Some Saints Prey (Madeline Donovan Mysteries Book 4)

by Madison Kent

  "It was always about recapturing that time in her life before the Civil War. From what I've learned, she had a multitude of people who made this quest easier. Looking back, I believe even the people at the local photographic studio may have reported to her after I left some items there which I requested a photographic copy. On some level, I think most of the city knew what she was planning, and I'm sure were not opposed to the ideas she had. The wounds of the Civil War are still fresh for many; it may have seemed a way to heal and return to the life they desired."

  Winnie touched her hand and said, "Oh, dear, I'm sure sister and I were guilty of just that. We even told her about our conversation with you."

  Madeline patted her hand and said, "She was a complex forceful person whose ulterior motives were difficult to detect."

  "Corinne needed vulnerable people who would heed her commands without too much resistance. She realized the orphanage was a treasure trove of individuals to begin with. She was savvy enough to know the young, unformed children would bask in her warm light. By giving them a luxurious place to play, gifts, fine food, and all the things that they could not possibly get at the orphanage, she could easily sway them to her way of thinking. Not only did they do as she asked, but did it with love, as if they were repaying a kindness.

  "I think most became brainwashed to her way of thinking without even realizing it. Of course, to find someone who would commit murder for her, that was another thing altogether. That person―groomed like the finest horse and coddled until he was all but under her spell, is known to you all.

  "That person was, none other than, Deputy St. John."

  After her last statement, Madeline stopped speaking as the guests began to converse at the table, obviously shocked by her words.

  "The deputy is only one, of perhaps many, who were in her intimate circle. Corinne conveyed to me that there were people in every city in Florida that she could use to do her bidding."

  Odean said, "But Madeline, why would she tell you, of all people, such things?"

  She replied, "Because she intended to murder me and place me in a grave in the forest. I went by the dug up grave during the week, the place where I may have lain for years without anyone even knowing I was there. Because she thought I would die within minutes, she told me about how she used Inspector Davis to squash investigations, and she extended that manipulation to everyone in this city if she needed to. As far as I can tell, most people did acquiesce to her needs without question. I'm sure everyone believed because of her wealth, and the family's impeccable reputation that everyone she was doing was for the good of the people in the state."

  Madeline could see her words struck a nerve, as both the women and men at the table began to fidget. She assumed they also had at one time, or another, did favors for Corinne.

  "The reason for Clifford St. Alder's death was brought on by actions he took that threatened Corinne. Somehow Clifford learned enough about what Mrs. St. Fleur was doing and decided to blackmail her. It was, to Clifford's defense, a benevolent blackmail scheme. Besotted with Emma, he knew, of all her many admirers, that he had the least chance of marrying her. He was not as handsome or rich as the other men. He promised Corinne that if he were allowed to marry Emma, he would be a true and faithful husband, as well as a servant to the cause. Of course, Corinne let him believe she had agreed to his terms―that is why he had an engagement ring in his possession the day of his murder. The very one Oliver and I found embedded in the mud on the riverbed embankment during our search.

  "Deputy St. John, a fit and muscular man, most likely had no trouble holding Clifford beneath the water until his death."

  Clifford's parents, as well as Winnie and Odean, distressed by her words, requested coffee and a moment to compose themselves.

  Edgar stood and said, "Before we continue, I suggest we go to the drawing room, it is more comfortable, and there is bourbon, whiskey, and champagne if anyone would like a drink."

  The guests stood immediately, looking relieved and willing to comply with Edgar's request.

  Before they reached the drawing room, Edgar took Madeline aside and said, "Madeline, I confess to having read your journal when you left it at the gazebo. Corinne asked me to find out what your plans were while you were here. I thought it harmless enough at the time. Now, I feel ashamed, thoroughly ashamed of all the many times I helped her."

  Emily grabbed his arm and said, "Edgar, you didn't! You read our guest's journal. Why, Edgar? I was certain when Madeline spoke that you were never part of this."

  "Emily, I thought you too innocent to tell you about the effort to secede. I'm afraid I didn't think you would understand it."

  "Edgar, you are right. I don't. Secede from the Union―Edgar, I love my Southern heritage, but I love my country more. I don't know what to say. I hope you see how very wrong you were."

  For the first time since she'd been there, she did not see the love in Emily's eyes for Edgar. She hoped the would, in time, find a resolution to their opposite beliefs.

  Edgar took her hand in his, kissed it, and said, "There's no fool like an old fool. Please forgive me."

  Emily smiled at him, and they walked arm in arm to the drawing room.

