The Cinderella Murders

by David Cargill

  Giles continued down but was stopped in his tracks at the sight that met his eyes. The large soles of a man’s shoes were pointing upwards. Giles had no doubt that he was looking at the figure of Mark spreadeagled face down with his head almost at the foot of the stairs. It was difficult for Giles to negotiate his way down the narrow stairs but gingerly he managed to reach Mark’s head where he placed his fingers in the region of the carotid artery feeling for a pulse. After a few seconds he looked upwards to the group of faces gazing down at him. ‘He’s dead!’ he said, shaking his head slightly. ‘Mark’s dead! I can’t believe it. Someone phone for an ambulance. Immediately.’ And as everyone surged forward he shouted ‘And no one touch him.’

  ‘I’ll make that call sir,’ said the stage door keeper. ‘I’ll do that immediately.’

  ‘Oh God I can’t believe it,’ said Walter. ‘This bloody play. A disaster. And not only for Mark’s nephews, but for all of us.’

  ‘Everyone up to the Green Room,’ instructed Giles. ‘Now no one to leave the group for any reason whatsoever.’

  Giles took a last look at the body lying stretched out on the stairs. Poor Mark. Unbidden the suspicion flashed in his mind… did he fall or was he pushed. Leaving the still form of the giant playwright Giles made his way up the stairs to join the others.

  Inside the Green Room Giles went over to Walter and whispered. ‘I’ll go along to the stage door and meet the ambulance when it arrives. I can explain that I was the one who found Mark and checked his pulse. I’ll fill them in about his long-standing problems.’

  The ambulance didn’t keep Giles waiting. It arrived within minutes of being called and Giles was introduced to the ambulance men Jim and Frank, before taking them to the stairway where Mark’s body lay.

  The narrow staircase made it difficult for the ambulance crew to negotiate with the stretcher and even more difficult for them to get the body stretchered and to make their way back to the waiting ambulance.

  ‘I know how it must be almost impossible for you to make any statement as to what might have caused this man’s death,’ said Giles to Jim and Frank. ‘but is there anything you can say that might be close to the truth?’

  ‘I’m afraid not,’ said Jim, the older of the two men. ‘We don’t get any training in that sort of thing. As far as I know all cases of sudden death are reported to the Procurator Fiscal. Up to him to order a post-mortem if there’s any doubt about cause of death. Why do you ask?’

  Giles hesitated. ‘No reason except that DS Miller of the local police put me in charge here and I have to report back to him as regards any strange happenings.’ He paused once more. ‘And the sudden death of this man is very strange indeed.’

  ‘Sorry we can’t help you,’ said Frank. ‘As trained ambulance men we could have treated this man had he still been alive but that would be of little use in cases like this.’

  Both men got in and slammed the doors and as they drove away Giles went back to the stage door where he asked the doorman if he could phone the local police.

  Once Robbie got a connection he handed the phone to Giles. ‘Professor Dawson calling from the Theatre Royal. Can you put me through to Detective Sergeant Miller please?’

  ‘Just one moment sir. I’ll see what I can do.’

  ‘Is that you Giles? Has there been any further trouble at the theatre? Is that why you’re calling?’

  ‘I’m afraid so, John. Mark Armstrong, the playwright, is dead. His body is on its way to the hospital.’

  ‘How did that happen? Not another prank I presume.’

  ‘No! His death occurred during a short power failure, presumably due to the thunderstorm. When the lights went out Mark, for some reason, left the auditorium, where we were all watching the run-through of the play. I went looking for him as I didn’t want him wandering down stairs in the total darkness. I found him lying face down on the stairs leading to the basement. I checked his pulse and there was none.’

  ‘Did he fall or was he pushed?’

  ‘My own thoughts exactly, John. And you can help clear that up. I want you to come here in an official capacity but on your way can you make a visit to the hospital and speak to the team conducting any postmortem. We need to know of any indications of cause of death. I have my suspicions but without a proper diagnosis by a team of experienced doctors my theories are worthless.’

  ‘I’ll do that straight away but it may take some time.’

  ‘If my hunch is correct nothing of any consequence will happen in here.’

