Marie and Elsie

One of the quarters of historic Beguile is home to many immigrants.  They have made the quarter interesting both architecturally and in the wonderful smells of exotic foods that waft enticingly from the many restaurants and cafes.  The stores in the quarter are famously filled with curious and unusual wares. 

Marie Macrini has lived in the quarter all her life.  She came with her family as a small child and still resides in the home, on Oak Street her father built.  Although her parents have long since departed she remembers them fondly. 

Marie lives a quiet life with her devoted cat Absinthe.  Despite living alone since the death of her parents, Marie never feels lonely because of Elsie.  

When she was a child Marie had made friends with one of the neighbourhood children, Elsie.  She lived three doors down and was the only girl in a family of four children.  Marie and Elsie loved playing together until the night that Elsie had been taken. Her bloody and crumpled body found a few days later in a deserted warehouse on the outskirts of the town. 

The murder of her small friend had never been solved, the authorities deciding it must have been perpetrated by some transient visitor to the area. 

Marie knew that the killer was closer, Elsie had told her who had hurt and killed her.  Marie had not been shocked when Elsie had come to visit her after her death.   Marie and her father had always been able to see and talk to the dead. Although Marie had spoken in great detail about what had happened to Elsie and who had hurt her, there was no proof. 

The summer after Elsie ‘s death the adults in Oak Street had decided to throw a large street party.  No-one knows how the deadly leaf from the poisonous shrub had fallen into Tom Hadler’s cup.  The small leaf had gone unnoticed and was tipped away when the remnants of the party were cleared away.  He had died later that night of natural causes. 

Elsie and Marie had had a small celebration of their own the next day. Since then Elsie had lived in the Macrini house with her best friend Marie.