The Dinner Party

by R. J. Parker

  ‘Let me.’ Ted walked to the front door with her and opened it.

  Brit nodded once at him and left.

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  ‘So …’ When Ted walked back into the front lounge, he assumed the word would be sufficient.

  Juliette was seated in her armchair again. ‘I don’t understand. Evie definitely said he attempted suicide on that day.’

  ‘Why didn’t you tell Brit?’

  ‘I didn’t want to contradict her.’

  ‘Brit or Evie?’

  Juliette seemed lost in thought.

  ‘It’s unlikely Jakob would have had that sort of conversation with his sister just prior to taking a handful of pills.’

  She shook her head. ‘It’s what Evie told me.’

  ‘You’re sure Evie said that Saturday?’

  ‘I’m sure,’ Juliette retorted loudly.

  Ted closed the lounge door. ‘OK, let’s leave Georgie out of the conversation …’

  Juliette nodded apologetically. ‘It doesn’t make sense.’

  ‘Which hospital was he taken to?’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘They’d have a record of him being admitted.’

  Juliette narrowed her eyes. ‘So we don’t believe Evie now?’

  ‘I didn’t say that.’

  ‘She didn’t mention which hospital.’

  ‘It’s likely to have been Oakhurst General. What else did Evie say to you? Anything about them renewing their vows?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘What else did she say to you on Tuesday then?’

  ‘Just … she just told me that Jakob had taken the pills. Maybe I’ve mixed it up. Perhaps it was earlier than that Saturday.’

  Ted sat down in frustration. ‘Well, you seemed sure a moment ago.’

  ‘I was.’ But now she wasn’t.

  ‘And even if it had happened earlier than that would Jakob have sounded so positive on the phone to his sister?’

  ‘Maybe he wanted their last conversation with each other to be a good one. She just said he was never honest with her.’

  ‘Not exactly.’ Ted listened for Georgie in the hallway. ‘Brit said he laundered his news. Besides, she told us he sounded genuinely happy.’

  Juliette rubbed her eyes.

  ‘How long did Evie stay?’

  ‘Twenty minutes or so.’

  ‘Did you know she was coming?’

  ‘No. What’s with the sudden interrogation?’

  ‘I just wonder why she would turn up unannounced and urgently need to talk if it had happened much earlier.’

  ‘She didn’t urgently need to talk.’

  ‘She was calm?’

  ‘Yes. But as I hadn’t seen her in such a long time I knew something was up. I asked her what was wrong, and she was reluctant to tell me.’

  ‘That’s understandable,’ Ted conceded. ‘But it must be difficult not to talk about an event like that.’

  ‘Look, it’s pointless speculating about what went on nearly two weeks before they came here for dinner.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because neither of them can tell us now.’ Juliette looked at the floor disconsolately.

  Ted could see she was becoming upset again. ‘I’m sorry. I want to be at Jakob’s funeral and to do that I need to understand this.’

  ‘But we’ll never know.’

  She was right. Evie could never explain exactly why she’d waited so long to speak privately to Juliette about Jakob’s failed suicide attempt.

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  Ted and Juliette spent the remainder of the evening sitting watching TV with Georgie in the back lounge, both immersed in their own thoughts, until it was time for the usual bedtime negotiations.

  It took them both half an hour to coax their son upstairs. Was he thinking about his Auntie Evie and Uncle Jakob or just worried about confronting his fickle friends at school again? He wasn’t even tempted by the prospect of a shower and Ted eventually had to be stern. He hated himself for raising his voice but knew the events of the weekend were taking their toll.

  Ted waited outside the bathroom for Georgie to have a quick wash and brush his teeth. The door opened. Ted hadn’t heard any sound of Georgie’s electric toothbrush, but figured he’d scolded him enough. He followed him into the bedroom and Georgie slid under the duvet and lay with his back to Ted.

  He sat on the bed. ‘Try not to be angry, scout. We’ve all had a terrible weekend.’

  ‘I know,’ Georgie sighed.

  ‘And don’t worry about tomorrow.’

  ‘I’m not. Not really. I’m more than capable of looking after myself.’

