52. Digesting Things At Rosy’s

Kathy arrived at Rosy’s Diner a little after 7:15 in the morning. The day was clear and sunny and she fancifully hoped it might help them see the facts more clearly. She had an idea that she just couldn’t put into words yet. Maybe by discussing things with Sandy the blurry images would sharpen and he’d know what to act on.

He arrived moments after she got settled in their usual spot. She watched him walk towards her, thinking how rugged he looked, but so well turned out too. Brown shoes polished to a high shine reflected the intensity with which he approached a case. The gabardine pants had a sharp crease in them that showed his military background. A tan sports coat hung loosely over his shoulders and hit the police issue 45 tucked in the holster under his left arm. She would never call him vain, but he somehow managed to look like he’d stepped out of a GQ magazine ad.

He was looking very cheerful for so early in the morning. She smiled a welcome. “Good morning, Sandy, you look well.” She wanted to say and handsome, too, but couldn’t quite do it.

“Feeling good, Kathy. I’m feeling good. And I’m hungry.”

Lucy appeared as if on cue and Kathy wondered, not for the first time, if she could hear everything they said.

Kathy ordered a fruit cup, oatmeal, and hot tea. Sandy was back to bacon and eggs but stopped short of ordering home fries and asked for skim milk with his tea.

“No sugar today, detective?” Lucy was ready to play.

“No need, thank you Lucy, I’m sweet enough.” Lucy snorted with delight, Kathy did an eye roll and Lucy nudged her and sauntered away, pocketing her order book.

Brampton grinned at Kathy, who decided it was time to get down to business.

“Right, let’s do this. We need to review everything we know so far, see if any puzzle pieces fit together. Let’s start with Madeleine now we’ve heard the full story. If she didn’t know about the will the money wasn’t a motive, especially now we know she’d worked out a loan with Shaye. She blows hot and cold, sometimes I believe her, other times she seems to be hiding something. What do you think?”

Brampton thought about that. “I’m not crossing anybody off yet, but she’s low, very low on the list now. She’s got a good reason to act a little shaky or hostile, but she seemed genuine in that interview.”

Their breakfasts arrived and for several minutes they concentrated on eating. Kathy put her fork down now and then to jot notes on her pad. Brampton could have easily read them upside down, but he kept his eyes on his bacon. As they filled up, they slowed down and before long they resumed the conversation.

Kathy dabbed delicately at her lips, while Brampton scrubbed at the bacon fat glistening on his. She forced herself to focus. “So if we feel Madeleine is in the clear that brings us to Deborah. I wonder if she’s really going to give all that money away to charity.” Kathy sipped her coffee and waited for a response. None came. She persisted. “She could double her income from the Hopkins columns, that’s a big chunk of change.”

“I believe her,” he said. “Looks like I believe her more than you do. There was something genuine about her reactions, hard to think it might all be fake. The record shows the Hopkins Sisters give away at least 10% of everything to those children’s hospitals.”

They sat back. That covered the two women. Kathy looked at her notes. “So Grant Ashbury. We’ve seen from his photos he was obsessed with Catrina at university, and he was infatuated with Shaye at high school, then years later when she turns up at work. Pretty strange coincidence to have strong feelings for two dead women, but it’s hard to think of him killing them. If the dagger is instrumental, he’s not a Stormont man and so not really part of the ceremony.” She couldn’t believe she was giving consideration to the twisted, misogynist family ritual. She stopped talking, stared at the table, then her head snapped up.

“I thought about those photographs all night and I’ve got an idea. We need to get back and look at them right now!” She pushed her plate away. As if by magic, Lucy appeared with their bills. They had a hard and fast rule that each paid for their own meal.

“You’re amazing Lucy, how do you always know when we want the bill? Sometimes before we do?” Kathy asked as she gathered her things.

“Trade secrets my friend,” said the perky woman tapping the side of her nose. “I can’t reveal them or I’ll be barred from the grand waitress club of old-time diners.”

Kathy laughed. She loved the routine with Lucy.