The Copse Corpse
Part eight
Jonathan was up bright and early the following morning. He wasn't 'up' really. He hadn't been asleep. He had been considering his improbable solution all night. The report he would read in a few hours time would support his solution. He walked downstairs and switched the kettle on. Just as it was whistling, the phone rang. It was Maddy. For Maddy to be up this early she must not have been asleep either.
"Hi Mad. Been awake all night have you?" Jonathan wasn't ready for a stream of questions. he just wanted to get to the point. "In fact, I've been driving around all night wondering about this stupid murder. I still can't understand why someone would want to do something so heart-wrenching?" Jonathan answered after a few minutes of considering his words. "Probably someone with a taste for something not available to them without the help of someone else." "Jonathan your not making any sense. Get dressed, make some coffee, and I'll be there as quick as possible. See YOU later." She hung up before he had a chance to answer.
Two hours later, Maddy entered looking almost as tired and haggard as Jonathan. She had only had chance to change clothes and put fresh make-up on. But she still looked tired. Jonathan, of course, was too much of a gentlemen to say anything. Unless Maddy said something first.
"Well, look at you. You look like you haven't slept in a week." Jonathan knew she'd say something. "Have you looked in a mirror lately. You don't exactly look like the Queen of Sheba yourself." Maddy threw her bag in the corner, put her coat over the chair and began to pour herself a cup of coffee. She realised she'd forgot something and, before taking a drink of her coffee, she got up and grabbed a file out of her bag. She slid it along the table to Jonathan and then went back to her seat.
"There you go. Every sordid detail of the death of Michael. It isn't exactly bedtime reading but it should give you some idea as to what has happened." Jonathan opened the file. "I already know what may have happened. I needed the report to support my deductions and conclusions." He continued to read but Maddy looked a bit upset. "How do you know what has happened? Why didn't you tell me? Is it one of your impossible solutions or one that everyone should have seen? I need to know." Jonathan put the file down. "I didn't want to tell you because I wasn't sure. If I'd have told you and I was wrong, it would have destroyed everything between us and everything between you and Helen." Maddy was still agitated. "What do you mean everything between me and Helen? What has she got to do with this?" Jonathan got up from the chair, put his coat one and threw Maddy's to her. "I think we'd better go and see her. You can ring her on the way there using the mobile." He tapped his pocket. "And, Maddy, don't worry. The evidence is there. I can't help telling the truth." He opened the door. Maddy drained the liquid from her cup and walked out of the door, scratching around in her coat pocket for the keys to the car. She wasn't looking forward to what was going to happen.
Part Nine
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