The Dinner Party

by R. J. Parker

  ‘What did you tell him?’ Juliette whispered.

  ‘As little as possible. He knows something bad is going on though.’

  ‘Jakob must be possessed.’ Connor shook his head.

  ‘What exactly happened?’ Orla croaked; her features even paler than usual.

  Ted recounted the events at the park.

  ‘They’ll have him soon,’ Kathryn said stolidly.

  Ted pulled a chair from the table. He realized it was the seat Evie had sat in only eight hours before. He dragged the next one out and dropped into it. Among the bottles and remaining dinner debris in front of him was the yellow ashtray, its interior still blackened with burnt secrets.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  ‘I still can’t shake the idea that if we hadn’t played Evie’s trust game …’

  Nobody responded to Ted.

  He turned to the other four, but none of them made eye contact. Had they held this discussion already? ‘We should tell Renton.’

  Juliette walked to the kettle. ‘I thought we’d talked about this.’ She clicked it on.

  Ted studied Kathryn, Orla and Connor. Connor wrung his fingers awkwardly. The other two were motionless.

  ‘I’m making more coffee,’ Juliette stated.

  ‘We should have told him earlier.’ Ted followed Juliette’s gaze to the others.

  ‘I’ll have another cup.’ Kathryn nodded to her empty one on the counter.

  ‘So it’s been decided.’

  Juliette sighed. ‘Nothing’s been decided. We don’t know what happened between them, but if it was anything to do with Evie’s game …’

  ‘Yes?’ He held her eye.

  ‘Then Jakob must have been pretty unstable,’ Orla interjected, her tone hostile.

  Ted was taken aback. She’d never spoken to him like that before. Her passive aggression was usually reserved for Connor.

  ‘I think we’re attaching too much importance to it,’ Kathryn mitigated, sliding her cup down the counter to the kettle so that she didn’t have to look at Ted.

  ‘Perhaps you’re right.’ Ted raised his voice as the kettle started to grumble. ‘So why don’t we tell Renton exactly what happened?’

  ‘It would only complicate matters.’ Kathryn sniffed.

  Ted could see how the conversation was going. ‘For whom?’

  ‘We all played it.’ Connor folded his arms.

  ‘But none of us would have, if we’d known this was going to happen.’

  ‘Please …’ Kathryn held up her hand to Ted but still didn’t look at him. ‘Stop insinuating that we were to blame.’

  Ted took a breath. Everyone was broken up by what had happened and here he was suggesting they might be responsible. ‘There were obviously things going on between Evie and Jakob that we didn’t know about. All I’m saying is that Jakob’s mood changed after we played the trust game.’ He realized that wasn’t helping and tried a different tack. ‘We all know Jakob gets a bit more … animated after a few glasses of wine.’

  Kathryn kept her attention on the counter.

  ‘Which is why none of us gave the game another thought when we went to bed.’ But the lack of agreement in the room said that wasn’t true. ‘We’re all traumatized by this, none of us is thinking clearly. We all had plenty to drink …’

  ‘I’ve never felt as sober.’ Orla absently played with her wedding ring.

  ‘I’m feeling nauseous.’ Kathryn closed her eyes and inhaled. ‘And I’m having a hot flush.’

  ‘D’you need some fresh air?’ Juliette indicated the kitchen window.

  ‘I’ll be fine in a minute.’ Kathryn shuffled over to the table and dropped heavily into a chair.

  Juliette opened the window then grabbed a tumbler and filled it with cold water.

  ‘I think we’re all feeling the same.’ Ted picked up on Juliette’s glare as she shook her head at him.

  She took the water over to Kathryn.

  Connor went to the other side of the table and sat down. Orla drifted to the window behind it and looked blankly into the back yard.

  Four of them stared at the ashtray.

  Ted couldn’t let it go. ‘If we’re all having reservations about it, we can’t omit it from our account of the evening.’

  ‘Ted,’ Juliette remonstrated and sat down next to Kathryn.

  ‘I was meant to be seeing Evie again on Thursday,’ Orla said to the pane. ‘I should call and cancel the reservation.’ She distractedly rubbed her tattooed arms.

