Trap for a Goose

by Liliiana Saint Clair

  ‘Murderers, plural? You’re scaring me. And how many murderers do you have in your account?’ asked Cameron, laughing.

  ‘Please don’t mock me. It’s not my fault that so many people disliked her and wanted to kill her.’

  ‘Kristin, was she so terrible? Perhaps you can say that her death was a merciful release and not a crime.’

  ‘Stop joking, dear. The husband seemed to love her, but he also has a strong motive to kill: treason. Her husband’s father and best friend could also be involved in this death; she was blackmailing them.’

  ‘Kristin, you have a whole list.’

  ‘That’s not all. There is the sister of the victim and the sister’s husband, Craig Davidson, who seems to have committed suicide in a state of remorse after killing Danielle, who was pregnant with his child. Craig Davidson was a completely selfish and indifferent monster, so I don’t think he loved anyone but himself.’

  ‘My dear, I worry about you. This is a dangerous situation with murderers on the loose. I don’t like it all.’

  ‘Cameron, I just watch and try to be careful.’

  ‘Please, understand perfectly well that this a serious business and very far from being a game. I want a quiet and safe life for our family. Do not forget, our son is coming to visit us on Friday.’

  ‘Cameron, do not worry, and before the arrival of our son, I will complete my article.’

  ‘I really hope so, dear.’

  Rainy Morning

  In view of the rainy weather, the friends canceled their regular morning run and postponed their meeting at the coffee shop until eight in the morning so that they could communicate with each other in a positive atmosphere.

  ‘I don’t like this rain, I don’t have enough vitamin D,’ complained Martina.

  ‘Martina, please do not complain, try to get pleasure from fine coffee and good company. Sorry, Kristin, I forgot to remind Martina about the delicious croissants as well,’ said Barbara.

  ‘Barbara, I agree with you that nature has no bad weather, but there are, unfortunately, inaccurate predictions. Therefore, I propose to rejoice in every small gift. Now I will go and order myself a second cup of coffee with a croissant. Well, who worries about our figures? Are you willing to keep me company?’ Kristin suggested, flirtatiously.

  ‘Two croissants in a morning? Do not forget that we missed our run today. Temptation is a terrible thing and as always, Kristin, you are again trying to knock us out of our usual routine,’ Barbara said, indignantly.

  ‘Barbara, you can refuse the second croissant, but I suggest you enjoy your favorite chocolate brownie. I’ll order myself an Americano coffee and an apricot croissant, I’m going to enjoy small things, as Kristin suggested,’ said Martina, getting up from her chair.

  ‘Okay, just order me a chocolate brownie,’ said a displeased Barbara.

  Five minutes later, the girlfriends enjoyed their favorite pastries with a cup of aromatic coffee.

  ‘Yesterday, I bought myself a new dress, now I am afraid that I cannot get into it,’ said Barbara.

  ‘Barbara, you can arrange a fasting day for yourself. Only eat apples and cottage cheese and drink plenty of water. Follow that regime and you easily get into your dress,’ proposed Martina.

  ‘I think that you do not need any fasting day, just rarely break your existing schedule and exercise more,’ Kristin expressed. ‘After our meeting, I will go home and prepare breakfast for my beloved husband then walk to Mr and Mrs Jackson’s house.’

  ‘By the way, Kristin, this idea will not go down well with my husband. He said that Mr Jackson is a very slippery customer and very arrogant,’ said Barbara. ‘He may be the murderer.’

  ‘Kristin, I don’t like Mr Jackson and his son,’ supported Martina. ‘Barbara is right, they may be murderers.’

  ‘Maybe, but I’m going to talk to the parents about James,’ said Kristin.

  ‘Why do you need to talk to them about James?’ Martina asked in surprise.

  ‘Martina, do you think I will go to their house and say, “Good afternoon! I would like to know if you killed Danielle and her lover?” That would be very foolish,’ explained Kristin. ‘I do not understand why you laugh. What did I say funny?’

  ‘Kristin, forgive us, you did not say anything funny, we are just laughing at how you said it,’ justified a smiling Barbara. ‘And I didn’t like how James so readily told you about his personal life, maybe he feels something for you.’

  ‘Barbara, if that was said by Martina, I would not be surprised, but you, among us are more sensible,’ said Kristin.

