The Dinner Party. R. J. Parker

FOURTEEN

      ‘I’ll stay with her.’ Juliette nodded for Ted to go.

      Ted opened his mouth and then closed it again. He briefly squeezed her shoulder, turned and shakily headed back down the lawn. The lights of the car illuminated the side of the house and he shielded his eyes as he approached the vehicle.

      A man got out of the passenger’s side. ‘Sir?’

      The light went out as the engine was switched off, but Ted could see it was a police car. ‘It’s OK, I … my wife called you.’

      Another man emerged from the driver’s side.

      ‘We’ve just found our friend. She’s been … she’s been killed.’ The words sounded absurd.

      The two officers exchanged a glance.

      ‘Where is she?’ The passenger asked uneasily.

      Ted wondered if either of them was equipped to deal with a situation like this. They probably thought they were being called out to a routine domestic. ‘She’s on the back lawn.’

      Momentarily, neither of the officers seemed to know what to do.

      ‘I’ll take you there.’ Ted started to turn.

      ‘Wait.’ The driver closed his door. ‘Who are you?’

      ‘Ted Middleton. My wife and I are friends of Evie and Jakob … Eriksson. Evie called us and said she and her husband were having an argument. We got a cab out here. When we arrived somebody ran from the house. We think it was Jakob.’

      ‘Her husband?’

      ‘Yes,’ Ted confirmed to the driver.

      ‘You’re not sure?’ He seemed suspicious.

      Even though it had only happened minutes ago, Ted struggled to get his thoughts in order. ‘Nobody answered, so we went in through the open back door. Someone ran down the stairs and then left via the drive. And Jakob’s not in the house.’

      ‘Let the station know,’ the driver said to his passenger. ‘I’ll take a look.’

      ‘Shouldn’t we just wait for a senior officer?’ The passenger’s voice quivered.

      Ted wondered how old they were. ‘My wife is with the body. I don’t want to leave her there any longer.’

      ‘Call the station. I’ll secure the scene.’ The driver tried to imbue his voice with confidence. ‘Lead the way.’

      Ted nodded and turned. They reached the lawn just as the light went out again. He waved his hands and the scene was floodlit. Glancing sideways he confirmed that the uniformed officer was barely in his twenties. His head was closely shaved, and his lean features were grimacing in readiness for what was to come. Ted led him to where Juliette was still crouching and heard him inhale sharply through his nose as they crunched across the grass.

      ‘I’m Constable Adams,’ he said to Juliette.

      Juliette exchanged a look with Ted.

      ‘There are other officers on the way,’ Adams reassured her and fell silent as he stared at Evie. ‘You’re sure she’s dead?’

      Juliette nodded and wiped an eye with her thumb.

      ‘If I can just ask you both to step out.’ Adams offered her his hand to get up.

      Juliette didn’t take it and stood. ‘What happens now?’

      ‘If you don’t mind waiting with my colleague in the meantime, I can handle things here.’ But he didn’t sound convinced.

      ‘I’d rather not leave her.’

      Adams hesitated. ‘No, wait in the car and keep warm. Someone will take statements from you shortly.’

      Juliette looked down at Evie.

      ‘Come on.’ Ted put his hand gently under her left arm, but she didn’t budge.

      ‘She needs to be covered,’ she told the officer.

      He nodded. ‘That’ll be done. I do have to ask you to vacate the scene now though.’

      Juliette started to take off her jacket.

      ‘Juliette …’ Ted gripped her arm tighter.

      ‘Please, madam. You’ll be making the job for forensics even harder.’

      Juliette paused and then nodded.

      ‘Come on. Let him do his job.’ Ted tried to lead her gently away, but still she stood rooted to the spot.

      The three of them regarded Evie’s body for a few moments and then Juliette walked unsteadily back down the lawn.

      ‘She’ll be OK.’

      Ted didn’t answer the officer.