A Mind To Murder (Emmeline Kirby and Gregory Longdon Mysteries, Book 8) by Daniella Bernett
About A Mind to Murder:
Excerpt:
Chapter 3
London, December 2010
It was barely ten minutes into the second act when Emmeline became aware of a low ripple of voices coming from the level above. She tilted her head back and silently cursed the rude people in the Dress Circle. Their conversation could wait until after the play. And if it was so urgent, they could have the common courtesy to step outside and allow the rest of the audience to enjoy the play.
She settled back in her chair and directed her attention at the stage, hoping the chatter would cease. Major Metcalf had just entered the scene, when there was an ominous whoosh from the Dress Circle, followed almost instantly by startled gasps and screams.
The performance halted, as the bewildered actors stared out into the theatre to determine what was happening. Emmeline craned her neck around to discover the source of the commotion.
Ushers mumbled apologies, saying that because of an unexpected incident the rest of the performance would have to be canceled. They kindly asked that audience members to calmly proceed to the exits because the theatre had to be evacuated. This elicited a nervous murmur accompanied by an exchange of worried glances.
People were already streaming past them. Emmeline and Gregory had to wait a few seconds to squeeze into the aisle.
As she hurriedly shrugged into her coat, her gaze happened to stray to Verena Penrose’s box. Her eyes widened in disbelief. Verena was still sitting in her seat, her hand resting on the railing as it had earlier. What was the woman waiting for? A personal escort? Did she think she was the Queen?
She frowned. “You’d have to be blind or drunk not to have noticed all the hubbub,” she muttered.
Something was wrong.
She made a split-second decision and plunged down the row to get to the other side of the theatre faster.
Gregory’s head whipped around. “Emmy, where are you going?”
She tossed over her shoulder. “To Verena’s box.”
“For Heaven’s sake why,” he called in exasperation. Nevertheless, he followed her.
They elbowed their way through the crowd and reached the stairs that led up to the box. A lanky man with ginger hair burst out from behind the curtain and barreled toward them. Emmeline flattened herself against the wall. She locked eyes with the fellow for the length of a heartbeat before he gave Gregory a rough shove and bounded down the steps. She was torn about whether to pursue him. But he had already been swallowed up by the sea of people. They would never find him. Best to discover what the devil was amiss with Verena. Although the woman didn’t deserve an ounce of concern.
The minute they pushed aside the curtain and entered the box, it was patently obvious.
Verena’s head drooped limply to one side as if its weight was too much for her shoulders to bear. Her neck was twisted at an unnatural angle.
Therefore, it was not a leap of faith to surmise that Verena Penrose was no longer among the living.
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About Daniella Bernett:
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