The Drowning Pool

by Jacqueline Seewald

  “I thought I made that clear. It was a mistake, nothing more, nothing less.” She tossed a white shawl around her bare, tan shoulders, shivering in her sundress, but her control appeared unbroken.

  “Was your husband aware of the phone call?”

  “No, he was away on business at the time.”

  “That’s true,” Louise Scofield interjected. “I thought the fact that Martin wasn’t going to be home that night would make it easier for Joan to claim she was with me. I considered Joan the sort of person who would keep a secret, but definitely Martin couldn’t.”

  Gardner turned back to Mrs. Walling. Their eyes met for a moment and then hers slid away. Gardner realized although she appeared calm outwardly, there was turbulence within: Joan Walling was not so much composed as withdrawn.

  “I would like to know why you really made that call.”

  She sighed and folded her arms. Her feet were pressed against the ground like a soldier on the Western Front digging into the trenches for the anticipated siege ahead. “I’ve already given you my answer. I have nothing more to say.”

  “You were absent from sight at the time Richard Bradshaw was murdered. Your behavior and actions are suspicious.”

  “Neither Cheryl nor Martin can prove exactly where they were either. Why single me out? I don’t have a motive for killing Rick.”

  “Let’s explore that a little. You deliberately caused friction between Mr. and Mrs. Scofield, your so-called friends. Was that in reality the action of a jealous woman?”

  “Nothing of the sort. I dislike having to say this, but you’re forcing it on me. I thought just as Bill did, that Lou was seeing Rick. I didn’t believe her story about going to the doctor. I thought there would be a better chance for their marriage if Bill were wise to what was happening. Of course, I couldn’t tell him outright. So I made the phone call to alert him.”

  “Very considerate of you.”

  “I thought so.”

  Louise Scofield’s normally milky cheeks were crimson. Gardner sat back and waited for her reaction; he knew she couldn’t afford to let such a damaging comment pass.

  “Joan, you’re lying! You knew I suspected I was pregnant. I told you so.”

  “Of course, but that doesn’t prove Bill was the father.”

  Louise rose unsteadily to her feet, trembling. “What are you saying?”

  “I thought it was very clear. Rick never hid his feelings for you, even if you were clever enough to hide yours. Not that I blame you. Bill does have an insanely jealous nature.”

  “Mrs. Walling, did Mrs. Scofield ever actually tell you in so many words that she was having an affair with Bradshaw?”

  “Must I really answer that question?”

  “It’s extremely important.”

  “Very well then, the answer is—yes.” Joan Walling fixed her eyes on the ground.

  “She’s lying! Why are you lying?” Lou looked ready to topple over.

  Kim reached Louise before Bert did and helped her sit back down. Kim was trying to soothe the trembling woman.

  * * * *

  “Lou confided certain details to me. I’d rather not go into the specifics in front of everyone, but I am willing to make a statement privately.”

  “That would indicate Mrs. Scofield had a motive for killing Mr. Bradshaw, to keep him quiet about the affair, but she obviously did not have the opportunity to commit the crime.” He waited to see how the two women would react.

  Joan Walling took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. “I suppose I’ll have to admit everything now. Lou left me for about twenty minutes when the others weren’t around. She looked at her watch and then left without any explanation.”

  “Liar!” Louise Scofield cried out. She rose unsteadily to her feet and then she began to sway.

  Kim stayed beside Louise and got her to sit down again. Gardner observed that Kim’s expression was sympathetic and her manner gentle. Bill Scofield appeared to be in shock. There was a horrified expression on his face, as if everything he ever feared had been proven true. Scofield seemed to be paralyzed by suspicion and doubt.

  “What time did Mrs. Scofield leave you?” Gardner asked.

  “Very soon after I returned from the bathroom,” Joan Walling replied.

  “I thought you told me Mrs. Scofield was asleep then.”

  “She woke up and looked at her watch.”

  “Go on,” he urged.

  “Well, she got up, said she had something important to do and left by the front gate.”

  “No further explanation?”

