It flattered Scarlett to think that she might be difficult to forget.
For a moment, she imagined herself to be one of those glamorous actresses. The ones with faces that were indelibly printed in the mind’s eye of the public, in awe of their grace and poise. She flicked her hair, forgetting herself for an instant.
Then she remembered, blushed, and quickly chided herself for getting lost in a waking fantasy in front of strangers. Such a doofus! she cursed at herself, her posture shrinking, trying to decide if she’d made any facial expressions that anyone might have noticed.
Tim, almost smiling, looked away from Scarlett and back to the property that Jade was trying to sell him. Together, they continued to study the display boxes on the wall.
Scarlett checked her watch once again, worried now that she’d get back to the shop too late. She was just here to drop off the ID, after all, and didn’t really need to speak to Ronnie. Hoping she could just hand him Amanda’s passport ID or leave it at the receptionist desk, Scarlett got up from the sofa and crossed the room to Ronnie’s office.
The door was closed but when she looked through his office window she could see him sitting at his desk talking to Carla, whose back was to the window. Carla was nodding and taking notes as Ronnie spoke. His words were unintelligible through the glass, but Scarlett could hear the tone of it well enough. Whatever Ronnie was saying seemed to be in the ordinary course of business, rather than something of particular urgency.
Hoping he wouldn’t mind a quick interruption, Scarlett waved her hand in the window to get Ronnie’s attention. He looked up and smiled.
She opened the door and poked her head in.
“Sorry to bother you, Ronnie. Hi, Carla.“
“Hey, Scarlett,” Carla said, her tone friendly.
“Ronnie, I have the—”
He cut her off.
“One minute, Scarlett. Have a seat, please, and I’ll be right out. Are you thirsty at all? Help yourself to tea or coffee.”
Scarlett didn’t argue but closed the door and went to the water cooler. She selected a paper cup and filled it with water. As cold water ran from the spigot into the cup, air bubbles gurgled in the water jug. She took a quick sip, then filled the paper cup again.
“Scarlett, honey,” said Jade.
She stopped and looked over at Jade, who was still at the display window.
“One for me, too, if you could, please?” Jade sounded apologetic, but as soon as she said it, Scarlett saw that she looked a bit distressed. “I’ve been talking and talking all day, and wouldn’t you know it I’m suddenly feeling dehydrated. Must have had something salty at lunch.”
“Sure, Jade. No problem.”
Jade continued to speak to Tim. “I keep telling myself to drink eight glasses a day. I know I really should, but I just don’t seem to manage it.”
Scarlett finished filling Jade’s cup and walked it over to her.
“You’re a life-saver,” Jade said warmly.
Tim smiled at Scarlett again, but said nothing, so she returned to the sofa to wait for Ronnie.
Jade drank the water in one swift gulp and turned to the trash can throw out her cup. Scarlett noticed Jade had a funny look on her face like she wasn’t feeling well. Scarlett almost said something to her about it, but let it slide.
But as Jade walked back the display wall, a strange throaty sound escaped her and she stopped in her tracks. Her eyes grew wide and she keeled over. Jade fell to the floor, landing on the hard tiles with a bone-cracking thud.
Scarlett gasped. “Oh no!” She jumped to her feet. “Tim, do something.”
Seeing Jade on the floor, Tim knelt down next to her. “Are you all right?”
Jade started to twitch and convulse. Tim turned her over and saw she was frothing at the mouth.
“Call an ambulance!” Tim shouted. “Nine-nine-nine!”
Scarlett grabbed her phone from her purse and did as she was told.
Chapter Five
Jones’s Estate Agents, Bicester, England
It seemed to take forever for the ambulance to arrive. Scarlett stayed on the phone with the 999 operator. Meanwhile, Tim knelt over Jade, who was still writhing in pain on the floor. Ronnie had stepped out of his office now and was standing close by with Carla.
“An ambulance is on the way,” the operator told Scarlett. “What’s your name?”
“Scarlett Slater.”
“Scarlett, I’m going to ask you some questions to help the medics. We need as much information as possible.”
“Okay.”
“Can you describe the condition of the victim?”
“I told you, she fell down and I think she hit her head on the floor. Now she’s coughing and having a hard time breathing and she’s— she’s frothing at the mouth. Her face is turning purple and she’s in pain, that’s all I know. Please, hurry!”
“Is there a doctor or nurse in the building?”
Scarlett looked to the others. “Is anyone here a doctor or a nurse?”
They all shook their heads.
“What do I do?” Tim asked.
Scarlett relayed question to the operator.
“Clear the area,” the operator said. “Make sure she doesn’t injure herself.”
“It’s clear. She’s on the floor.”
“Is she breathing?”
“A little, yes. I think so. But her skin is red and purple.”
Just then, the door burst open and two male medics rushed in. In her panic, Scarlett hadn’t heard them arrive, but now she could see the ambulance outside. The lights were flashing but the sirens were silent.
“Step back, please,” one of the medics said to Tim.
The other went to Jade and checked her vitals.
“They’re here now,” Scarlett said into the phone.
