40. Autopsies And Curses

Brampton was satisfied. “Okay my turn. Catrina’s autopsy. There were marks on the back of her neck consistent with her being held, like someone held all her dead weight,” he grimaced. “Sorry, bad choice of words. Not exactly fingerprints, but consistent with a hand or palm of a hand..”

“Gloves,” exclaimed Kathy. “Those deerskin gloves wouldn’t leave fingerprints but they could leave a mark. Check with Linda to see if that’s possible.”

“I’ll call her, and we can get a fuller description of the missing gloves from Gordon.”

Lucy placed their breakfasts in front of them, nudging the blueberries close to Brampton. He reached over them for the brown sugar and dumped two large spoonfuls onto his oatmeal followed by five berries.

“What about Deborah. Did she have much to add to our understanding of the ceremony?”

“She was excited to talk about it. She’s obsessed with the pedigree and history of the dagger, but disgusted by the misogyny of it all. By my count we still have three suspects, and no reason to rule any of them out.”

    Brampton agreed. “Three with motive and a connection to the dagger. The only one who didn’t benefit from Shaye’s death is Ashbury, but for him it could have been a crime of passion.”

Kathy disliked that expression, but she nodded. “I’ll talk to Grant when he brings me his photographs, you keep digging into Deb’s background and Maddy’s finances.” She sipped her tea and decided to share what she’d learned about the Stormont curse. “Want to hear some good news?”

“I’m always up for good news,” he smiled. “Don’t often get it.”

“Gordon Stormont showed me the famous book where all the information about the dagger and the rituals are written down. It’s beautiful, gold leaf edges, illustrations, the whole nine yards.” She took a sip and waited for him to ask for more.

“Is this about the curse? We already know bad luck strikes anyone who doesn’t do the mumbo jumbo right. Are you telling me there’s a chapter on women who find women who’ve been stabbed by Stormont men?” He was laughing, and Kathy bristled.

“As a matter of fact there is. I guess I’m not the only one to hold a victim of the dagger as she died. I don’t really believe in this kind of thing, but I was a little concerned to think I’d got involved with a bloody curse. Anyway, the short answer is I’m going to be rewarded with good luck for all my days,” she shuddered. “Horrible way to earn it.”

Brampton felt sorry for mocking. “Come on Kathy, there’s more to it than that, I’m sure. What’s the full version?”

“I thought it was strange they would even cover the eventuality, but the whole thing is strange. The book says if I somehow ended up holding a woman who was stabbed as part of the ritual, and if I held her right, I will supposedly be lucky in love. I’ll find my forever love and we’ll have children and they’ll be blessed forever and ever amen. Lucky bloody me.”

She lowered her head to hide the tears springing to her eyes and missed his startled expression and something that flashed in his eyes. But she felt the warmth of his hand as he placed it over hers.

“Lucky in love, eh? That’s not a bad thing. Maybe we can find a silver lining after all, take advantage of being on the right side of a curse, eh?”

She looked up quickly. He said maybe we can find a silver lining. Is he joking? She looked into his blue eyes and thought no he’s not.