  ‘I’ll do what I can, Giles.’

  ‘Can you also get a list of the personal belongings that were on Mark’s body when he was taken to the hospital?’

  ‘You just want a list?’

  ‘Nothing more! That list could result in you having to make an arrest before the night is out.’

  I’ll be with you as soon as I can, Giles.’ The phone went dead and Giles, nodding with a look of anticipation, handed the receiver back to Robbie.

  ‘If I’m wanted I’ll be in the Green Room, Robbie. If I’m not there I’ll most likely be in the auditorium.’ Giles turned and left.

  Inside the Green Room he joined Laura and Freddie who told him that a decision had been made to continue with rehearsals which was undoubtedly what Mark would have wanted. As Giles listened to what had been decided Walter approached him looking pensive. ‘We really mustn’t let Mark’s sudden death completely ruin what he believed in,’ said Walter. ‘Mark was the one who was absolutely convinced that we had a play that could stand alongside any of the current productions in the West End. It would be disastrous to allow all his hard work and dreams to be destroyed.’ Walter paused. ‘Did the ambulance men give you any idea of the cause of death?’

  ‘I’m afraid not. We’ll have to wait on the doctor’s report for that information. At the moment all we can do is surmise as to what really happened. Though I have to admit I have a suspicious notion as to how it happened. How but not why.’

  ‘What are you driving at?’ The irritation in Walter’s voice was obvious. Was there also a hint of fear?

  Giles deliberately paused before answering. ‘When I hear what the doctors say about Mark’s cause of death and when they are able to answer my questions I’ll be much closer to the truth. Then I will undoubtedly know whether I’m on the right track… or badly mistaken.’

  ‘You always have to make a bloody mystery about everything, Giles,’ snapped Walter. ‘Meanwhile can we please get back to our rehearsal and see how effective your illusions prove to be?’

  ‘I’ll be with you in a moment. But give me some time to put my thoughts together. Laura and Freddie will assist in judging the illusions.’

  Giles shrugged his shoulders and turned to speak quietly to Laura and Freddie. ‘I want you to watch the play with apparent avid interest. Lean forward in your seats or something. But I need you to watch the players for any sign of mood change. I wish to spend a little time on my own as I’ve much to think about. Don’t be surprised when you see DS Miller and his assistant Detective Constable Watson arrive in the theatre.’

  ‘You’re on to something, Giles,’ said Freddie. ‘That’s a racing certainty.’

  ‘I hope you’re right Freddie, but as I discussed before there’s no such thing as a racing certainty.’

  ‘That’s true but you’ve got something up your sleeve, Giles and, as a magician, that’s a pretty sure bet in my opinion. Care to divulge?’

  ‘Let me just confirm that the CID have been informed of a sudden death. I can reveal that they may also have details of the cause of Mark’s death when the lights went out. Such details that might require an arrest… for murder.’

  Chapter 25

  SCARED TO DEATH

  Giles looked at his watch. He’d been on his own in the Green Room for the best part of forty-five minutes since Laura and Freddie had left to go to the auditorium, and he estimated the final run-through of the play would be almost at an end. During this time his logical brain
had been methodically analysing each tiny occurrence. Everything always seemed to be dependent on what DS Miller could glean from the hospital pathologist. Giles looked at his watch again, shook his head and gave himself a proverbial telling-off as he knew it could be some considerable time before the appearance of the CID officers. There didn’t appear to be anything to do but wait and no amount of wishful thinking was going to hurry things along. Best thing might be to join Laura and Freddie and watch the conclusion of the play and enjoy his illusion where the Fairy Godmother walks through plate glass.

  When Giles seated himself beside Laura and Freddie the play was at the dramatic stage when Cindy was phoning Scotland Yard to report two murders and a suicide. The illusion to be performed by the Fairy Godmother had to be imagined as the theatre lights man was no longer available to assist. Giles had been so engrossed with the many things on his mind that he’d completely forgotten that it was therefore not possible to perform the illusion.

