Миранда Джеймс - File M For Murder

Before I could follow up on that, a knock sounded at the door. I jerked to attention, suddenly aware I’d let my guard down completely. Diesel, however, was meowing as he walked around the desk to greet the new visitor.

Kanesha Berry stood in the doorway. “Morning, Mr. Harris, Miss Harris. I stopped by your house, and Mr. Delacorte told me you’d be here.” She glanced down at the cat, now standing in front of her and gazing up. “Hello, cat.” Diesel meowed again.

“Come in, Deputy,” I said. “Am I ever glad to see you.”

Kanesha stepped around Diesel, but the cat followed her for the few steps she took. I motioned toward the chair. “Please, have a seat.”

“Thanks,” Kanesha said. She started to sit, but stopped abruptly and pointed to something in the chair. “What’s that? Where did it come from?”

I moved closer to see what she was talking about. In the middle of the seat lay a purple sequin and two small beads.

“They probably came off Sarabeth’s dress,” I said. “Or caftan, really. She wears these highly decorated ones. They have beads and sequins and things all over them.” I made a move to sweep them out of the chair, but Kanesha stopped me.

“Sarabeth Conley?” she said. “These came from her clothes?”

Her sharp tone told me that there was something significant about these little objects. “Yes, she was just here talking to us and sat in the chair. I was sitting there before she came in, and they weren’t in the chair then.”

Kanesha pulled out her cell phone. “Bates, come on in and bring the kit.” She ended the call. “You have something urgent to talk to me about. What is it?”

I glanced down at the seat of the chair and back at her. Her expression didn’t change. I was burning with curiosity, and from one quick glance at my daughter I knew Laura was, too.

“Yes, I do. It’s about the murders. We’ve come across some information you should have, if you don’t already.”

Kanesha didn’t change expression, but somehow I could feel her irritation. “Well, go on. What is it?”

“It’s about the Norris family. I don’t know whether you remember when Sarabeth’s father, Hubert, died, almost thirty years ago.”

Her expression altered to one of minimal interest. “I was in junior high. I vaguely recall it.”

“His death was ruled an accident. He drowned in the bathtub after drinking whisky. There was an investigation that lasted three months, but the final verdict was accidental death.”

“But you obviously think there was more to it.” Kanesha crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the door frame.

“I think he might have been murdered.” I hurried through the explanation of the method, but before I could get into the motive, Deputy Bates appeared.

“Excuse me.” Kanesha pointed to the seat of the chair. “Bag that and label it ‘Sarabeth Norris.’”

Bates got to work, and Kanesha focused her attention on me again. “Please continue.”

I complied with her request, and it took me several minutes to outline the main points I wanted to make. Bates finished his task while I talked, and Kanesha motioned for him to wait in the hall. Laura kept Diesel by her side and hushed him a couple of times when he tried to contribute to my narrative. Kanesha didn’t appear amused by that, though I had to suppress a smile.

When I finally ran down, I thought I spotted a ghost of a smile hovering around Kanesha’s lips.

“Interesting.” She nodded. “Anything else?”

I decided to tell her about Sarabeth’s odd behavior during her visit just now. “What do you think?” I asked when I finished.

“Also interesting. It’s all beginning to fit together.” Kanesha nodded. “I appreciate your information, Mr. Harris.” She turned as if to leave.

“Come on, now,” I said. “You can’t just go and not say more than that.”

She turned back with an actual smile. “No, I guess not.” She glanced at Laura, then back at me. “Thanks to those little doodads in the chair, I now have pretty conclusive evidence that Sarabeth Conley murdered Connor Lawton.”

FORTY-TWO

“A sequin and two beads conclusive evidence? How?” Had they found similar items in Connor’s apartment?

“Okay, what I’m about to tell you hasn’t officially been released yet, but as the closest thing Lawton had to family, I think you should know.” Kanesha paused to stick her head out the door and confer briefly with Bates. When she finished she pushed the door closed and leaned against it.

“Why don’t you sit?” She nodded at the chair.

“Okay.” I sat, wishing she’d hurry up and start talking.

“The autopsy on Lawton hasn’t been finalized, but we do know that he was suffocated. He had a high blood alcohol content, so more than likely he was passed out when it happened, and may have died without ever waking up.”

I checked Laura and, although she had paled, she seemed composed. My heart went out to her, because I knew this was difficult for her. Having to hear the details of how a friend died is never easy.

When neither Laura nor I commented, Kanesha continued. “The pathologist at first couldn’t figure out how it was done, but she did find some odd things lodged in his nasal passages and in his beard. I had no idea where they came from until today.”

“Beads and sequins,” I said, dumbfounded. “From one of Sarabeth’s caftans. But how?”

Kanesha shrugged. “I think she maybe just wadded up part of her caftan and covered his nose and mouth with it. She was strong enough to hold him down if he roused and started to struggle.”

Laura cried out at that, and I couldn’t blame her. The image conjured by Kanesha’s words was disturbing. I got up from my chair and went to comfort Laura. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” I said softly as I squatted by her chair. I put my arms around her, and she laid her head on my shoulder for a moment. Then she pulled away to find a tissue and dab at her eyes.

“Sorry,” Kanesha said. “I know it’s upsetting, but I think that has to be the way it happened.”

“You’re right.” I shook my head as I stood. I remained beside Laura. “It’s all too easy to visualize, unfortunately. In both cases, she took the most expedient means, and the fact that she’s tall and strong made it so much easier.” Diesel rubbed hard against my legs, seeking comfort, and I rubbed his head.

“Yes. I’m going to be arresting her shortly, as soon as I can get the warrant, and you won’t have to worry about her anymore.” Kanesha smiled grimly.

“That’s wonderful,” I said. “But what about Levi Norris? Do you think he’s responsible for Damitra Vane’s murder and the rest?”

“That’s one reason I wanted to talk to you too this morning.” Kanesha sounded smug. “By the way, that was a letter bomb, and you were smart to do exactly what you did. It could have killed whoever opened it and anyone standing nearby.”

For a moment I felt like I was going to pass out, and I leaned against Laura’s chair. I managed to collect myself when I heard Laura saying “Dad! Daddy, are you okay?”

“I’m okay,” I said, though my voice sounded strained, even to me. Laura got up and insisted that I take her chair. Since my knees were still wobbly, I did, and she stood by me with an arm across my shoulders.

Kanesha, with a guilty expression, apologized. “Didn’t think you’d react that way. I shouldn’t be so blunt sometimes.”

I nodded but didn’t comment.

After a moment she continued. “You won’t have to worry about Levi Norris either. The police picked him up about an hour ago, and he’s in jail, pending charges.”