36. Another Date With Madeline

Seated by the window in her apartment, wishing she had a garden, Kathy went over her notes. Rivers had given her an overview of how a Stormont man might react to rejection, but he hadn’t been specific about holding the weapon to ensure a swift death. Deb and Grant had.

But he had said something odd at the end, quietly, almost to himself.

“So sad for such a beautiful object to be locked away. A beautiful woman lost, now a beautiful relic, rich in history, lost to the world, locked in an evidence box, gone forever.” He sighed deeply. “Lost to the world, lost to us all.” He had been arranging his pens and seemed to have forgotten she was there.

Kathy had been getting ready to leave. Ken Rivers had talked for a long time and she just wanted to get out of there. Now she mentally kicked herself for not following up on that comment. She wrote down his words exactly as she remembered them and underlined them.

...

As she dialed Madeline’s number, she thought she would have to be very tactful to find out how her fingerprints happened to be on the dagger. She couldn’t alarm her. She and Sandy had agreed they were not ready to reveal their evidence, but her fingerprints on the knife put Madeline at the top of their list of suspects. They had established possible motive, now they needed to know why she had touched the weapon – if it had not been to slay her sister.

Kathy half expected no answer from Madeline as it was mid-afternoon and she was pleased to hear her pick up.

She sounded tired. “Hello Kathy, how can I help now?”

“Hey Madeline, how are you doing?” She heard a sigh.

“Oh, alright. My husband’s stable, showing some progress in therapy, so that’s good. Work has been routine, no major accidents but I just finished a 14-hour shift. They did a double lung transplant, which was exciting.” She laughed suddenly. “Actually, it exhilarating! But it’s a long time to stand. My feet are killing me. Sorry, I’m rambling. What do you need?”

Kathy didn’t want to keep her. “Are you coming to town anytime soon? I’ve got a couple more questions and I thought we might go somewhere nice, have coffee or lunch.”

She heard a grunt and imagined Madeline kicking off her nurse’s shoes and sitting down heavily. “Good timing,” she said. “I’m in town tomorrow at the lawyers’ about Shaye’s will. I’m still stunned about it, but they’re insistent and you were right, they had been trying to reach me. I have to listen to the will and get started on things, sign forms, be there in person.”

Kathy hadn’t expected such easy agreement.    “That’s great. What time will you be finished with the lawyers?”

“We meet at nine, so hopefully I’ll be finished by 10?” Kathy made a doubtful noise, and Madeline chuckled. “Right, wishful thinking! Say 11 then. Meet after that?”

“Perfect!” said Kathy quickly. “Lunch it is. There’s a Tim Horton’s at the corner of your lawyer’s building. We’ll meet there. I’ll come early, just in case you get done quickly.”

Madeline was silent for a moment. “How do you know where my lawyer’s office is?”

Kathy grimaced. Busted! “Madeline you have to understand,” she said reasonably. “I was the one who found Shaye. I’m involved in this whether I want to be or not. I found her, I called the cops. I’ve had to talk to the police, the coroner and the lawyers. There’s an ongoing investigation,” she spoke slowly, trying to recall what she had already told Madeline. “I’m done with the police now, but I’m also a journalist, remember.” She was not sure she had told her that, but she ploughed on. “I’m writing a piece about this, not for sensation but to push for justice for Shaye and,” she stopped herself before saying “the others.”

Madeline was silent.

“Anyway,” Kathy went on gamely. “The lawyers have access to part of the investigation. They had to confirm who had died, who is next of kin and all that stuff. So, yes, I know exactly where you’re going to meet your lawyers. I’m on your side Madeline. I didn’t mean to upset you.” She grimaced again and held her breath, waiting to see how she would react. She heard another sigh. She’s probably rubbing her feet now.

“I’m not upset. Just a little confused that you’d be involved with the lawyers but then I’m not used to this kind of thing. This whole thing is difficult. I was so happy to find my sister. Then she was taken away from me,” a small, strangled noise came down the line. “Along with everything else going on, it’s a bit bloody overwhelming.”

“Hey, none of us are used to this kind of thing.” Except Sandy and that ice queen of a coroner she was thinking. “Let’s just keep our heads. I’ll see you tomorrow around 11 at Tim Horton’s at Chambers Lane and Center Street.” She wanted to end on a high note. “It will be nice to see you again.” She heard a little snort before Madeline said goodbye and hung up.