Fruit of the Poisoned Tree

8

Gardenia

Botanical: Gardenia jasminoides

Family: Rubiaceae

This sweet-smelling flower was first propagated in China and Japan. It has been used for a perfume source for centuries. The Celtic people believed planting it outside the door would make a loving family in the house. The Wiccans believe it represents peace, love, and spirituality.

“I’M LIEUTENANT RIMER, AND this is Detective Al McDonald. We’re from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. We’re here to see Mrs. Lamonte about the death of her mother-in-law.”

Gary Rusch’s charming smile didn’t falter. “Come right this way, gentlemen.”

But while Peggy went into the sitting room with Beth, Al and Jonas were detained in the hall by the lawyer.

Peggy shut the door to the hall. “I got here as fast as I could. I thought you didn’t have an attorney here yet.”

“Actually, I left a message on the firm’s voice mail yesterday.” Beth shrugged. “Gary showed up this morning right when you called. I feel like the woman tied on the train track and the cowboy on the white horse rides up in the nick of time.”

Peggy sat beside her and held her hands. “How are you? How are the boys doing?”

“We’re all right. It was such a shock to hear about Isabelle. I think she probably killed herself. She was so damn daunting. But she couldn’t live without Park. He was that important to her.”

“I don’t know if your lawyer can keep the police from talking to you. They’re going to want some answers, Beth. If not now, then later. Where were you last night before ten?”

“Here, I suppose. I really haven’t gone out much the last few days. Everything was closed by that time because of the snow. I can’t believe the police think I would hurt Isabelle. What would I gain by her death?”

“It’s only questions right now.” Peggy squeezed her friend’s hand as the lawyer led the two officers into the quiet, comfortable room. “Just do what the lawyer tells you. Don’t embellish!”

“Mrs. Lamonte.” Jonas glanced at Peggy impatiently. “I’m Lieutenant Rimer, CMPD. You already know Detective McDonald. And I suppose since she’s here, you know why we’re here.”

“Yes. And I didn’t push Isabelle down the stairs.”

Gary put his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t feel like you have to say anything, Beth. These men are here to ask you some questions. You can answer them, if you like. Or not.”

Al and Jonas sat down awkwardly in the tiny room. Peggy knew it was Beth’s favorite place in the house. The small fireplace was surrounded by brightly colored enamel tiles that created a mural using the fire in the grate as the sun in the sunset scene. The four chairs were in shades of orange, and the burnt orange Shirvan kilim rug on the wood floor enhanced the warm images.

“We appreciate your cooperation, Mrs. Lamonte. Let’s start by asking where you were last night between six and ten p.m., Mrs. Lamonte?” Al asked as he shifted uncomfortably in the small chair.

“I was here. I think I was resting after dinner. My housekeeper, Alice Godwin, was here with the children until nine. Then I got up and put them to bed.”

“So you were in your bedroom the whole time?” Jonas suggested. “Did you talk to your housekeeper or your children during that time? Did they see you?”

“No, I don’t think so. I was exhausted, as I’m sure you can appreciate, Lieutenant. I was in my room with the door closed the whole time. The kids can get pretty loud playing games.”

Al and Jonas exchanged meaningful glances. It reminded Peggy so much of Sergeant Joe Friday and Officer Bill Gannon from Dragnet that she almost laughed. She controlled the smile she hid behind her hand and focused on what was happening.

“Well, one thing Peggy couldn’t tell you, since we managed to keep her out of the crime scene,” Al explained, “is that your mother-in-law managed to write a single letter in her own blood before she died. It was clearly a B.”

“That doesn’t mean I did anything. In the ten years I knew her, Isabelle never called me Beth. You can ask anyone. She always called me Elizabeth. She was very formal. But I’m sure there are plenty of people with B as an initial. I was home all night last night. I didn’t hurt Isabelle.”

Jonas got to his feet and paced the tiny room like a caged cat. “Come on, Mrs. Lamonte. You expect us to believe you weren’t angry at your mother-in-law’s accusation about your husband’s death? She said you killed him. We know she accused you to your face right in your home, in front of your friends. That must have made you upset. Maybe you didn’t mean to hurt her when you went over there. Maybe you just wanted to shut her up and things got out of hand.”

“Isabelle Lamonte meant her accusation metaphorically, Lieutenant, I’m sure,” Gary intervened. “Mrs. Lamonte and my client didn’t get along well, not an unusual relationship in families. When she said my client killed her husband, she meant in the sense that she wasn’t good enough for him. But anyone who knew Isabelle knew how she felt about the relationship. It wasn’t a secret.”

“That’s not the impression we were under, Mr. Rusch,” Jonas said. “Isabelle Lamonte was explicit. She believed your client actively killed Mr. Lamonte for the ten million dollar life insurance policy. She told us that her daughter-in-law actually killed her son. There was nothing metaphoric about it.”

“Not that it matters, Lieutenant. As my client told you,” Gary reiterated, “she was here with the children all evening. I think that’s about all we have to say on the matter.”

Jonas glared at Beth, clearly not satisfied. “I hope you’ll advise your client to work with us, sir. This isn’t over yet. We’re conducting a more in-depth autopsy on Mr. Lamonte and checking out the car again as well as continuing the investigation into what happened to Isabelle Lamonte. If we find anything out of the ordinary, we’ll be back. Maybe with an arrest warrant. And we want to talk with your housekeeper. I need her name and address.”

Gary smiled, unruffled by the threat. “If that time comes, Lieutenant, we’ll be here. You’re welcome to the housekeeper’s name and address.”

Al and Jonas left after Beth wrote down Alice’s full name and phone number. She wasn’t sure about her address. Al remarked on the fact that the two households shared the same housekeeper.

Beth shook her head. “I’m sure you’re mistaken, Detective McDonald. I don’t think Alice has ever worked for Isabelle.”

Checking his notebook, Al replied, “I have her finding Mrs. Lamonte last night. She said she’s worked for her for years.”

“He’s telling you the truth,” Peggy chimed in. “I—uh—overheard the same thing outside.”

“Overheard, huh?” Jonas remarked.

“I-I don’t know what to say.” Beth glanced at Peggy and Gary.

“Does this have some bearing on the case, Detective?” Gary asked him.

Al shrugged. “I’m not sure yet, Mr. Rusch. It might. Talk to you later, Peggy.”

The lawyer showed Al and Jonas to the front door. Beth hid her face in her hands. “I can’t believe this is happening to me. Isn’t it enough that Park is dead? Why is this happening?”

Peggy didn’t know what to say. Gary came back and sat on the side of the chair beside Beth. “Sorry about that. We don’t want to give them the impression we’re not cooperating. You need to think back, Beth. Maybe Alice saw you some time last night when you went downstairs for some water or you asked how the children were doing. Maybe she looked in on you while you were resting. She was worried about you. It would be a spontaneous thing to do.”