  ‘Thank you, Kristin, for your frank opinion of me,’ sulked Martina.

  ‘Martina, you frowned, obviously not delving into the essence of my words. If you remember, I declared among us. You and I are more quick-tempered than Barbara. Italians are noisy, emotional people who very actively wave their hands during a conversation,’ noted Kristin.

  ‘Yes, we are a cheerful people, we know how to enjoy life. However, the Italians are not characterized by rebellion, as the French,’ stated Martina, triumphantly.

  ‘Now, girls, it is natural for any person to experience emotions, but not everyone can control and manage their feelings. Remember, it is difficult for a person to restrain emotions such as sadness, anger, despair and pain,’ uttered Barbara.

  ‘Yes, Barbara, you are right. So, our suspect, James Jackson, just found Kristin in the right place at the right time,’ noted Martina.

  ‘Perhaps you are right, Martina. He just needed to pour out his soul to someone, to hear words of sympathy. So, the rain is over and it’s now time for us to return to our duties,’ said Kristin.

  ‘Yes, I agree. Kristin, I’ll call you at lunchtime,’ said Martina.

  ‘Well, it’s time to go,’ expressed Barbara.

  Difficult Conversation

  At eleven in the morning, Kristin was standing on the Jackson’s doorstep, trying to convince herself that she was doing the right thing. Gaining courage, she lifted her chin and forced herself to knock on the door.

  At her knock, the door opened wide and, on the threshold, Fiona Jackson appeared in a beautiful gray dress of strict style and without decorations. Seeing the unexpected guest, she asked in a surprised voice, ‘Kristin?’

  ‘Hi, Fiona. Can I talk to you?’ uttered Kristin in a trembling voice.

  ‘Talk to me, Kristin? Has something happened to my son?’

  ‘Forgive me for the sudden intrusion, Fiona. James is fine, but I would like to talk to you about him,’ Kristin said, excitedly.

  ‘You want to talk about James?’ asked Fiona in an anxious voice.

  ‘Yesterday I saw him, so I made the decision to meet with you,’ murmured Kristin.

  ‘Y…yes, of course, please,’ Fiona said excitedly, with a gesture inviting Kristin into the house. She led her guest into the living room and invited her to sit down in a chair near the fireplace.

  Kristin sat in the nominated chair, nervously clutching a small purse in her hands and said, ‘Thank you, Fiona, you have a cozy home.’

  ‘Thanks, Kristin.’

  ‘I met James yesterday, he was very depressed and unhappy…’ Kristin stammered when she saw Richard Jackson entering the living room. ‘Good afternoon, Mr Jackson.’

  ‘Good afternoon, Kristin,’ Richard Jackson answered in surprise. His gaze lowered, he looked tired and appeared to have suddenly grown old.

  An awkward silence hung in the living room for a couple of seconds. Noticing Kristin’s wary glance, Richard Jackson looked at her with exhausted eyes and said, ‘Kristin, would you like some tea or coffee?’

  ‘Thanks, coffee,’ whispered a flustered Kristin.

  ‘Do not be afraid, I’m not going to poison anyone.’

  ‘I’m not afraid, Mr Jackson,’ Kristin said in a dismayed voice.

  ‘It is possible to lie with words, but never with the eyes — do you agree?’ said Richard Jackson calmly and left the living room.

  ‘Sorry, Fio
na, I did not want to offend him,’ admitted Kristin.

  ‘I know, Kristin. It is difficult for me to put up with this, but the happiness and well-being of my son is most precious to me,’ said Fiona, crying.

  ‘I understand you perfectly, that’s why I’m here, because we are parents. Believe me, the happiness of my child is above all for me,’ said Kristin, proudly.

  ‘Thank you, Kristin. James called me yesterday, he spoke calmly to me, but his feeling of emptiness was evident. He said that he wanted to be alone with his thoughts now. I cried all night and could not fall asleep, knowing that my son was suffering and I could not help him,’ said Fiona in a hoarse voice.

  ‘Fiona, I understand you, but you should not sit, cry and wait. You have to be with him now, whether he wants it or not. Believe me, he will not reject your love, support and warmth if you empathize with him and respond to his spiritual impulses. You need him like you need the air,’ expressed Kristin.