  As soon as the Fairy Godmother had voiced the final lines of the play Laura turned to look at Giles. ‘You seem disappointed,’ she said, giving Giles a comforting clasp of his hand. She smiled. ‘I am too. I was so looking forward to seeing your magic on the stage. Your illusions give such dramatic impact to the whole play.’

  There was no need for Giles to answer verbally. He pursed his lips and responded by squeezing Laura’s proffered hand.

  ‘Well done everyone. That’s a wrap,’ Walter shouted with glee. ‘There are just a few points I want to go over before we all retire to the Green Room and drink to the success of Mark’s play. He’d have been so proud of it and I’m sure we did the proper thing to see it through.’

  There was a sudden tap on Giles’ shoulder. It was Robbie from the stage door.

  ‘They’ve arrived,’ he whispered. ‘DS Miller and DC Watson. I’ve put them in the Green Room and they want to see you… urgently.’

  Giles let Laura’s hand go. He rose, and followed Robbie out of the auditorium.

  The Green Room was deathly quiet and the two detectives were standing when Giles went in. DS Miller was holding a sheet of paper.

  ‘What’s all this about, then, Giles? Always seems to be a problem when you’re around.’ DS Miller smiled as he shook Giles’ hand. ‘Gather from what you said on the phone that we appear to have a serious crime to investigate this time and not some stupid actor’s prank gone wrong.’

  ‘Certainly no prank.’ Sitting down, Giles intimated to the two detectives by a show of his hands to do likewise. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘was the pathologist able to give details of cause of death?’

  DS Miller handed the piece of paper to Giles. ‘Mark Armstrong was dead before he hit the ground. He didn’t die as a result of a fall. Whatever your suspicions are, Giles, they seem to be justified.’

  ‘Exactly as I thought,’ said Giles. Quickly, he scanned the report. ‘I noted his pupils were dilated.’

  ‘His dilated pupils suggested he died before he fell. Some medical authorities believe that a person can die of fright (most often where there is an underlying heart condition but it is also claimed to occur in perfectly healthy people) and in the opinion of the pathologist, Mark Armstrong died of a fear-induced shock. If that fear-induced shock to the system is severe enough it can trigger a massive surge of adrenaline. The heart contracts, normal rhythm ceases and the person drops dead.’

  ‘Mark suffered from a phobia,’ said Giles. ‘He had an irrational fear of a curse allegedly made by an Egyptian princess. The fear of this curse would probably have been magnified by anything Egyptian or any building or subject connected with ghosts. There’s not much doubt the Theatre Royal in Dumfries could have been a contributory factor and would have caused an aversion.’

  ‘That’s more or less what the pathologist stated. He said Mark may have suffered panic attacks lasting only a few minutes and may have swallowed pills thinking that they were helping him to recover. Unfortunately there are no such pills that can help and Mark would have been unable to take a kind of placebo in this particular case as death came swiftly.’ DS Miller looked Giles straight in the eye. ‘In the opinion of the pathologist Mark Armstrong died of fright. Does that come close to your train of thoughts Giles?’

  ‘Well it certainly doesn’t destroy any thoughts I had.’ Giles glanced at the sheet of paper given to him by the detective. ‘This, I presume, is the list of Mark’s personal belongings.’

  ‘Yes. The actual belongings will be returned to Mark’s nephews in due course.’

  As he scrutinised the list Giles started to nod and his features developed a knowing look. A look that signified his hunch had been on the right track. He took his time folding the sheet and placing it into his inside jacket pocket before looking up at the CID man. ‘You asked if Mark’s cause of death came close to my train of thoughts, John. I can now answer that with little fear of doubt. Yes, he died of fright… I’m sure that is beyond any doubt whatsoever. But I’m more than ever convinced that he was murdered.’

  ‘Are you absolutely sure?’

  ‘As sure as I can possibly be.’ Giles patted his jacket where his inside pocket would be with the sheet of folded paper. ‘I was looking for an ingredient,’ he said, ‘an ingredient that is essential to getting things right in much the same way as baking a cake.’ He smiled. ‘I found that ingredient when I read that list of personal belongings you brought back from the hospital. I found it because it wasn’t there!’

