Now Chief Daly joined in the pacing.
Jessie shook her head, feeling despair mount inside her. “How long will it take? Can’t we just jump the gun here? It’s not like we’re coming in cold: Lottie and Claudia have had a run-in before. There’s also the fact that she’s left-handed and she’s a computer expert.”
He shook his head. “No. We need confirmation.”
Lottie had turned pale. “What if she strikes again? I don’t think I could live with the guilt.”
“Come on, Chief,” Jessie needled. “All roads point to her. It’s not like with Ray. You said yourself; it was a risk to take him in because we couldn’t think of a motive.”
“Just wait,” he said, before leaving the room.
***
It was another half hour before they saw him again. By then, they had resorted to making up games to keep themselves entertained because the chief’s computer was off-limits to them given the amount of sensitive information he had access to. When he reentered the office, they all practically leaped at him.
“Any update?” Jessie asked.
“I’m hungry,” Mel complained, even though she had polished off the chief’s emergency supply of cookies.
Jessie rolled her eyes. She had forgotten that her cousin had a tendency to go off the deep end if she was forced to sit still for any length of time. Jessie wasn’t surprised that corporate life hadn’t suited Melanie either.
“We’ll feed you later, I promise,” Jessie said, not taking her eyes off the chief.
To her disappointment, though, he simply shook his head. “I’m afraid it’s taking longer than they expected.”
Jessie sighed. “How much longer?”
He shook his head. “It’s difficult to say. They covered their tracks well, according to Derren. He’s going to keep working on it, but he’s told me several times that there are no guarantees. Apparently, it’s especially difficult when we’re dealing with somebody who knows what they’re doing.”
Jessie stood and stretched. She could do with a trip to the bathroom and something to eat that wasn’t stodgy.
“Where are you going?” the chief asked her.
She shrugged. “If we’re not getting anywhere, then I’m going to go home and shower.”
“I’d like to go home too,” Lottie piped up.
They all spun around to look at her. “That’s not a good idea,” Chief Daly said. Jessie caught the wariness in his tone. Even he avoided directly telling Lottie what to do, and for obvious reasons.
She wasn’t taking no for an answer this time, direct or not. “No. This has been going on for too long. I’m not going to hide in the shadows like a scaredy cat. If she wants to come for me? Well, I’ll be waiting for her with my knives.”
Chief Daly gritted his teeth. “Can you please stop telling me about your plan to use deadly weapons? Good lord, I’m the chief of police. And you know talking like that might be counted as premeditation.”
Lottie’s eyes flashed. “I’m fed up of being caged up like an animal. It’s so sweet of Jessie to take me in and keep an eye on me, but this is no life. I need to get back to normal. I’ll go out of business if my store stays closed much longer. I can hardly have Jessie standing behind the counter with me. We’ve both got jobs. Lives.”
“That’s a good point, Charles,” Aunt Bee said softly.
He shook his head. “You know how dangerous this is,” he muttered. “Two people have already been killed.”
“Chief,” Jessie said quickly. “Why don’t we go sniff around and see if we can get Claudia to come clean? Now that Derren’s got access to Lottie’s emails, it doesn’t matter if we tip her off. One of the other officers could keep watch and Derren could watch for any sign that she’s trying to tighten the net around Lottie.”
He seemed to consider it.
“Come on, Chief,” Lottie pleaded. “I can’t take much more of this.”
“Oh alright,” he said finally. “But I’m only taking Jessie. The rest of you need to stay here.”
“Can we…” Lottie smiled expansively. “Can I ask Officer Kendall if he’ll drop us to my house? If you’re with Claudia then I’m not at risk anymore, but I’ll go with him just to put everyone’s mind at rest.”
He grunted. “Fine. Come on Jessie. Let’s get over there before dark.”
Chapter 29
“It feels like we’re finally making progress,” Jessie said as they pulled up to the curb outside Claudia’s home.
“You seem awfully sure about her involvement.”
