AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Iris’s chair clattered back.
“No. No, he can’t be. You must have got it wrong!”
“Iris—”
The room spun and she groped for the edge of the table. She felt Gabriel’s arms around her, stopping her from falling, then hands on her shoulders.
“Please, sit down,” PC Locke said, pressing her into her chair. “You too, Gabriel.”
They sank into their seats and Gabriel buried his face in his hands.
“How?” he asked, choking back a sob. “How can he be dead? How can there be so much tragedy? It’s too much to bear.”
“I’m sorry,” PC Locke said, her voice gentle.
“What happened?” Iris’s teeth were chattering. She reached for her mug, needing some warmth, but when she tried to pick it up, tea slopped over the side.
“Why don’t you take a minute?” PC Ramesh suggested. “There’s no rush.”
Iris nodded numbly and pressed her hands together to try to stop them from shaking. Gabriel stood up abruptly, grabbed the kitchen roll from the side, tore off a sheet and blew his nose.
“Right,” he said, his voice unsteady. “I’m ready.”
He sat down. Iris found his hand again, and held it tightly.
“His body was found earlier today in the basement of his apartment block. Apparently, each apartment is assigned a small storeroom in the basement of the building.”
Gabriel nodded. “Pierre and Laure kept their skiing stuff and bikes there. And a spare freezer. And tools—he had a chain saw. Jesus.” He rubbed his face. “Is that what happened? He had an accident down there?”
“No, it wasn’t an accident.”
“Then—what are you saying? Are you saying he killed himself?” Gabriel’s voice rose, then broke. “Oh God, was it because of the message I sent him?”
PC Locke frowned. “What message was that?”
Gabriel looked as if he didn’t want to tell her. “A few days before Laure died, I sent him a message telling him that she had moved on, and that if he didn’t come over, he’d lose her forever.”
“And did he reply?”
“No. That’s why I didn’t mention it to you.” He stared at her, his distress evident. “Is that what pushed him over the edge? It was marked as unread so I thought he hadn’t seen it.”
“It must be why he told Arnaud that he was going away until thebeginning of August,” Iris said, her voice breaking. “He didn’t want anyone to find him.”
Gabriel buried his head in his hands. “It’s my fault. I should never have said anything to him.”
“Gabriel.” PC Locke laid a hand on his arm. “Pierre didn’t take his own life.”
Gabriel raised his head. “What?”
“May I see the message?”
Gabriel nodded, dug out his phone, located the message and passed it to her.
“It’s still marked unread,” she said.
“I don’t understand.” Gabriel’s frustration was evident. “If Pierre didn’t take his own life, how did he die then?”
PC Ramesh cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to have to tell you that he was murdered.”