  ‘I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying Giles. But having read of your previous exploits with locked-room murders I believe you’re saying what you mean. And I don’t doubt you mean what you’re saying.’

  ‘Now who’s the one making the cryptic remarks, John? If I can go over all the strange unexplained incidents that have happened in this theatre since the group arrived for rehearsals and, more importantly, explain each and every one and then provide a motive… will you make an arrest?’

  ‘It will be a feather in my cap and justice will be served. But you must, of course be absolutely certain. The police will have nothing to do with wild statements. Everything must be foolproof and beyond reproach. Can you guarantee that, Giles?’

  ‘You will be the best judge of that, John. The motive for this murder is one of the most powerful motives in the annuls of murder. The whole concept was an elaborate plot aided and abetted by the choice of the Dumfries Theatre Royal as the venue for the play’s rehearsals.’

  There was the sound of a hubbub approaching the Green Room from outside and Giles only had time to whisper to the men from the CID. ‘Leave everything to me,’ he said.

  The two detectives along with Giles stood up to greet the play’s group as they entered the Green Room.

  ‘That’s it all over,’ said Walter. ‘We’ve achieved what we set out to achieve apart from the terrible loss of my co-playwright.’ He paused as he stared at the two plain clothes CID officers. ‘Haven’t we met before?’

  ‘That’s perfectly correct sir. We were here to investigate an alleged death by shooting that turned out to be a missing person act.’

  ‘And you are here for what constable?’

  ‘DS Miller, sir.’ The detective said smiling. ‘And I’m here investigating another death. But this time not an alleged one.’

  ‘I see,’ said Walter, preparing to uncork a bottle of champagne. ‘We were all devastated at the sudden loss of Mark. It was incredibly difficult to accept but the old adage of the theatre made our minds up to carry on. We felt it would have been Mark’s own desire that we should let nothing spoil what he set out to achieve and drinking a celebratory toast of champagne will be in keeping with his desire. Care for a spot of bubbly Sergeant? It unfortunately will have to be in a cup as there are not enough glasses I’m afraid.’

  ‘Thank you, but no sir. I’m here on duty.’

  Pouring everyone a little of the liquid Walter asked if there had been any news of Mark’s cause of death.

  ‘I’ll leave that to Professor D
awson,’ said DS Miller. ‘He has all the information you require.’

  ‘Champagne Giles?’

  ‘No thanks Walter. I’m also here on duty.’

  ‘You’re sounding very official, Giles. Surely you cannot object to celebrating the creativity of Mark’s work.’

  ‘Not at all,’ said Giles. ‘But allow me to explain where I now stand.’ He waited until a second bottle of champagne was uncorked and various glasses and cups had been replenished. ‘I came here as a magician. An illusionist who was invited to design a few moments of magic that might give a clever play the wow factor as an extra dimension. Gradually, hour by hour and day by day, I have become less of a magician and more of a detective. The sudden death of Mark Armstrong, the playwright of the production you’ve been rehearsing for several days, and the cause of his death has given me no alternative but to assume the role of detective. Mark died suddenly, as we are all aware, but the most significant thing about it is the probable cause of death as stated by the hospital pathologist.’ Giles paused as he scanned the faces in the Green Room for any reaction. ‘Mark apparently died of fright.’

  ‘I knew it,’ Walter shouted at the top of his voice. ‘That bloody curse was always going to be his downfall.’

  The animated rumble from the cast at Walter’s prognosis prevented Giles from making any further comment until the room was relatively quiet again.

  ‘Most of you in this room have been sipping your champagne as a celebration of Mark’s work. His writing has given all of you the opportunity to establish an acting career. A career that may turn out to be a glittering one for some considerable time. But, and I emphasise this, at least one person is sipping the champagne with glee because Mark is dead. If that person had anything to do with Mark’s death then the cause of death will have the added stigma of murder. It is my intention, before the day is out, to establish the truth. I will cite every unexplainable happening that has occurred during the time spent in rehearsals and, as a magician as well as a detective I will present you with my explanation. Should that explanation clearly show that a murder has been committed it will be left to DS Miller to make an arrest.’