  “None.”

  “You didn’t see where she went?”

  “No, I picked up a book and started reading it.”

  “And you’re sure that she was gone twenty minutes?”

  “About that. I didn’t time it. The book was engrossing.”

  “Could she have used the outside entrance to the utility room, left the same way, then returned to the club by the main gate?”

  “Quite possible,” Mrs. Walling agreed in a non-committal tone of voice.

  “Joan, what are you saying? You know I never left, not even for a moment. What are you trying to do to me?”

  Gardner felt badly about putting Louise Scofield through this, but felt it was necessary.

  “She’s right, Mrs. Walling, what you’re saying is both serious and damaging. You do realize that, don’t you?” Gardner’s tone underscored the gravity of the situation.

  “Believe me, if there were any other way, I never would have told you this. I’m sorry I had to do it.”

  Louise Scofield turned to her husband. “You don’t believe her, do you? Tell me that you don’t!” Her eyes had a child-like appeal to them.

  There was a terrible silence and then Scofield jutted his angular jaw. “At the hospital, I prayed that you’d be all right. I promised myself that I would never doubt you again. I made up my mind that I was going to change. I suppose I’m being put to the test. No matter what, I trust you, and I’ll stand by you.” He took his wife’s hand in his own and held it tight.

  Louise Scofield’s eyes filled with tears; then she turned back to Gardner. “Joan is lying about me.”

  Gardner focused his steady gaze on her. “Why would she do that?”

  Louise sank back in her chair. “Jealousy, maybe. I don’t know.” Her voice admitted defeat. But in her despair she held fast to her husband.

  Gardner was pleased to see the couple reunited, even under such dire circumstances. It seemed that Scofield had character after all.

  “Maybe I can help you out,” Gardner said and turned back to Joan Walling. “We did talk about jealousy in regard to your accusation, and certainly there had to be an element of malice.”

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  “Weren’t you interested in Mr. Bradshaw yourself?”

  “Not at all.”

  “Weren’t you jealous of your friend’s pregnancy?”

  “Lieutenant, what are you trying to do to my wife?” Martin Walling sputtered.

  “Just trying to get at the truth. It can sometimes be unpleasant.”

  “My wife isn’t interested in other men.”

  “I hope that’s true, Mr. Walling.”

  Gardner retained a sharp awareness of each person sitting with him in the circle. When Walling made his declaration, an expression of disbelief had appeared on April Nevins’ face. Gardner was aware that the Wallings were not happily married; he wondered what gave April Nevins a similar conviction.

  “Miss Nevins, what makes you think Mrs. Walling isn’t satisfied with her husband?”

  The others turned and stared at April. She looked upset and began biting her fingernails again.

  “Look, nobody’s completely satisfied, not ever. I know lots of married people. Most of them are miserable, either they’re thinking of getting a divorce or they want to switch bed partners. That doesn’t prove that Joan…” Her voice faltered.

  Gardner found enough in her statement
to initiate a further line of questioning. “You mentioned once that Mrs. Walling suggested you all take a holiday together. Did she also suggest switching partners during the holiday?”

  “Yes, but just for the sake of variety.”

  “Was Mrs. Scofield agreeable to that?”

  April appeared less than eager to take sides or betray confidences. He felt like a dentist trying to extract wisdom teeth without Novocain.

  “Lou wasn’t in favor of it. Neither was I. Like I told Joan, if anyone got knocked up, we ought to know which man was responsible. But Joan said we had nothing to worry about where Martin was concerned because…” She stopped talking and her face became flushed.

  Walling rose like a massive bull ready to charge, glaring angrily at his wife. “You had to tell them, didn’t you? You know I didn’t want anyone else to know. You go around telling your friends behind my back so they can laugh at me!”

  “You’re impotent, Mr. Walling?”

  The question hung in the air like a guillotine ready to fall.

  “I’m sterile. You’ll have to pardon me if I’m a little sensitive on the subject.”

  “The effects of venereal disease?”

