Trap for a Goose

by Liliiana Saint Clair

  And then someone’s voice brought her out of her thoughts, ‘Kristin, Kristin, do you hear me?’

  ‘Martina? You? What are you doing here?’ Kristin asked with a surprised look.

  ‘I… I just missed my friend and decided to visit her. Cameron is working in the front garden and he opened the door for me.’

  ‘Then, can you keep me company for a while?’

  ‘Kristin, you know that it is difficult to refuse your prepared aromatic coffee. With pleasure!’

  ‘Okay, Martina. We have half an hour. At noon, I have to be with the Jacksons, to say goodbye to Danielle,’ Kristin said in a calm voice.

  ‘So, you don’t know the latest news. Barbara told me yesterday, she tried to call you, but your phone was not available. Yesterday, James Jackson was arrested on suspicion of the murder of his wife.’

  ‘James Jackson? Martina, I can only believe that with great difficulty, he is so educated and cultured. So, he can’t even say goodbye to his wife. I can’t agree that this horrible murder was committed by James Jackson. But Craig Davidson, on the other hand, is an insolent and unfeeling man.’

  ‘Kristin, believe, even educated people can commit crimes.’

  ‘I agree with you, but we are talking about Craig Davidson. I saw with what indifference he looked at his family, how they have to endure his presence. They have a sick child and it seems to me that he will not lift a finger in order to support the family,’ said an annoyed Kristin.

  ‘Now I understand why Jennifer Davidson has such tired and restless eyes,’ supported Martina. ‘Poor woman, and also her betrayal by her sister. What do you think, Kristin, did she know about the betrayal?’

  ‘I don’t know, but she suffers. She told me that Danielle was the closest person to her, and that she has no idea how to continue living without her sister,’ said Kristin.

  ‘The betrayal by loved ones is very painful,’ whispered Martina. ‘I think it was a stab in the sister’s back. And to survive, it is necessary to be strong.’

  Kristin removed the cezve[1] from the stove, carefully poured freshly brewed aromatic coffee into the porcelain cup and in a melodious voice said, ‘My dear, your coffee in your favorite cup is now tempting you, we should think only about the beautiful. As the great French novelist, Honore de Balzac, said, “After a cup of coffee everything flashes, thoughts are crowded like battalions of a great army on the battlefield.” By the way, Balzac prepared his coffee with his own hands, not trusting anyone with this sacrament.’

  ‘Seeing the opera, Carmen, last night must have influenced you so much that you enjoy yourself this morning by not just speaking, but also singing. By the way, this coffee is definitely made under the influence of music, it has a special taste,’ Martina offered, mysteriously. ‘I really am not sure; in my opinion, the great composer, Giuseppe Verdi, wrote profoundly about this.’

  ‘I remember another statement of your Verdi. “Coffee is a balm for body and spirit”. By the way, it’s a pity that you missed Carmen last night. The opera was great and beforehand we had dinner in a nice restaurant. Today, we decided to continue this tradition and spend a good evening in a cozy place,’ said Kristin, enthusiastically.

  ‘When I saw your message last night, I was scared and Cameron must also have been worried about you. Maybe this Craig Davidson is the murderer. True, I’m a little confused, now we know that it was her husband who did it,’ Martina said, worriedly.

  ‘Martina, we’re not detectives, so there’s nothing to worry about. And yet, I’m already late,’ justified Kristin.

  ‘Kristin, I’m coming with you, are we a team?’

  ‘Martina, you are a great friend, but I don’t want to force you to change your family plans. I can handle it myself.’

  ‘I do not doubt you, and if you have not forgotten that I, too, am interested in all this. You can write an article about this story, and I will draw a caricature,’ expressed Martina, mockingly.

  ‘Okay, then let’s go,’ said Kristin, and she got up from her chair. ‘Martina, leave the cup alone, I will wash it later or it will be attended to by my darling husband.’

  ‘Okay, let’s go, although I am so uncomfortable to be leaving everything to Cameron,’ Martina said guiltily and moved towards the door out into the garden.

  Kristin walked over to Cameron and spoke softly, ‘We are going, you just do not worry, we are adults.’

  ‘Oh yes, it is easy to say that. I would not have to worry if you controlled your childishness,’ Cameron noted.

