That’ll also give you a chance to issue a short statement expressing your shock and sadness about Jason’s death and asking the media to respect your daughters’ right to privacy at this sad time.”
Ginny nodded. “I should also make certain everyone knows I’m still in the race.”
“Good point,” Keith said. “But we have to make sure we get the balance of regret and determination right in your statement. Incidentally, Jo’s right about getting out of town. If you’re here, you’ll be getting ugly questions, and every story will link your name with Jason’s.”
Ginny’s laugh was grim. “Ginny Monaghan, ex-wife of murdered businessman Jason Brodnitz, dropped in on a daycare centre today.”
“You’ve got it.” Keith said. “Let’s get the statement out, then talk about how we can handle the campaign without Ginny.”
Crafting a short statement that conveyed both sorrow and grit proved daunting, and as everyone worked on the wording, my mind drifted to the day my own father died, and I felt an almost palpable connection to Ginny’s daughters, sequestered somewhere in the condo. Finally, I got up and walked over to Ginny. “Would it be all right if I talked to the girls? I thought I could mention the cottage.”
Ginny nodded. “Actually, I’d appreciate that. I don’t know quite what to do there. I think they’re in Em’s room – down the hall, second door on the left.”
When I knocked, both twins came to the door. They’d been crying, but they were poised. “Were you looking for the bathroom?” one of the twins said.
“Actually, I was looking for you. Could we talk for a minute?”
“Sure. Come on in.”
The room had the usual teenage clutter, plus an impressive array of home-gym equipment: a treadmill, a stationary bike, a step bench, and an assortment of free weights. “If you can find a place to sit, sit,” one of the twins said.
I narrowed my eyes. “I’m sorry. I really can’t tell you two apart. You’re…?”
“Chloe,” she said.
I cleared off a corner of the bed and told them about the cottage. As they listened, some of the misery drained from their faces. “That would solve one of our problems,” Em said, snaking her arm around her sister’s waist. “It’s hard to know what you’re supposed to do when your father dies.”
“I remember that,” I said. “Sitting in my room while my mother was downstairs talking to people.”
“How old were you?”
“Sixteen. My father died an hour before my sweet sixteen birthday party was supposed to start. My mother made me promise not to tell the guests because she’d gone to a great deal of trouble arranging things, and she didn’t want the party ruined.”
Chloe’s jaw dropped. “She must have been a witch.”
“She was,” I said.
“So what did you do?” Em said.
“I went to the party. It was being held at a place called the Granite Club in Toronto – very classy. I told my best friend, Sally, what had happened. She knew one of the boys who worked in the bar, and she got him to give us a bottle of cherry brandy and a package of Rothmans. We went outside and drank the brandy and smoked the cigarettes until I threw up on my dress. Then we went to my sweet sixteen.”
Chloe’s eyes were huge. “Your mother must have been furious.”
“She didn’t talk to me for a month.”
The corners of Em’s mouth twitched into a smile. “But it was worth it, eh?”
I nodded. “It was worth it.”
“So what did your dad do for a living?” Em asked. Her tone was casual, but as she waited for my answer, she was intent.
“He was a doctor.”
“Nothing to be ashamed of,” she said. “Not like us.”
“You have nothing to be ashamed of,” I said.
“Right,” Chloe said. “We’re the incredible Brodnitz twins. Too bad our father was a pimp.”
“Let it go,” her sister said. “He’s dead.”
“But we’re not,” Chloe said, and she ran from the room.
Em’s eyes flashed with anger. “There are times when I hate both my parents.” She inhaled deeply, then exhaled. “Coach would say that’s a waste of my energy.”
“Coach would be right. Em, is there anything I can do to help?”
“Yes,” she said wearily. “Wait three minutes and go knock on Chloe’s door. She didn’t thank you for the cottage, and if she doesn’t do the right thing, she beats herself up for days.”
Chloe’s room was immaculate; so were her manners as she apologized for losing her temper and for neglecting to thank me for offering their family the cottage. As I walked back to the meeting, I knew that being Chloe Brodnitz had never been easy, but it was about to become a lot harder.
By the time I returned to the meeting, the statement had been drafted and the focus had shifted to tasks.
Keith spoke first. “Six days to E-Day, and Ginny, unless there’s a miracle, I don’t think you’re going to be able to campaign. My thought is that we establish a group, the Friends of Ginny Monaghan – high-profile, well-respected people who will go into the community and act as your surrogates. What do you think?”
Ginny’s smile was wan. “Looks good on paper, Keith. Let me know if there’s a stampede when you ask for volunteers to risk their reputation for an alleged sexaholic who may have murdered her ex-husband, the pimp.”
Keith didn’t flinch. “Well, you’re looking at volunteer number one,” he said. “As for the rest, you underestimate your power, kiddo.”
Ginny bit her lip. “Thanks,” she said. “I should have known…”
Margot had been quiet during the discussion. Now she was ready to contribute. “Well, before there’s an Oprah moment here, I’m appointing myself the Friend of Jason Brodnitz.”
Zack looked at her curiously. “That’s a new wrinkle. Not many lawyers continue working for a client after he’s dead.”
“I do,” Margot said sharply. “Jason may have been a lot of things, but he wasn’t a pimp. I’ve dealt with those guys and they always made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. I never got that with him.” Margot turned to Ginny. “I know this may seem as if I’m not on your side, but I am. I have a sense that when I find out the truth about him, I’m going to find out who would have a reason to want him dead.”
Zack shot his new partner a hard look. “You’re wasting your time, Margot. The police are digging into every aspect of Brodnitz’s life even as we speak.”
“I have my own sources,” Margot said.
“Who?”
“Mandy Avilia and my sister, Laurie. One of them will know who Cristal’s boyfriend was, and I’m putting my money on the boyfriend as our bad guy.”
“I’ll come along,” Sean said. “I’m working with Zack on this. I may pick up something useful.”
Margot caught my eye. It was just a flicker, but I knew she didn’t want Sean along.
“Round-trip it’s a five-hour drive, Sean,” I said. “Zack won’t be able to spare you for that long. I’ll go with Margot. I met Mandy Avilia at Cristal’s funeral. We didn’t have a chance to talk that day, and I have some questions of my own.”
“So, it’s settled then,” Margot said briskly. She stood and smoothed her skirt. And with that we went our separate ways.
Zack and Sean stayed behind to discuss the case with Ginny, but Keith, Margot, and I left together. When the elevator doors closed, Keith chuckled. “That was a pretty smooth manoeuvre you two pulled off. I don’t think Sean knew what hit him.”
“I disagree,” I said. “Sean doesn’t miss much.”
“I don’t like that boy a bit,” Margot said. “You’ve done your good deed, Joanne. The prospect of a day with Sean did not set my girlish heart a-flutter, but you don’t have to come to Wadena.”
“I know,” I said. “But I’m tired of sitting around, waiting for the other shoe to drop. I want this to be over, Margot. Let’s go to Wadena and find out what we can.”
Margot looked at me approvingly. “You know, I think you and I are going to get along just fine. I’ll pick you up