  “I got the cure a little late,” he acknowledged gruffly.

  “Then there’s no possibility for you and Mrs. Walling to have children together.”

  “I’m not exactly a stud,” Walling acknowledged bitterly.

  “Mrs. Walling, do you still claim that you had no reason to be jealous of Mrs. Scofield’s pregnancy?”

  “Absolutely. I don’t have the slightest interest in having children. I’d just as soon be cursed by bubonic plague. Besides, I knew about Martin’s condition before we were married.”

  “I never lied to her,” Walling concurred.

  “It’s too bad that Sonny Blake can’t be here. He probably could have confirmed or denied what you ladies have told us. In fact, that’s a very good reason for Sonny to have been murdered.”

  He saw Bill Scofield tighten his grip on his wife’s hand. When no comments or reaction were forthcoming, Gardner continued to speak. “However, it wouldn’t make much sense for Mrs. Scofield to kill Sonny when she knew there was still another witness around who could incriminate her. I’m, of course, referring to you Mrs. Walling.”

  “I suppose Lou thought that I would cover up for her no matter what.”

  “Or could it be the other way around? Didn’t you expect to have her create an alibi for you? We do know you were not with Mrs. Scofield when your husband arrived during the critical period of time.” He observed her sitting impassively. “Let’s go back to the idea of a mystery woman in Mr. Bradshaw’s life. We know he was seeing someone secretly. Mr. Scofield has informed us Bradshaw’s unaccustomed discretion was due to the lady’s marital status. But Bradshaw was never discreet about his feelings for Mrs. Scofield. In fact, he flaunted them in her husband’s face. And she wasn’t the only married woman in Bradshaw’s circle of friends. Isn’t that so, Mrs. Walling?” His gaze fixed on her.

  She squirmed in her chair. “You can’t prove a thing. It’s all conjecture.”

  “Wasn’t it you who Bradshaw was actually seeing on the evening of Mrs. Scofield’s medical appointment?”

  “Empty words, Lieutenant.”

  “What if I were to tell you that here in my jacket pocket, I have a John Doe warrant. With it, I am entitled to fill in your name and have your apartment searched immediately. I have two detectives standing by. On a signal from me, they’re prepared to institute a search for Sonny’s pool keys. They will be quite thorough.”

  “You won’t find them in my apartment.”

  Somehow, the way she said it made Gardner believe her. Could he be wrong? He saw her hand reaching down into the big canvas bag she carried.

  “People are creatures of habit. Do you always have that bag with you when you come here? I want to see the contents.” He held his hand out.

  “You won’t need to do that,” she said.

  He assumed that she was going to hand over the keys. Instead she removed a small, snob-nose revolver, a .22 Saturday Night Special by the look of it, and aimed it at Gardner’s chest.

  “No!” Kim shouted, jumping to her feet.

  Gardner signaled to her to stay back.

  “I hope you’re satisfied,” Joan Walling said with open hostility.

  He’d finally succeeded in shaking her loose, but there was no sense of exultation. Joan seemed ready to explode. He glanced over at Bert, who was eyeing Joan warily. It helped to know that his partner was no stranger to violent people or desperate situations.

  Martin Walling with his lack of judgment, attempted to approach his wife. “Joan, this is crazy. Put that thing away. You don’t even know how it works.”

  “I know enough. Keep away from me, Martin. I despise you! If you come any closer, I’ll shoot you.” Her eyes were wild, and there was a savage intensity to her voice. Gardner didn’t doubt for a moment that she was capable of murder.

  “Some way for you to talk. You cheated on me, didn’t you? Screwed around with my so-called friend, and then you have the nerve to behave like this. Jesus, I thought you had some class!”

  “Shut up, Martin! You don’t have a clue what class is. I wish I’d never married you. This mess is all your fault.”

  “I traded one rotten bitch for another.”

  Joan Walling moved away from her husband. Her arm caught around April Nevins’ throat as she positioned the barrel of her gun against the shorter woman’s right temple. Gardner heard April gasp.