  Kathryn took a large gulp of her water.

  ‘OK?’ Juliette placed her hand on hers.

  Kathryn nodded but Ted could see her usually flushed complexion was white. The bun that she’d worn tight on her head the night before had half unravelled.

  Connor ran his fingers along the edge of his place mat. ‘Maybe they’ve already picked Jakob up. He’s the only one who knows what really happened. Perhaps we’re worrying about a conversation we don’t need to have.’

  But Ted knew none of them believed that would be the case.

  ‘Excuse me.’ Kathryn got up and rushed in the direction of the bathroom. She banged the door after her.

  The kettle boiled and clicked and as the bubbles subsided the room was unnervingly silent.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Less than a minute later, the doorbell rang.

  ‘I’ll get it.’ Ted was first to his feet. When he opened the front door, he found Renton standing outside with a tall, male plain-clothes officer. ‘Come in.’

  Renton remained motionless for a moment, fixing Ted’s split lip with disapproval, before stepping inside. ‘This is Detective Sergeant Patterson.’ He jerked his thumb at his companion.

  He was slight, mid-thirties, in a blue mackintosh with obviously dyed black hair shaved close to the tops of his ears.

  ‘Come through.’ Ted led them down the hallway to the dining room, and as they entered a mumbled conversation ceased.

  Juliette and Connor rose from their chairs.

  ‘I don’t mean to intrude on … your gathering.’ Renton took off his fur hunting hat and wiped a strand of dark hair across his bald scalp.

  ‘This is Orla and Connor Lowney,’ Juliette introduced them.

  Connor dipped his head, and Orla turned slowly from the window.

  Juliette cleared her throat. ‘Our friend Kathryn Driscoll is here too. She’s just … in the bathroom.’

  ‘The people you were with last night?’ Renton checked his watch. ‘They’re staying with you then?’

  ‘No.’ Juliette guessed why he would be asking. ‘They all live locally. They came over when they heard the news.’

  Renton pursed his lips. ‘You informed them?’

  Juliette nodded. ‘I hope that was OK.’

  Renton didn’t respond but glanced at his colleague. Then he took in the table and the empty wine bottles. ‘Looks like you had quite the festive evening. A celebration?’

  Ted felt protective of Juliette and moved past the two police officers to stand beside her. ‘Just a get-together.’

  ‘You all took taxis home?’

  ‘Yes,’ Connor replied brusquely.

  Renton’s pockmarked expression remained impassive. He swivelled to Ted. ‘Is there somewhere private we can talk?’

  Ted guessed why he was being asked. ‘Yes, this way.’ He gestured Renton out of the dining room and towards the lounge.

  Juliette followed but Renton held out his hand. ‘Just your husband first, if that’s OK.’

  She froze and swapped a worried look with Ted as he escorted them out.

  Renton closed the door behind the three of them. ‘Do you have any idea how severe the consequences could be for what you did this morning?’

  ‘I’m sorry. Jakob called when we got back from Ibbotson. He said if I involved the police he wouldn’t show. I wanted to talk him into giving himself up, but when he refused I phoned you straight away.’

  ‘Mrs Middleton phoned.’

  ‘I a
sked her to.’

  ‘Why didn’t you immediately call us?’ Renton undid his woollen overcoat to reveal a mustard shirt one size too small for his paunch.

  ‘I was worried about her being here alone, so I rang her first.’

  ‘You thought Mr Eriksson was a threat to her?’

  ‘He wasn’t in his right mind. I’ve never seen him like it.’

  ‘But why would you think he’d endanger your wife and son?’

  ‘I took my son, Georgie, to the park with me.’ Ted reacted to Renton’s frown. ‘I do every Saturday for football practice. Jakob arranged to meet me by the pavilion after I’d dropped him off.’

  ‘You took your son along to meet the man who very probably murdered his wife?’ Renton said incredulously.

  ‘I dropped Georgie off with his coach and then walked to the other side of the park to meet Jakob at the pavilion.’

  Detective Sergeant Patterson took out his iPhone and started tapping the screen.

  Renton continued. ‘So why would Jakob attack your wife?’