  ‘You are right, I should be there,’ said Fiona, who gloomily glanced at her husband as he came back into the room.

  Richard Jackson returned to the living room with a tray supporting a large coffee pot, next to which, porcelain coffee cups with saucers, a milk jug and a sugar bowl were neatly arranged. He put the tray on the table and sat down on a small sofa. Fiona then began to pour the coffee.

  ‘Kristin, would you like milk with your coffee?’ asked Richard Jackson.

  ‘If possible, then with milk, thank you,’ answered Kristin.

  Richard Jackson handed Kristin a cup of coffee and said, ‘My son does not want to see me and hear anything about me. I just wish that I could be near him.’

  ‘Mr Jackson, you must understand him and not give up in any way. You have to offer your support to him constantly, he has to see it and feel that his father loves him. He now very much needs your help,’ said Kristin.

  ‘I will do everything to regain the confidence of my child. Believe me, I never betrayed him, I just tried to protect his feelings. To our regret, he fell in love with the wrong woman, she brought him pain and disappointment so many times. She was interested only in money and found herself a companion in the same mold, Craig Davidson. After her death, he tried to make money the same way,’ revealed Richard Jackson.

  Kristin looked at her wristwatch and recorded in surprise that it was now ten past twelve.

  ‘Time flies by,’ noted Fiona, melancholically, when she saw Kristin check her watch.

  ‘Mr and Mrs Jackson, thanks for the delicious coffee. Thank you for listening to me and I wish this horror ends as soon as possible. I have to say goodbye to you,’ Kristin said delicately and got up from the chair. ‘See you soon.’

  ‘Thank you, Kristin. See you soon,’ said Fiona with restraint.

  ‘Mr Jackson, may I ask you to accompany me to the gate?’ Kristin asked.

  Saying goodbye to Fiona, Kristin opened the front door, took out a small umbrella from her bag and went out into the street.

  ‘Kristin, can I drive you to your house?’ suggested Richard Jackson.

  ‘Thanks, but there is no need, it is only drizzling rain,’ said Kristin. ‘Mr Jackson, I wanted to tell you that your son is really offended at you, so do not expect an easy reconciliation.’

  ‘I know, Kristin, and I’m very afraid of that. The fear of losing him worries me greatly. I’m so concerned about him, yesterday his face scared me so much. His eyes expressed such inhuman suffering.’

  ‘Mr Jackson, you must be strong to endure all this. And please tell me something, on the evening of the murder, when you returned to Mary’s Street, did you notice anything strange?’

  ‘No, nothing special. We were very worried about James and Fiona asked me to go back and find out how he was. When I arrived, however, there was no one in the house, although all the downstairs lights were on, which surprised me a little, I suppose.’

  ‘Mr Jackson, why were you surprised?’

  ‘Just that that nobody had bothered to switch off the lights when they left, as they would do normally. I entered the house, looked around and realized that there was no one there, so turned around and left. It seemed to me, however, that someone had recently been in the house.’

  ‘What made you think that, Mr Jackson?’

  ‘Kristin, it was nothing concrete. I noticed some raindrops on the hallway floor and at first, thought that someone was watching me. However, these raindrops could have come off my clothes.’

  ‘Thank you, Mr Jackson. I wish good luck to your family. Bye!’

  ‘Thanks, Kristin. Bye.’

  Confusion

  After saying goodbye to the Jackson couple, Kristin felt in even greater doubt than before and began to question her reasoning, so she went to her favorite coffee shop for some comfort. Entering the café, she looked around and noticed that a couple in love were sitting at her favorite table, not looking up, but staring into each other’s eyes. Kristin sat down at the empty little table that stood against the glass wall. Here, as always, the atmosphere of pacification and coziness reigns and made her want to come back again and again.

  Enjoying a cup of Americano, she thought about the phrase from an article she’d recently read, “When you stay one-on-one with a cup of an invigorating drink, then sometimes you get the feeling that all life is this cup, and everything else is unimportant.”

  The sudden ringing of the mobile phone made her flinch. Pulling the phone out of her bag, she saw an unfamiliar number, but pressed the button to accept the call and brought the phone to her ear. ‘I am listening to you. Hi, Debbie. Thank you, I am fine. With me? I am now in a café, if you want, you can come to me. Okay, I will send you an SMS with the address of the café. I am waiting for you. Bye.’