  “I’m leaving here, and April is walking out in front of me.” Her voice was unnaturally quiet and calm now that she felt herself to be in control of the situation. Her hand held the gun with a surprisingly steady grip. “Signal the other policemen. Let them know they better not try to follow us or stop me. Otherwise I’ll kill her!”

  April’s eyes widened in terror, her face ashen.

  “Joan, this isn’t rational.” Gardner kept his voice friendly and paternal. “You’re a very logical person. Where can you possibly go? You’ve been caught. Surrender yourself and make the best of it. Hand over the revolver to me. Let’s talk about this. The situation may not be as bad as you seem to think.” He held out his hand in a coaxing manner. “I’ll help you find a good criminal lawyer.” He spoke gently to her in the soothing tone he used with his daughters when they were hurt physically or emotionally.

  For a brief moment, she seemed to be responding, but then the wild, hunted look returned to her eyes and she tightened her grip on April, who flinched noticeably.

  “Just stay away, Lieutenant. I don’t have far to travel, so let me alone, or else I swear I’ll have to kill you too.” A determined expression crossed her thin lips. “I mean it!”

  They made no move toward her. Joan Walling kept the gun against April Nevins’ head and backed her way out of the swim club. As soon as the two women got into Joan’s car, Gardner and Bert ran to their own vehicle. The two waiting detectives came rushing toward them.

  “What’s going on?” Drew Mitchell asked.

  “Just follow us and don’t approach the women until I tell you it’s all right.”

  They kept a discreet distance. April was at the wheel of Joan Walling’s car. She drove with speed and awkwardness, screeching around corners and weaving through the development. Bert called headquarters as Gardner drove.

  “Move in on her,” Bert said.

  “She’s scared enough. We’ve got to wait for the right moment.”

  “Is that before or after she kills April?”

  “It’s a mistake to crowd her. I know what I’m doing. I’ve got the car in sight.”

  “I was afraid something like this might happen. Your splash party wasn’t such a terrific idea.”

  At that moment, he saw April lose control of the car and smack into a tree. He thought they could move in, but Joan was still in control. She waved the gun threateningly as April tried unsuccessfully to extri
cate the automobile. Gardner pulled over and watched. When Joan half dragged a dazed April out of the car, he and Bert moved toward them. With any luck, this was the opening they had waited for.

  Joan was still using April Nevins as a human shield. She edged away as she saw them walking toward her.

  “I told you not to come after me. Why are you here? I’ll kill her if you don’t go away!”

  April was too frightened to speak. With the panicked state Joan Walling appeared to be in, Gardner decided that April’s silence would work to their advantage.

  “You know you don’t really want to kill anyone. You’re just not thinking. It’s normal to be afraid, but you must not let it control you. We’re going to help you. That’s what we’re here for.”

  “You won’t help me. You’re lying.”

  “I wouldn’t lie to you.”

  “Why should you want to help me?”

  “That’s my job. You have friends who care about you. They want you to put away the gun, to give it to me.”

  “I have no friends, only people like her who expect me to sit and listen while they babble on about their trivial problems. No one ever listens to me. No one cares.”

  “Talk to me. I’ll listen. Tell me why you killed Bradshaw.” He kept his eyes fixed on hers.

  “I didn’t mean to kill him but he made me so angry.”

  “What did he say to you?”

  “That it was over between us. At first, I didn’t believe he meant it. We were so good together. He always told me how much I pleased him, that I was better in bed than all the others. I was better than all those beautiful women because I wanted to please him. I didn’t think only of myself the way they do. But then he went and treated me so badly. I told him I’d leave Martin any time he wanted and go away with him. I would have had his child if he wanted that. He said I meant nothing to him. I can’t tell you how he hurt me. When I was young, my father used to tell me how ugly I was, and I hated him for it. He’d say, ‘study your books, Joanie, and do well in school; you’ll need a good job to support yourself because you’ll never get a man.’ Martin wasn’t much of a man, but he was all I could get until Rick came along. Rick meant everything to me.