Murder Actually Read Online Free PDF

glasses.
    I observed her in amazement. “Divorced?...” I stopped, unsure what to say and more unsure if I wanted to say it.
    Luckily, Violet had already continued. “It just happened. One night Jasper and I were discussing the bludgeoning death of one of the hookers in The Killing House Rules, and the next minute our eyes locked and we just knew…”
    â€œKnew what?”
    â€œKnew it was true love,” she returned impatiently, and then laughed. “Jasper might pretend he’s not a romantic, but deep down he’s all roses and moonlight,” she glanced around and then moved a little closer to me. “I guess there’s no harm in telling you since it’s going to come out soon anyway. Jasper is divorcing Nora and he and I are going to be married next year.”
    I heard a sharp intake of breath and noticed Alex and Coco standing close by, and just beyond them Rose and Sabrina Elliott. Crispin Wickford looked up from his camera, an expression of disgust on his face, and Charlotte Whipple paused in the act of passing a platter of stuffed mushrooms. I watched the tray crash to the ground and saw her bend over to pick them up. Alex recovered first and slowly raised his glass.
    â€œCongratulations, Violet.”
    His tone was bitterly ironic and Violet flushed and looked away. Sabrina Elliott stood as if turned to stone, and then whirled around so quickly she spilled champagne down the front of her blouse.
“Oh, no! Here let me help you,” Rose looked around helplessly and then began dabbing at the splotches with a cocktail napkin.
    â€œDon’t bother,” said Sabrina. “I’d hate to take away from the joyousness of this occasion.”
    â€œWhat are we drinking to?”
    The voice of Jasper caused us to swing around en masse and Violet let out an embarrassed giggle. “I know you’ll be disappointed in me, darling,” she tittered nervously. “But I’m afraid I let the cat out of the bag about our engagement. I hope you don’t mind.”
    Jasper’s expression was thunderous, but he made a visible effort to relax and put an arm around Violet. “That’s okay; it was going to come out, anyway, I guess.”
    â€œI’m sure you’ll be very happy,” Sabrina Elliott regarded them steadily for a moment and I noticed Jasper was breathing heavily as he turned back towards Violet.
    â€œDon’t you have some work to do…darling?”
    â€œYes, Jasper, I was just going.”
    Jasper grabbed her arm and escorted her towards the front door while Alex talked to Coco in a low tone. Sabrina turned and hurried away, and I noticed Rose look after her with a worried expression.
    Julia approached me and held out a bottle of champagne. I grimaced and held out my glass.
    â€œMake mine a double.”
    The revelry continued unabated thanks to the free booze and pounding rain, and I sipped from my plastic cup and tried not to yawn. I noticed it was a little before eight and decided it was time to get back to my laptop. I looked around for Charlotte and saw her standing next to the information desk as Crispin Wickford talked earnestly in her ear. I walked towards the pair to say goodnight but had scarcely taken more than a few steps before something happened that was straight out of a Jasper Ware novel.
    The lights went out.
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Chapter 3
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    As the room was suddenly plunged into darkness, I heard someone scream and the sound of tinkling glass. There were shouts and exclamations and I felt a sudden surge of bodies towards the front door. I was buffeted along the information desk towards the exit, just as a dramatic clap of thunder added to the hysteria of the crowd.
    â€œDamn.” Charlotte’s voice sounded next to me in the darkness.
    â€œWhere’s the fuse box?” I yelled.
    â€œNext to the back door. I’ll get it.”
    I heard Charlotte move away and grunted as someone slammed into