by Marja McGraw
“What do you want to know?” Her voice sounded somewhere between whiney and defensive.
“I want to know if you heard or saw anything. Did something leave an impression on you? Is there something that keeps coming to mind that you can’t quite seem to forget? Tell me everything that happened from the time you left the living room to the time we found you in the Spook Room.”
“So I’m not a suspect? Felicity isn’t coming after me?”
“Why would…? Oh, I get it. You’re afraid that Felicity is going to find some way to sue you over what happened.”
Mavis had a sheepish look on her face.
“No, Mavis, Felicity doesn’t think you did it, but then she doesn’t have all the details yet. Besides, if I were you, I’d be more worried about the police than Felicity.” I might as well leave this woman at least a little off balance. Maybe she’d think harder and remember something of significance.
The look in her eyes as she studied me told me that she knew her game was up. “Where do you want me to start?”
“What do you remember most about that evening?”
“That’s easy. Jolly taking pictures. That flash on his camera was constantly going off, and it was getting on my nerves.”
Another indication that there might be something in one of those pictures. When I got back to the office I’d have to sit down and study them.
“Okay, now tell me what happened when you realized your necklace was missing.”
“It was after the fire when I realized it was gone. I reached up to touch it when I returned to the house and it was gone. While you people searched the living room, I made my way to that silly room with the skeleton. I’d been in there not long before the fire and thought it might have fallen off.”
“Did you see or hear anything while you searched?”
“Let me tell this my own way. Then maybe I’ll remember something.”
I closed my mouth, deciding not to push her.
“I searched every inch of the hallway, but didn’t see the pendant.” She glanced at me. “You know, it really is an expensive piece.”
I nodded, not wanting to break her train of thought.
“So I moved on to the… What was it called? The Spook Room? Anyway, I thought it might be there. I was studying the floor as I walked, assuming I’d see my necklace, and I was all the way in the Spook Room before I looked up and saw Purity.”
Mavis rubbed her arms nervously. I had a feeling she might be picturing the scene in her mind’s eye. “I can still see her. In the chair. With a knife sticking out of her chest.”
Did I know human nature or what?
“I couldn’t breathe for a moment and looked away from her. After that my mind went a bit fuzzy. All I can remember is thinking that if I pulled the knife out, she might still be alive. I know that sounds crazy, but I was in shock I think. I put my hands on the knife and then realized I couldn’t pull it out. I knew she was dead. It was her eyes.” She gave me a look that begged for understanding.
“Mavis, I need you to finish your story. Please.” For a split second, I actually felt sorry for her.
It was a long moment before she spoke again. “I couldn’t pull the knife out, but I couldn’t seem to let go of it either.” Her voice broke. “I couldn’t take my eyes off of her eyes. She looked like she was pleading with me. And that’s when you all ran in and found me. That’s the whole story.”
“I’m honestly sorry you had to go through that, Mavis. It must have been terrible.” An understatement.
“It was.”
“Do you recall anything at all? Did you hear anything? See anything else? Sit quietly for a moment and let the whole thing take place again in your mind.”
She gave me a withering look. “I’d rather not.”
“Please. Maybe there’s something you’ll remember.”
She pursed her lips before letting her mind travel. I could see a faraway look in her eyes. Suddenly she sat up straighter. “Yes! Yes, I do remember something, but I don’t think it’ll help you.”
“What?”
“I heard footsteps.”
“Could it have been us coming down the hall after you screamed?” I held my breath, hoping I was wrong.
“No. It was before I screamed. In fact, now that I think about it, that’s what made me scream. I thought maybe the killer was coming back.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe I forgot about that. Well, seeing Purity like that made me scream, too.”
“Okay, now take your time. Do you remember anything else? Any other sound, or maybe something you saw? A scent, like someone’s cologne?”
“No, that’s it.”
“Did it sound like someone heavy? A heavy footstep, like a man might make? Or did it sound light, like a woman’s step?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I’m sorry, Ms. Webster, but I couldn’t tell you. I just remember hearing someone running.”
“Running?”
“Maybe not actually running, but it did sound like they were in a hurry.”
“Could you tell what direction the person was going?” I was pushing it, but it couldn’t hurt to ask.
“No, not really. I was frightened and I screamed, which drowned out the sound.”
“Can you recall anything else?”
“No. The next thing I knew, you were in the room and someone was telling me to move away from the body.”
“Thank you, Mavis. I have one other question and then I’ll leave you alone.”
“What would that be?”
“Tell me one more time why you gripped the knife. Could you have been covering for someone? Getting rid of fingerprints?” Go for the jugular and take her by surprise.
“Well, really! Here I am, sitting here and reliving that nightmare to help you, and what do you do? Accuse me of being complicit in a murder. I may have to sue you after all.” She stood up and pointed toward the front door. “I think you’d better leave now.”
“Mavis, I had to ask. It’s highly unusual that you would even consider touching the knife.” I stood up, ready to make a quick getaway.
