Page 1 of Dead Serious Case 5 Madame Vivienne

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“Friends, we are gathered here today in remembrance of our dearly departed sister, Vivienne. Let us come together in unity and share our sorrow at her passing but also celebrate her life, which I’m certain was lived to the fullest.”

“Not so sure about that,” Dusty mutters from where she’s sat beside me.

My eyes wander as I tune out the officiant and his hollow words. He didn’t know Viv at all, and glancing around the small room, I’m beginning to wonder if anyone really did. The room is almost empty and it breaks my heart. Viv was a complicated woman, but I’d thought there was more to her life than the handful of mourners here, most of whom were recent additions to her life coming mostly through me.

Chan sits along the row to my left, Aidan beside him. Behind them are Maddie and her wife, Sonia. They didn’t really know Madame Viv all that well, having only met her a couple of times while she was staying at our flat after the whole Chaos incident. Maddie’s been assigned Madame Viv’s case along with another detective. Danny isn’t allowed to be involved with the murder case given his connection to Viv, which I know he’s findingextremely frustrating, especially as Maddie and Detective Byrnes are no closer to solving it.

My gaze drifts to Detective Byrnes, who sits alone behind Maddie and Sonia, and I’m surprised to find him blatantly staring at me.

He’s new to Scotland Yard, apparently started just before Christmas, and from what I hear, he’s made waves already and not for anything good. Maddie’s made no attempt to hide the fact that she can barely stand the guy. According to her, he’s a chauvinistic pig who talks over everyone, considers his opinion the most important in the room, and always acts like he has something to prove.

Even worse, he’s decided he really doesn’t like Danny and is hell-bent on proving he’s better than my boyfriend in every way. Patrick Byrnes is convinced he’s smarter and a better detective than Danny. Whatever the cockwaffle’s problem is, it seems to be aimed in Danny’s direction, and as if that wasn’t bad enough, having that complete bell end in charge of my friend’s murder investigation makes it all so much worse. I can only hope he’s as good at his job as his ego seems to think, but I seriously doubt it.

Fucking narcissist.

I’m all about giving people a fair chance even if they don’t come across well on first impression. Byrnes, however, made the major mistake of going after my boyfriend’s job. He should count himself fucking lucky I don’t take Dusty up on her offer to send in her new ghost friend Skid to haunt him.

I don’t even realise my hands have balled so tightly into fists that I’m leaving little half-moon indentations in my skin until Danny’s large, warm hand covers mine and strokes my skin softly.

He offers me a small, reassuring smile as if he knows where my thoughts have gone. I turn my hand palm up so his fingers entwine with mine and release the breath I was unaware I’d beenholding. There’s a knot of emotion burning at the back of my throat and my eyes sting with unshed tears. My heart is aching. Other than Harrison and Sam sitting in the row behind us, there’s no one else here.

Did Viv have any friends at all besides us? Did her whole world begin and end with the bookshop in Whitechapel? I can’t believe there’s no one, not one single person she played cards with or called for a chat or… something.

Guilt settles heavier in my chest. I feel like I should have made more of an effort to get to know her; after all, she’d lived in my home for several weeks. I’d thought her reluctance to return to the bookshop had just been a little residual fear after what had happened. Now I’m beginning to wonder if there wasn’t another reason.

Then to die the way she did? I feel Danny squeeze my hand tighter to stop me from spiralling the way I have been over the last few weeks. Being in Yorkshire seems like forever ago.

We’d stayed for a few more days after we found out about Viv. The roads had still been impassable and Sam had assured us there was nothing we could do. When we’d finally returned to London, it was to find Detective Byrnes had been assigned the case and Danny was still technically on leave anyway.

It had taken a while for the body to be released and, knowing there was no one to claim it, Danny and I had taken responsibility for the funeral with Chan’s help. Chan has been a godsend. He basically took over all the details while I’ve been with my dad; although it was only a cold he’d had over Christmas, Dad’s not recovering as quickly as we’d hoped, and I live in constant dread that today will be the day I lose him. Time is running out and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

I’m a mess, what with Madame Viv’s murder, Dad’s health declining, and the new detective acting weird. I glance over and sure enough, he’s still staring at me. Not sure what his problemis with me or Danny, but I’m really resisting the urge to flip him the finger.Huh.Maybe I’ve been hanging out with Dusty for too long, but honestly, the way he keeps staring at me you’d have thought he suspected me of murdering Viv, never mind that I was at the other end of the country when it happened.

“And now, if there’s anyone who’d like to pay their last respects to dear Vivienne, please approach,” the officiant announces loudly, pulling me from my thoughts and redirecting my attention to the front of the little crematorium.

Taking a quiet breath, I grasp the pink long-stemmed rose from across my lap and rise. Still holding hands, Danny and I make our way up to the front of the almost empty room. We step up to the plain pine coffin decorated with a beautiful spray of white lilies and carnations, Danny places his rose on the lid and steps back.

Releasing his hand and moving forward, I rest my rose on the coffin beside Danny’s, but instead of moving back to re-join him, I lift my hand and set my palm against the smooth wood, and feel an overwhelming wave of sadness.

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you, Viv,” I whisper.

I raise my eyes to Viv’s as she stands on the other side of the coffin and faces me. Her lifeless eyes stare in my direction but don’t seem to actually see me.

But the most disturbing thing is that her mouth is gone, replaced by a symbol which none of us have been able to identify yet. Danny has been trying to track it down ever since I drew it out for him, to the extent that our spare room now resembles a research room at the British Library, but so far he’s had no luck.

It’s not just the symbol over her mouth though. My gaze dips to her hands and forearms. They’re covered in the same ancient, spidery-looking symbols. I watch in surprise as she slowly raises one hand. It’s shaking violently, as if she’s fighting against some unseen force trying to hold her in place. With what seems to begreat effort, she reaches for me, laying her hand over mine, and I can’t stop the loud gasp that bursts from my lips.

Dusty appears beside her suddenly and snatches Viv’s hand back from me, but it’s too late. I feel an ice cold agony shooting up my arm followed by a sharp pain to my chest. I stumble back, my vision dimming at the edges, and feel Danny’s warm, solid, safe arms wrap around me.

I pant quietly as the pain in my chest recedes.

“Are you okay?” Danny rumbles quietly in my ear, loud enough for only me to hear.

Not trusting my voice, I give the barest perceivable nod of my head, hoping Detective Byrnes didn’t see my strange reaction.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Tris?” Dusty asks worriedly, her arm wrapped around Viv.