  ‘We will try, come along, Kristin. Bye, Cameron,’ said Martina.

  ‘Bye, my dear! I leave you only for a while, don’t worry,’ said Kristin in a justifying tone and kissed her husband on the cheek.

  ‘Be clever!’ said Cameron.

  Unexpected Surprises

  ‘Kristin, do you already know about James? It is a blatant lie!’ Jennifer Davidson came running in tears, embraced Kristin and uttered frantically, ‘James is not able to do this, he loved Danielle.’

  ‘I think everything will clear up soon and James will return home,’ supported Kristin.

  ‘Hi, Martina. Thank you for coming,’ said Jennifer and turned to Karen Henderson. ‘Mom, can I get you some water?’

  ‘No, thank you, my girl,’ answered Karen Henderson, crying.

  ‘Mom, you’re so pale, can I get you a little sandwich?’ asked Jennifer, anxiously.

  ‘Thanks, but I don’t want anything. I can’t look at the Jacksons. They always disliked my girl, always believed that she was not worthy of this killer,’ declared Karen Henderson, loudly.

  ‘Mom, please, stop,’ said Jennifer Davidson and went to James’s parents. ‘Sorry, she doesn’t mean what she says. I do not believe that James killed Danielle. I will pray to God that he is returned to us soon.’

  ‘Thank you, Jennifer, for the kind words. You’re right, my son is not capable of murder. He is the kindest man,’ said Fiona Jackson, who then burst into tears.

  Richard Jackson hugged his wife and said gently, ‘My dear, he will soon be with us. I promise.’

  ‘Martina, let’s go and support the Jacksons,’ said Kristin and went to greet them. ‘Good afternoon, Fiona. Good afternoon, Richard. I am Kristin, if you remember me. My friend and I believe that soon James will be with us.’

  ‘Thank you, Kristin! I remember you well, and I am glad that my son has such a wonderful friend,’ Fiona Jackson answered in a very feminine voice.

  ‘Hi Fiona, Richard. Is there anything I can do to help you? We are just in shock, how could the police come up with such a thing. James is an honest man,’ spoke a tall man with a beard who was wearing an elegant suit. And next to him stood a tall woman with a plump figure, about thirty-seven to thirty-nine years old. She was wearing stylish glasses and a trouser suit.

  ‘Hi, Lisa. Hi, Mark. Thanks for those nice words. I am happy that my son has such decent friends and acquaintances,’ said Fiona Jackson in a sad voice then warmly looked at Kristin. ‘Lisa and Mark, you know Kristin and…’

  ‘Martina,’ reminded Martina.

  ‘Forgive me, Martina,’ apologized Fiona Jackson.

  ‘No, we have not had the pleasure of meeting before now. I am Mark Simpson, and this is my wife, Lisa,’ said Mark Simpson, gallantly.

  ‘Nice to meet you. I am Kristin Smith, and my friend is Martina Gverzoni,’ Kristin said, gracefully.

  ‘Glad to meet you,’ said Mark Simpson with a piercing look. Mark then began to speak about the importance of James to the clinic and how both colleagues and patients alike respected and valued him. ‘Everyone,’ said Mark. ‘Hoped that James’s absence from work would be short.’

  Kristin quietly turned in the direction of the stairs and saw Jennifer Davidson, who seemed reluctant to talk to some unkempt woman of about the same age. She felt that she couldn’t take her eyes off this strange scene.

  Noticing her friend’s fascination, Martina delicately coughed to attract the attention of the conversation then su
pported Kristin’s hand and kindly said, ‘Oh, sorry, but we still need to talk to Jennifer Davidson.’

  ‘Of course, I’ll speak to you later,’ said Fiona Jackson in a tired voice.

  ‘See you soon,’ pronounced Lisa and Mark Simpson, simultaneously.

  Seeing Richard Jackson’s gloomy and alienated expression, Kristin approached him, gently touched his arm and spoke in a low voice, ‘See you later, Mr Jackson. I’m sure this nightmare will end soon,’ Kristin said.

  ‘Thank you, Kristin. We really hope so too,’ Richard Jackson answered in a tortured voice. ‘See you soon.’

  ‘See you soon,’ Kristin and Martina said goodbye and stepped aside.