“Ms. Webster, I would like you to leave now. And for the record, no, I wasn’t trying to cover up for anyone. I thought I was going to be able to help poor Purity.”
I believed her. “Thank you, Mavis, for your help. And also for the record, I do believe you. But again, I had to ask.”
“Please don’t bother me again,” she said, leading me to the door. “This is what I get for trying to help. Well, it’ll be a cold day in hell before I cooperate again.”
I had a feeling she meant it, but I set one of my business cards on the coffee table anyway, asking her to call if she remembered anything.
Mavis jabbed her index finger in the general direction of the front door.
Driving back to the office, I thought about the footsteps she’d heard. Maybe if she thought about it, she’d remember something else. And maybe, if I’d handled things differently, she might have shared that with me.
Mavis screamed, we ran to find where the sound came from. How far could the killer have gone before we found Mavis? Apparently, far enough.
Chapter Eighteen
Pete wasn’t back from his appointment with Jason Redman when I reached the office.
Stanley glanced up from his computer and smiled.
“Everything quiet while I was gone?” I asked.
“A representative from one of the insurance companies called for an update on one of their cases. I pulled the file and gave them the information.”
I nodded. “Anything else?”
He frowned. “Chris Cross called. He wanted to remind you that he’d see you in the morning and said to tell you not to leave without him.”
“Ah.” I decided not to elaborate on anything having to do with Chris. Better to let it lie, even though I could see Stanley was dying to ask me about him.
Sitting down at my desk, I began writing notes about my conversation with Mavis. Occasionally I took a ta
pe recorder with me to interviews, but I’d had a feeling Mavis wouldn’t have talked if I’d tried to record her.
“Sandi?”
I glanced up. Stanley was standing in front of my desk. “Yes?”
“Do you honestly believe this Cross person is legitimate? You don’t believe he might be involved in Ms. Patton’s death?”
“Sit down, Stan. Let’s talk.”
He pulled a chair to the side of my desk and sat.
“What is it about Chris that you don’t like?” I asked.
“I’m not sure. It just seems like he keeps showing up. And I do not like the way he’s been pursuing you.”
“Chris is a mailman, Stan, who happens to look very much like Humphrey Bogart. It turns out he’s been following me because he wants to be a Sam Spade, a private investigator.”
Stanley looked surprised. “He does? Well, isn’t that something?” He chewed on that piece of information for a moment and I kept my mouth closed.
“Does he have what it takes?”
“Probably not,” I said. “I think he’s simply gotten carried away with his resemblance to Bogey. I’m going to do my best to discourage him, if that makes you feel any better. And, Stan, he hasn’t set his sights on me or Felicity.”
“Ah, but do you think Felicity has set her sights on him?”
Now it all made sense. Stanley was an average man who’d gone from being a nerdy, accident-prone verse writer for a greeting card company to a klutzy employee at a private investigation firm. My firm. And he’d changed his manner of dress since he met Felicity, and even changed his hairstyle. Although it appeared that he’d developed more self-confidence since he met her, apparently he still had a way to go.
“No, Stan, I don’t believe Felicity is interested in Chris. I think that, like me, she thinks he’s cute. Okay, he’s a hottie. I think she gets a kick out of his Bogey act. So do I. But that’s it. I honestly don’t believe you have a thing to worry about. It’s just kind of fun to be around him when he’s being Bogey.”
Stanley stood up and straightened his shoulders. He nodded and returned to his desk.
“Sandi?”
I turned to Stanley’s desk. “Yes?”
He smiled at me. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Stan.”
I picked up the notes I’d written and grinned. There was something so endearing about Stanley. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside to set his mind at ease.
Pete showed up about five minutes later. I was glad he’d been out of the office so Stanley and I could have our chat. Pete wouldn’t have understood, even though I had a suspicion he was feeling a bit like Stanley. I’d have to rectify that situation.
“Did Redman have anything interesting to say?” I asked.
“Not really. He didn’t hear or see a thing, and he said the blood on his sleeve was from Pamela. He tried to help her pick up the broken glass and she grabbed his arm to steady herself.”
“Do you think he was telling the truth?” I’m big on gut feelings, and Pete’s were frequently right.
“I thought so, but I’ll follow up on it. I’ll talk to Pamela about it. Maybe she can remember who was near her from the time the glass broke until after the body was discovered. You didn’t have a chance to ask her questions when you and the Bogey Man went to the diner, did you?”
“No. She was too excited with Joshua being there and the photo offer from Jolly. Besides, I’d like to talk to her privately.” I ignored Pete’s reference to the Bogey Man.
“Does she work through the dinner shift?” Pete asked.
“I don’t think so. As far as I can tell she’s there for breakfast and lunch, but not dinner. She has a second job, and I’m pretty sure it’s a night job.”
Pete looked deflated. “Oh. I was going to suggest we go eat there tonight and talk to her. Unless you have other plans.”
Although he hadn’t said it, I knew he was referring to the time I’d been spending with Bogey, uh, Chris.
“We can still go out to eat,” I said. “We don’t have to mix business with dinner, you know. I mean, we are engaged. We can have a social life away from work.”
