Grave Doubts (A Paranormal Mystery Novel) (5 page)

Lee looked up
with a jerk. “What?”

Robin put the
tray down, took her own dessert, and sat on the sofa.

“Why?” Alan
inquired, putting the pipe down and lifting his fork.

“Because
suicide just wasn't Diane,” Robin said. “You didn't know her very well, Alan. It'd
be like you offering to wear a tuxedo. Know what I mean?” She raised an eyebrow
to emphasize her point. “The whole hospital is buzzing about it.”

“They are?” Lee
jumped.

“Yes, I’ve been
getting text messages all day. C’mon, Lee. Diane had a reputation. And it
wasn’t for her easygoing personality, if you know what I mean.” Robin settled
back into the sofa, letting it engulf her small frame. “She was a perfectionist
and a bit of a snob. And she wasn’t exactly popular for it. Suicide would've
been a weakness she would never have shown to anyone. It's certainly not how
she would have wanted people to remember her.” Robin paused to take a bite of
pie.

“I agree,” Lee
said almost dumbly.

Alan turned to
Lee as he used his fork to cut off a piece of his own dessert. “You said there
were three things that made you think she didn’t kill herself.”

“The third was
her cat, Sasha. Since her divorce, Sasha was the center of Diane’s world. She
doted on the thing. She always left the cat at the vet’s when she went out of
town and only reluctantly let me take care of it the few times when the vet didn’t
have room. The cat had to have shots twice a day and be fed at regular
intervals. Otherwise, like any diabetic, it could go into a coma.”

Robin looked up
from her dessert. “What happened to the cat?”

“Amy took it to
the emergency clinic. It’s still there. I’m not sure who will take her. I don’t
think Carey’s husband would allow Carey to have a cat.” Lee put her pie down
untouched and turned to Alan. “You see Alan, that's what I mean. The cat was
due for her shot at six that morning. Amy and I didn’t find Diane until almost
six that night. Sasha had missed two shots and was in a bad way. Diane would
never have risked Sasha’s life. I'm telling you, Alan, Diane didn't kill
herself!”

Lee stopped,
knowing she was beginning to sound hysterical. She sat back and took a deep
breath. Robin watched her husband, her fork poised midair. Alan looked from one
woman to the other, taking his time framing a response.

“The officers
searched the entire house and didn’t find anything, except the suicide note. They
even interviewed the neighbors. There's nothing for them to act on. Nothing to
prove.”

“I can show you
exactly where the cat's syringes were kept,” Lee snapped. “The middle kitchen
drawer. I showed it to Sergeant Davis that night, but he ignored me. Alan, they
think this is an open and shut case of suicide. They won't investigate any
further!”

“Slow down, Lee,”
he said, raising his hand in a gesture of peace this time. “What you're both
describing are only opinions and hunches. You can't prove anything. At this
point, there’s nothing for them to investigate.”

“What about the
typos?” Lee asked, her eyes searching Alan’s face for any sign of agreement.

He shrugged his
broad shoulders. “She was distraught. She typed the note in a hurry. When
you’re about to commit suicide, you’re not thinking too clearly.”

Lee stood up
and paced the floor in front of the big picture windows. She stopped in front
of a corner curio shelf filled with carved Jade figurines. The room grew silent
as they each waited. Finally, Lee turned, her feet spread apart in a firm
stance.

“I don't
believe it. I'll never believe it. You didn’t know her, Alan. Diane once made
the entire staff stay after work to help her completely reformat a sixteen-page
booklet that was due by eight the next morning because she thought the margins
were too narrow. The margins!  No one in the office even noticed it except her.
But, Diane fretted about it all afternoon until she couldn't stand it anymore. Do
you understand what I’m saying?”

“Committing
suicide isn't a rational act,” Alan countered. “She wouldn't necessarily behave
normally.”

“But why would
she kill herself?  She had everything to live for. She had a great job. She
volunteered at her church and owned a beautiful condo right on the river. And
she had a new man in her life. Why in the world would she kill herself?”

Alan and Robin
shared a guarded look. Then he stood and placed his empty plate on the mantel
where he was pleased to find his tobacco pouch.

“Well,” he
began, pressing tobacco into the bowl of his pipe. “I checked the police report.
They interviewed her boyfriend and asked him the same thing. He said he'd
recently broken up with her and that she’d taken it pretty hard.”

