Death on the Air Read Online Free Page A

he’s dead,’ said little Mr Hislop.
    â€˜I suppose there can’t be any doubt,’ whispered Chase.
    â€˜Look at the face. Any doubt! My God!’
    Mr Hislop put out a delicate hand towards the bent head and then drew it back. Chase, less fastidious, touched one of the hard wrists, gripped, and then lifted it. The body at once tipped backwards as if it was made of wood. One of the hands knocked against the butler’s face. He sprang back with an oath.
    There lay Septimus, his knees and his hands in the air, histerrible face turned up to the light. Chase pointed to the right hand. Two fingers and the thumb were slightly blackened.
    Ding, dong, dang, ding,
    â€˜For God’s sake stop those bells,’ cried Mr Hislop. Chase turned off the wall switch. Into the sudden silence came the sound of the door handle being rattled and Guy Tonks’ voice on the other side.
    â€˜Hislop! Mr Hislop! Chase! What’s the matter?’
    â€˜Just a moment, Mr Guy.’ Chase looked at the secretary. ‘You go, sir.’
    So it was left to Mr Hislop to break the news to the family. They listened to his stammering revelation in stupefied silence. It was not until Guy, the eldest of the three children, stood in the study that any practical suggestion was made.
    â€˜What has killed him?’ asked Guy.
    â€˜It’s extraordinary,’ burbled Hislop. ‘Extraordinary. He looks as if he’d been—’
    â€˜Galvanized,’ said Guy.
    â€˜We ought to send for a doctor,’ suggested Hislop timidly.
    â€˜Of course. Will you, Mr Hislop? Dr Meadows.’
    Hislop went to the telephone and Guy returned to his family. Dr Meadows lived on the other side of the square and arrived in five minutes. He examined the body without moving it. He questioned Chase and Hislop. Chase was very voluble about the burns on the hand. He uttered the word ‘electrocution’ over and over again.
    â€˜I had a cousin, sir, that was struck by lightning. As soon as I saw the hand—’
    â€˜Yes, yes,’ said Dr Meadows. ‘So you said. I can see the burns for myself.’
    â€˜Electrocution,’ repeated Chase. ‘There’ll have to be an inquest.’
    Dr Meadows snapped at him, summoned Emily, and then saw the rest of the family – Guy, Arthur, Phillipa, and their mother. They were clustered round a cold grate in the drawing room. Phillipa was on her knees, trying to light the fire.
    â€˜What was it?’ asked Arthur as soon as the doctor came in.
    â€˜Looks like electric shock. Guy, I’ll have a word with you if you please. Phillipa, look after your mother, there’s a good child. Coffee with a dash of brandy. Where are those damn maids? Come on, Guy.’
    Alone with Guy, he said they’d have to send for the police.
    â€˜The police!’ Guy’s dark face turned very pale. ‘Why? What’s it got to do with them?’
    â€˜Nothing, as like as not, but they’ll have to be notified. I can’t give a certificate as things are. If it’s electrocution, how did it happen?’
    â€˜But the police!’ said Guy. ‘That’s simply ghastly. Dr Meadows, for God’s sake couldn’t you—?’
    â€˜No,’ said Dr Meadows, ‘I couldn’t. Sorry, Guy, but there it is.’
    â€˜But can’t we wait a moment? Look at him again. You haven’t examined him properly.’
    â€˜I don’t want to move him, that’s why. Pull yourself together, boy. Look here. I’ve got a pal in the CID – Alleyn. He’s a gentleman and all that. He’ll curse me like a fury, but he’ll come if he’s in London, and he’ll make things easier for you. Go back to your mother. I’ll ring Alleyn up.’
    That was how it came about that Chief Detective Inspector Roderick Alleyn spent his Christmas Day in harness. As a matter of fact he was on duty, and as he pointed out to Dr Meadows,