by Sonia Parin
“Ah, but your hat is the only one with any real appeal. After all, you managed to entice a whole flock of seagulls.”
“I don’t dare stroll the length of the pier again. The seagulls have been eyeballing me the whole time and I sense they are getting restless. Let’s head back to the hotel. I should change for dinner. I promise it will only take me an hour to prepare.”
“You say that with so much confidence. Since it will only take me a fraction of the time, I will make the best of it and try to discover ways to entertain you. I fear you might be about to reach the end of your tether and this is only the first day of our stay here.”
Their walk back to the hotel seemed to take twice as long as everyone appeared to have reached a general consensus, appointing that time in the afternoon as the perfect moment to return to their hotels and everyone seemed to be eager to appreciate as much of the sunshine and fresh air as possible, taking their time and, in the process, clogging up the sidewalk.
Tom whistled a tune under his breath, prompting Evie to remark, “The sea air seems to inspire joyful ditties.”
“Yes,” he said. “I saw a notice posted at the end of the pier announcing a night of music and dancing. If all else fails, we might want to lift our spirits with some music. I’m sure that will take your mind off this afternoon’s macabre entertainment.”
“You wish to return to the pier. Again?”
“It will be nighttime. That is bound to lend it an air of mystique.”
Gasping, Evie said, “As well as the perfect opportunity for someone to commit a crime. I can just picture it. A man desperate to rid himself of his wife, pushes her into the crashing waves.”
Tom laughed. “I see there is no shifting your attention away from murder.”
“You must admit, we have been involved in more than our fair share of incidents.” And, each time, she had tried to mind her own business…
“You were quite instrumental in assisting to solve a couple of those cases. It makes me wonder if that is a sign you might have missed your true calling.”
“Are you suggesting I should have taken up a profession?” Evie wanted to laugh at the idea but she found it too intriguing.
Tom craned his neck.
“What do you see? Is someone else being attacked by seagulls?” Evie clutched her hat just in case.
“No, but there must be something going on up ahead. I see a crowd congregated…” Tom reached for her arm and stopped her. “A crowd has formed outside our hotel.”
Evie noticed a few people rushing to cross the street while others stopped and stood on tiptoes. There were clusters of people on both sides of the street, all looking toward the hotel. Some were pointing. Others appeared to be gaping as if in shock.
She had spent the afternoon playing a morbid game of imagining the worst about people and suddenly her mind drew a blank. She couldn’t for the life of her imagine what could be happening up ahead.
“Let’s see if we can get any closer,” Tom suggested.
With so many people milling about, they could only manage to move at a snail’s pace.
“Do you see anything yet?” Evie asked.
“No. There are too many people to see properly.”
“What are they doing?” Looking around them, Evie saw the sidewalk behind them had become congested with strollers coming to a stop.
“They’re just standing… as if waiting for something to happen. I don’t see much movement.”
What could that mean? What could they be looking at?
Tom guided her to the edge of the sidewalk. Holding her by her elbow, he stepped onto the road. “We might be able to make some progress. Stick close to the curb.”
“I’m not sure I want to see what’s happening. I’m beginning to get a bad feeling about this.” Evie pressed her hand to her throat. What if something bad had happened to someone? The sun had been rather strong. Once, she had forgotten to wear a hat and had nearly fainted from the heat. “I believe I am trying to mask my trepidation with common sense. What if a lady stepped out for a walk and didn’t take a hat, or worse, what if she wore a hat similar to mine and the seagulls took a liking to it?”
“If it makes you feel any better, I had entertained the same idea. I guess we both feel the need to assure ourselves nothing bad has really happened.”
She glanced at Tom in time to see him take a deep swallow. “What? You just saw something.”
His voice carried a degree of concern when he said, “The police are here and they appear to be trying to contain the situation.”
Evie looked around and saw people rushing from the pier and heading toward them. She guessed they had heard something had happened and wanted to see for themselves. “Perhaps we shouldn’t try to get any closer.”
“Good point,” Tom agreed. “They don’t need more people crowding the scene.”
“So, there is a scene.”
“Let’s walk on a bit and then cross the street. I see a gap in the corner opposite the hotel.”
Tom waited for the traffic to ease up and, giving her a light tug, he urged her on.
“Not so fast, my hat nearly flew off. Not that it would be such a great loss.”
They reached the other side of the street and swung toward the crowd. Looking up, Evie saw people looking out of their hotel windows while those with balconies stood outside.
Crossing the street had been a sensible idea. From their vantage point on the corner, they could now see several police officers trying to push back the onlookers.
Around them, people were quiet, almost as if the occasion called for silence. But then, she heard someone murmuring.
“It could be a protestor. There seem to be more of those every day. Someone complaining about something or other.”
Evie saw a few heads bobbing up and down in agreement.
“Mob mentality,” someone else muttered. “They think they own the streets.”
Evie felt her heart thump against her chest. She grabbed Tom’s arm. “Caro.”
“She’s fine,” Tom assured her. “Edmonds is with her.”