“Okay, ma’am. Thank you. Before you go, can I please get your name again?”
Barely a moment had passed before the medic checking Jade had rushed back outside.
“My name is Scarlett. Scarlett Slater.” She gave her address and phone number.
The medic soon returned with a stretcher and wheeled it to where Jade had fallen.
“And the victim’s name?”
“Jade Hogarth. She works here. She was working here when it happened.”
“Okay. Thank you, Scarlett. The police are arriving now. Please stay there, so you can tell them what you told me. Can you do that?”
“Yes, okay.”
She hung up and watched the police car pull into the parking lot.
A moment later, two constables stepped into the office and took immediate control.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please step outside,” one of the constables said.
Scarlett was the first one out and the others followed.
“Please wait right here,” he told them. “We’ll need to get a statement from each of you before you can leave.”
Outside, Scarlett saw that a small crowd had gathered to see what all the fuss was about. Scarlett stood back from the door, and was joined by Ronnie, Carla, and Tim.
“You okay, Scarlett?” Ronnie asked.
“Yeah.” She watched through the window, stunned.
Moments later the detective inspector arrived, a man named Chris Rogerson. He was in his mid-fifties by Scarlett’s estimation. She watched him speak in hushed tones to the constables on the scene. He had a world-weary look about him and, judging from the way he spoke, a no-nonsense attitude.
The inspector cast a steely eye toward the group of witnesses but said nothing to them before going inside. Through the front window Scarlett watched as the inspector surveyed the scene. When he came back out, he addressed the witnesses as a group. “Is the owner of this business here?”
“That’s me,” Ronnie said.
“Follow me,” the inspector instructed, slipping back inside.
Ronnie flashed Scarlett a look that seemed to say “Here we go,” before following the inspector inside.
; +++
“We can talk in my office,” Ronnie told Detective Inspector Chris Rogerson.
Ronnie led the inspector through to the back office. As they did, he caught a fragment of a conversation between a paramedic and his radio. He heard the word “poison and contusion.” He wanted to stop and ask more about what had happened to Jade. She was lying on the floor, but he couldn’t see her face behind the other paramedic, who was crouched next to her, leaning over and touching her with his blue gloves on.
Feeling unnerved, Ronnie continued into his office and sat behind his desk. The inspector closed the door and took a seat facing him. Ronnie felt more at ease in his office, at his desk. It was his power position. The inspector may be in control of the crime scene, but it was still Ronnie’s place of business, and he made sure to situate himself for optimum leverage.
“First,” the inspector began in a reassuring tone, “I want to express my condolences. I know it’s not easy to lose an employee and a friend.”
The inspector’s frankness and the shocking nature of the news took Ronnie aback. He wasn’t quite sure he believed it.
“I’m still hoping she gets better,” he replied, his voice hopeful.
The inspector shook his head sadly. “I’m afraid not. They’re pronouncing time of death now. There was nothing they could do.”
Ronnie sat back in his chair, breathing deeply to steady himself.
Damn.
Ronnie was used to death, and to killing, but this was different. He had known her a long time. He had given Jade her start in the business and mentored her every step of the way. She was smart and determined, a hard worker, and great with clients. The buyers loved her. She could be warm and caring when needed, but also likably aggressive when it came time to close the sale. Jade had been one of the best.
“I…I… don’t know what to say.”
“Take a moment if you need it, Mr. Jones.”
“I’m okay,” he said. “It just comes as quite a shock, that’s all.”
The inspector opened his notebook. “Did you see what happened?”
“No, only the very end of it. She was lying on the ground when I came out of my office.”
“Let’s back up a little. Who was present in the building when Miss Hogarth collapsed?”
“Mrs. Hogarth,” Ronnie corrected him. “She’s married.”
Inspector Rogerson made a note. “What’s her husband’s name?”
“Frank. Frank Hogarth.”
“Do you know him?”
“Yes, of course. Jade has been working for me, what, eight years? I’d have to check, but it’s something like that. She’s been married the whole time. Frank stops by sometimes.”
“Stops by the office?”
“Yes. But we knew each other socially, as well.”
“For example?”
“Oh, I hosted a barbeque at my home last Sunday. Jade was there with Frank.”
“Did they come over a lot?”
“No, not a lot. Couple times a year, maybe. I probably saw Frank once or twice a month. Sometimes just in town. We’ve gone out for drinks a few times.”
“With Jade?”
“Just the guys, usually. It varies. This is a small office. More of a family, really. We all get to know each other pretty well…” His voice trailed off and his eyes glazed over for a moment.
The inspector continued writing. When his pen stopped moving he looked back up at Ronnie. “Back to my earlier question,” he said. “Who was here in the building when Jade collapsed?”
“Myself, Carla, Scarlett, Tim Clarke… I think that’s it.”
“And Jade.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Precision is important. I need you to recall as much detail as you can.”
“Okay.” Ronnie didn’t care for being chastised by a guest in his own office, but he knew it was best to stay calm and collected.
“Where were you when the incident occurred?”
“Right here. Behind my desk.”
“Alone?”
“I was with Carla. She was sitting where you’re sitting now.”