  ‘I wasn’t convinced of that … just concerned.’ But how could he tell him that Jakob was suspicious of Juliette’s participation in a game that he hadn’t yet disclosed? He had to convince the others to tell Renton; he couldn’t do it like this. ‘Jakob seemed like he was wired, like he’d taken something.’

  ‘You’ve seen him like that before? Like he’s taken something?’ Renton squinted.

  ‘No.’ Except for that New Year’s Eve, when they’d shared a joint. But neither of them had been that affected.

  ‘So why would you think he’d come here? Had Mrs Middleton quarrelled with him?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Had they had any grievances in the past?’

  ‘No,’ Ted said categorically.

  ‘Then why?’

  ‘He gave me this, when I tried to help him.’ He indicated his split lip.

  Renton didn’t look at it. ‘I was coming to that, but you still haven’t answered my question.’

  ‘I rang her to explain what had happened and suggested she lock the door.’

  ‘So, she was waiting for the outcome of your meeting with Mr Eriksson?’

  ‘No, she didn’t know I was meeting him.’

  Renton’s frown deepened. ‘Why didn’t you tell her?’

  ‘He told me not to tell anyone.’

  Renton filled his chest. ‘And when he hit you, that’s when you decided to tell her?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘But if she had your friends here for company you shouldn’t have been that nervous about Jakob paying her a visit.’

  ‘I didn’t know they were here.’

  ‘When did they arrive then? After you left for football practice?’

  ‘Yes. She broke the news and they came round.’

  ‘Or did she invite them?’

  ‘No.’ But Ted wasn’t sure. ‘Ask Juliette. I’ve only just got back myself.’

  Renton chewed his lip for a moment. ‘I’m going to be blunt because I need to know exactly why Mr Eriksson is behaving the way he is. You’re not aware of any sort of relationship between Mr Eriksson and your wife that would make you think he’d head over here to harm her?’

  ‘No.’ Ted waited for Renton to blink. He didn’t.

  The other detective looked up from his phone then returned his attention to the screen.

  ‘And you’re not withholding anything from me, for your wife’s sake?’

  Ted tried not to tense. ‘No.’ Had Renton’s suspicions been aroused when he’d first interviewed them? ‘There is no relationship,’ he added.

  ‘I’d advise a rethink, if you are. You’ve already prevented me from bringing Mr Eriksson in. That means you could be liable for endangering others.’

  ‘I’m not.’ Juliette having a relationship with Jakob was as absurd as him being violent towards Evie.

  ‘Are you going to put some ice on that?’ Renton studied Ted’s lip.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  After Ted had outlined the specifics of his meeting with Jakob, Renton waited while Detective Sergeant Patterson finished inputting the information into the notebook on his phone.

  Ted filled the silence. ‘Like I said, after he slugged me, I was pretty dazed.’

  Renton grunted as he loosened his shirt collar. ‘And you said nothing that triggered his attack?’

  ‘No. Just tried to restrain him.’

  ‘He claimed he had absolutely no recollection of what happened to Mrs Eriksson?’

  ‘Just those brief flashes of being at home.’

  ‘You believe him?’

  Ted didn’t know how to respond. ‘It sounds … unlikely.’ Ted felt a pang of guilt, but that was what he thought.

  ‘Let’s join the others.’ Renton pointed to the door.

  Ted opened it and they walked back to the dining room. Kathryn had rejoined Juliette, Orla and Connor and they were all sitting at the table. Ted noticed the empty wine bottles and glasses had been cleared away. The ashtray too.

  Juliette tried to read Ted’s expression. ‘OK?’

  Ted nodded.

  Juliette stood. ‘This is Kathryn Driscoll.’

  Kathryn got to her feet and turned towards them. Her face was ashen.

  Renton tightened his lips at her. ‘So we’re missing one.’

  He had obviously taken note of the names Ted had given him that morning in Ibbotson.

  ‘Yes. My husband, Rhys,’ Kathryn replied. ‘He’s gone to get our girls from a sleepover.’

  ‘And then he’ll be on his way here?’

  ‘Just to pick me up. He was actually here earlier.’

  ‘So you’ve all spoken?’ Renton darted his dark eyes to each of them.