  ‘Martina, please distract Jennifer Davidson for a while. I have to…’ Kristin did not have time to finish the sentence, as someone interrupted her from behind. Turning, they saw in front of them Chief Inspector Duke and Inspector Dave Tanner.

  ‘And what are you doing here, Mrs Smith,’ asked Steve Duke, firmly.

  ‘You? Good day! I… intend to go to the ladies’ room,’ Kristin replied, boldly.

  ‘Good afternoon!’ said Inspector Dave Tanner.

  ‘Good afternoon,’ Martina replied, dryly.

  ‘We need to talk to you, but not now. I will wait for you outside in the street in half an hour,’ reported Chief Inspector Duke and headed for the exit.

  ‘Martina, we have little time. I need to go,’ Kristin reprimanded and afraid to be late, hurriedly went towards the large glass door, which opened onto a wide stone terrace.

  In the doorway, stood a plump woman with blond hair who smoked an electronic cigarette. Seeing an unfamiliar woman, she looked at Kristin in surprise and greeted her with a nod.

  ‘Hi! I am Kristin.’

  ‘Hi! I am Daisy.’

  ‘Today is so cold that my fingers froze,’ said Kristin.

  ‘It is evident that you haven’t lived in Scotland for very long,’ said Daisy in a drunken voice. ‘Are you from Italy?’

  ‘No, Daisy, I’m French. Yes, you are right, I’ve lived in St Andrews for only a few months,’ Kristin answered in a low voice.

  ‘Sorry, but for me the French and Italians are the same, you look very similar,’ continued Daisy with a displeased look in her eyes. ‘And how long have you known Danielle’s family? This is the first time I’ve seen you here.’

  ‘Not so long, I am more familiar with Jennifer Davidson and James Jackson,’ noted Kristin.

  ‘With this killer?’ asked Daisy, laughing.

  ‘I don’t think he’s a murderer. It seems to me that he is a decent and well-educated person,’ said Kristin, dryly.

  ‘It seems to everyone that he is a well-mannered man and rich, so obviously incapable of killing his wife,’ said Daisy, making fun of Kristin. ‘Danielle dreamed of such a good life, to be rich and mix only with the best people. And what happened?’

  ‘The parents of James Jackson are decent and intelligent people; I think that money is not a priority for them,’ said Kristin, proudly.

  ‘Ha ha. I know such decent people, too. He did not even hesitate to have sex with his daughter-in-law,’ gushed Daisy with a sarcastic grin.

  ‘How is this possible? Did Mr Jackson have a relationship with Danielle? Oh, mon Dieu! C’est n’importe quoi!’ Kristin said in horror.

  Daisy realized that she had gone too far, she had said much more than she had wanted to say and now the situation had become very awkward. She was sure, however, that this Frenchwoman with good manners was to blame for everything.

  ‘Shut up! I do not understand anything you say. Speak to me only in English. You forget about this conversation. I have drunk too much and am talking nonsense,’ said an exasperated Daisy trying to justify herself.

  ‘No, Daisy, you told the truth. I just could not expect such meanness from the elder Mr Jackson, and he behaves like a gentleman,’ expressed Kristin, firmly.

  ‘You know, Danielle was no better, she always loved money. After her marriage, she almost never got in touch with me, although once, we were best friends,’ declared Daisy.

  ‘It must have hurt you, Daisy. However, I have not met any other friends of Danielle. It seems to me that the closest person was her sister, Jennifer Davidson,’ remarked Kristin.

  ‘For Jennifer, it was possible to get close, although Danielle always believed that her sister was a failure. Danielle even stole the man who was the love of her sister’s life,’ mentioned Daisy.

  ‘James was Jennifer’s boyfriend?’ Kristin asked.

  ‘Yes!’ proclaimed Daisy, proudly. ‘And I hope all this…’

  Daisy did not have time to finish her phrase, as a glass door opened abruptly and Craig Davidson stepped onto the terrace. He smelled of beer and fragrance.

  ‘Hi!’ said Craig Davidson in a displeased voice, then he took a cigarette from a pack and lit it.

  Again, this terrible persona: brazen and shameless. He has nothing of value, I am even disgusted to say hello to him, thought Kristin and said coldly, ‘Hi!’

  ‘Hi, Craig. How are you?’ asked Daisy.

  Craig Davidson looked at Daisy with disdain and shrugged.