“Yes, but something might have happened to her.”
Tom scanned the street. Evie could see him doing a thorough sweep, missing no one. Of course, Caro might be stuck somewhere, much as they were, waiting for the crowd to clear.
“There.” Tom pointed across the street. “She’s in the hotel. Standing on your balcony.”
Evie’s hold tightened on his arm. She narrowed her gaze and tried to focus. Finally, she saw Caro and Edmonds leaning on the balcony railing, appearing to look down.
“She has a bird’s-eye view and will no doubt be able to tell us everything,” Tom said.
Feeling somewhat relieved to see Caro hadn’t come to any harm, Evie resumed her vigil of the scene across the street. “The police are making some headway. People are finally beginning to move.”
Moments later, an ambulance appeared as well as police reinforcements.
Tom nudged her. “I think we should move away. You don’t want to see this.”
“See what? You saw something.”
He gave a small nod. “There’s a body on the sidewalk just outside our hotel. Someone might have collapsed.”
Or worse, Evie couldn’t help thinking.
“It will probably be some time before we can return to the hotel.” He stopped. “Then again, there is a side entrance. Let’s see if we can gain access that way.”
They crossed the street, their steps hurried to avoid the traffic. When they reached the safety of the opposite sidewalk, Evie looked up and saw Caro still leaning over the balcony looking down.
“I’m not sure I would be doing that,” Evie murmured.
“What?”
“I’ve never seen a dead body and I’m sure I don’t wish to see one any time soon. Yet, Caro doesn’t seem to mind. She must have a stronger constitution than I give her credit for.” Evie shook her head. Why had she assumed Caro was looking down at a dead body?
Tom pointed toward the side door of the hotel. “The concierge is standing outside.”
He greeted them and promptly opened the door.
“I’ll meet you upstairs,” Tom said and lingered by the door with the obvious intention of finding out what he could from the concierge.
Evie encountered a stairwell. She placed her hand on the railing, stopped and changed her mind. Instead of taking the back stairs, she made her way to the hotel lobby where she found guests milling about, some standing by the windows watching the scene outside.
Hurrying up the main stairs, she went directly to her room where she found Caro still standing outside on the balcony.
“Caro, thank goodness you are all right.”
“Milady.” Caro signaled for her to join her out on the balcony.
“That’s quite all right, Caro. I’ll just stand inside. Do you know anything?” Just then, Evie noticed Edmonds leaning against the railing.
Her chauffeur turned and nodded a greeting. “Milady. I hope you don’t mind me being here…”
“That’s quite all right, Edmonds.” She turned to Caro again. “Did you see anything?”
“Edmonds and I had a wonderful afternoon strolling along the beach but then I told him I needed to return so I could organize your clothing for this evening…”
That didn’t surprise Evie. Despite this being her vacation, Caro had insisted she needed to continue with her duties.
“Edmonds went up to his room because he didn’t want to miss a single moment of the view. A short while later, I heard a banging on the door. It was Edmonds.”
The chauffeur gave a nod as if to confirm Caro’s story.
“While I was busy organizing your gown, he walked out onto his balcony and he saw…” Caro gasped.
“Oh, heavens,” Evie exclaimed. “What did he see?”
Caro took a deep swallow. “He saw the body a second before it hit the ground.”
“H-hit the g-ground? Are you saying the person fell?”
Caro gave a stiff nod.
Chapter 4
Hearing a knock at the door Evie hurried to answer it. “Tom. Come in. You’ll never believe what Caro just told me.”
Tom entered and followed Evie to the window. While Evie remained inside the room, he had no qualms about stepping out onto the balcony and looking down.
“The ambulance has just taken her away,” Caro said and heaved in a big breath. “And the police have covered up the sidewalk. Oh, it must have been horrible. Falling and crashing against the pavement.” She covered her face with her hands and shook her head.
“Caro, I think you should move away from there now,” Evie urged.
Caro gave a vigorous shake of her head. “My legs are quivering but I can’t stop looking down.”
Employing her firmest tone, Evie ordered Caro to return inside. “I will call for some tea. This is going to give you nightmares.” She placed the call and then returned to the window. “So, did you find out anything?” she asked Tom.
“The concierge only knows what a waiter told him. The waiter had been serving someone seated by the window and looked out in time to see a woman falling.”
“Does he know who it was?”
Tom gave a small nod. “No one had a close look at her but judging by her clothes and shoes, the waiter thinks she was a maid here at the hotel.”
Heavens above.
“Perhaps you should both come away from that balcony,” Evie urged. “It might not be safe.”
Tom inspected the railing and shook his head. “It’s sturdy. This hotel has been fully refurbished. I doubt the owner would take any risks.”
“Please come back inside. You’re both making me tremble with fear. I’m sure that balcony was not designed to hold two grown men.”
Edmonds and Tom exchanged a look that spoke of resignation and stepped back inside.
“What do you think happened?” Caro asked.
“The concierge assumes she leaned out too far and fell,” Tom said.
