the far lawn.
At first, Midge thought that maybe Harold had missed another dead sheep when he’d moved the first one, but stepping up to the window, she realized she was, in fact, looking at a sheepskin coat on a body.
It was Dr Mortimer.
Bridie started screaming.
Chapter46
Bridie, Rona, Harold, Noah and Midge gathered outside around the body and ascertained that it was indeed Dr Mortimer. Despite having no formal verification from a medical professional, they also ascertained that he was indeed definitely dead.
His body seemed partially frozen in the snow, where he lay face up, his limbs splayed out in a manner that reminded Midge of the snow angels children made in the park.
He had been shot.
‘Oh my God, poor Gloria!’ cried Rona, bending down to touch him.
Midge pulled her back just in time. ‘Don’t!’ she said. ‘You mustn’t touch anything. Gloria’s still asleep – I checked.’
‘What’s happened?’ cried Bridie, wringing her hands. ‘Has someone done this?’
The weather had turned dark and overcast again, with sleet starting to fall to the ground.
Midge moved forward, her feet crunching on the snow, and began to use her cane to scratch a perimeter around the body. The doctor’s chest had one large wound in it, the blood staining through to his coat. ‘It looks like any footprints have been covered by the fresh snowfall this morning,’ mused Midge.
‘How are we going to tell Gloria!’ gasped Rona, tears in her eyes.
‘Has he shot himself?’ asked Noah.
‘Don’t be so bloody daft,’ said Harold. ‘Can you see a gun? Or do you think he shot himself and then ran around for a bit afterwards trying to hide the weapon?’
‘The missing gun!’ cried Rona, her eyes wide. ‘From the cabinet! You know, the one that went missing just as she arrived.’ She was pointing at Bridie.
‘I hope you aren’t suggesting that I had anything to do with it?’ said Bridie.
‘Of course not, it’s the White Lady!’ said Noah. ‘Don’t you remember? The doctor saw the ghost as well as Rendell, didn’t he?’
