Read Online Divine Justice by Cheryl Kaye Tardif - Free Book Online
Authors: Cheryl Kaye Tardif
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Monty Winkler's insurance policy?
"Did your husband take out a life insurance policy?" she asked bluntly.
Marilyn gazed down at her hands. "Yes."
"For how much?"
Jasi saw the woman visibly wince.
"I-I'm not quite sure exactly."
Winkler's wife was lying.
Interesting.
Jasi thought about the two vehicles outside. Other than the rude butler, there was no sign of anyone else in the house.
"Is there anyone else in the house right now?"
"No. Just the four of us."
"The police already searched the garage out back. Your husband's Mercedes wasn't among them."
"That's Monty's favorite. Do you think you'll find it?"
"I hope so."
Ottawa was a big city. Finding Winkler's car would help narrow down the search.
"How many vehicles do you own, Mrs. Winkler?"
"Twelve." Marilyn chuckled. "Monty's passion is cars. He likes to collect older models, rebuild them."
"What did he do with them afterward?"
"Oh, he sells them usually. To other collectors."
"And he stored them here on the grounds?"
Marilyn smiled. "In his car motel. That's what Monty calls the building out back. The cars in there are worth a small fortune. He says they're his investments." She paused. "Occasionally, he donates a car to a fundraiser."
Jasi nodded, her attention diverted by the woman's constant use of the present tense. She'd been around death enough to recognize the stage of grief that Marilyn was in―denial. She knew that stage all too well.
After her mother's murder, it had taken her months to realize that her mother was never going to walk in the front door again or tuck her in at night. And it had taken years to get over feeling abandoned, betrayed.
Betrayal was something Marilyn Winkler knew about.
"I'm sorry to ask this," Jasi said, "but is there any truth to your sister's allegations?"
"You mean the so-called affair with Monty? He swore that nothing happened."
Jasi waited.
"Deirdre has a vivid imagination. She's always wanted what I have. I'm the oldest, you see, by nearly eighteen years. Deirdre was what my parents liked to call an 'oops.' Daddy left me in charge of my sister's inheritance. Deirdre has never forgiven me for that."
"So you think she started that rumor in spite?"
"I think she made it up because she doesn't like to see me happy. Sibling rivalry." Marilyn shrugged. "Monty would never touch my sister."
"What about other women, like Karen Hampton?"
Marilyn's eyes narrowed. "That bitch―pardon my French―was someone I trusted. My former secretary. She used to come to parties and benefit galas with us."
"So you think she lied too?"
The woman looked away. "No. I knew about Karen and Monty. All the late nights, phone calls at all hours. It wasn't too difficult to put two and two together. I knew he was seeing someone. I had no idea it was my secretary until I caught them together in his office."
"What did you do?"
"What do you think I did? I fired her ass." Her eyes settled on Natassia. "That woman knew how to use her body to get what she wanted. Not unlike my sister."
"Deirdre was promiscuous?" Jasi asked.
"When it got her something."
Jasi allowed the comment to sink in.
What would sleeping with her sister's husband get Deirdre? Not much, if what Marilyn said was true. She held Deirdre's purse strings. Not Monty.
"Monty knew I draw the line at family," Marilyn said, reading her mind. "Besides, my sister is in a relationship ." On the last word, curled fingers made quotation marks in the air. "Or at least that's what she told me. I never know what to believe with her."
"Where does your sister live?"
"Downtown." Marilyn gave the address. "But you won't catch Deirdre there today. She's in Niagara Falls until late tomorrow night." Her mouth curled in distaste. "She said she needed a break, that she wasn't coping with Daddy's death."
"We'll have to confirm all this with her."
"Just be careful what you believe, Agents. My sister has a plethora of stories . Sometimes I don't think even she knows what's true
Monty Winkler's insurance policy?
"Did your husband take out a life insurance policy?" she asked bluntly.
Marilyn gazed down at her hands. "Yes."
"For how much?"
Jasi saw the woman visibly wince.
"I-I'm not quite sure exactly."
Winkler's wife was lying.
Interesting.
Jasi thought about the two vehicles outside. Other than the rude butler, there was no sign of anyone else in the house.
"Is there anyone else in the house right now?"
"No. Just the four of us."
"The police already searched the garage out back. Your husband's Mercedes wasn't among them."
"That's Monty's favorite. Do you think you'll find it?"
"I hope so."
Ottawa was a big city. Finding Winkler's car would help narrow down the search.
"How many vehicles do you own, Mrs. Winkler?"
"Twelve." Marilyn chuckled. "Monty's passion is cars. He likes to collect older models, rebuild them."
"What did he do with them afterward?"
"Oh, he sells them usually. To other collectors."
"And he stored them here on the grounds?"
Marilyn smiled. "In his car motel. That's what Monty calls the building out back. The cars in there are worth a small fortune. He says they're his investments." She paused. "Occasionally, he donates a car to a fundraiser."
Jasi nodded, her attention diverted by the woman's constant use of the present tense. She'd been around death enough to recognize the stage of grief that Marilyn was in―denial. She knew that stage all too well.
After her mother's murder, it had taken her months to realize that her mother was never going to walk in the front door again or tuck her in at night. And it had taken years to get over feeling abandoned, betrayed.
Betrayal was something Marilyn Winkler knew about.
"I'm sorry to ask this," Jasi said, "but is there any truth to your sister's allegations?"
"You mean the so-called affair with Monty? He swore that nothing happened."
Jasi waited.
"Deirdre has a vivid imagination. She's always wanted what I have. I'm the oldest, you see, by nearly eighteen years. Deirdre was what my parents liked to call an 'oops.' Daddy left me in charge of my sister's inheritance. Deirdre has never forgiven me for that."
"So you think she started that rumor in spite?"
"I think she made it up because she doesn't like to see me happy. Sibling rivalry." Marilyn shrugged. "Monty would never touch my sister."
"What about other women, like Karen Hampton?"
Marilyn's eyes narrowed. "That bitch―pardon my French―was someone I trusted. My former secretary. She used to come to parties and benefit galas with us."
"So you think she lied too?"
The woman looked away. "No. I knew about Karen and Monty. All the late nights, phone calls at all hours. It wasn't too difficult to put two and two together. I knew he was seeing someone. I had no idea it was my secretary until I caught them together in his office."
"What did you do?"
"What do you think I did? I fired her ass." Her eyes settled on Natassia. "That woman knew how to use her body to get what she wanted. Not unlike my sister."
"Deirdre was promiscuous?" Jasi asked.
"When it got her something."
Jasi allowed the comment to sink in.
What would sleeping with her sister's husband get Deirdre? Not much, if what Marilyn said was true. She held Deirdre's purse strings. Not Monty.
"Monty knew I draw the line at family," Marilyn said, reading her mind. "Besides, my sister is in a relationship ." On the last word, curled fingers made quotation marks in the air. "Or at least that's what she told me. I never know what to believe with her."
"Where does your sister live?"
"Downtown." Marilyn gave the address. "But you won't catch Deirdre there today. She's in Niagara Falls until late tomorrow night." Her mouth curled in distaste. "She said she needed a break, that she wasn't coping with Daddy's death."
"We'll have to confirm all this with her."
"Just be careful what you believe, Agents. My sister has a plethora of stories . Sometimes I don't think even she knows what's true
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