[MaC] Examining the body

[Mel Mason]

 "And somebody should make sure that =nobody= leaves the building," said 
Tabitha, now sweeping the hair off Nola's neck to get a better look. She 
turned to face the others. "Even if it wasn't one of us -- which is 
extremely unlikely, I'm afraid -- we can't risk letting anyone get away who 
might have seen something."

"Indeed," agreed Oswald. "When my wife and Lady Pamela come here, Miss 
Mauberley and I will cross to the Fitzroys'. I'll warn everyone that they're 
not to leave ... perhaps Hodges will be able to do something to secure the 
doors - although that might be a little danger if that incendiary goes off."

Nobility occasionally boasts a fine sense of timing; moments after Oswald 
mentioned her, Pamela appeared, arms full of a leather medical bag and a 
motley pile of linens. "Tabitha, whatever you can use from my bag is yours," 
she said. "Your wife and Mr. Worthington are right behind me, Mr. 
Skeffington-Nottle. Now, what should we do first?"

It was agreed that Oswald and Marion should withdraw to the lounge to 
arrange to question Anton, so that Tabitha, Pamela and Lucinda could examine 
the body.

"Although I'll probably be more use examining the room," said Lucinda 
frankly.  "I'm not much of one for examining dead bodies, to be honest."

Accordingly, she took a seat to one side while the two trained nurses began 
their preliminary examination.

It appeared to both of them that Nola had been strangled with a ligature of 
some sort, now removed.  She had fought, it seemed, but the gloves she had 
been wearing had prevented her from - for example - scratching the face of 
her murderer.  One shoe had fallen off - it was possible that she had kicked 
her murderer.

"Not that that would tell us much," said Lucinda ruefully when they told 
her.  "Most of us have bruises all over from taking tumbles in the blackout. 
I know I do!"