Page 99 of Murder Most Haunted

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.

Chapter64

In that moment, all hell broke loose. Everyone was standing and shouting and at one point Harold threw some of Noah’s cookies on to the ground and began stamping on them like a wild man, until Midge pointed out that they weren’t poisonous snakes that needed to be killed.

‘It wasn’t me!’ Noah kept insisting, tearing up at the sight of his decimated baking, ground into the rug.

Midge was by Bridie’s side. ‘Are you OK?’ she asked.

Bridie was leaning back against her chair, red in the face from coughing. When she was finally able to speak, she waved Midge’s concern away. ‘I’m fine, I think... all the excitement aggravated the cough.’ She paused for a moment, thinking. ‘Has everyone eaten the cookies?’

‘There’s nothing wrong with the bloody cookies!’ shouted Noah.

Midge and Harold raised their hands.

‘And you’re all OK?’

Midge thought about it. Her heart was racing slightly faster than normal, but that was only to be expected.

‘Wouldn’t we be feeling the effects by now?’ said Harold.

‘That depends,’ said Rona. ‘It’s one of those poisons that the levels can build up and then suddenly, one small dose on top could prove to be the lethal one.’

‘The killer would have to anticipate an awful lot of cookie-eating for that to happen,’ said Midge.

‘Well, Noah has certainly baked enough,’ said Rona, pointedly.

‘For God’s sake, look, I’ll bloody eat one,’ he said, grabbing at the nearest cookie.

‘Wait a moment – you could be deliberately picking the only one without poison in,’ said Harold. ‘We’re not a bunch of amateurs, you know.’