Murder in the Wings (A DI Frank Lyle Mystery)

DI Frank Lyle

One 

DI Frank Lyle

I relaxed in my armchair. My son, James, was home for his summer break. He had just completed the second year of his law degree. That day we had been for a picnic in the Oxford University Parks with my wife, Jayseera, and our sixteen month-old daughter, Jasmine.

It was late evening and still pretty warm. It had not been dark very long.

Jayseera was snuggled up to me on the sofa and James was out with friends. Jasmine was in bed.

"I do love you so much, Frank," Jayseera sighed deeply.

"I love you too," I said.

Jayseera had resigned from Ashbeck CID last autumn. After I was stabbed in the denouement of the Unholy Alliance case she had decided that she wanted to be a full time mother. I had supported her decision, although she was much missed in the Incident Room.

I had a three inch scar on my chest and considered myself fortunate that no major organs had been affected by the stabbing. Jayseera was always kissing and stroking the scar, which she called my badge of honour. I was totally secure in her love and faith in me. She never judged and she understood the pressures of my work, which James' mother, Sarah, had never been able to do.

The phone's shrill tone interrupted the silence. I sighed deeply as I lifted the receiver.

"DI Lyle." 

"Guv, it's DI Redfern. The cleaner at Ashbeck Playhouse has found a body and it isn't a theatrical mannequin either. 

SOCO and Doc Bradley are on their way." 

"I'll be there within the hour." I said.

I kissed my wife.

"I'm sorry my darling." 

"Frank, how many times do I have to tell you? Never apologise for doing your job."

I checked I had gloves and evidence bags before I left the house. I liked to be prepared.

When I got to the Ashbeck Playhouse I parked in a side road and walked towards the cordon. The crime scene tape was still for there was no breeze. It was a stuffy night, not quite stifling but enough to be uncomfortable.

I met DI Redfern and DC Delaney just inside.

"Doc Bradley's in the dressing room." DC Delaney said, "Throat cut and that's not all, the victim is David Marlowe."

"Oh great, just what we need. A minor celebrity stiff. It won't be easy keeping this out of the Ashbeck Courier." I sighed.  

"Don't I know it?" Redfern sighed.

I put on a sterile gown and overshoes before following Delaney to the dressing room door.

"Evening Doc." I said. 

"Evening Frank, meet the star of the show."

I remembered Marlowe from the bit parts he had had on television. His long mousey hair was matted with blood and his throat was covered in it. His dark eyes were fixed open in a stare which was worsened by the "smile" that had been made by a knife across his throat.

I waited.

"Rigor hasn't even started, Frank," Bradley pinched the skin on Marlowe's forearm which blanched, "He's still warm to the touch. I would estimate he died between eight and eight-thirty pm, certainly no earlier and it is eleven thirty now." 

"That means another long wait for the PM," I sighed.

I knew, from years of experience, that it took thirty hours for rigor mortis to fully resolve at an ambient temperature.

"I'm afraid so, Frank." Bradley said, "At first glance I can't see any other possible cause of death, but I will be able to tell more once I get him on the slab." 

"Well, I suppose we had better talk to the cleaner who found him." I said, "She'll want to get home." 

"It's a male cleaner, Guv, and he used to work for an old friend of ours, Jeremiah Carnegie."

I shivered, that case had turned my stomach owing to the paedophilia angle. 

Jayseera had been six months pregnant with Jasmine at the time.

"Well, we had best get on with it." I said. 

"We put him in the office." Delaney said.

I followed him to the office.

Steadman sat there, his head in his hands.

"What's his name?" I mouthed. 

"Harold Steadman," Delaney mouthed back. 

I went into the room and touched him on the shoulder. He looked up and I showed him my warrant card.

"Mr Steadman, I'm DI Lyle from Ashbeck CID and these are my colleagues DI Redfern and DC Delaney. We know it's difficult, but we need to ask you some questions."