means thousands of jobs here. What do you mean dumped? She wasn’t killed in the guesthouse?”
“No, it’s clear she was hanged, bound, and decapitated somewhere else, possibly on the grounds but we haven’t had time to look. There’s not enough blood in the guesthouse for it to be the murder scene.”
She held one hand up and made a stuttering sound in her throat. I could see her fingers tremble slightly. She was fragile with more emotional faces than a madhouse. I’d have to go slow. I didn’t want to tip her over the edge.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to be graphic, but it may be a few days until we know exact cause of death. She might have died from hanging or she might have been decapitated while hanged. Or possibly some other cause. Gail had something someone wanted very badly, which was why they tortured her and tore her place apart. Rick and I are heading there next before the police seal the place. It might help if you don’t mention the ransacking.”
She straightened and her face came together. “The debate will have to be canceled, I suppose,” she said in a clear businesslike voice. “The scandal of this will put this race into a dead heat. Any misspeak on Henry’s part in that debate could flush the senate seat down the drain.”
She’d taken a wheelie off the road of sorrow and back onto her grinding highway of wife pushing politician’s career. I realized the way she dressed was preparation, a public face for the press conference she had no doubt already arranged in her head. Miss Mathews was no doubt already on the task.
“You’re quite a girl. First you come apart, take a standing eight-count, then you bounce right back with some fancy footwork and a hard right cross. I’d think you’d be a bit more interested in funeral arrangements than political maneuvering.”
She turned and came up close. I looked into her taut face. New things were in her eyes now, fire and purpose and something that put a chill on my neck. Her hand came up but she held it like a poised ax, then she stuck one sharp fingernail halfway down my scar and held it there. “You’re stupid and rough and cruel! Don’t you understand anything? Gail’s not important, I’m not important; Henry’s the only one who matters. He’s in a position to win this race, to do some good. Why in a few years Henry could make it all the way to the White — ”
I laughed, not derisively but just a little half laugh like you give a friend politely when he tells you a joke that’s not funny but he tried hard to make it funny. She didn’t like my laugh.
Her hand fell limply to her side and she stared at me, the temperature in her eyes dropping fast. Then she wilted like a piece of lettuce in a sauna and dropped into my lap. She let it out good, soaking the front of my shirt and clutching me like a sick child. If the cops could see us now they might suspect us both. For what reason I didn’t know, but they were cops, and cops don’t always need a reason.
Okay, son. I can see that you’re hooked. I’ll try to help you where and when I can. But they only give us so many words we can pass on. Be careful. Lean on Rick.
Light footsteps came down the hall and a weak tapping at the door. Miss Dee’s voice was plaintive. The police need to see Mrs. Gateswood. They knew I was with her.
Julia looked up into my eyes. “Thank you for this,” she said in a half whisper. “Please don’t desert me now. Stay on the case. Whoever did this to Gail must be caught and punished. And I…I didn’t mean — ”
“I know. But you’re right, I am stupid and rough and cruel. Goes with the job description. But not for you. For you I’m wise and soft and kind. Please remember that. Whatever I dig into, I can’t always help where the dirt flies. Sometimes it hurts, getting to the bottom of things. I’ll try to see that you don’t get hurt any more than you have to be.”
She put a wet kiss on my cheek, right over the place I could still
“No, it’s clear she was hanged, bound, and decapitated somewhere else, possibly on the grounds but we haven’t had time to look. There’s not enough blood in the guesthouse for it to be the murder scene.”
She held one hand up and made a stuttering sound in her throat. I could see her fingers tremble slightly. She was fragile with more emotional faces than a madhouse. I’d have to go slow. I didn’t want to tip her over the edge.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to be graphic, but it may be a few days until we know exact cause of death. She might have died from hanging or she might have been decapitated while hanged. Or possibly some other cause. Gail had something someone wanted very badly, which was why they tortured her and tore her place apart. Rick and I are heading there next before the police seal the place. It might help if you don’t mention the ransacking.”
She straightened and her face came together. “The debate will have to be canceled, I suppose,” she said in a clear businesslike voice. “The scandal of this will put this race into a dead heat. Any misspeak on Henry’s part in that debate could flush the senate seat down the drain.”
She’d taken a wheelie off the road of sorrow and back onto her grinding highway of wife pushing politician’s career. I realized the way she dressed was preparation, a public face for the press conference she had no doubt already arranged in her head. Miss Mathews was no doubt already on the task.
“You’re quite a girl. First you come apart, take a standing eight-count, then you bounce right back with some fancy footwork and a hard right cross. I’d think you’d be a bit more interested in funeral arrangements than political maneuvering.”
She turned and came up close. I looked into her taut face. New things were in her eyes now, fire and purpose and something that put a chill on my neck. Her hand came up but she held it like a poised ax, then she stuck one sharp fingernail halfway down my scar and held it there. “You’re stupid and rough and cruel! Don’t you understand anything? Gail’s not important, I’m not important; Henry’s the only one who matters. He’s in a position to win this race, to do some good. Why in a few years Henry could make it all the way to the White — ”
I laughed, not derisively but just a little half laugh like you give a friend politely when he tells you a joke that’s not funny but he tried hard to make it funny. She didn’t like my laugh.
Her hand fell limply to her side and she stared at me, the temperature in her eyes dropping fast. Then she wilted like a piece of lettuce in a sauna and dropped into my lap. She let it out good, soaking the front of my shirt and clutching me like a sick child. If the cops could see us now they might suspect us both. For what reason I didn’t know, but they were cops, and cops don’t always need a reason.
Okay, son. I can see that you’re hooked. I’ll try to help you where and when I can. But they only give us so many words we can pass on. Be careful. Lean on Rick.
Light footsteps came down the hall and a weak tapping at the door. Miss Dee’s voice was plaintive. The police need to see Mrs. Gateswood. They knew I was with her.
Julia looked up into my eyes. “Thank you for this,” she said in a half whisper. “Please don’t desert me now. Stay on the case. Whoever did this to Gail must be caught and punished. And I…I didn’t mean — ”
“I know. But you’re right, I am stupid and rough and cruel. Goes with the job description. But not for you. For you I’m wise and soft and kind. Please remember that. Whatever I dig into, I can’t always help where the dirt flies. Sometimes it hurts, getting to the bottom of things. I’ll try to see that you don’t get hurt any more than you have to be.”
She put a wet kiss on my cheek, right over the place I could still
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