Pete rolled his eyes and looked sheepish. “I know that.”
“Well, let’s do something just for us. How about dinner and a movie?”
“Works for me.”
Stanley stood up and stretched. “I’ve been sitting at this computer for too long. Say, would you mind if Felicity and I joined you?”
I glanced at Pete and had a feeling he was going to say he minded. We don’t get a lot of time alone together. But he looked at Stanley’s expectant expression and said, “Sure, Stan. Call Felicity and make sure she’s free.”
Stanley immediately sat down and picked up the phone.
Pete turned to me. “I’d be happier if it was just you and me, but I think this is important to Stan. You understand, don’t you?”
“Of course I do. And I agree with you wholeheartedly. I thought Stanley was pretty comfortable with Felicity, but apparently I was wrong. He isn’t as confident as I thought.”
Pete grunted and turned back to his desk. A grunt was often Pete’s response when he didn’t know what to say. I was used to it.
“So did Redman have anything else to say?” I asked.
“Not much. He said he never left the living room except once to use the head. Thinking back, I don’t remember not seeing him in the room, but we can check with others to see what they recall.”
“Redman didn’t impress me that night. I remember him as being kind of rude, pretty full of himself. As a matter of fact, I avoided him after our initial introduction.”
“Ah, he seemed okay to – ”
The office door flew open with force and Joshua King stood in the doorway, looking like fury. He surveyed the room, focusing on Pete, Stanley, and finally, me. “The police have been to see me.”
“Oh?” I said. It was up to him to elaborate.
He stood with his hands fisted, pressing tightly on his hips and he was looking down his nose at us. He looked like an actor playing an angry part. I was surprised that I read him that way.
“Sandi, I lied to you.” There was no regret in his tone.
“About what?”
Pete and Stanley were watching Joshua, apparently waiting to find out what he lied about. No, we all knew what he’d lied about.
“Those pregnancy tests. And I lied to the police, too. I told them the same story I told you. But they’ve just informed me that Purity had an abortion. I’m in big trouble.” His actor’s face fell away and he looked like a kid who was frightened because he’d been caught telling a fib. This was bigger than a fib.
Since I wasn’t supposed to know about the abortion, I tried to play dumb. “Abortion? Really?”
“Yes. And now I’m sure they believe I killed Purity. I want to hire you to prove my innocence.”
“I’m sorry, Josh, but we already have a client.”
“Well, I’ll pay you double what your other client is paying. Who is it?” The actor’s face was back and he appeared angry again.
“I can’t tell you that.” Actually, I didn’t want to tell him. His attitude irritated me. He was coming across as though he thought he was way too important. So important that no one else mattered.
“Triple. I can afford it.”
“I’m sure you can, but I’m not dumping another client for you. It wouldn’t be ethical. And we don’t need your business that much.”
Joshua stamped his foot. I clamped my lips together to keep from laughing. Pete turned his back on the man and Stanley gaped.
“I need your help. What can I do to make you help me?”
“Not a thing. Mavis asked us to represent her, too, and I’ll tell you what I told her. By investigating this case for our client, we’ll prove who the killer really is. That is, if the police don’t solve it first. If you’re not guilty, then we’ll prove it in the process of proving our client didn’t do it.”
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br /> “But I’m an important man. Can’t you understand that?”
“We’re sticking with the client we already work for. You may be an important man, but our current client is just as important.”
“But – ”
“No buts. And there are plenty of higher priced and fancier P.I.’s out there if you want to spend money. You don’t need us.”
“But… Okay, I’ll cool my heels on this one. I didn’t do it, and I’m going to count on you to figure out who did do it. And I apologize. I know that every once in a while I come across as pompous. Thanks for reminding me that I’m just a guy who happens to have a little talent and a lot of money.”
I had no control of my eyebrows when they raised themselves in surprise. I hoped Pamela saw this phony side of Joshua, and I hoped it wouldn’t take too long.
“Forget it,” I said. “But don’t be pushy with me again. I don’t like it.”
I could tell by the expression on his face that he didn’t care for my remark. Too bad. What would he do? Stamp his foot again?
“I’d better get moving. I’m preparing for a new role and I need to work on my persona for the part. I’ll be headlining in this movie. By the way, my new film is opening on Saturday night. If you’d like tickets, let me know. They’re hard to come by.” Although his words were conversational, his voice was formal. And he’d effectively let us know that he was an important actor, at least in his own mind.
He turned on his heel and left the office, throwing a wave over his shoulder.
“What do you think, Pete?” I asked.
“I think that guy’s full of – ”
“No, I meant what do you think about his story? Do you think he’s telling the truth?”
“He’s holding something back. I know his type. If he was willing to pay you triple bucks to take his case, then there’s more to this than just lying about the pregnancy test.”
Chapter Nineteen
“Good point. He may have a lot of money, and he could hire anyone he wanted to. In fact, why is he trying to hire us instead of seeing an attorney?” My first instinct would have been to hire a lawyer.