The Unkindest Cut - By Honor Hartman Page 0,28
lost her balance slightly. She stumbled against me, and I wrapped my arms around her.
‘‘Listen to me, Paula,’’ I said in the tone I used to take with my misbehaving students. ‘‘You cannot go in there. You’ve got to come with me.’’ Still holding on to her, I started marching her next door to my suite.
‘‘There’s something wrong with Avery, isn’t there?’’ Paula stopped resisting me for a moment, and I managed to move her a few feet closer to my door.
‘‘Yes, there is,’’ I said, ‘‘Right now there’s nothing we can do for him. We need to call the police.’’
‘‘Police?’’ Paula nearly shrieked the word. ‘‘What happened? Why do we need the police?’’
‘‘Just come with me, and I’ll explain,’’ I said, trying to use a calming tone. I didn’t want any other residents of this floor to overhear us and come out to see what was going on.
Finally docile, Paula came with me to my door, and I fumbled in my pocket for the key. I glanced at her, and her face was pale.
‘‘Don’t faint on me,’’ I said as I stuck the key into the lock.
‘‘I won’t,’’ Paula said. She clutched her purse to her chest.
I gave her a slight push to get her into the room, and once she was inside, she made a beeline for the couch and almost threw herself on it, dropping her handbag on the floor. She started sobbing.
Marylou stepped into the room, pulling a dressing gown around her and tying the sash. ‘‘What on earth is the matter?’’ She glanced from me to Paula.
‘‘Can you look after her?’’ I said, nodding my head toward Paula. ‘‘Something has happened next door. Avery Trowbridge is dead, and I need to let the hotel know.’’
Startled, Marylou stared at me for a few seconds, but then, without a word, she advanced on Paula.
I went to the desk near the window and picked up the phone. My hand was steady as I punched the zero. I felt cold all over, but, for the moment at least, completely in control of myself.
‘‘Good morning,’’ a female voice said into my ear. ‘‘How may I help you?’’
Relieved that the voice didn’t belong to Veronica Hinkelmeier, I quickly identified myself. ‘‘I’ve just discovered a dead body in the next suite. It’s Avery Trowbridge, and he’s been murdered.’’
For a moment there was no reply. When it came, the voice was obviously shaken. ‘‘Good Lord. This isn’t some kind of prank, is it?’’
‘‘No, I assure you it is not,’’ I said, once again using my teacher voice. ‘‘You need to call the police right away.’’
‘‘Sheriff’s department,’’ the woman said, obviously still a bit dazed by my news. ‘‘We’re outside the city limits.’’
‘‘Well, whoever, then,’’ I replied, beginning to lose patience. ‘‘Just do it. They need to get here as quickly as possible.’’ I dropped the receiver into its cradle.
‘‘Murder?’’ Marylou said. I turned around. Marylou was sitting on the couch, Paula’s head resting on her left shoulder. The crying woman clung to her friend like she was a life preserver.
‘‘I’m afraid so,’’ I said.
‘‘Oh, dear me,’’ Marylou said. She patted Paula’s back with one hand and stroked her hair with the other. ‘‘Shush, now, Paula, and try to get ahold of yourself.’’
‘‘I forgot to tell them to send someone to guard the door,’’ I said, annoyed with myself. I started to pick up the phone but stopped. Surely the woman to whom I had spoken had sense enough to realize that.
‘‘I’m going back next door,’’ I said. ‘‘Someone needs to watch that door until the sheriff’s department gets here.’’
‘‘Oh, dear,’’ Marylou said again, looking very troubled.
‘‘You keep an eye on her,’’ I said. ‘‘I’ll be okay.’’
I went back out in the hall and moved quickly to stand near the door of the dead man’s suite. I glanced inside to be certain that no one was in there, and, satisfied, I turned my back to the door. I had left it open when I took Paula next door, and I figured I should just leave it open now. I shouldn’t risk touching the door again, despite the smell.
‘‘What’s going on?’’
I looked down the hall to see Leonard, the bellboy or whatever he was, approaching. He halted in front of me.
‘’Avery Trowbridge is dead,’’ I said.
‘‘Ohmigod,’’ Leonard said. He made as if to step around me into the room, and I put up a hand. ‘‘What’s that awful smell?’’
‘‘Don’t go in there. You don’t want to contaminate the crime scene.’’
‘‘Crime scene?’’ Leonard’s voice rose to