by Nell Goddin
“What an irony, that the best doctor in the village is a liar and a fraud,” said Lawrence.
“And a murderer,” added Molly.
“I’m still not seeing—what did Violette have to do with any of that?” asked Constance.
“So…” Molly continued, after snatching a gougère from the tray Frances was holding. “Obviously, Vernay spent his life in terror that his secret would come out. Very few people knew, and one of them was his former friend from the University of Nice, Biagio Crespelle.”
“The nanny’s father.” said Ben.
“Right. Vernay said that he managed to hide his failure from most of the people he knew, but Biagio found out somehow. He promised not to tell anyone, but of course, Vernay was uneasy about it anyway.”
“Did Violette make the connection between her father and Vernay?” asked Lawrence.
“I don’t think we have any way of knowing,” said Molly. “Biagio passed away five years ago. We don’t know if he told his daughter about it, or if he took Vernay’s secret to his grave.”
“So you’re saying the murder might have been for nothing,” said Edmond.
Molly and Ben nodded in unison.
“I still have questions,” said Marie-Claire. “How in the world did he manage it? The lights weren’t out for that long. It seems like such a freakish thing, his slipping in the library and doing the deed so quickly.”
“You have to understand that Gérard had been living with this fear for decades. A sort of constant controlled panic just under the surface, knowing that all would be lost if anyone ever found out the truth.
“So when he realized that Violette was Biagio’s daughter, he totally lost it. Internally, I mean—he was overcome by fear. Somehow, as we all saw that night, he managed to hold it together during the first part of the dinner. I didn’t notice anything off, did any of you?”
The friends who had been there shook their heads.
“But Dr. Vernay was planning. All during the salmon rillettes and the lamb, he was planning. He told Chief Charlot and me that earlier in the evening he had picked a length of string off the floor, partway under the dining room table. Maybe the children were using it for a game, who knows, just a length of string, harmless enough in itself.
“And as he ate, he had one hand in his pocket, turning that string around his finger. Thinking about Violette, and how she had the power to smash his life into a million pieces. He watched her carefully as she came in and out of the dining room, looking for the girls. He saw her go into the library just before the lights went out.
“And so, the instant we were all in darkness, he jumped up and reached her in a matter of seconds.” Molly paused, looking around at the guests. “This isn’t exactly party talk, is it?” she said, feeling sad for Violette, the village, and even for the doctor.
“Molly!” shouted at least four people.
“All right. Well, he got to her, got behind her, pressed on her carotid artery. Meanwhile people in the dining room were calling out, even screaming—there was no question whatsoever of any noise giving him away. Violette fought him—scratched him up pretty badly on one arm—but stopping the blood flow to the brain works quickly, and she passed out. By the time Gérard brought the string from his pocket, she was unconscious.
“The whole thing, amazingly enough, took only a handful of minutes. The doctor had time to return to the dining room and take his seat before Pascal got the lights on again. And that was that. I’m just lucky I noticed that school insignia on Violette’s Facebook page, and put it together with the one on Vernay’s diploma.”
The crowd murmured agreement, and after a few moments someone put on some music—the blues, Molly’s all-time favorite.
“Well, happy birthday,” said Lawrence, giving Molly a peck on both cheeks. “Sure has turned out to be a stroke of luck, having you in Castillac. We’d all have been slaughtered in our beds by now, what with all the killers we seem to attract.”
Everyone laughed and poured another drink, but the thought was a bit unsettling, if one allowed oneself to think about it for long.
Also by Nell Goddin
The Third Girl (Molly Sutton Mysteries 1)
The Luckiest Woman Ever (Molly Sutton Mysteries 2)
The Prisoner of Castillac (Molly Sutton Mysteries 3)
Murder for Love (Molly Sutton Mysteries 4)
The Château Murder (Molly Sutton Mysteries 5)
Murder on Vacation (Molly Sutton Mysteries 6)
An Official Killing (Molly Sutton Mysteries 7)
Death in Darkness (Molly Sutton Mysteries 8)
No Honor Among Thieves (Molly Sutton Mysteries 9)
* * *
Want a free short story? Click HERE!
* * *
www.nellgoddin.com
Glossary
1
La Baraque……………………..the shed or shack
gîte…………………………………holiday accommodation, usually for a week at a time
rue des Chênes………………..street of oaks
Gendarmes……………………..police
gendarmerie……………………building where gendarmes live
apéro………………………………cocktail
* * *
2
foie gras…………………………goose liver
* * *
3
chérie……………………………..dear, sweetie
5
épicerie…………………………..small grocery
au revoir………………………….goodbye
* * *
7
bonsoir……………………………good evening
8
pâtisserie…………………………pastry shop
pâtissier…………………………..pastry chef
L’Institut………………………….Institute
13
Pain au chocolat……………….chocolate croissant
14
notaire…………………………….government official
mon Dieu…………………………my God
17
partout……………………………..everywhere
20
primaire……………………………elementary school
25
toute le monde…………………..everyone
26
Priez pour vos morts…………..pray for your dead
merde……………………………….poop (vulgar)
30
En famille………………………….family all together
32
pensees des escaliers………….thoughts on the stairs (afterthoughts)
50
gougère…………………………….cheese puffs
Bon anniversaire……………….happy birthday
Acknowledgments
The crack team of Thomas Glass and Nancy Kelley continues to give excellent critiques of early drafts. And Joan Cramer of 4eyesediting.com did an astonishing job of editing and proofing.
Kathy Church found some inconsistencies right at the last minute—thank you! I raise a brimming glass to you all!
About the Author
Nell Goddin has worked as a radio reporter, SAT tutor, short-order omelet chef, and baker. She tried waitressing but was fired twice.
Nell grew up in Richmond, Virginia and has lived in New England, New York City, and France. Currently she's back in Virginia with teenagers and far too many pets. She has degrees from Dartmouth College and Columbia University.
www.nellgoddin.com
[email protected]
-moz-filter: grayscale(100%); -o-filter: grayscale(100%); -ms-filter: grayscale(100%); filter: grayscale(100%); " class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons">share