  Ted smirked. Who had he heard saying that? He gently stroked the back of his head. ‘See you bright and early.’

  Georgie turned to him, perplexed. ‘But you don’t have to get up tomorrow.’

  ‘True.’ But Ted suspected the days off he’d been so looking forward to on Friday night wouldn’t be that productive. Were they now effectively compassionate leave? He’d tried to persuade Juliette to have the start of the week off as well but understood why she wanted the distraction. He didn’t want to be at home echoing around the dining room with only his thoughts for company. But he could save Juliette a trip to the childminder’s, which meant she’d get an extra half an hour in bed for three mornings.

  ‘I wouldn’t get up if I didn’t have to,’ Georgie declared.

  ‘That makes sense.’ He pulled the duvet up to Georgie’s chin. ‘It’ll soon be the weekend again though.’ But he guessed, to Georgie, it may as well be a year away.

  Georgie regarded him with concern. ‘Are you going to be OK here on your own, Dad?’

  Ted’s throat tightened. ‘Of course.’

  ‘You won’t be too sad about Auntie Evie and Uncle Jakob?’

  ‘We’re all upset, but that’s OK.’

  ‘Is it OK if I tell Jolian about what happened?’

  ‘Why Jolian?’

  ‘If he knows what happened, he might leave me alone, might even be nicer to me.’

  Ted considered how to respond. ‘Your friends should be nice to you, whatever’s going on. Should always support you.’

  ‘I know, but I don’t have any friends like that.’

  ‘You’ll find them.’

  ‘Do you have friends who do that?’

  ‘Yes. I’ve got Auntie Orla and Uncle Connor, Auntie Kathryn and Uncle Rhys. That’s why they came over yesterday. So don’t worry about me, scout.’ But Ted briefly recalled their expressions when he’d tried to persuade them to talk to Renton about Evie’s game. ‘Try not to care so much about what your friends think. Do your own thing.’ That sounded like good advice to him. ‘Let’s keep what happened to Auntie Evie and Uncle Jakob to ourselves for now though.’ How long would it remain a secret? Was it likely to be on the news the next day?

  ‘OK,’ Georgie agreed.

  ‘And just tell those boys you’re not interested in being in their gang.’

  ‘But I am.’

  ‘If they’re not being nice to you, why would you?’

  Georgie frowned as he turned that over.

  ‘Just keep your options open, and make sure you brush your teeth first thing. I won’t let that go again.’

  Georgie looked shamefaced.

  Ted kissed his forehead and turned off his lamp. ‘Sleep now and don’t worry. Your parents have always got your back. OK?’ Ted heard the pillow rustle as Georgie nodded. ‘Night.’ Ted closed the door and headed down the stairs.

  As he made his way along the hallway, he could hear Juliette on the phone to someone.

  ‘Just take a few deep breaths,’ she said. ‘Ted’s just finished putting Georgie to bed.’

  He entered.

  ‘Yes, Ted’s OK, just emotionally exhausted like all of us.’ Juliette looked up at him. ‘Try to get some sleep. I really think tonight’s fine to take a pill if you need to. OK, speak then.’ She hung up.

  ‘Who was that?’

  �
�Kathryn.’ She put the phone on the arm of the chair. ‘I think it’s just hit her. She’s in a real state.’

  Ted sat down next to her. ‘Is she going into work?’

  ‘Not by the sounds of it.’

  ‘So why are you?’

  ‘I need to,’ she said definitively.

  But Ted understood.

  ‘How’s Georgie?’

  ‘I managed to turn off the lamp. I don’t know if he’s going to sleep though.’

  Juliette got up off the couch, picked up Georgie’s tray and plucked some stray popcorn off the cushions. ‘I’m going as well, unless there’s anything else you need to berate me for.’ She didn’t wait for a response but walked out into the kitchen.

  Ted followed her.

  Juliette put the tray on the counter and then reached for the light switch, pausing her hand there. ‘Are you coming up?’

  ‘Yes. Look, I didn’t mean to grill you.’

  ‘On which occasion?’ She turned off the light and stepped past him.

  He flicked off the lounge light. ‘I just need to know what happened.’