Jessie shrugged. “It’s Lottie,” she said after a while. “She’s certain this time. With Ray, she was the one who was most vocal that it couldn’t have been him. Plus, this makes sense. Claudia was there that morning. She had the means to carry out the murder whereas we never fully understood how Ray could have done it.”
“Mmm,” he said noncommittally. “Come on. Let’s get this out of the way.”
“What are we going to do?”
He had been reaching for the door. He stopped and turned back to her. “I’ll tell you what we’re not going to do, Jessie. We’re not going to give her any indication that we’re on to her. We’ll try to nudge her into giving us the truth or another lead.”
Jessie bit her lip. “Won’t showing up here tell her that we’re on her trail?” It wasn’t that she was having doubts about their approach—it felt good to be doing something—but she hated the thought of ruining the investigation because she couldn’t bear to sit around and wait.
Chief Daly shook his head. “We weren’t getting anywhere with the computer stuff. Don’t worry, Jessie. You haven’t twisted my arm. We’re here because I think this might be the fastest way to solve this case. And I want this solved. I’m not having another body show up on my watch.”
“Okay,” Jessie breathed, climbing out of the car.
Claudia lived in a vast home on the outskirts of town. Jessie had never been to her home before, but she had heard from others how opulent it was. Any other time, she would have relished the opportunity to have a look around. Now, she was full of dread, mainly that she might say something to jeopardize the investigation.
“Cheer up,” the chief muttered. “This is just a light informal chat, okay? It’s not going to come across that way if you look like the harbinger of doom.”
Jessie nodded. “Okay. Yes. How’s this?” she turned to him and put on her best rictus grin.
“That’s quite an improvement,” he said without missing a beat.
Jessie laughed as they reached the steps and climbed up.
Chief Daly rapped on the door.
“Why don’t you use the doorbell?” Jessie asked, pointing at the ornate lion head.
He looked at it with distaste. “Because I know what bells like that sound like. I’d like to save my ears the assault of Mozart or whatever other classical—”
The door swung open while the chief was still mid-rant. Jessie scrutinized Claudia’s expression. There was no hint of fear or worry on her face. Instead, she smiled pleasantly and opened the door wider.
“Chief Daly, what a pleasant surprise. And Jessie. I must say—I had a wonderful time at your party.”
Bile rose up in Jessie’s throat. She felt the chief’s eyes boring into her. She forced a smile that she knew probably looked much like the exaggerated, fake one she had flashed at the chief moments before.
“I’m so glad you had a good time,” Jessie said, cheeks beginning to hurt from the effort of grinning like a puppet. “Thanks again for helping out with the prep.”
Claudia bowed her head. “That’s no problem at all. I had a wonderful time. Oh, where are my manners—keeping you two standing out there like this. Why don’t you come in?”
Jessie glanced at the chief, who nodded almost imperceptibly. Claudia led them inside and along a grand hallway that led to her living room. It was a completely separate room from the kitchen—an untold luxury for Jessie who was used to living in small spaces t
hat had to fulfill a number of different functions.
“Well, what can I get for you two?”
Jessie shook her head. “I’m fine, thank you,” she said, even though she knew she would have demolished any savory item that was laid in front of her.
Claudia must have sensed her ravenous hunger. “It’s no trouble, honey. I can heat it up.”
It took all of Jessie’s willpower to shake her head and refuse the offer.
So she was surprised and confused when Chief Daly nodded enthusiastically. “I’d never pass up the opportunity to sample some of your meatloaf,” he said heartily.
Claudia smiled indulgently and left the room.
“What was that about?” Jessie hissed.
Chief Daly glanced back at the door before answering: “what? The lady offered me her hospitality. I wasn’t going to be rude and turn it down.”
“But, Chief,” Jessie said. She shook her head, realizing she was only protesting out of envy now. It would have been too weird to follow Claudia to the kitchen and ask for a plate, although the thought did cross her mind.
Chief Daly’s phone buzzed and they both jumped. Jessie didn’t think anything of it—he was on that phone more often than he was off it—but then she saw the look on his face as he read the message.
