The body lay at the bottom of the stairs. Right leg bent at an impossible angle, arms outstretched in a comic 'I surrender' salute. His neck was broken, his lips and nose touching the carpet in a caress.
Detective John Howdon looked around the foyer of the Clarrindale Hotel, taking in the surroundings. The uniforms had closed the doors and corralled all of the guests and staff into the ball room. He could hear the soft murmur of their voices carrying across the marble halls. The CCTV only covered the bottom seven steps and had captured the end of the fall. One dead. Forty five suspects. This was going to be a long night.
The body was Francis Temple, entrepreneur, multimillionaire, ex party boy before marrying the beautiful Sally Corby. John had seen his face plastered across the covers of magazines and newspapers for nearly six years. The kid was rich, ruthless and, if the tabloids were to be believed, randy. Thirty two years old.
So, accident or murder?
Kneeling down close to the body, John pulled out latex gloves and pushed his hands in to them although he inspected the body without touching it. Forensics were on their way for that.
The suit was a Hugo Boss tuxedo, white shirt, white bow tie. And a proper bow tie. No clip on for this man. There was a slight tear to the knee of the broken leg. Rough edges, not cut clean. John re-positioned himself to take a closer look. A little blood. A scratch to the broken leg, like a carpet burn. No protruding bones.
Highly polished Loakes dress shoes, never worn outside by the look of the wear on the soles. No scuffing on them at all.
He had fallen, or been pushed, from the top of the stairway?
A bellboy stood at the doors of the ball room next to a uniform who was taking notes. John called him over. "Name?"
He had fallen, or been pushed, from the top of the stairway?
A bellboy stood at the doors of the ball room next to a uniform who was taking notes. John called him over. "Name?"
"Terry Black, sir."
"Did you see what happened?"
"I was at the reception desk so I only saw him fall the last few steps."
John nodded. And waited.
"He came down really quickly."
John nodded again.
"Fast, like he'd been pushed or something."
"Did you see what happened?"
"I was at the reception desk so I only saw him fall the last few steps."
John nodded. And waited.
"He came down really quickly."
John nodded again.
"Fast, like he'd been pushed or something."
