Untimely Death by Elizabeth J. Duncan

remember, nothing this bad had happened around here for at least ten years.
    About five minutes later, Ray and Phil, followed by a paramedic, entered the backstage area.
    “Over here,” Simon called from behind the balcony riser where he had remained beside Lauren Richmond. The paramedic stepped onto the stage, crouched over the body, applied his stethoscope, stood up, and shook his head. He returned to Ray, Phil, Charlotte, and Simon, who waited offstage. “No,” he said. “I’m sorry, but she’s gone.”
    “Is there someplace we can start to interview everyone?” Ray asked.
    “Charlotte’s wardrobe room, perhaps?” said Simon, looking to her for approval. “It’s big enough for everyone, and I doubt you’ll be doing any fittings this afternoon.”
    “That’ll be fine,” she replied and then turned to Ray. “Are you going to . . . ?” She tipped her head in the direction of the stage. “You know. Investigate this?”
    “No,” said Ray. “We’re way out of our depth here. As soon as Aaron called, we notified the BCI. They should be here soon to start processing the scene. We don’t have the expertise or equipment for that. In the meantime, the best thing we can do is keep everyone away so we don’t contaminate the scene any further.”
    “BCI?” asked Simon.
    “Bureau of Criminal Investigation, New York State Police. They handle major crime for small towns like ours. They’ll do the forensics and investigating, and we’ll leave everything to them. Now, what’s the best way out of here? We don’t want anyone traipsing across the stage.”
    “Aaron will show you,” said Charlotte. “There’s an exit at the back of the theater that leads to the hotel lobby.”
    Charlotte hurried back to her workroom, and a few minutes later, the actors, led by Aaron and accompanied by Ray, trooped in. Phil remained in the theater to secure the scene.
    “Coffee, hot and strong, I think, Aaron,” she said. “Ask for it in a large carafe, not individual cups. And when you’ve done that, you’d better let your uncle know what’s happened.”
    “There’s something else,” said Ray. “The BCI will be here soon, and they’re going to need an incident room.Is there a private and secure space they can use? They’ll want a room they can lock.”
    “Well, that’s up to Harvey, of course, but perhaps the rehearsal room could be available to them. Simon seems to be holding all his rehearsals onstage. Aaron, can you sort that out with your uncle when you’re talking to him?”
    “Is there anything else you need me to do?” Aaron asked.
    “No,” said Charlotte. “That’s all I can think of right now. Just bring the coffee, quick as you can, then go see your uncle.”
    “There’s something else we can do to get ready for the BCI,” said Ray. “We can eliminate everybody who was in full view of everyone during the time Lauren was last seen and when her body was found.”
    “Simon’s the best one to tell you that.” She looked at the little group of actors, clustered together near the wall that contained the bolts of fabric. “I thought Simon came in with the actors, but I guess not. I wonder where he . . .”
    The door opened and Simon entered, took in what was happening, and joined Charlotte and Ray.
    “Simon, I wonder if you could tell me who was in the theater at the time of the incident, and where they were. We want to eliminate everyone we can,” said Ray.
    “Sure. Well, there’s me, of course. I was down in front. Oh! I sent some texts. You can check my phone, if youwant. Then there’s Peter, who was rehearsing Romeo. He was on the stage, sitting with his back to Lauren. He was talking to Brent, who’s playing Mercutio. I hear they’ve become, er, close. They were with each other the whole time.”
    He paused. Ray looked up from his notebook. “There weren’t that many there, actually,” Simon continued. “The only actors present were the ones involved in the scene we were