“What is it?” she hissed, eyes on the door the entire time.
He shook his head solemnly. “They traced it, Jessie. You were right.”
Jessie’s eyes widened. “Here?”
He nodded.
A loud bang somewhere in the house startled them both. Jessie stared wildly at the chief, who was already standing and reaching for his firearm.
“What was that?” she whispered, eyes wide. The house was large and cavernous and there were only two of them. She’d have felt a lot more comfortable if they had backup, but Officer Kendall had escorted Lottie home and besides, they hadn’t expected to have to carry out an arrest right then.
He didn’t answer. He bolted to the door and glanced through. Once he’d decided it was clear, he rushed along the hallway. Jessie would have been lost—she had no idea where the explosion had come from—but the chief was moving with the certainty of a bloodhound. Jessie followed cautiously in his wake, trying not to make a sound.
They rounded a corner. Jessie couldn’t see past the chief, so she was amazed when he spoke and his tone was jovial.
“Are you okay?”
She started to peep around past him and was even more surprised when Claudia let out a tinkling laugh in response. Forgetting her caution, Jessie rushed forward to see what on earth was going on. Her eyebrows shot up.
“Oh, Jessie,” Claudia said sheepishly. “You’ll never understand. You’re such an animal person. But I can’t…” she threw her arms up.
Jessie didn’t need to ask her to clarify—the source of her frustration was obvious. Buster the cat had somehow toppled over a large cabinet that looked like it had once stood in pride of place in the room. She looked meaningfully at the chief. Here was even further proof of Claudia’s involvement—if they even needed it. That’s why the cat had been so enamored with the Santa suit.
Jessie wondered whether to broach the subject or let the chief take care of it.
He cleared his throat and took a few steps so he was closer to Claudia. Jessie guessed it was so that he could subdue her if she attempted to run or fight back. Her good housewife act had almost had Jessie fooled, but it was dangerous to forget that this woman was a scheming criminal, capable of terrible things.
“Ms. Kingston,” he said quietly. “Would you accompany us down to the station? I’d like to ask you some questions about the deaths of David and Tom.”
Claudia’s eyes widened. “Please, call me Claudia. And of course I’d love to help. But is that really necessary? Can’t we talk here?”
Chief Daly shook his head slowly as if he was considering her request. “No,” he said softly. “I think it would be better if you came with us.”
Claudia looked from him to Jessie and back. “Okay, then. Yes. I’ll just get my coat. And I should let the cat out. If I don’t he’ll tear the place apart before I get back.”
You’re not coming back, Jessie thought. She glanced at the chief. Wasn’t he going to say something about the fact that that was Lottie’s cat? Jessie supposed that catnapping was the least of Claudia’s crimes. She shivered. The woman gave off such a strong image of wholesome goodness that Jessie found her presence positively chilling.
***
“Would you like to arrange a pet sitter?” the chief asked, once Claudia returned from outside. He had stood casually beside the door as if he was just taking in some air, but Jessie knew he was watching Claudia like a hawk. She hadn’t attempted to run.
“Oh, no,” Claudia laughed. She was either a very good actor, Jessie thought, or she was arrogant enough to believe that they didn’t know the truth. Neither possibility endeared the other woman to Jessie.
“No?” the chief said carefully. He hadn’t made any reference to the fact that she might be charged and incarcerated until bail was arranged, but he had a kind heart. It was getting cold and he wouldn’t have wanted to see an animal left outside overnight. Jessie restrained herself from telling him that it wasn’t Claudia’s problem because the cat belonged to Lottie—it wasn’t her place to change the direction of the conversation.
“Goodness, no,” Claudia echoed as she threw keys and her purse into her pocketbook. “It’s not my cat. I have no idea why he came in here. He loves my neighbor. Adores her—can’t stand the sight of me.”
“Really?” Jessie said before she could stop herself.
