Death by Shock, page 12
“Yes, ma’am.”
Having regained her composure, Magda looked coolly at Trimble. “I would like to call my lawyer now. This interview is over.”
“As you wish.” Trimble grabbed the safe and walked out of the room, kicking the door shut with her foot.
Shaneika grabbed my arm in excitement, but I remained cautious.
The stun gun?
Not likely.
17
I took the liberty of Trimble’s absence to creep into the interview room with Baby following me.
“I thought you had to be around,” Magda said. “You and that dog are joined at the hip. I suppose you were watching behind the two-way mirror.”
“You’ve got everyone riled up, Magda.”
“It’s just a simple misunderstanding.”
“I don’t think so.”
Magda took out a compact from her purse and powdered her nose and then put on a fresh coat of dark red lipstick. The red lipstick contrasted beautifully with her ebony hair and alabaster skin. Dressed in her white raiment, Magda looked like a character out of a fairy tale. Snow White came to mind. Or maybe the Evil Queen.
“You are one cool customer.”
“Josiah, I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“I’m talking about the fact that Dane Enterprises underwrote this entire weekend for Dr. Reese. I saw the store clerk’s check. It was issued from the Dane Corporation.”
Magda slammed shut her compact and threw it back in her purse. “Dane Enterprises underwrites many charitable grants. We receive over two thousand applications per year and we select about four hundred for funding. Usually of short duration like this weekend dig. Dane Enterprises likes to be of service.”
“You just happened to pick this one excavation out of all the applications you received this year.”
“You’re right about that. It was the perfect excuse to get away and have my family join me for the big news. I find it best to take people out of familiar surroundings when receiving life changing news. Besides, I wanted to see what farms were for sale. I really do want to move here. I’m tired of the East Coast.”
“Is Gavin also something that you are tired of?”
“Of course, I’m tired of him. That’s why I’m divorcing him.”
I laughed. “I listened to your tale of woe of death threats, Gavin undermining you, Margot and Maja impersonating you, and it’s all a bunch of bull. A red herring to confuse people. I know men. Gavin is more of a mouse than a lion. And why would he upset the apple cart? All he has to do is stay out of your way and look pretty when you need him.”
“That’s absurd.”
“Why underwrite this dig? What was the true purpose of your visit?”
“If you must know, Allison and I go back years. We were in the same sorority at college. She asked me personally to fund this weekend, and I agreed. I saw no harm in it. It sounded fun.”
“Ellison looks like Gavin’s younger brother, and he’s just your type—tall, dark, and very handsome. To add a cherry on top of the sundae, Ellison is smart. Some say brilliant in his field of expertise. I’m not saying Gavin is the dullest knife in the drawer, but he is dull to the point that he couldn’t cut soft butter. Perhaps you were thinking of trading up. Since you and Dr. Reese go way back, she must have told you about Ellison’s affairs, and that their marriage was ending.”
“I don’t have to listen to your wild suppositions.”
“What was the plan, Magda? To play damsel in distress so Ellison would run to the rescue? Of course, Ellison would fall for you. You are beautiful with money to burn. Ellison would have been a fool not to accept your overtures. There was one thing standing in your way to seduce him. The plan went awry when you discovered there were other women at the dig with prior claims on Ellison. Sticky. Very sticky. And then there was the murder of Heather. You dropped your plans for Ellison like a hot potato. So much for love.”
Magda waved her hand like a fluttering bird. “C’est la vie.”
“It doesn’t bother you that I am accusing you of being so shallow that you would betray an old friend by chasing after her skirt-chasing husband?”
“Everyone has to have a hobby.”
“Wow, that’s cold, even for a Dane.”
“You can hurl insults at me all day long, Josiah. Doesn’t bother me in the least. I long for the day when I can be shed free of Gavin. Boredom doesn’t even describe what I feel when I’m with that man. Let me explain something about the Dane family—we take what we want. I wanted to use Ellison. Allison had no use for him anymore.”
“I think Dr. Reese still loves him.”
“She may, but their relationship is over. It’s time for Allison to move on. One thing is for sure, Ellison doesn’t love Allison. He used her as he does with all women. I thought it would be nice for a woman to use him for a change.”
“It’s not that I mind Ellison getting his comeuppance, but to do that to an old chum strikes me as chilling.”
“You’ve never cheated? Never betrayed a friend over sex?”
I had to stop moralizing. I had betrayed a friend over sex, and the thing was I never regretted it. Who was I to judge? Still, I kept hammering. It was one thing to play naughty under the sheets, but another thing to snuff one’s life out. “You do as you please, I see.”
“That’s right, but it sure doesn’t include murder. I take pride in Dane Enterprises, and I’ve worked hard to make it a success. I would do nothing to compromise the family name or the company. Even we Danes have limits.”
I scoffed.
“Oh, stop being a self-righteous prig. I know about you. You cross boundaries all the time, but you are right that I deliberately funded Allison Reese’s pet project in order to see Ellison again. I was hoping to coax him into a compromising situation with me forcing Gavin to want a divorce, but Ellison never took the bait. Apparently, he was infatuated with someone else.”
