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Authors: Christine Warren
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pages. Then he set it aside and drew a small notebook from his jacket pocket. Finally, something she expected a detective to do.
“Dr. Lefavreau said you and Ms. Boucher were the last two people in the museum last night. Is that correct?”
Ella met his gaze and nodded. “That’s right. We shut things down behind the guests, made sure the caterers got everything cleared away and cleaned up, then locked up once everyone was out. I think it was around one o’clock.”
“But Mr. Stanley said you didn’t leave together.”
Her mouth tightened. “No. Béatrice left by the front doors, locking the house and setting the alarms behind her. She encouraged me to go out by the back gate in the garden. I’m fond of the gardens, so she knows I leave that way a lot. She wouldn’t need to check that gate, because it locks automatically behind whoever goes out that way.”
The detective studied her, his expression still open, but his blue eyes sharp. His mouth curved in a small smile. “You and Ms. Boucher aren’t big fans of Patrick Stanley, are you?”
“To be fair, he’s not wild about us, either.”
“There some sort of history to that?”
The question sounded casual, but Ella debated with herself before she answered. “I’m assuming you were paying attention when he and Bea had words outside?”
McQuaid’s mouth quirked. “Kind of my job.”
“Right. Well, I don’t know Mr. Stanley well. I’ve only met him a couple of times, and always at museum events or when he stopped by to talk to Dr. Lefavreau, but he … makes me uncomfortable.”
The detective said nothing, and Ella paused. Patrick Stanley was a wealthy and powerful man. She would have to choose her words carefully and not make any direct accusations. She didn’t have the money to defend against a defamation suit.
“After the event, when Bea and I thought we were the last ones here, I was on my way across the terrace toward the back gates, like I said, and Mr. Stanley just popped up out of nowhere. He startled me. I thought the gardens were empty. He attempted to start a conversation, but I just wanted to go home. It was late, and I was exhausted.”
“Understandable.”
“I tried to move him along. I offered to escort him out front to unlock the door for him, but he…”
How could she say this delicately?
“He hit on you.”
Ella started to nod, then caught herself. That way there be dragons. “Excuse me?”
McQuaid laughed. “It’s not hard to figure out. Attractive young woman. Dark garden. No witnesses. And Mr. Stanley is known to appreciate attractive women.”
That was one way of putting it.
Ella just shrugged. She had no intention of confirming that for the record. Did they still have debtor’s prisons?
“Mr. Stanley made a few comments that I found inappropriate, but Bea came out of the house and interrupted. She showed him out the front, and I stayed back on the terrace to regain my composure.”
“This is the terrace where the statue was located?”
“Yes.”
“And it was there during this whole time?”
She nodded. “I actually sat down on the edge of the pedestal while I pulled myself together. I remember tilting my head back and looking up at it. It’s always been one of my favorite pieces.”
“You said this was a little before one?”
“Between twelve thirty and one. I wasn’t checking my watch, but the party ended at midnight, and the caterers were super-efficient. I do remember it was about twenty after twelve when they climbed into their truck.”
“Okay, go on. You were alone on the terrace for how long?”
Until the missing statue came to life and left the museum of its own accord?
“Not very, I don’t think. It was late, and you might say I had a stressful night. Once I got a hold of myself, I didn’t hang around.”
McQuaid watched her steadily. “Why didn’t you go with Ms. Boucher and leave where she could keep an eye on you? Wouldn’t that have made you feel safer?”
Ella
“Dr. Lefavreau said you and Ms. Boucher were the last two people in the museum last night. Is that correct?”
Ella met his gaze and nodded. “That’s right. We shut things down behind the guests, made sure the caterers got everything cleared away and cleaned up, then locked up once everyone was out. I think it was around one o’clock.”
“But Mr. Stanley said you didn’t leave together.”
Her mouth tightened. “No. Béatrice left by the front doors, locking the house and setting the alarms behind her. She encouraged me to go out by the back gate in the garden. I’m fond of the gardens, so she knows I leave that way a lot. She wouldn’t need to check that gate, because it locks automatically behind whoever goes out that way.”
The detective studied her, his expression still open, but his blue eyes sharp. His mouth curved in a small smile. “You and Ms. Boucher aren’t big fans of Patrick Stanley, are you?”
“To be fair, he’s not wild about us, either.”
“There some sort of history to that?”
The question sounded casual, but Ella debated with herself before she answered. “I’m assuming you were paying attention when he and Bea had words outside?”
McQuaid’s mouth quirked. “Kind of my job.”
“Right. Well, I don’t know Mr. Stanley well. I’ve only met him a couple of times, and always at museum events or when he stopped by to talk to Dr. Lefavreau, but he … makes me uncomfortable.”
The detective said nothing, and Ella paused. Patrick Stanley was a wealthy and powerful man. She would have to choose her words carefully and not make any direct accusations. She didn’t have the money to defend against a defamation suit.
“After the event, when Bea and I thought we were the last ones here, I was on my way across the terrace toward the back gates, like I said, and Mr. Stanley just popped up out of nowhere. He startled me. I thought the gardens were empty. He attempted to start a conversation, but I just wanted to go home. It was late, and I was exhausted.”
“Understandable.”
“I tried to move him along. I offered to escort him out front to unlock the door for him, but he…”
How could she say this delicately?
“He hit on you.”
Ella started to nod, then caught herself. That way there be dragons. “Excuse me?”
McQuaid laughed. “It’s not hard to figure out. Attractive young woman. Dark garden. No witnesses. And Mr. Stanley is known to appreciate attractive women.”
That was one way of putting it.
Ella just shrugged. She had no intention of confirming that for the record. Did they still have debtor’s prisons?
“Mr. Stanley made a few comments that I found inappropriate, but Bea came out of the house and interrupted. She showed him out the front, and I stayed back on the terrace to regain my composure.”
“This is the terrace where the statue was located?”
“Yes.”
“And it was there during this whole time?”
She nodded. “I actually sat down on the edge of the pedestal while I pulled myself together. I remember tilting my head back and looking up at it. It’s always been one of my favorite pieces.”
“You said this was a little before one?”
“Between twelve thirty and one. I wasn’t checking my watch, but the party ended at midnight, and the caterers were super-efficient. I do remember it was about twenty after twelve when they climbed into their truck.”
“Okay, go on. You were alone on the terrace for how long?”
Until the missing statue came to life and left the museum of its own accord?
“Not very, I don’t think. It was late, and you might say I had a stressful night. Once I got a hold of myself, I didn’t hang around.”
McQuaid watched her steadily. “Why didn’t you go with Ms. Boucher and leave where she could keep an eye on you? Wouldn’t that have made you feel safer?”
Ella
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