“Yes!” Claudia exclaimed. “Why, didn’t you see how he tried to scratch me? He’s an adorable little thing, but he won’t ever let me near him for cuddles.”
Jessie said nothing.
Claudia’s expression darkened. She made a big show of looking at the clock above the stove. “You know what, Chief? I’m awfully sorry but I don’t think I’m going to be able to help you out this evening. I promised Cathleen I’d go and play bridge with her and the boys. Tomorrow, maybe?”
Chief Daly cleared his throat. Jessie’s eyes were glued to him to see how he would handle this. To his credit, he didn’t seem to bat an eyelid.
“It won’t wait,” he said firmly.
“Well I’m afraid it will have to,” Claudia said with a similar amount of steel in her tone.
“Claudia,” Chief Daly said, with a considerable amount of regret in his voice. “I’m afraid I’ll have to arrest you if you won’t come with us voluntarily.”
Jessie gaped at him open-mouthed. Talk about dropping a bombshell on the woman. Then again, Jessie reasoned, it wasn’t like any of this would be a surprise to her, only the fact that she’d been rumbled.
Claudia turned. At first, Jessie thought the killer was about to make a run for it and she started to move forward to try and catch her. But then her legs gave way. Jessie caught her just before her legs gave way and she crashed to the floor.
Chapter 30
“You have the right to an attorney,” Chief Daly said. “You know that.”
Jessie didn’t know how Claudia had managed to make herself faint, but she’d done it. She would have been impressed if it wasn’t so terrifyingly calculated.
Jessie sat in her usual spot in the observation room. Chief Daly sat opposite Claudia. Jessie wished she could have Mel or Aunt Bee with her, but it looked like they hadn’t yet returned from Lottie’s house. Or if they had, they’d gotten utterly bored and gone back to their own homes. Jessie reached for her phone, struggling to take her eyes away from the interview room. She shot a quick text to Melanie.
Back at the station. Where are you? Did Pete tell you what happened?
Jessie didn’t want to be the one responsible for spreading details of the case, but it was likely that Officer Kendall had told the others about the discovery of Claudia’s IP address all over Lottie’s email history. So far they had o
nly found one instance of emails being tampered with, but apparently it would take some time to investigate fully.
She sat back in the hard, uncomfortable chair and tried to make herself relax.
Claudia was shaking her head. “I don’t need an attorney.”
Jessie shivered just looking at her. She was so convincing. She was glad that the technical team had come through when they did, because no jury in the land would find this woman guilty without waterproof evidence. She looked so regal and outraged by the whole thing.
“You murdered David Fairway and Tom Rushe,” Chief Daly said simply.
Claudia stared at him and shook her head. There was a smile playing at the sides of her mouth as if she found all of this mildly amusing. “I didn’t. Really, Chief. Don’t you know me at all? I’m a vegetarian. I won’t even have animals murdered in my name.”
“You used Lottie Benson’s meat thermometer and you stabbed David with it.”
Claudia shook her head. Jessie couldn’t figure out whether the older woman looked bewildered or amused. “Of course not. That’s preposterous.”
“Your internet records show that you accessed her email on the day of the murder and amended an email to her from Ray Clintock. Isn’t that true?”
“No,” Claudia said laughing. “I’ve never hacked anyone’s emails in my life. I wouldn’t know how to.”
“You’re telling me you’re an IT professional who doesn’t have the faintest idea of how to hack a former friend’s email account?”
“Yes,” she said, shaking her head. Her eyes had slightly bugged out now, giving her a faintly menacing look. “That’s exactly what I’m telling you. I test websites for usability. I’m not a hacker. There’s a difference.”
Chief Daly made no response. Instead, he shuffled the papers in front of him, stopping to read once in a while. “Where were you on the sixteenth at approximately one thirty?”
Claudia stared at him, frowning. She moved her fingers as if using them to count. “I was at the party, with you two and Bee and all of the others. I know that for sure because it was a race against time to get ready and get back to the café early.” She smiled proudly. “But I did it.”
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