by CeeCee James
The women all turned to me. I self-consciously smiled at all the attention. Luckily, I had Hank on my lap for moral support. “Well, I wasn’t sure, until Patty said a comment at just the right time and got my wheels turning. A woman scorned.”
“At least Patty is good for something,” Janet said and the women snickered. Everything Marguerite and Cook feared was true about the temp. We spent more time undoing the temps changes than getting our regular work done.
But we only had a short time left to endure it.
I continued. “Madeline is the epitome of a woman scorned and used. This young woman had been given a dream job at Andy and Austin’s firm. Then she was swept off her feet with promises of love and commitment and who knows what else by Andy. Unfortunately, once he had what he wanted, he both fired and dumped her. Her life spiraled out of control after that. Her husband found out what happened, and he divorced her. She ended up penniless because her husband lost everything and went bankrupt after a bad investment Andy instigated.”
The group murmured around me. Mrs. Fitzwater’s mouth drooped as she watched me.
I continued. “I don’t think Madeline ever let Andy know how bitter she really felt. In fact, somehow, I think she convinced Andy that she would do anything to fix their relationship. So he used that desire by having her run errands between him and Clint. Those two men targeted people who needed money or who they could force to invest.”
Mrs. Fitzwater nodded sadly. “This is all no longer speculation. You might want to know that Madeline confessed after the police questioned her. They came with the proof of identifying her fingerprints on the rubber boots, as well as being picked out of a line-up by the tailor as the woman who ordered the cigar cutter. Their forensics team found oily residue of the poison inside the hidden blade chamber that matched a container of pesticide at her work that also had her fingerprints. She did add a few details, mostly just to confirm what you already suspected.”
It was strangely both sad and satisfying to hear our theory was true. Sad because now this young woman was about to be locked up for a very long time.
Mrs. Fitzwater continued, “Clint confessed as well, although he had no idea Madeline planned to murder Andy. He was merely a part of the black mailing scheme and was indeed in Las Vegas that day. He couldn’t get the USB to Andy, that much I know. Yet Andy received it. Do you know how?”
I nodded. “So Andy came up with a plan. He changed the time on the clock to be sure he would be back before the meal was over, and then snuck through his familiar pathway to meet Madeline in the tunnel.”
A few women hadn’t heard about the tunnel yet, and the questions fired about like fireworks.
“Please. Let her finish.” Mrs. Fitzwater raised her hand. “We only have a short time here.”
“What about Austin?” asked Lucy.
“Well, Austin picked up the rosary Reverend Bay dropped. He was suspicious of the reverend, because Reverend Bay had darted close to the body. But we know now that Reverend Bay was pulling the USB from the cigar cutter. I guess Austin had planned to confront the reverend later. Unfortunately, Austin seemed to have dropped the rosary on his way to the car.”
“Which is how our own lil’ bit Sophia managed to pick it up,” Mrs. Fitzwater interjected. “That Madeline. She was sly, I have to admit. Most of her actions weren’t exactly smart. Not even clever. But sly. She almost got away with it.”
Her gaze dropped to the floor, and I was reminded of how fond she’d once been of Madeline. Then she lifted her chin and smiled at all of us. “Now, perhaps, we come to the most important task of all.” She reached into her purse and pulled out a check. “Your fifty thousand dollars. Thank you, ladies. I so appreciate you.”
We all squealed and many women jumped up. I couldn’t believe I had such a nice chunk of change to send to mom and grandma. It would put a dent in mom’s medical bills. And it was earned by doing what I loved. Asking questions.
As all the other girls swarmed Mrs. Fitzwater, I settled back to snuggle Hank. “I’m going to make sure you get some treats as well.” I whispered to him. “You’re the real hero, aren’t you? You smelled the cigar guillotine, and you’re the one who first found the footprint. I love you, buddy.”
He winked his green eyes at me and then stood to nudge his little head against my chin. Of course, that’s when I heard it.
He was purring.
After everyone finally calmed down, the women snuck Mrs. Fitzwater out of the house and went on to find Cook to share the good news. Except for Mary and me.
The two of us searched for Miss Janice. She’d not been at all pleased when the police told her there was a tunnel leading through her house. It had been a tense twenty-four hours, but Mary and I thought we knew how to make her feel better.
We discovered her in her music room, sitting by the most gorgeous harp. The instrument glowed, its curves fashioned in elegant precision. It was her newest acquisition, and she although didn’t know how to play, she was determined to learn. It was heartwarming to see the great joy it gave her to sit next to the instrument and pluck the strings.
“Miss Janice, do you have a moment?” Mary asked, haltingly.
“Yes?” Her eyebrows raised. “What is it?”
“If you could please come with us,” Mary answered. “We have something to show you.”
She stared at us a moment. To be honest, this was probably the first time we’d ever requested that from her, and she undoubtedly thought it odd. So it said something when she calmly rose from her damask stool, with only a rumple of her forehead, and nodded her head. The three of us headed into the study.
“I’m assuming there’s a good reason for you to bring me here.” Miss Janice said upon entering the study. Of course, we rushed to reassure her. She eyed the empty bookshelves with a sniff but followed Mary over to the portrait of Mr. Thornberry.
Her eyes softened at the sight of the painting. “Oh, Henry. You should see the mess of things you’ve left.” She reached out and gently touched the man’s face. “I have missed you.”
Mary flushed, and I swallowed hard. “I think he wants you to see this,” Mary whispered and then pushed the four swirled shells in the heavy wood frame corners.
The bookshelf cracked open.
“What in the world?” Miss Janice gasped, as her little hands clutched to her chest.
Mary drew the hidden door the rest of the way open and the stood back. Miss Janice stood there a moment, her eyes wide with wonder.
The scene on the other side seemed like something out of a technicolor cartoon, especially compared to the dark study. The brilliant greens of the grass and trees, the rainbow flowers we could smell from even here, and the birds chirping all spelled magic.
“Oh, my.” Miss Janice murmured. Slowly, as if in a trance, she stepped forward.
“Do we go with her?” Mary asked.
I watched Miss Janice hesitantly walk across the velvet lawn to the fountain and touch one of the fairies. She smiled and slowly meandered to sit on the stone bench. Her eyes never lost the dream-like stare as she looked about.
“Not yet,” I said.
We waited and watched. Suddenly, Miss Janice burst out in laughter. My eyebrows flew up in surprise, but as her peals of hilarity continued, a few giggles snuck out of me too.
“Girls!” Miss Janice called. “Come join me!”
We walked out, happy that she was happy.
“I wasn’t ready before to see this. But today was the day. Thank you.” She reached out and grabbed our hands. “And who knows about it?”
“Just us three,” said Mary.
“And Sophia.” I added. “She takes care of a lot of the plants in here. I suspect maybe her brother does as well.”
“Of course. A gardener’s touch.” Mrs. Fitzwater sighed appreciatively. “Such magic.” She tipped her head back and suddenly shouted at the sun, “Thank you, Henry! You always gave the best gifts!”
Then she lowered that radiant smile
to us, and her gray eyes snapped with excitement. “Watch and see, girls. This is going to change everything.”
28
afterword
Thank you for reading Pawsibly Guilty. Check out the next book in the series, Catastrophe in the Library for Laura Lee’s next mystery.