  Dr. Donovan walked with Madeline and said, "I'm happy it's over, and we will soon return to Chicago. I miss the crisp air of the city, and the noise of the children playing in the streets. As beautiful as the South is, I will always be true to my Northern roots. But the things I've learned have given me a new perspective on how deeply the war's effects remain, even today, on our Southern brothers and sisters."

  Madeline nodded in agreement as she walked away from her father, and then took a seat facing their guests in the drawing room.

  "It was Deputy St. John's rosary that we found at the river. Corinne had given this to him as a special reward after he had completed the first task asked of him. Apparently, he was never without it. It may have proved helpful in connecting him to these crimes, but after we turned it over to Mr. Davis, he promptly returned it to the deputy per Corinne's request and told me the evidence had been lost.

  "Inspector Davis may have honestly thought it was a coincidence that it was found there, as he knew St. John fished the river. Perhaps he thought he lost it in this way.

  "St. John poisoned Lonnie―making it look like he committed suicide―supposedly because of his remorse over killing his friend. It was a plausible outcome, and the Inspector believed it was true.

  "Corinne had coaxed Clifford into revealing that he confided in Lonnie about his plans to marry Emma, and how he was to achieve it. Lonnie had tried to dissuade Clifford from this action. Corinne knew once someone discovered Clifford's body, that Lonnie would tell the authorities of his blackmail scheme, so they decided to silence him.

  "Mrs. St. Fleur didn't believe I was a threat, as an outsider, no one paid particular attention to what I thought or had to say. But Jeffrey Lang was a local who everyone liked and respected. She thought he was the last person she must stop. It was easy enough for St. John, who was at St. Mark's Festival, to slip away and don the monk's garb and enter the tower.

  "It was he who sent the note to me to meet him in the tower. They expected Jeffrey to be with me, and their plan worked perfectly.

  "It was Corinne's idea to leave the thirty pieces of silver, as she told me, just another whimsy of hers, to point the figure at Jeffrey as a Judas to the cause. She also knew that Inspector Davis could be cajoled into thinking the money was payment for the wine left there―all of this, of course, arranged by St. John and some of the other orphans.

  "Corinne needed money, and lots of it to continue to fund her ventures. Although many wealthy people contributed, she was always looking for other avenues of easy cash. The church provided that. It was easy enough to get the orphans into the church and have them come away with artifacts to sell to her wealthy friends in other parts of the state.

  "St. John told me she said it was payback for the church's lack of support when she asked for
favors.

  "They both thought that I would return to Chicago. They didn't want to harm me and have my Father or friends bring outsiders in to investigate. It was the deputy who pushed me into the water at the pier, more as a warning to me. When they saw I was not going away and that others were now assisting in the investigation, they devised a plan to rid themselves of all of us.

  "Corinne planned for Emily and Edgar to be away from their home. Jean St. Fleur invited my Father, Hugh, and Jonathan for a fishing trip. The deaths of the boys troubled Jean, and he questioned Corinne about her possible part in them. It unnerved her, and she now included Jean in those that must never interfere again with her power or plans.

  "A young orphan boy was to set the explosives on their boat while she and St. John came to the estate to silence me. They had dug a grave amidst the thick pine trees where only the wildlife go. There would only remain Emily and Edgar, and she was certain, as they were such close friends, that she could handle them. Inspector Davis would again be led to believe it was either an accident or blame it on the gang of thieves who broke into the church. Most of this information was told to Jonathan Franks during his interview with Deputy St. John.

  "I don't think the young man stood a chance against the strong-willed lady, and her manipulative behavior. He seems not even to understand how terrible his actions were."

  Once again, there was a fervor of conversation, and Madeline waited until the audience settled before continuing.

  "Through some miracle, the boy, Charles White, who Corinne told to set the explosives, could not go through with it. He told the men later that he loved Jean and Corinne, and wanted to please her but not to the extent that he would commit murder. She may have thought this boy was like St. John, or I'm sure she would not have trusted him with such a matter. But she was wrong, and the boy waited till the men returned and told them the story.

  "Her attempt to harm me would have succeeded except for Mr. Fitzgerald, a guest in our home, who heard me leave the house and followed me. Because of his injuries, he was slow to appear. "Corinne took the time to tell me most of what you heard tonight because she thought I wouldn't be alive to repeat it. She seemed to me that she was gloating and enjoying every minute of conveying to me what her part was in this. She thought herself a masterful leader ordained with a destiny."