  The phone call from Debbie Larsson was a little confusing to Kristin, she could not have expected such a turn of events, the happy voice of Debbie not only scared her, but also amused her slightly. Thinking about the restrained reactions of the Jackson family, Kristin unwittingly remembered the impassive voice of James, yesterday, when she spoke about Debbie’s feelings for him.

  ‘Yes, James is discreet and phlegmatic, but he is capable of feeling and caring for someone. His gentle and loving glance towards Jennifer Davidson’s children was impossible not to notice. So, is this person capable of killing someone?’ pondered Kristin until Debbie Larsson’s voice brought her back to reality.

  ‘Hi, Kristin. Excuse me for disturbing you, but I’m so happy that I wanted to share something wonderful with you,’ said Debbie Larsson, excitedly.

  ‘Debbie, you shine with happiness. Did he call you?’ Kristin asked.

  ‘Yes, he called me last night. He talked to me so gallantly, although he had a tired voice. And today, after work, I will buy his favorite sweets and biscuits for tea and go to visit him!’ announced Debbie Larsson, gladly.

  ‘I’m happy for you, Debbie. Be caring and gentle with him but not persistent and decisive, and do not forget that you cannot ignore his feelings. Talk to him about the beautiful, he is an interesting person, with a rich inner world. And you should try to conquer this beautiful world.’

  ‘Thank you, Kristin, I will try my best, but I’m a little scared and afraid of disappointment.’

  ‘You know, Debbie, the great Abraham Maslow might have said. “To avoid disappointment in people, one must get rid of illusions. Be able to accept people as they are”.’

  ‘Yes, beautifully said.’

  ‘Debbie, try to be cheerful, it attracts everything that is good.’

  ‘Ha, ha, ha. Kristin, I promise to try.’

  ‘Can I something ask you?’

  ‘Of course, Kristin.’

  ‘Debbie, could you tell me more about the evening of the murder?’

  Debbie Larsson sighed heavily and said sadly, ‘All right, Kristin. It was a nightmare, I returned home and cried on my pillow for a long time. He called me that evening in a drunken voice and said how bad he was. I went to see him and parked not far from the “The Abbey” pu
b. He got into my car at about eleven twenty-five. For about fifteen minutes, he talked about the human soul and the cruelty of people and wept. I could not resist and kissed his lips. First, he responded to my kiss and then, after a few seconds, abruptly pulled away from me, apologized and got out of the car. Kristin, you have no idea how embarrassing it was, I was ready to fall through the earth with shame.’

  ‘Debbie, we are all living things,’ said Kristin, quietly.

  ‘Yes. He headed towards “The Abbey”, stood there for a while outside in the rain without an umbrella, all wet, then turned around and walked with a quick step towards Jennifer Davidson’s house. I quietly walked behind him, like a shadow, and saw when he reached Jennifer Davidson’s house and sat down on the last step of the porch. I stood there for about ten or fifteen minutes, then returned to my car.’

  ‘Debbie, did you leave him alone, sitting on the porch steps in the rain?’

  ‘Yes, Kristin, I left him there, as did his own mother.’

  ‘Fiona Jackson?’

  ‘Yes, only she doesn’t know that I was there and saw how she went to the gate then froze when she saw James. She stood for two or three minutes and left.’

  ‘I wonder why Fiona Jackson did not go to her son?’

  ‘I think she just wanted to check whether or not her son was there,’ said Debbie Larsson, dryly.

  ‘Perhaps you are right.’

  ‘Kristin, my break is over, I have to go back.’

  ‘Certainly, Debbie. I wish you good luck with everything. See you soon.’

  ‘See you, Kristin,’ said Debbie, who got up from the table and hugged Kristin.

  After saying goodbye to Debbie Larsson, Kristin left the café and walked home. She was lost in thought, trying to make sense of everything she had heard from Debbie Larsson, Mr and Mrs Jackson, Daisy Bolton and Jennifer Davidson.

  ‘What bound them together? Love, hate, jealousy or… what? Remember, Kristin, do not slow down,’ she thought. She kept telling herself, ‘I need to collect my thoughts.’