When I'm with you

Suspicions

She came over and sat down next to her on the bench and gently shook her by the shoulders.
"Hey, Wake up, are you all right?",  she asked, "you don't look well."
Charlotte opened her eyes abruptly, as if she had just emerged from the water, and sucked in a deep breath.
"Can you go home now? William and I will get you out of here," Esther said, patting her gently on the back, "He's talking to a detective."
"Where's Sidney?", swallowing convulsively, asked Miss Heywood, "I can't get through to him. Maybe something happen to him?"
"I don't know," said Esther, "We couldn't find him. The phone is no longer answering. Maybe Crowe can do it better. Why didn't you call me right away?"
"I don't know, I called Sidney first, but he didn't answer. Then I waited for the paramedics. After the police arrived, I was taken to the police station to give a statement. Than the phone is dead",said Charlotte, wearily rubbing her eyes, "less than an hour ago they gave me a call, I dialed Sidney again, and then Allison. By the way, where is she?"
"Don't even ask, there's trouble in the stable. Four stallions just fell off. The groom called her in late at night. They are very bad, She had to put IVS. She's still there", murmured Esther " she will come as soon as released"
"My God, what happened to them?"  Charlotte asked.
"It's hard to say for sure," Esther said, " but Allison thinks they were poisoned."
"What? What for? Who needs it?", Charlotte exclaimed in surprise.
"I have no idea," Esther said wearily, "Let's think about it later. You'd better tell me what happened. Am I right? Someone killed Eliza Campion?"
"Yes," said Miss Haywood, "it was terrible... what I saw ... the whole head is covered in blood, the mirror is broken, the tea set is shattered, shards are everywhere, things are scattered. Esther, I've never seen anything like it."
"Honestly, Eliza was never a particularly nice woman," Esther said, " with her ambition and character, it's no wonder someone wanted to kill her. She must have crossed a lot of roads."
"No one deserves this ending, Esther," Charlotte whispered.
"Yes.... you're probably right. Did you see anyone near the house?", Esther asked, " could it be someone's car?"
"No, it was dark", said Charlotte, "I was walking along the beach, there was no one there at all."
"Charlotte, I'm sorry, but why the hell did you go to that bitch's house tonight, and all by yourself?", Esther asked, "and how did you even know where she was staying? I don't think Sidney told you that."
"I overheard your conversation," Miss Haywood admitted, " and after what happened last night, I had to talk to her myself."
"What happened?", asked Esther, "you were visiting the Parkers..."
" Yes", said Charlotte, "but then... when we got home... I found Lacy underwear and a rose on the bed.... I thought it was a surprise from Sidney, but... I could tell by the look on his face that he had nothing to do with it."
She sighed heavily and looked at Esther.
"Was it Eliza?", Esther asked.
" Yes ... there was a note ... from her", Charlotte continues, in it... no, I don't want to talk about it..."
" How did Sidney react?", Mrs. Babbington asked.
"What do you think? He was furious. He tried to hide his anger and despair from me, but he didn't succeed", Charlotte replied, "he tried to calm me down somehow, but he was clearly not himself."
"Is that why you decided to go to Campion yourself?"  Esther guessed, "did She want to protect him?"
" Yes, that's right", Charlotte exclaimed angrily, "it was painful for me to watch him suffer. I said I needed to meet Allison immediately and would probably stay at Sanditon House for the night. Then I left, but I stood on the beach for more than half an hour, not daring to go in the direction of her cottage ... and when I came I saw all this."
"You say he was very upset?", Ester asked, "could he have done something stupid?"
"No, you don't think that.... no, it's impossible...", Charlotte muttered, shaking her head from side to side and instinctively pulling away from Esther, "Sidney couldn't.... God, what if he thought I was offended and left him.... ...God, what have I done, Esther?"
"Hush", shushed her Esther, "stop shouting, forgot where we are? Pull yourself together! I'm sure there's a normal explanation for everything."
"Then why isn't he answering his phone?"  Charlotte asked, tears running down her cheeks that she could no longer hold back, "Why?"
Esther moved closer and put her arm around her.
"Do you believe Sidney?", she asked softly.
"Yes," Charlotte said confidently, "But I don't understand ..."
"Then stop crying", sternly answered Esther, "Sidney will be found and everything will fall into place."
"Are you all right, Girls?" asked Babbington, "the Desk Sergeant said you can go, Charlotte."
"Great!", Esther said, getting up briskly and lifting Charlotte, who was wiping away her tears, after her.
"Miss Heywood, I need your signature," said a young man in uniform standing directly behind the Babbington.
Charlotte gave the report a quick glance and signed at the bottom of the sheet.
"Try not to leave Sanditon in the near future", he said, "perhaps the detective will have some more questions for you."
"All right," Charlotte said faintly, " I'm not going anywhere.
" Good day, Sergeant", said Babbington, nodding to the police officer and turned to Charlotte and Esther said, "come on, I'll take you home."