The Copse Corpse
Part four
All the way back to Maddy's, the atmosphere in the car was thick enough to cut. As well as the atmosphere, the only noise that could be heard was that of the car and other cars whizzing past them as they travelled along the dual carriageway.
When the pulled up at Maddy's, she shut off the enjoy and hit her head against the steering wheel. She began to cry, again. Jonathan put his arm around her, again, but the result was not expected.
"What the hell was that for, I don't want your sympathy." Maddy grabbed his arm and threw it from her shoulder. "Just go inside. I'll be there in a minute." Jonathan opened the car door and clambered out. He took the spare key from above the door and let himself in. He didn't realise that Maddy was so touchy about the whole subject. He went into the kitchen and switched the peculator on. The thing they all needed at the moment was a nice, hot, strong cup of coffee.
Half an hour, and four cups of coffee, later Maddy came in and sat next to Jonathan by the dining table. "I'm sorry for snapping at you." Jonathan looked up. "No worries, Mad. You get used to it after three years." She wasn't taking much notice. "The only thing I could think about was what I am going to tell Helen. She will either breakdown crying, never talk to me again or go into shock and ending up on the floor in a dead faint. Help me Jonathan, if ever I've needed your help, it's now." She reached out her hand and placed it on his arm. He couldn't say no. Maddy got up and filled up the peculator for another pot of coffee.
After reviving from all the 'excitement' of the day, they realised that it was nearly seven o'clock. Helen should have been home three hours ago. Where could she have got to? Maddy didn't panic as she knew that Helen could have gone for a drink with a few friends to try and relax for a while. God knew she needed to relax.
At seven thirty, Helen came in. She looked a bit perkier but she still didn't look like the Helen everyone had known. Maddy looked at her as she entered while Jonathan made himself scarce and headed for the bathroom.
"Hi Hel" "Hi Mad" Helen threw her bag on the floor and collapsed onto the sofa. Maddy joined her. "Helen, I have something to tell you." "Not just now, eh Mad. I want a drink. have you got any in the pot, I'm really thirsty." Maddy shuffled about on the chair. "Helen, it's about Michael." Helen turned to stare Maddy in the face. By the look in her eyes Maddy knew what she was going to say. "Helen, he was found this afternoon in Copse wood. He had a gun in his hand..." Helens eyes began to water. Maddy was going to cry too. "...He'd been shot in the head. They think it was suicide." Helen threw her arms around Maddy's neck. They hugged each other. They cried, and they cried.
By the time they had began to stop, Jonathan had already organised Maddy's dressing table into colours of make-up and thought up an idea for a new disappearing trick. Something that might have been of use to him right now. He made his way downstairs. He tried to walk quietly but no matter how hard he tried he could never avoid the creaky step. As soon as he put his foot on it, Maddy and Helen looked at him.
"We've been talking." Jonathan wasn't surprised, but he tried to look as though he was listening. Maddy continued. "Helen and I want a post mortem. Helen agrees that Michael would not do anything so out of the ordinary." Jonathan could see it coming. He had already called the police and requested one. He just knew.
Part Five
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