An accident. Evie tried to imagine the maid out on the balcony. What would compel her to lean over the railing? She could have been shaking dust off something and… maybe her hold loosened and…
“You’re grimacing,” Tom remarked.
“I’m trying to understand what happened.” She turned to Caro. “Can you think of a reasonable excuse for the maid to be out on the balcony? I can only think of her shaking something to clean it.”
Before Caro could answer, they heard a knock at the door. Tom opened the door to a waiter who brought in tea and sandwiches.
Evie got busy pouring everyone a cup of tea. Settling down on the chaise lounge at the foot of her bed, she took a revitalizing sip.
“I stood on that balcony for quite some time, milady,” Caro finally said. “I can’t imagine anything that would make me lean over.”
“Not even if you nearly dropped something? Something of value?” Evie shivered and only then remembered afternoons tended to cool down by the seaside.
“I doubt anything would be worth risking my life over.” Caro rummaged through Evie’s luggage, produced a wrap and placed it around Evie’s shoulders.
“Yes, please keep that in mind,” Evie said. “Nothing is more important than your life.”
Another knock at the door had everyone stilling.
Evie set her cup down. “I suppose the police will want to speak with us.”
Tom went to answer the door. Seeing who it was, he slipped out and eased the door closed behind him.
“More tea anyone?” Evie offered.
Edmonds set his cup down. “I… I should go, milady.”
Evie had noticed he hadn’t looked comfortable being in her room. “Nonsense. I’m sure the police will want to interview all the guests. Wait here for a while.”
“As you wish, milady.”
Evie had the sudden urge to telephone Henrietta but the telephone in her room was only connected for room service purposes. Finishing her tea, she considered pouring herself another cup when Tom returned.
“My apologies, that was the concierge.”
“I take it you encouraged him to bring you some news,” Evie said.
Tom nodded. “All the staff are accounted for except one. May Fields worked this morning and then she had the afternoon free.”
“She fell off the balcony while still wearing her maid’s clothes,” Caro said. “That means she never left.”
“Did the concierge know from which balcony she fell?” Evie asked.
“The police need to verify this. As I said, May Fields had the afternoon free so they will have to try to find her.”
“But you said all the other staff are accounted for.”
Giving a nod, Tom helped himself to some tea. “In answer to your question, the concierge assumes it was the room above yours. The maid had been assigned to clean the rooms in that floor. All the rooms have the balcony windows left open during the day. He showed a policeman through to each room but the policeman asked him to remain outside when he inspected the room directly above yours, so the concierge didn’t have the opportunity to see anything of significance.”
And Evie assumed he wouldn’t think of returning to the room, despite having the master keys…
“So she… presumably fell from the balcony in the room directly above mine.”
They all turned toward the balcony and stared in silence.
Evie set her teacup down and hugged herself. “I suppose the police will get to us eventually.”
“No, the concierge just informed me the police have already finished their investigation,” Tom said.
“Pardon? So quickly,” Evie exclaimed. “They’re not going to talk to all the guests?”
“They don’t see the need to,” Tom said. “They’ve spoken with the staff working at the hotel. Apparently, the maid hadn’t been in good spirits.”
Jumping to the only conclusion possible, Evie’s eyes widened. “Are you saying she jumped to her
death on purpose?”
“The poor soul,” Caro whispered. “She must have been so unhappy. But… how could she be unhappy working in a place such as this one?”
Death by suicide.
Evie couldn’t begin to grasp the idea either. Even in her darkest moment, she had never considered doing away with herself.
“Tom, could you see what else you can find out about the young woman? Her family will surely be devastated…”
“I’ll talk to the concierge again.”
Caro got up. “I think I should like to spend some time alone, milady.”
“Yes, of course.” She hoped this wouldn’t spoil Caro’s trip. Edmonds excused himself too. Left alone with Tom, Evie said, “We might have to cheer Caro up. I should hate for her to return home without any fond memories of her vacation.”
Tom went to stand by the window. A moment later, he said, “Will you be having dinner downstairs or would you like me to find somewhere else?”
It seemed strange to make plans. But life went on, Evie thought and had to force herself to reply, “In the dining room, I think. I don’t really feel like venturing out tonight.”
“In an hour?”
Evie nodded and watched him leave. She imagined everyone wished to be left alone with their thoughts.
Looking up at the ceiling, she wondered about the guests staying in the room above her. If they had been out and about all day, they would now return to learn the news…
How dreadful, she thought. Looking around her, she wondered how she would feel about staying in a room where someone had jumped to their death…
Evie had nearly finished dressing when Caro knocked on her door and entered.
“Edmonds and I have decided to go out for dinner. We both need to distract ourselves.”
“Yes, I don’t blame you. Poor Edmonds. How is he feeling?” Evie imagined he would be trying to rid himself of the image. After all, he’d seen the young woman falling.
“Oh, he will be fine enough in no time, I’m sure. Men can be strange. They present a brave front but they hide their true feelings. I’m going to get him to talk about it. I think it will do us both good.” Caro shook her head. “I… I can’t stop thinking about that poor girl.”