  Juliette started up the staircase but paused at the bottom. ‘Everything’s still raw. We’ve got us though. Let’s not turn on each other. She strode up the stairs. ‘I’ll check on Georgie.’

  Ted clicked off the hallway light and was left alone in the dark. He climbed after her, oblivious to the revelations the next day would bring.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  Ted and Juliette spent a fitful night, and both got up at six, an hour earlier than normal for a Monday morning. They silently drank their coffee in a trance-like state and waited for Georgie to come down at seven.

  After breakfast Juliette paused at the front door, on her way to work. ‘If you’re not in the mood to do the decorating, don’t bother,’ she said before kissing him and heading down the path.

  ‘And if you need to come home early …’

  She turned and smiled wanly. ‘OK, I’ll ring you later.’

  Which meant she wouldn’t be home until that evening, even though she already looked bleary-eyed and beat. He watched her open the gate and she glanced briefly back at him, before getting into her yellow Fiat 500 and driving off for the station.

  Ted was glad to have the opportunity to drop his son off at school and turned to get a kiss before Georgie jumped out of the car. ‘Remember, if your friends gang up on you, they’re not your friends.’

  ‘Is Peta picking me up from school?’ Georgie changed the subject.

  ‘No, I will. Maybe I’ll take you for a Maccy D’s.’

  ‘Honestly, I’ll be fine.’ Georgie shut the door after him and scurried through the gates. He crossed the busy yard, joined the bottleneck of kids at the main entrance and disappeared inside.

  Sitting in the car for a few moments, engine ticking over, Ted felt like normality had resumed too quickly. It was just over forty-eight hours ago that they’d found Evie. Less than that since Jakob had put a noose around his own neck.

  He joined the line of drop-off traffic and was almost hit at the crossroads as he pulled out and failed to see a car coming from his left. He held up his hand in apology, but the young female driver beeped harshly and swore at him through her side window before accelerating away.

  When was the last time he’d been as careless? He tried to focus on the road but withdrew into his thoughts again as he made the short trip back home.

  When he closed the front door behind him the house seemed so silent. Slipping his keys into his pocket he hung up his jacket, rubbed the cold out of his hands and walked into the kitchen where there were still dregs in the coffee pot. He poured some and wandered over to the window overlooking the back yard. It looked as bleak as the sky above. He turned back into the room and his gaze settled on the table. He needed to fill the place with sound; however attempting to get Alexa to put music on for him didn’t seem appropriate. He went into the front lounge, switched on the news and sipped his lukewarm coffee.

  He wished he were in work, but now they’d cancelled Peta, the childminder, he would have to be around to pick Georgie up at 3.15. Ted pulled Juliette’s TV blanket over himself and slid his body down the couch so that his head lay comfortably against the back cushion. He closed his eyes and quickly felt the weight of sleep on them.

  But his mind kept turning over as it had in bed. Could he have done more to stop Jakob leaving the park? Why would Evie tell Juliette that Jakob had made an attempt on his own life if it wasn’t true? Or had there been some other conversation about Jakob being an ‘issue’? It was an odd way to describe somebody who was suicidal. Again he recalled Renton’s innuendo about Juliette and Jakob. Paranoia? Or was the identity of the figure on the CCTV the only real question that needed to be answered?

  Ted eventually fell into a shallow sleep, but his phone woke him, and he scrabbled it out of his back pocket.

  ‘Mr Middleton?’ It was Renton.

  Ted could hear the detective’s footfalls echoing down a corridor. He sat upright. ‘Yes?’

  Renton cut straight to the point. ‘I’ve just had the autopsy reports back for Mr and Mrs Eriksson.’

  Ted felt cold bubbles at the base of his neck and leaned his elbows on his knees.

  ‘There were signs of strangulation, but Mrs Eriksson died from head trauma after being struck by a blunt instrument, probably a garden ornament. We found blood on a small statue discarded by the hedge. Mr Eriksson: suicide by hanging and there was a significant amount of alcohol in his system. That we knew already.’

  Ted suspected there was more to come.

  ‘You told me no drugs were consumed at your little party.’