Alan looked at
Lee, but she turned away. The room grew quiet again.

Finally, Robin broke
the silence, “Personally, I think the bigger question is why anyone would
murder her. That’s the part I can’t figure out.”

“I don't know,”
Lee muttered and slumped back into the chair.

Robin finished
her dessert and eased herself up to retrieve everyone's plates. Lee’s pie remained
untouched. As Robin exited to the kitchen, she paused to offer one last opinion
over her shoulder.

“I don't trust
Maddox. The guy is slick. If anyone killed her, I'd vote for him.”

She disappeared
and they could hear the rattle of dishes in the sink.

After a moment
of silence, Alan asked, “Why would Robin think Maddox did it?”

“He was ten
years younger than Diane,” Lee replied in a despondent whisper.

“That’s not
exactly a motive for murder.”

“It just didn't
feel right.”

“To you or to
Diane?”

“To all of us,”
Robin announced as she re-entered the room.

Although Robin
was small, she carried herself as if she were much taller. Lee often thought
that came from being married to someone who overshadowed her the way a mountain
overshadows the valley below.

“He's one
smooth operator,” she continued. “Technically, he’s still married, but his wife
lives in the Medford area. No one knows if they’re estranged, but he’s been
pretty open about dating other women.”

“But why would
he
kill
Diane? He’d already dumped her,” Alan asked.

The two women
could only look at each other, stumped for an answer.

“You guys do
criminal checks before you hire,” he said to Robin as she sat down again. “Has
he ever been arrested?”

“No. He was
clean.”

Alan returned
to the fireplace. “I'm sorry, Lee. I don’t see how I can help you. There's just
not enough to go on.”

Robin sat back
and crossed her legs. “Let's face it Lee, it would be like finding a needle in
a haystack, anyway. There were no windows or locks broken and nothing was
stolen, right?”

“Wouldn't that
prove it had to be someone she knew?” Lee looked at Alan for support.

“It could also
strengthen the argument for suicide,” he disappointed her.

“But you
should've seen Soldier.”

Alan looked up,
his pipe in his right hand. “Who's Soldier?”

“Amy's dog,”
Robin supplied the answer. “Was she with you?”

“Yes.” Lee
leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Look Alan, you guys have
police dogs in the department, and you know how good a dog’s nose is. I read
once that some dogs have the ability to pinpoint a man 500 yards away in a mild
breeze.”

“That’s true. “
Alan agreed, puffing heartily on his pipe.

“Well, Diane
didn’t show up for work that day and didn’t answer her phone when I called. Amy
had to take Soldier to the vet’s that afternoon anyway, so afterwards we
stopped by Diane’s condo. Her newspaper was by her front door and there was a
note from a neighbor. I got worried, so when no one answered the door, I used
my key. Soldier ran into the living room first and was standing next to Diane’s
body sniffing the syringe when we finally got the lights turned on. Then, she started
sniffing her way around the room, like she was looking for something. She went
into the kitchen and even up the stairs.” Lee finished her statement as another
thought slipped into her mind.

Alan sat down
again and crossed his legs. “If only dogs could talk,” he said, re-lighting his
pipe.

Robin had been
watching Lee. “What are you thinking?”

“I just
remembered that I didn't see Diane's vase on the coffee table when we found her.
I was there the night before and distinctly remember the large vase with the
sunflowers sitting right in the middle of the table. She brought it back with
her from Italy last summer. But it wasn't there when we found the body, I’m
sure of it.”

“Maybe she
broke it, or just moved it,” Robin speculated. Robin shifted her attention to
her husband who had been listening and puffing on his pipe. “What did Bud say
about breaking up with Diane?”

“I'm not sure.”
He took the pipe out of his mouth and knocked the tobacco into the fireplace. “I
didn't read much of the report, but I think Sergeant Davis said that Bud Maddox
hadn't spoken to her for a couple of days.”

“Where was he
when she died?” his wife inquired.

“I don't think
he has an alibi, but right now there's no reason to believe he needs one.” The
big cop looked at Lee, giving her a half smile. “You may just have to accept
this one, Lee. I know it's tough.”

“Yeah,” Lee
shrugged, anxious now to leave. She pushed herself out of the chair and reached
for her purse. “I'd better be going. Thanks for the dinner. Sorry about the dessert.”

