37. Maddy’s Good Fortune

Kathy got to the cafe just after 10:30, although she had no illusions the meeting with her lawyers would be short. Lawyers bill by the hour, she thought as she slid into a booth.

She got comfortable, took out her laptop and notebook and waved cheerfully at the bored counter staff. She would wait for Madeline before ordering. If the counter kids had a problem with that, she’d go for a hot tea and a Timbit.

Madeline arrived just after 11, looking dazed. She sat down heavily. “Phew! It’s good to see a familiar face. Have I kept you waiting? My head is reeling.”

“I just got here,” Kathy lied. “Relax, I’ll order. Do you prefer tea or coffee? Want anything to eat?”

“I’ll take a medium steeped tea with double milk no sugar,” said Madeline with her eyes closed. “Please.”

She opened her eyes and smiled. “I don’t want anything to eat and I never say that! My stomach feels a little funny after all the hot air I was breathing up there.”

Kathy gave Madeleines shoulder a gentle squeeze as she passed. She came back with the teas and two tea biscuits, in case Madeline changed her mind.

“Before we start on my questions, do you want to talk about it? You look kind of spaced out and I know a little about this legal stuff. I don’t want to pry but if you want to talk to somebody, I’m here.” She slurped her tea, and Madeline laughed.

“Spaced out is right. Thanks, I would like to talk a little. You’re probably going to find out everything anyway.” She said it without rancor. She shrugged off her jacket, undid her top button and her rigid posture softened. She sipped her tea. Kathy waited patiently.

“I’m inheriting the house which is almost paid for, her car which is fully paid for, and a small investment portfolio that’s more money than I’ve seen in my whole life,” she said. “Six figures.” She leaned forward. “That’s what they said before they told me the actual amount, and I counted the zeroes in my head. I was not expecting that! I don’t know what I’m going to do with it all.”

That surprised Kathy, too. “So take it apart, think what you really need and what you’ve got here.”

“Good plan,” said Madeline, sipping her tea. “Just walking down here from the office I had some thoughts,” she grinned. “Starting with the car, mine is nine years old with 300km on it, hers is not even a year old, a little red Santa Fe, so yes please! I can sell mine, it still goes alright and it doesn’t owe me a thing. I’ll sell it cheap to somebody who needs it.”

“Right,” said Kathy firmly. “No use driving around in an old car when you can have a new one for nothing, but wouldn’t you keep the old one for your husband?”

Madeline looked even brighter. “I never thought about him driving again! It could happen. And there’s room at the house for two cars.”

Kathy thought about the old suburban bungalow, then saw again in her mind Shaye’s pretty, urban cottage. She cleared her throat. “You’ll sell Shaye’s house, right?”

Madeline looked surprised. “Oh no. We’re just renting where we are now. If we move into town we’ll be closer to better therapy for my husband, and it’s bigger, which will give us some room if we ever have kids.” She stirred her tea thoughtfully. “It’s not too far for me to drive to my work,” her eyes were shining, “and I’ll be driving against traffic with the hours I do.”

A small bell went off in the back of Kathy’s head. Some killers liked to return to the scene of the crime. Some took mementoes, a lock of hair, a book from the victim’s home, others were drawn back to the location. It seemed odd for Madeline to want to set up home in the place where her sister had died.

“Do you think you’d feel okay living in that house, where Shaye died?”

Madeline shot her an odd, almost pitying look. “I’m a nurse, Kathy. I don’t get spooked by death.” Her face softened. “I get sad, of course, but we’re a tough bunch, and I need to find some good in all this bad. Shaye is gone and I can’t bring her back.” She was silent for a moment. “Moving into the house feels like honoring her. As long as I have the house, she isn’t completely gone.”

Kathy lowered her head to hide a frown. Honor again. It’s starting to sound like a dangerous word. She shook off the thought. Focus on the fingerprints. But before she started probing, she was happy to hear more about Madeline’s plans.

Madeline intended to cash in some investments to pay for better therapy for her husband, and better lawyers, too.

“Our lawsuit against the company is getting nowhere, and the law firm handling it confuses me with all their legalese, they don’t really try to explain. They’re just condescending assholes,” she said dismissively. “I can do better now.”

“Sounds good,” Kathy nodded her approval and then changed the subject.