“Who?”
“Don’t know.”
“Were you even threatened?”
“Everything else I told you was true. I used this excavation to kill many birds with one stone—to force Gavin to want a divorce, to tell my sisters about the sale of the company, and to create a diversion.”
“It sounds very complicated and foolish.”
“I like to play games.”
“And in doing so, you got Margot arrested, Maja arrested, and Gavin injured.”
“I didn’t anticipate the complications that would arise when your friend was murdered, but the plan had already been put into motion.”
“How inconvenient for Heather to have died.”
“My family had nothing to do with her death—this I swear.”
“I hope you enjoy all that money you are going to receive for Dane Enterprises. It sure came at a high price for some people.”
“Again, Josiah, you are too emotional. We had nothing to do with Heather’s demise. You’re just looking to blame someone.”
Magda was right.
I did want to blame someone.
Somebody had to pay for Heather’s death!
18
I convinced Sergeant Trimble to order a stakeout at the dig, revealing who I thought had killed Heather. In the end, it was only Shaneika, Sergeant Trimble, Trooper John Cymbala, who volunteered. I joined them hunkered down in the woods overlooking the dig.
Trimble flicked a penlight on her watch. “It’s three in the morning. This is a waste of time.”
“Turn that light off,” I complained. “You’re giving away our position.”
“Shush both of you,” Shaneika whispered. “These Palisades amplify sound.”
“I’ll give you both another half hour. No more,” Trimble said.
Shaneika glared at Trimble. “Josiah is not usually wrong about these things. If she says the killer will show up, then the killer will show up.”
“You make her sound like a human bloodhound.”
“Hey guys, I’m right here. Now both of you keep your pie holes shut,” I said in a low voice.
Trimble gritted her teeth. She hated working with civilians. Again, she was breaking protocol, but if she could bring in the killer, she could save this case and maybe her career.
Trimble settled in, as did Shaneika, who pulled her coat up around her neck. Trimble put on a pair of warm gloves she retrieved from her coat pocket. The night had turned cold as it was still spring. I had brought my sleeping bag, which I unzipped completely and spread over the backs of Trooper John Cymbala and myself. Being young, John had not thought to wear more appropriate clothing. I didn’t mind sharing my converted sleeping bag with the young man. He smelled of fresh pine, which must have come from his aftershave lotion. It was nice. Of course, I would have been warmer if I had the sleeping bag to myself, but then snuggling up to a young, handsome male was not repugnant either. I may be old, but I’m not dead.
The four of us remained quiet until John pointed. “There’s movement.”
“Probably a bobcat or a bear,” Trimble huffed.
“Everyone, be quiet.” I leaned forward, straining my eyes. Even though I had grown accustomed to the dark, it was still hard to see.
John patted me on the shoulder and pointed again.
Shaneika tensed up as did Trimble. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Trimble unsnap her gun holster.
A branch in the woods snapped. Then quiet—an unearthly quiet as if the animals of the forest were holding their breath as well. Just the river could be heard rushing in the background.
We all strained to listen.
The rustle of dry leaves sounded as though someone was walking.
John threw off his portion of the sleeping bag and quietly stood up behind the tree we were under peering into the bare field where the dig had taken place. He also released his gun holster.
I wanted to tell them both that they wouldn’t need their guns as this killer was a coward and would give up easily when confronted, but I remained silent. We had to catch this killer in the act.
A dark form emerged from the woods and paused, surveying the field and then the campgrounds. Everyone was asleep in their campers, and all dogs were safely tucked inside with their masters. The figure moved silently toward the excavation where the dirt had been plowed back and stooped, presumably to dig.
“Wait. Wait,” I whispered cautiously as I sensed John was ready to make a move. “They have to have it on their person.”
The person dug and dug without benefit of a flashlight for over ten minutes until an item was scooped up, dirt shaken off, and shoved in a pocket.
John was getting ready to make his move.
“Wait, John. Wait. Let her get away from the site,” I said softly, putting a restraining hand on his arm.
“She’ll get away,” Trimble said.
“She can’t outrun John,” I said. “Can she, John?”
“No ma’am. I was the fastest boy in high school. I’ve got medals to prove it.”
“When I give you the signal, you are to move on the outside of the woods until you intercept her.”
“She’ll see me.”
“Yes, she will and then she will turn. The rest of us will be coming up the rear and block her. No muss. No fuss.”
We moved up to the trees outlining the field.
The figure stopped, searching the tree line.
The four of us froze. John looked at me waiting for the signal. I wondered if he could hear my heart beat.
Seeing nothing untoward, the figure began moving again across the field to the west side of the forest.
“Now!” I whispered.
John took off like a shot, but silent like a panther.
Trimble and Shaneika ran into the field with me trailing behind.
She spotted John, halted, and then turned only to run into Trimble and Shaneika. Changing directions again, she ran toward the campgrounds until Shaneika caught up with her. The two struggled until Trimble pulled her gun and yelled, “FREEZE! You are under arrest for the murder of Heather Warfield.”
Shaneika got in one last punch until John caught up and took control of the culprit.