“No problem,”
Robin consoled her, rising. “I wrapped it up for you to take home.”

Lee turned to
Alan. “And the casserole was really great.”

He smiled and stood
up, putting his big slab of a hand on her shoulder. “I'll see you get the
recipe. Give this some time, Lee.”

“Thanks.”

Alan retrieved
her coat, while Robin retrieved a paper plate wrapped in aluminum foil from the
refrigerator. The three of them moved toward the front door where Robin handed
Lee the pie before flicking on the porch light.

“I'll talk to
you guys soon,” Lee said, giving Robin a hug.

Alan opened the
door, and Robin followed Lee to the car, arms wrapped around her to ward off
the cold.

“Lee,” Robin
started, “I’m worried about you. Maybe you need some time off.”

“Carey agrees
with me, you know,” she countered.

“Diane’s
sister?”

“She stopped by
tonight after the funeral.”

“Why didn’t you
mention that to Alan?”

“I’m not sure
she wants anyone to know. I’m pretty sure she and her husband are arguing over
it. I noticed a bruise on her neck, and I think she hides others with heavy
make-up.”

“You mean he’s
abusing her?”

“I don’t know
for sure, but she’s nervous about this, and they’re having financial trouble.”

“Well, that
could be what’s causing the marital problems.”

“It also gives
him a reason to want Diane dead. They’re the beneficiaries of Diane’s life
insurance policy.”

Robin was
clearly shocked. “That’s a terrible thing to say, Lee. Don’t start jumping to
conclusions. You don’t know that this
is
murder.”

“I feel awful
saying it, but Carey said herself they’re in financial trouble, and he
obviously doesn’t want her talking about a possible murder.”

Robin inhaled. “Wow.
So, you think he may have killed Diane for the money?”

“I don’t know,”
Lee said shaking her head. “The policy was only for $25,000.”

“Should I say
anything to Alan?”

“No. I don’t
want to get Carey in trouble. I don’t think her husband knows she said anything
to me. Let’s just wait a while. You can answer a question, though. I thought
you couldn’t collect on an insurance policy if the person committed suicide.”

“Most policies
have a waiting period before they’ll pay anything. I’m pretty sure that after
the waiting period, they’ll even pay on a suicide. But I can check it out to
make sure. Do you really think he would kill Diane?” Robin’s expression
betrayed her doubts.

“I don’t know. I’ve
only met him one other time. He’s pretty distant, and Carey is certainly afraid
of something.”

Robin cocked
her head, looking at Lee. “You’re not going to be able to live with this, are
you?”

Lee bit her lip
as she considered how she would respond. With a sigh, she made a decision.

“When my mother
left my father,” she began, “she convicted me to a life with a man who showed
his affection by buying me a United States Treasury Bond each year for my
birthday. I only got to see my real father and my brother for a week every
summer. When I was a teenager, my father died, and I began to drift away from
Patrick, too. So, I focused all of my energies on my gymnastics. I was good,
and I had a real shot at the Nationals. But in my first year of college, an
accident destroyed any chance I had at that. Then, I met Brad.”

She swallowed
as tears filled her eyes.

“Our marriage
was a sham. I’ve never said that before, but it’s true. The only good thing
that came out of it was Amy. When he disappeared over a decade ago, I didn’t
care. I never lifted a finger to find out what really happened. I think I’d
already shut myself into a protective box and threw away the key.”

A tear plopped
onto her wrist and she raised a hand to wipe her eyes.

“I’m sorry,
Lee,” Robin said, placing a comforting hand on her arm.

But Lee wasn’t
done yet.

“My friendship
with Diane was different than what I have with you, or even Marion, my friend
from the University. You guys are colleagues, professionals, peers. Diane was…I
don’t know…more like a pal. When I met her, she was as scarred and broken as I was.
She told me she’d been abused by a neighbor boy when she was in middle school. Something
she’d never told anyone. Her father also died when she was very young, and her
mother never re-married. Everyone knows she had her idiosyncrasies. But it was
more than that. She had full-blown OCD. She knew she was different. She knew
people didn’t like her. How could she not? Throughout her entire life people
had made fun of her, criticized her, or even hated her for it. But, you know,
she couldn’t help herself.”