“Who is she?”
“My administrative assistant.”
“And you were doing what exactly?”
“Talking.”
“About what?”
“Business.”
None of your business, he wanted to add.
“Was the door open or closed?”
“Closed,” Ronnie said.
The inspector looked out the office window into the front of house. “Were the blinds pulled up like they are now?”
“Yes.”
“So you could see out into the other room.”
“Yes, but I didn’t see Jade fall.”
The inspector stood and looked out the window from near Ronnie’s desk. He sketched something in his notebook and sat back down.
“So you didn’t see it,” the inspector said. “You must have heard something?”
“Yes, some kind of crash. I assume that was Jade falling and hitting the floor. Then, I heard screaming.”
“Screaming?”
“Someone said something loudly. They shouted ‘Oh no!’ or something close to that. I don’t remember the exact words.”
“Okay. Then what did you do?”
“I jumped up from my chair and went to the door.”
“Did you go out the door?”
“Not at first. I stood there to see what the problem was, and saw someone on the floor, then realized it was Jade, mostly from what she was wearing. And Tim Clarke, the customer, was kneeling next to her. Scarlett was standing right near her. She called the emergency line.”
“Did you touch the body?”
Ronnie winced a little at the inspector’s bluntness. For a high-ranking policeman, he certainly didn’t have much tact. “Jade? No.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. I’m not a doctor. Tim was there. He was in uniform, and I assumed he knew first aid, I guess. And I figured he had some kind of battlefield training.”
“How did you know he knew first aid?”
“I just assumed,” repeated Ronnie, trying hard not to let his irritation show. “Like I said, Tim was in uniform and he was already next to her. He looked like he was in command, you know, in charge.”
“So you just stood there.”
“I think I stepped closer. Yes, I must have, because I was almost standing over her when the police arrived.”
Inspector Rogerson scribbled quickly, attempting to keep up with the heightened pace of Ronnie’s patter.
As Ronnie watched the inspector, his thoughts turned to Amanda. He needed to leave soon if he was going to meet her at the train station.
“Listen, Inspector, how long is this interview going to take exactly?”
“It takes exactly as long as it takes.” The man fixed Ronnie with a stern look. “Do you have something more important to do?”
Actually, yes.
“I’m supposed to meet my girlfriend at Oxford station,” he said. “You mind if I text her and let her know I might be running a little late?”
“Go ahead,” said the inspector.
Ronnie grabbed his phone and started typing.
+++
Outside Jones’s Estate Agents, Bicester, England
Tim had his own investigation to worry about, and now he had somehow become a witness in this one. He hadn’t seen what had happened, because he was looking at the property displays when he heard Jade fall to the floor. There wasn’t much he could offer as a witness, but having spent so many years on the other side of a case, he knew the best thing he could do was to cooperate as much as he could and let the police do their jobs.
He was standing outside with Carla, the administrative assistant, when Ronnie stepped out.
“You were in there a long time,” Carla said.
“I can’t stay,” Ronnie said.
“Why not?” Tim asked.
“I need to get t
o the train station.”
“They said we all have to stay,” Carla reminded him.
“I did my interview. The inspector said I could go.”
“Lucky you,” Tim said.
Ronnie cast a withering look at Tim. “You were standing there. Right next to her.”
“Sorry?”
“To Jade. When she fell.”
“Yes, I was. I’m sorry, but I don’t follow.”
“You let her just fall to the ground like that.”
“I didn’t even see it.”
Ronnie eyes flashed with irritation. “How convenient.”
“She was behind me,” Tim explained. “I was checking out display photos. It was over before I turned around.”
“Over for her, but not for us, apparently.”
Carla started crying. “Don’t say that!”
“What?”
“It’s not over for her. She’s gonna be okay. You said Jade was gonna be okay.”
“Yeah, I did say that,” Ronnie admitted. “But I’m not a doctor, now am I?” Then he held his tongue. He didn’t know if the police inspector wanted to be the one to tell the others Jade didn’t make it. And besides, he had somewhere else he needed to be.
“You’re the worst,” Carla spat.
“I’m your boss, Carla. That still counts for something. And maybe I am the worst, but at least I would have caught her before she hit her head on the floor.”
Tim didn’t dignify the comment with a reply.
He saw another man approach. The man looked familiar, but Tim couldn’t recall where he’d seen him before.
Ronnie seemed to know him. “Cliff!”
“What’s happening?” Cliff asked. “A lot of commotion. Is everything all right?”
“All right for a disaster,” Ronnie said. “Jade got sick or something. She keeled over, fell to the floor and hit her head, I think.”
“God, that’s terrible. Is she going to be okay?”
“She was frothing at the mouth,” Ronnie said. “Didn’t look like she was breathing much, if at all.”
“Could be a heart attack or stroke,” offered Tim.
“At her age?” Carla scoffed, sounding skeptical.
“It’s possible,” Tim replied solemnly. “You’d be surprised how many young people get struck down like that. We had a guy in the garrison die of a heart attack. He was twenty-two and fit as a fiddle. Until he wasn’t.”
A Very British Witch Boxed Set Page 27