I WEIGHED MY options. Dr Cronshaw was not a powerful man but he held a powerful weapon, and I could not hope to overpower him because there was half a room and all of a desk between us. The door was too far for me to reach in the time that it would take for his finger to bend, the hammer to fall and the bullet to fly towards and into me. I could beseech him to be merciful, but Thorns – though I am not sure why – do not beg.
Distract him, Ruby advised.
How?
Offer him favours.
‘Certainly not.’
‘Certainly not, what?’ Cronshaw enquired.
‘I was not talking to you.’
‘There is nobody else here.’
‘That is what you think,’ I bluffed.
Really? Ruby piffed. Is that the best you can do? Threaten him with invisible rescuers?
‘Yes it is,’ he agreed, not even troubling to glance about.
‘Is that gun loaded?’
‘But of course.’
‘Then it is foolish of you to leave it unsecured,’ I scolded. ‘Any burglar could break in and use it.’
Dr Cronshaw shrugged.
‘In which case he would save me the trouble.’
‘I meant he could use it on you.’
‘So did I,’ he concurred and, turning the gun, pressed it against his temple and I saw his finger blanch as he pulled the trigger.
Uselessly I shouted, ‘No!’
The left-hand side of Dr Cronshaw’s head erupted, his upper face a gaping crater, spewing blood thick with brain and flesh. It splattered over the wall beside him bestrewn with the splintered bones of his skull.
His hand, clutching the handle of his revolver, finger still gripping the trigger, fell onto the desktop, but Dr Cronshaw remained seated, though tilting to his right, the wound spurting bright crimson blood, splotting onto his blotting pad and over the maroon leather.
‘Dear God in Heaven!’ I cried, my voice muffled by the booming in my ears. ‘I was bluffing.’
His right eye opened or had it not closed? Was it my imagination or was it following me as I staggered to the door?
His maid stood in the hall, clutching her apron in a ball at her waist.
‘What have you done?’ she gasped, eyes wide in horror, but I had been about to ask myself the same question.