The Copse Corpse
Part six
Jonathan was sat in his kitchen, just about to tuck into his Lasagna when the phone rang. He took the plate and put it in the oven. He hadn't told Maddy, but he'd had a new ring put on his phone so that he knew when Maddy was calling. it saved time and cold meals. He picked up the phone.
"Hi, Jonathan Creek." There was a long silence. "Maddy, if your there just grunt or scream or say something." There was still silence. She only answered after he threatened to hang up the phone. For the next half an hour, he sat and listened to what Maddy had to say about the ordeal at the police station. She went on about the bullet and the alcohol. The interesting conversation began after the facts had been given.
"So, Mad. What things have you deduced from this small waste of police resources." "Well, for a start, Jonathan, it was not a waste of police resources for many reasons." Jonathan smiled to himself. He knew she was lying. "OK. Name one" "Alright..." with no hesitation she answered "...Michael didn't drink alcohol. He completely tee-total. And, if you want, I can name some more." Jonathan lost the smile and made a mental note of all the things that had been mentioned to him. "Listen Mad, don't waste your breath. I'm on my way." Maddy shouted "Jonathan listen." He pulled the phone back to his ear. "What?" "Helen has decided to move out. She's going back to the flat. By the Thames. I think she's gone back into shock. Jonathan I don't know what to do?" Jonathan repeated himself. "I'm on my way." He hung up the phone, switched off the oven, grabbed his coat and ran out the door.
Back at Maddy's, Helen was running around the house picking up various items of clothing and papers and books. No matter what Maddy said, Helen was intent on going back to the flat.
"Helen you can't go. You'll go mad if you go back to that flat on your own. Make me feel happy and stay for a little while longer." Helen answered without looking up from what she was doing. "Mad, I have to get a change of scenery. Michael and I loved that flat. By being there, I will constantly be reminded of the good times we had together." Helen picked up her bag and rushed downstairs. She picked up the phone and dialled the number for a cab. Maddy was useless. She could not convince her to stay. The best thing to do was to let her go and see if she could realise, for herself, the amount of pain that she would endure.
The taxi arrived ten minutes later and that ten minutes was spent into complete silence. Most of the time, Maddy was in the kitchen trying to look busy while Helen was sat in the living room looking at the wall. As she got to the door to get into the taxi, she turned and ran to Maddy. She gave her a hug. "Thanks Mad. I'll never forget what you've done for me these passed few weeks. You've been a star." She descended the steps and got into the taxi. As it pulled away, she didn't even look back.
Jonathan arrived 45 minutes later and found Maddy hoovering the lounge. He knew it must be serious. She only cleans when she is depressed, angry or short of cash. She was not short of cash so it must be serious. He just went into the kitchen, put his coat over the back of the chair and made himself comfortable.
Maddy finished the hoovering and made her way into the kitchen. She joined Jonathan at the table and started to eat a box of Maltesers she'd just grabbed from the top freezer draw. It was definitely serious.
"Jonathan, I'm a failure. She just left and there was nothing I could do." Jonathan, a man to speak his mind, did not hold back. "It has come at a good time." Not looking up from the box, Maddy answered. "Why?" "Because now WE can try and find out who killed Michael without upsetting Helen." Maddy though the idea through, devoured six more Maltesers and nodded her head in agreement. "The first thing we have to do is to visit Helen." Maddy nearly choked. "I thought you said that we would not upset Helen." "We're not. We are going to see if she is alright and YOU are going to apologise for trying to force her to stay." "I never apologise." Jonathan got up, threw Maddy's coat in her face, put his own on and grabbed the car keys from the rack. "Come on then." Jonathan threw her the keys. "I'll treat you to something to eat on the way." She got up and stuck the Maltesers back in the freezer. She slipped her coat on and they were out of the door.
After a stop off at McDonalds and two trips to the shops for various snack based items, they arrived at Helen's place. A lovely building, mainly made from glass with a large bronze statue at the front and a view of the Thames at the back. According to Helens, every apartment had a view of the Thames from their lounge area. For a medical student, Helen wasn't doing to bad for herself. Maddy knew where all the money had come from. It was Michael's. The company he ran had made a fortune and it would now all be passed to Helen. Even the apartment would go to Helen.
They got out of the car and walked to the front of the building. "Picked a button Jonathan. One of them is bound to get Helens attention." Jonathan ran through the list of names and found a button without a name. "Well Mad, it must be this one." He pushed the button and almost instantly a voice came from the speaker box on the wall. "Yes, who is it?" Maddy leaned over to answer the box. "Hel, it's me. Can we come in. I've come to see how you are." She moved away and waited for an answer. "Alright Mad. Come on up." At that, there was a buzz and Maddy pushed the door. They both entered and began to climb the three floors to get to the apartment. Helens was on the top floor. This was the most expensive of the lot as it had it had access to the roof garden and a large balcony.
They got to apartment 3C and pushed the bell. There was a scuffle behind the door and then it opened. Helen stood there, quite surprised, as she was not expecting to find Jonathan with Maddy. She let them both in and waved them both into the kitchen where there was a pot of Earl Grey brewing by the kettle. there was also some dishes in the sink and quite a mess in the lounge. This was visible due to the open plan of the apartment. The only rooms not visible where the bathroom and the two bedrooms, one being for guests.
"Sorry to inconvenience you. I know you must have only just arrived but we needed to know whether you where alright." Maddy really was sorry, after all it was Jonathan's idea. "It's alright. I just didn't expect you to come so quickly. I knew you would come but I thought it would be at least two days before your conscience got to you." Helen moved over to the tea pot and began to pour. She ushered them into the lounge and offered them a seat. She then went back into the kitchen and brought the tray over. Maddy seemed pleased as she had thrown a couple of chocolate biscuits onto a plate and Maddy was still feeling hungry.
"So.." "So what?" "How are you doing?" Helen didn't want this conversation right now. She could have found something better to do. "I'm fine. A bit of a shock coming back here when it's empty but I'm going to have to get used to it. I keep expecting him to walk through the door but I know it's never going to happen." Helen wiped a tear from her eye. "Listen Helen, we shouldn't have come. We'll finish the tea and then we'll leave. You just want to be on your own at the minute. Don't you." Helen gave a hum of agreement.
They sat in silent while they finished their tea. Maddy managed to finish off all of the biscuits on the plate and she still felt hungry. She thought she might agree to let Jonathan stop off somewhere on the way home. As they got up to leave Jonathan made an excuse to use the toilet. "Sure. Just follow the corridor through that door and it's the room at the end." Helen put up a hand to indicate the door. Jonathan mumbled some sort of appreciation and wandered into the corridor.
Maddy knew something was wrong. "Come on Helen. What's the matter?" Helen wandered over to the window and began to gape out. "I just feel...well...weird. The flats empty, there are four week old dishes in the sink and the whole place is a mess. And I know that I have to clean it all up. I fell so alone." Maddy walked over to her and put a reassuring arm around her. "Come back with me, now. We'll come back again in a few days when you feel better and we'll clean the flat together." Helen nearly agreed but changed her mind. "No. I can't. If I go now, they will still be their in another four days. If I do them all now, I can relax and try to feel better about what has happened. I know I will be upset for a long time, but I can't stop my whole life. Michael would not have wanted me to." Just at that moment Jonathan entered the room and he headed for the door. He had an upset look on his face but he was glad that no one saw it.
Part Seven
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