Cut You Dead (Dr. Samantha Willerby Mystery #4) - A J Waines Page 0,81

added, ‘but she didn’t say what.’

I took in the full space from right to left, wondering what might be about to happen. A lone trumpeter parading on the balcony playing a fanfare? A golden carriage appearing through the double doors?

Someone rang a little bell at the front before I could reply.

‘Ladies and gentleman, for the presentation of the awards, please take the door on your right into the entrance hall.’

‘Ah, here we go.’ Emily strode out. I followed her through. When I’d arrived originally, guests had been shown through to the ballroom using a side entrance, so it was the first time we’d caught sight of this impressive scene.

The hall was dominated by a grand staircase on a marble chessboard floor, surrounded by tall pillars. Two sets of stairs came down from the floor above, joined at the landing, then fanned out into the centre before us. It was breathtaking.

‘Oh, God…’ Emily put her hand over her mouth.

‘I know… how amazing…’

I was aware she’d dropped her head beside me, searching for something in her handbag. ‘I’ve got to find the loo,’ she said, a pained look on her face.

‘Are you okay?’

She briefly held her stomach. ‘Sorry, not feeling too good. I’ll find you later.’ With that, she carved a path through the crowd and disappeared.

There was no trumpet voluntary, but what came next was equally as impressive. The awards came in different categories and when each one was announced, the winner appeared on the balcony and made their way down the imperious staircase to the sound of cheers and applause.

Miranda’s turn came towards the end. She floated down the stairs like she was born to it; not even glancing at the red carpet, in spite of her ridiculously high wedges.

Just like during her exhibition, she was swamped with people afterwards wanting to congratulate her and ply her with questions. Would she be selling work in any London galleries? What would she be doing with the prize money?

I stayed back, watching her joyful face – her cheeks pink, her smile never ending – thrilled for her. I scanned the faces for Emily, but couldn’t find her anywhere, so I left the celebrations and went in search of the nearest ladies’ toilets. Perhaps she was still in there.

I waited by the basins until figures had emerged from every cubicle, but she didn’t appear. I sent her a text, but didn’t get a reply. I left it at that. If she was feeling ill, she wouldn’t want me pestering her.

On the way back to the entrance hall, I spotted Ralph walking slowly ahead of me, chatting quietly with someone beside him. Two people were in front of me, so I couldn’t see who it was. As the couple broke apart, I saw it was Emily with him. I slipped behind a tall pillar to stay out of sight.

Ralph had taken off his jacket, so was wearing only a dress shirt and trousers. The two of them turned to face each other and in an instant, I felt he was standing too close to her. It was as though she felt it too, because she stood back a fraction, holding her handbag in front of her chest like a barrier between them.

She shook her head and he cocked his on one side with a slimy smile. Everything about him was predatory; the way he leant too close, the way his eyes roamed blatantly into her cleavage, the way his gaze lingered on her hair as though he might reach out and stroke it.

I fought the urge to break cover and demand he get away from her. I was saved by his phone. He stopped ogling her and reached into his back pocket. As he looked at the screen, he nodded at Emily and held up his other hand to her in farewell.

As Emily walked on, Ralph turned round in my direction, pressing the keypad on his phone. A chill rippled up my breastbone and I gulped as his footsteps drew closer. I closed my eyes, desperately trying to conjure up something plausible to say when at any second, he’d see me.

Then his steps stopped. He must have taken a detour into the carpeted cloakroom.

Seconds later, Miranda burst out of a door up ahead, looking flustered. ‘Ralph?’ she called out. ‘Where are you? What happened?’

I curbed my sisterly urge to rush towards her.

Within seconds, Ralph shot out of the cloakroom, looking like a burglar caught with his hands in the till. I stayed where I