| |
Maggie couldn’t take her eyes off the man lying face down at the bottom of her garden. He was wearing camouflage trousers and a jacket. His matching hat had fallen off to reveal a bald head.
Maggie whispered to Sam, “Are you sure he’s dead?”
“I’m sure. Why are you whispering?”
“I don’t know,” she continued whispering. “It seems the respectful thing to do. How do you think he died?”
“Considering the number of leaves clutched in his hands, I think he fell from one of those trees in the lane.” Sam looked towards the tall trees. “The leaves match that one in the middle. And the branches of that tree overhang your garden.”
“That’s the tree the young man was in earlier.” Maggie winced at the leaves in the man’s hands. “He must have climbed the tree to look for a treasure box. And then he fell. Poor thing. What an awful way to go. Shall I put his hat back on?”
“Don’t go any closer. Don’t touch anything. This is a crime scene now. I’ll phone the police.”
“I’ll phone them,” Maggie said. “Considering I’ve just spoken to them about possible treasure hunters in my garden, they might take me seriously now.” She gave him a grim look, and then phoned the police.
A male officer answered. “Hello again, Ms Kelburn. What can I help you with this time?”
Maggie could almost hear the smirk in his voice. “Do you remember our last phone call?”
“I do. I made a note of it, Ms Kelburn.” There was a rustling of papers. “Ah, yes, the treasure hunters. You were concerned your garden would be overrun with them. Has that happened?”
“It has. And—”
“Have they dug up your roses? You were worried about that, according to my notes.”
“My roses haven’t been touched. But—”
“Have those plastic coins been flung around your grass? What did you say was on them?” More rustling. “Smiley faces. Any smiley faces in your garden, Ms Kelburn.”
“No smiley faces here,” Maggie replied curtly. “Certainly not on the dead man’s face. He won’t be smiling ever again.”
There was silence for a few seconds.
“Excuse me?” the officer said. “Dead man? Did you say dead man?”
“I did. There’s a dead man lying face down in my garden near that tree I told you about earlier.”
The officer’s tone changed. “I’ll send someone around immediately. Don’t touch anything. Don’t let anyone near the corpse.”
Maggie grimaced at the last word. “I won’t touch anything. How long will they take to get here?”
“I’ve got your address. I’ll inform them now.” He took more details from her before ending the call.
Sam asked, “What did they say?”
She told him. “He said we should go inside the house so we don’t contaminate the area any further. But what if another treasure hunter turns up? They won’t see this man from the lane, and they might climb the tree. The branches are obviously not that strong. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”
They stared at the tree.
Sam said, “I’ll stand in the lane and look out for anyone.”
Maggie looked at the man on the grass again. “Can I stand with you? I don’t want to be alone with him.”
Sam shot her a quick smile. “Sure.”
Sounds of cars arriving outside Maggie’s house got their attention.
Maggie said, “It sounds like the police have arrived. That was quick.”
Sam pulled a face. “I hope it’s not DCI Dexter.”
“Me too.”
A tall, well-built man in a dark suit walked into the garden. His look was less than friendly as he looked at Sam and Maggie.
Maggie smiled wanly at DCI Dexter.
“Great,” Sam muttered quietly. “Just great.”