Panting, I arrived just in time to hear Shaneika say, “Gotcha, bitch.”
I looked into the face of the woman who had killed poor Heather. “Hello, Becky.”
“What’s this all about? Why are you arresting me? I haven’t done anything,” Becky protested.
“Why are you out here at four in the morning?” Trimble asked.
“I couldn’t sleep. I wanted to make sure the site was covered correctly.”
“Without a flashlight?”
“I have very good vision. I don’t need a flashlight.”
“Yeah, if you’re a bat or vampire,” Shaneika sneered.
Becky felt her cheek. “You hit me.”
“You fell.”
“No, you hit me, Shaneika. I’m going to press charges. Sergeant, arrest this woman for assaulting me.”
Trimble replied, “No, you fell, Becky. Don’t you remember?”
“Surely you saw Shaneika hit me?” Becky asked of John.
“Sorry, ma’am. I didn’t see anything running after you. It was a blur.”
Becky said, “I see how it is.”
I was cold and tired. “Sergeant Trimble, I think you will find two pairs of earrings in one of her pockets that match the ones that I am wearing.”
“You have no right to search me,” Becky proclaimed as John cuffed her. “I have rights.”
“Yes, you do,” Trimble said. “You have the right to remain silent and the right to have an attorney present during interrogation. If you do not have an attorney, one will be assigned to you by the court. There—you’ve been Mirandized.”
“The earrings?” I said.
“Miss Becky, do you have a weapon on your person or something that might injure me like a needle?”
“Go screw yourself.”
“I guess that means I have to find out for myself.” After putting on gloves, Trimble searched Becky and found two pairs of earrings in her left boot. She dangled them in her flashlight.
“They’re agate,” Shaneika said, peering at them.
“Do they have a red vein in them?” I asked.
“Yes, they do,” Trimble answered, whipping out an evidence bag and placing the earrings in them. “We’ll dust them for fingerprints.”
Becky said, “Well, of course, my fingerprints are on them. I found those on the ground. Someone must have dropped them.”
I said, “Yes, they were dropped by someone. Heather dropped them during the scuffle between Shaneika’s RV and Heather’s car. You’re a very sloppy murderer, Becky. You left evidence everywhere. Heather dropped her car keys as well. She must have been holding them in her hand and dropped them when she was tased, but you didn’t see those when you came back to clean up the scene.”
“I tell you I found those earrings on the ground.”
“You weren’t expecting Sergeant Trimble to search all the vehicles and campers in the campgrounds. She even searched the trash where she found the boxes that once held the earrings. You placed them in the trash barrel by the Dane’s RV as to implicate them.”
“You’re reaching.”
“Am I?”
“Look up there,” I said pointing. “Sergeant Trimble put an infrared camera there and another one over there. We should have a good image of you digging up the earrings.”
“I was just checking the site. You’re making a big mistake here. I’ll sue.”
Ignoring Becky’s protests, I continued, “You liked the earrings, so you kept them—a private reminder of how you put one over the rest of us. That is until, you saw my earrings and realized I had spoken with the gift shop clerk. You knew that I discovered Heather had purchased the earrings.”
“You told me there was a tape of Heather buying the earrings. It’s one of the reasons when I picked up the earrings, I knew they were important. I was going to turn them over to Sergeant Trimble,” Becky said.
“Heather was going to give us those earrings Sunday night as a token of her affection,” Shaneika said, her hands rolling into a fist.
“You know nothing of the kind,” Becky said. “You are assuming. You know what they say about people who assume—making an ass out of you and me. Won’t hold up in court.”
I said, “Let me finish, Becky. You saw Trimble searching everyone. You had to get rid of them. No better place to stash them than in an excavated site when you could just wander over and drop them in the soil for the bulldozer to cover. You marked the spot, so you could come back when the heat was off and Trimble had stopped searching the area, but you couldn’t risk them being found at a future date.”
“For the last time, I found them on the ground.”
Shaneika asked, “Why did you murder Heather? She hadn’t done anything to you.”
“I didn’t.”
“You did and you had help. There is no way you could have moved Heather’s body to the river yourself. Heather was a big girl.”
“Again I say—prove it.”
“You set my RV on fire.”
“Again I say—prove it.”
Shaneika said, “Sergeant Trimble made a deal with Ellison last night. He’s singing like a nightingale.”
Becky’s eyes widened. Suddenly, she looked frightened. “You’re trying to trick me. Ellison was released.”
Trimble said, “He has been charged as an accessory to murder. He’s made a deal and left you swinging in the wind.”
“Why do you keep bringing up Ellison? He’s nothing to me.”
I said, “He’s everything to you, Becky. Ellison is a serial adulterer. As soon as he’s finished with one woman, he goes on to the next. Heather was one of his lovers. She really loved him.”
“You call that love? She was obsessed with him.”
“Now, how would you know that?” Shaneika asked. “Heather was discreet and only three people knew of Heather’s feelings for Ellison—Dr. Reese, Ellison, and me.”
Becky stammered, “You—you could tell how she felt. She was always making cow eyes at him.”