  ‘No. There were no drugs,’ Ted said firmly.

  ‘We found considerable traces of Rohypnol. Difficult to detect, but after you told me what happened at the pavilion, I asked them to be thorough.’

  ‘Rohypnol?’ Ted stood.

  ‘Do you know what that is?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Not everybody does …’ Renton climbed some steps.

  There was no point pleading ignorance. ‘A date-rape drug.’

  ‘Fast acting as well. Causes memory loss, anxiety, confusion, erratic behaviour. I’m really not sure what Mrs Eriksson would have gained from slipping it to him, so it was probably administered at your home.’

  Ted knew he’d woken, that he wasn’t having some bizarre dream. ‘That’s … ludicrous.’

  ‘I’m going to need to talk to you and all your guests again.’

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  Ted hung up on Renton, selected Juliette’s number but hesitated. He remained frozen like that for a few moments and then glanced at the time at the top of the screen: 8.57 a.m.

  Juliette had told him she had a meeting from nine until eleven. He shouldn’t phone her just as she was going into it. Call her afterwards.

  He paused a couple of seconds more and then located another number.

  ‘Ted?’ Connor answered after six rings.

  ‘Sorry, are you in the middle of something?’

  ‘No, I’m working from home today. Didn’t feel like going into the city. Are you OK?’

  ‘How’s Orla doing?’ Ted recalled how fragile she’d looked as she’d left on Saturday.

  ‘Not very well. She got up this morning to see the girls off to school but I told her to go back to bed. I’m worried about her. She hasn’t slept, she’s barely talking, and didn’t eat a thing yesterday. She’s just taken a pill and sparked out. I take it you’re not decorating today?’

  ‘No. I’m just rattling around here.’

  ‘I’ll ride the bike over. Just for ten minutes. If that’s OK?’

  Ted had been on the brink of telling him Renton’s news but was relieved by his offer. ‘Great. Now?’

  ‘Yeah, I need to get out for a while. See you then.’

  As Connor unzipped his blue biker jacket from his sinewy frame Ted could see he’d probably slept as much as Orla.

  ‘I
can’t stay long. Where’s Juliette?’

  Ted hung it on a hook. ‘She went to work.’

  ‘Can’t blame her.’ Connor followed him to the kitchen counter.

  ‘Coffee?’ Ted had made a fresh pot.

  ‘Please.’ Connor strolled past the counter but halted halfway across the floor in front of the table. He turned around and came back.

  ‘Renton called.’

  Connor absently ran his hand through his tight black curls ‘Any news about this other guy in the clip?’

  ‘Juliette told you about that?’

  ‘Kathryn told Orla.’

  That figured. Juliette had been on the phone to her the previous night. ‘No news on that but they found Rohypnol in Jakob’s system.’

  ‘What?’ Connor’s fingers paused in his hair. ‘A roofie? Explains why he was acting the way you said.’

  ‘But suicidal? Of all the people I know, Jakob was the last person I expected …’ Ted tailed off, realized he was saying it to exactly the wrong person.

  Connor looked uncomfortable.

  ‘Renton thinks it was given to him here.’

  Connor turned over the implications. ‘By one of us?’

  Ted nodded and poured the coffee from the pot into two mugs. ‘Either that or Evie gave it to him.’

  ‘Why the hell would she do that?’

  ‘Exactly.’

  ‘She did use to dabble in a bit of recreational marijuana … had a dealer.’

  ‘Date-rape drugs though?’ Ted handed Connor his coffee.

  Connor shook his head and sipped loudly. ‘You don’t think it was part of her game?’

  Ted doubted that. ‘Why would it be?’

  ‘It’s more likely than one of us giving it to him. Have you told Kathryn and Rhys?’

  ‘Not yet.’

  ‘They’re the most strait-laced couple I know. It couldn’t be them.’

  ‘I’ve not told Juliette either.’ Ted realized it sounded like a confession.

  Connor frowned. ‘Why not?’

  ‘She’s in a meeting. I don’t want this on her mind now.’

  Connor put his mug down on the counter. ‘Really?’

  Ted knew it was an excuse.