  ‘I have to go already. Bye,’ Kristin said in a calm tone, looking at those present with an air of indifference, and left the terrace.

  Kristin went to her friend, took a deep breath and said, ‘Martina, it’s time to go home and we still have to speak to the chief inspector. On the way home, I will tell you what I found out. Let’s go and say goodbye to Jennifer Davidson.’

  ‘Come on! I’m tired too, and I want to go home,’ answered Martina.

  After saying goodbye to Jennifer Davidson, they left the house, crossed the courtyard and went out into the street. There, they met Chief Inspector Steve Duke waiting impatiently.

  ‘You are late,’ said Steve Duke, dryly.

  ‘It happens,’ answered Kristin, boldly.

  ‘So, I will tell you briefly and clearly. Playing the detective is not the entertaining game you seem to think it is and you must stop now. Please leave this work to the professionals. I hope that we will not return to this conversation,’ pronounced Chief Inspector Steve Duke, harshly.

  ‘Who said that we have fun. I am going to write an article about this story, and we do not do anything illegal here. Maybe you are afraid that we will reveal the truth before you,’ stated Kristin, confidently.

  ‘That’s a silly and ridiculous proposition,’ responded Steve Duke in a mocking tone.

  ‘It’s amazing how Barbara can stand you. How you talk to women, rudeness we will not tolerate,’ expressed Martina, sharply.

  ‘Au revoir, Chief Inspector! Martina, we’re leaving!’ said Kristin exactly and without emotion.

  Partly Cloudy

  Exhausted by her exploits, Kristin returned to where it was always warm and comfortable, and life was measured and serene. Opening the door, she immediately felt the wondrous scent of fresh roses, and in the living room, played her favorite music.

  Intrigued, Kristin quietly opened the door to the living room and carefully peered inside. Cameron was sitting in the chair with a book in his hands, and on the coffee table, there were a dozen gorgeous red roses in her favorite crystal vase given to her by her mother. Amongst the beautiful roses was placed a small white envelope with the inscription, “My wonderful wife”. From such an unexpected surprise, she felt dizzy with happiness. It was surprising that fatigue and disappointment had disappeared somewhere, and the heart had become warm and bright.

  ‘My dear, my lovely husband, how nice to be home! What a bouquet with delightful beauty and enchanting aroma, and even my favorite chansonnier. Thank you for this extraordinary gesture! I am so happy that I have you and our son! I’m sorry I left you alone. I am so ashamed, because the weekend is just our days,’ she said with a hoarse voice, wiping away the tears provoked by her emotion.

  Cameron rose from his chair, hugged her close, kissed her on the forehead, and asked in a worried voice, ‘Kristin, what happened?
Why are you crying?’

  ‘From happiness,’ said Kristin, sobbing.

  ‘Maybe something scared you?’ asked Cameron, anxiously.

  ‘Please don’t worry, I’m fine. It’s just my emotions. My dear, you know how many people like to write a lot of heart-rending stories of family life in various magazines and newspapers, and it always seemed to me that all this is happening in a different world, but today, I was confronted with the other side of reality.’

  ‘Kristin, you knew and told your students about this reality, but you never encountered it in your own personal life and could not imagine what kind of pain it carries. Unfortunately, we often do not notice this, because we live in the academic, scientific world, but real life is built according to a different scheme. We are all humans, and humans are weak creatures.’

  ‘What magnificent roses!’ said Kristin and picked up the envelope addressed to her. Her lips shone with a smile as she opened the envelope and pulled out a postcard then read the message slowly and carefully. ‘How sweet, my dear.’

  ‘Thank you, my beautiful wife,’ Cameron said, melodiously. ‘By the way, it’s time for you to get ready. If you have not forgotten, we have a table reserved at the restaurant. I am afraid of missing out on my dinner!’

  ‘Okay, my dear, I’ll go take a shower.’

  ‘I’m probably going to make us coffee,’ suggested Cameron.

  ‘Oh, that’s a good idea,’ said Kristin and started up the wooden stairs.

  Kristin adored a hot shower and could stand luxuriating in the comforting waters for hours. She idolized this state of peace, relaxation and complete disconnection from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It is in this state that there is no fear and anger, only reality cleared of emotional distortions and hindrances.