Page 51 of Murder Most Haunted

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.