  At her conclusion, the families hugged and cried, and you could hear people confessing that they had assisted Corinne unwittingly, in one way or another.

  Jonathan and Hugh came to sit by her, "I neglected to tell you that piece of silver you found, that was a piece of the good detective's badge. Your shot did nick him at the campsite that day."

  Madeline said, "It makes my stomach jump thinking he was out there at night watching me, and the other people in the house."

  Hugh said, "I don't understand how he behaved like a sheep for so many years, and that he never grew into a man and realized how Corinne was using him."

  She said, "Having no parents as mentors, alone and frightened, this benevolent woman takes him under her safe, warm wing and nurtures and loves him, that's why he could not see who she was. I think he worshiped her and believed whatever she said must be right."

  Matthew walked towards them and said, "There's something I've wanted to tell all of you, but I was too ashamed to come forward. But now that everything's out in the open, it's time for me to speak.

  "It was me Sister Agnes saw at the church. I was purchasing wine from one of the boys from the orphanage, and I also bought a golden crucifix and a painting. That is where my windfall of money came, not from the horse race, as I said.

  "I purchased the wine for Fitz, and the other items I sold for a profit to a man I knew who collected such things. I never knew they were stolen goods―I suppose I allowed myself to believe that.

  "After I heard from the inspector about the thefts, I was afraid to come forward and tell the truth. Everyone would know I associated with these criminals, and I thought I could never live that down. They dropped the charges against me, and no one knows the truth except my lawyer and all of you."

  Hugh said, "Listen, old man, no one will ever hear about it from me. I think Madeline and Jonathan would agree it is only a venial sin. I'm happy there is an end to all of it."

  Madeline said, "Thank you, Matthew. You didn't have to tell us, but that clears up the last part of this mystery."

  Matthew added, "I'm relieved to know Oliver and Austin did not play a part in this. There was a time when...well, I thought they might be guilty. I know that sounds terrible."

  She said, "Not so terrible, their actions at times made me believe that too."

  Oliver was now at their side and said, "What a revelation. I never suspected Corinne of anything except being obnoxious and too rich for her own good. And as for this business of secession, I think the people in this city must have gone mad. I can't imagine how they believed they could achieve such an undertaking."

  She asked, "Have you seen Emma? She must be devastated."

  "I tried to see her. Austin told me he did too, but she will see no one. Mr. St. Fleur has her under a doctor's care and said she is in shock. He is sending her abroad to live with an aunt in Paris. He still has friends and relatives there who will care for her as he will most certainly face some jail time for his part in this."

  "May I speak to you privately?"

  They walked away from the group, and Oliver said, "Madeline, I'm sure you will return to Chicago now. I wanted to tell you how much I admire you. If you did not pursue this, who knows how many more victims Corinne would claim.

  "I hope we will see each other again someday."

  "Chicago is not so far away. You must come to see us, and let us show you our city."

  He took her hand and kissed it, and said, "I will. I hope we will remain friends, and I promise you, I will come to see you."

  The group returned to the drawing room where Madeline and the men attempted to answer the many questions put to them related to the murders.

  When everyone had left, Edgar and Emily, both hugged her. Emily said, "It's over. Our city can begin to its mending process, with no undercurrent of this nonsense about secession. I can sleep peacefully again."

  Madeline, her father, and Hugh returned to Chicago, and Jonathan to New York.

  When she returned, she found she earned celebrity status as the newspapers told the story of Corinne St. Fleur and included her name as the detective who uncovered the plot.

  For a short time, reporters came to interview her, and many people solicited her as a detective in divorce cases, which she declined.

  In December, she was still not ready to undertake another case. She only wanted to enjoy the holiday season. But on a blustery winter morning, a Christmas package arrived, tied with beautiful silver bells. Opening it, she exclaimed, "Good heavens, Father, come here, hurry...

  The End

  Dear Reader:

  Thank you for reading. Every author appreciates that you took the time to read their novel. An Indie author, however, is particularly grateful for they know you have taken a chance on reading a work from an unknown author. If you enjoyed this book, I hope you will consider writing a short review, reviews are incredibly important for a new author.

  I am currently working on the fifth in the Madeline Donovan Mystery Series, which will find Madeline returning to hometown of Chicago. It's almost Christmas, and she is struggling to maintain a happy spirit and determined not to allow the past to ruin yet another holiday. But when the postman arrives with an early Christmas present, it will change everything.

  Please join me in following Madeline's journey to fight crime, find love, and conquer her addictions.

  All my best,

  Madison Kent

 

 

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