  They nodded.

  Renton waited for his colleague to finish making a note.

  ‘Can I make you some coffee?’ Juliette offered.

  ‘No, thanks. So what time did the party finish?’ Renton aimed the question at Orla.

  She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, glanced at Connor and then wiped her fringe from her eyes. ‘We all left around the same time, about one-ish?’ She looked to Juliette for confirmation.

  ‘Yes.’ Juliette agreed. ‘We usually call the cabs around that time.’

  ‘I can give you the number of the firm we used,’ Ted suggested. ‘It’s on the door of the freezer. Maybe their driver overheard something.’

  ‘Maybe.’ Renton turned to his colleague and Detective Sergeant Patterson crossed the room to note it down. ‘So Mr Eriksson was drunk?’

  ‘We’d all had enough but nobody was motherless,’ Connor answered, his Northern Irish accent suddenly thick.

  ‘Motherless?’ Renton frowned.

  ‘So drunk you can’t remember who your mother is.’ Connor smiled humourlessly. ‘Nobody was in that much of a state.’

  ‘And wine was the strongest thing available to Mr Eriksson?’

  Ted figured what he was digging around for. ‘There were no drugs.’

  ‘There was an ashtray on the table when I came in.’

  The atmosphere tightened.

  ‘We don’t have drugs in the house,’ Juliette said emphatically.

  Ted knew that hadn’t always been strictly true, but since Georgie it had definitely been the case.

  ‘Nobody was smoking anything illegal?’

  ‘No,’ Kathryn reacted, mortified.

  Ted realized it was genuine. Kathryn and Rhys had joined the dinner party group long after the days of the odd joint at the back door.

  ‘Mr Eriksson told Mr Middleton that he remembers very little before waking on the lawn beside the body of his wife.’

  Everyone around the table turned their gaze to Ted.

  ‘I just want to establish if it was because of something he’d taken here.’

  ‘No,’ Ted enunciated.

  Renton regarded him with suspicion. ‘Nothing he might have taken in private in the bathroom?’

  Ted shook his head.

>   ‘You’ve never seen him indulge in anything like that?’

  Ted hesitated.

  ‘I’m not looking to press drugs charges, Mr Middleton. Just tell me what happened.’

  ‘Look, we’ll all take a test, if that’s what you need. But there were absolutely no drugs taken here last night.’

  Renton grinned at Juliette’s assurance. ‘Nothing taken here last night.’ He said aloud to his colleague.

  Detective Sergeant Patterson tapped the screen of his phone.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  ‘So you wouldn’t say Mr Eriksson was any drunker than the rest of you?’ Renton returned his attention to Kathryn.

  She shook her head. ‘After a few glasses he can often get … spirited.’

  ‘Spirited. In what way? Do you mean aggressive?’

  ‘No, not physically aggressive.’

  ‘Verbally? Have you seen that in the past?’

  Kathryn considered it. ‘No.’

  ‘You had to think about that.’

  ‘I meant he just comes out of his shell, gets a bit more opinionated.’ The edges of Kathryn’s mouth trembled.

  ‘So nobody was aware of any significant issue between Mr and Mrs Eriksson?’

  Everyone shook their heads.

  ‘No?’ Renton asked it directly of Orla.

  ‘No,’ Connor responded harshly.

  Now was the opportune time for Ted to inform Renton about the trust game. They had nothing to hide, but it was Juliette’s reluctance that troubled him most. Was she afraid that they’d have to reveal what they’d written down? Was her secret that bad? But they could all lie about them now. Only Evie’s and Jakob’s might throw some light on what happened.

  Kathryn turned her chair around and sat down again. ‘They had some problems a few years ago and briefly went to a therapist.’

  ‘Any idea what that was about?’

  ‘Yes,’ Juliette replied flatly.

  Ted had noticed that Renton hadn’t asked any questions of her.

  She obviously had as well. ‘They couldn’t have children. It caused some friction, but they moved past it. That’s all we know.’

  ‘We?’ Renton repeated.

  Juliette tightened her jaw.

  ‘You’re speaking for everybody here now?’

  ‘No.’ Juliette blinked hard. ‘We all know that.’