Page 101 of Murder Most Haunted
‘Stand back,’ advised Rona, before swiftly shoving the bin underneath Gloria’s head just as she erupted.
Midge had once seen a water fountain in Italy that had multiple jets which criss-crossed in the light. For a brief moment, she was reminded of it as she watched Gloria vomiting.
‘I’m so sorry, Gloria,’ said Rona. ‘But believe me, it’s better than having a tube inserted as a pump.’
Gloria moaned, vomit dribbling down her chin. She shrank back against the cotton pillows, her hair sticking to the side of her face while her fingers clung to the bed sheets. Hovering over her nervously, Noah fumbled in his pockets before drawing out a square of material.
‘Here you go,’ said Noah, passing Gloria a hankie. ‘You should be OK now.’
In that moment, watching Gloria clutching the same canary handkerchief that she believed Noah had dropped in the mine and Rona had then used as a gag, the final object of the weekend settled back into its place, and suddenly Midge knew exactly who the murderer was.
Chapter66
Extract fromThey Do It With Stringspodcast
‘The Tin House’: Episode Five
[Interview with John Rendell, owner of Haunting Holiday Excursions]
Rendell:That doctor was right, the pompous twat. They can say they’re sceptics at heart, but by the time they all arrive here, the job is half done. They’re already susceptible. And then, of course, it’s just a question of playing on their secrets and emotions. Love and death, and fear... fear can make you believe anything. It can make you see things that aren’t there and act in ways you would swear you never would. This game isn’t that different from the police, really. That’s where you learn to read people, always looking at the emotions. Get the motive first and build your case from there. That’s how I solved the Cuthbert baby kidnapping.
[Sound of drinking]
Now, that was a party after that, Noah. Plenty of drinking in those days to celebrate. We all went out to the Black Dog round the corner from the nick. I’d been on telly doing a press statement – everyone was pleased to have a happy ending. The whole station came out and the DCI stood drinks for everyone.
[Chuckling]
He’d even invited some of the new detective recruits along. They all thought I was the dog’s bollocks, of course. In fact, as I remember, I ended up round the back of the pub with one of them. Jesus.
[Low whistling]
I must have been so drunk I couldn’t see straight. Seriously, she was an absolute stinker to look at when she turned up in my office a few months later. And then guess what? She told me she was pregnant! As if I was having that – she could have been the station bike for all I knew.
[Takes a long drink]
Anyway, it didn’t look good for my career, so I told her to get out. I wanted nothing to do with it all. Made sure she was moved off any serious investigation work so I didn’t have to bump into her again. Think they shoved her in the property office after that. I probably did the policing world a great service there...
Chapter67
She found Bridie in their bedroom sitting in one of the chairs, looking out of the window at the stars, her knees covered with a blanket.
Midge eased herself on to the side of the bed next to the chair and reached across to hold her hand. The two of them sat in silence for a moment, Midge listening to the sound of Bridie’s breathing as she had done so many times before.
‘When did you realize who he was?’ asked Midge, quietly.
‘Who?’ Bridie turned to face her, a smile on her lips.
‘Rendell.’
Bridie turned her head back to the window and patted Midge’s hand. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘I couldn’t work it out at first,’ Midge agreed. ‘Why anyone would go to so much trouble to make us believe in a ghost just so we would think the murders were connected.’
‘They are connected,’ said Bridie. ‘You said so yourself. Each one follows the Atherton deaths.’
‘No.’ Midge shook her head. ‘It was a distraction. To hide the real target.’
Bridie shifted in her chair, frowning. ‘What do you mean?’
