Page 69 of Murder Most Haunted

‘You said there was a development?’ Rona asked, seating herself on a small suede pouffe close to Midge’s feet. They had finally managed to convince her to let them inside the library, where they were all now gathered, some sitting and some standing as the group centred on the open fireplace.

‘How are you feeling, Rona?’ asked Midge, who had managed to find herself an armchair close to Bridie, but small enough that she wouldn’t have to share it with anyone.

‘Perfectly fine, thank you.’ Rona locked the fingers of both hands together to stop them moving. She was wearing a high-necked sweater and long trousers, and her eyes were red-rimmed and smudged but, to Midge’s relief, she appeared almost sober, albeit suffering from a dreadful headache.

‘So, why multiple ghosts?’ asked Noah.

‘Exactly,’ said Midge, settling herself in the armchair. ‘Now we have to look at the why.’

Noah and Bridie sat down on the sofa and Harold took a seat underneath the Atherton portraits.

‘The first White Lady, coming from the projector, is all Rendell’s work.

Like the séance, it was simply to sell the experience of the haunted house.

It was timed to appear when we were all here in the drawing room that first night, and again intermittently through the night.

The more of us spotted it, the better, but in the end, it was only Dr Mortimer who saw it. ’

‘And the writing on the mirror? That was Rendell too? I told you it wasn’t me,’ said Harold.

‘No,’ agreed Midge. ‘That was Gloria.’

‘What?!’ the others all shouted at once.

She nodded. ‘She wrote the words on the mirror using her orange-blossom lip balm, and she moved the glass during the séance to spell out her own son’s initials.’

‘Why?’ asked Bridie, her mouth open.

‘Revenge,’ replied Midge. ‘Gloria had been trying to scare Rendell because she holds him responsible for the case against the drunk driver who killed her son crumbling.’

‘So she killed Rendell?’

Midge shook her head and carried on. No one interrupted, which was an unusual experience for Midge.

‘Now, the other ghost, the one seen by Harold near the bathing room on Friday night and by Rona in the mine – that has to be the real murderer, steering us in the direction of a haunted spirit, building up the story and eventually using the cover of Beth Hallow’s spirit to walk about the house in plain sight and be able to commit all three murders.

I saw Rendell’s reaction that first night – how disturbed he was.

It was no act. He was expecting to see his projection, had timed it for then, but I think he also saw something else – someone else – he hadn’t known was coming. ’

‘So, it is one of us, then?’ said Rona, her eyes wide. ‘We’re the only ones that have been here the whole time.’

‘I came after Rendell had been killed,’ pointed out Bridie.

‘Three?’ said Noah, slowly. ‘Hang on a minute, you said “three murders”.’

‘Yes,’ replied Midge.

‘But it’s only Rendell and Dr Mortimer,’ said Harold.

‘So far . . .’

‘What do you mean?’ asked Bridie.

The others watched in surprise as Midge heaved herself out of the armchair and walked over to Harold, reaching above his head to pull down Charles Atherton’s ruined portrait and place it on the floor next to the fireplace.

‘Noah, can you bring in William’s portrait from the hallway?’

Noah was about to protest but eventually went to fetch it.

The others waited in silence until he returned, struggling with the heavy painting.

Once Midge had it, she lined it up against the fireplace with Charles.

Then she pointed at an intact portrait still hanging on the wall.

‘Could you fetch Rupert down too, Noah, and put him next to his father and brother.’

Next, Midge used her cane to point at Charles. ‘According to Dr Rawlings’ diary, Charles was found dead in the bath, following a visitation from the ghost.’ Midge stopped. ‘And after seeing a ghost through the window, Rendell is found dead in the bath.’

‘Yes, but . . .’ Noah started to speak, but Midge was now standing next to William Atherton’s portrait.

‘William Atherton shot himself after being plagued by Beth Hallow’s ghost. Dr Mortimer was found shot to death, after also seeing a ghost.’

‘We know this,’ said Noah. ‘This is what I’ve been saying all along.’

‘And finally, we have Rupert Atherton.’ Midge stepped to the side of his portrait and placed her hand on the frame.

‘Well, he . . .’ She turned and faced them.

‘We don’t know how he died, but if we assume that, for whatever reason, the murderer wants us to think the deaths are related to the story of Beth Hallow, then we can expect another death to follow, in the manner of Rupert Atherton, the last son. ’

‘So, we’ve got to sit here and just wait for someone to pick us off?’ cried Harold. ‘We don’t even know how—’

‘I do!’ said Rona, jumping up from the pouffe. ‘I’ve got it!’

They watched as she crossed the floor and took over pacing in front of the portraits. ‘Here, look, see . . . I’ve been trying to remember it.’

‘Remember what?’

‘I knew I had worked something out about Rupert’s entry in the diary before . . . well, before my little mishap.’ She briefly looked as if she was going to start crying again, but carried on, ‘But I must have had a bit of a blackout. Midge, did I say anything to you?’

Midge flushed red. ‘Yes. “Arse”.’

Rona snapped her fingers together. ‘Exactly! I’ve remembered now. I saw Rupert’s entry in the journal and realized that the cause of death is right there. The doctor hadn’t forgotten to finish the sentence. It was “A. S.” not “as”.’

The others stared at her.

‘“As” is the chemical symbol for arsenic.’

There was a scream, which was Bridie staring in horror at the half-eaten cookie in her hand.