by J A Whiting
Nicole’s hand went to her throat. “You think….”
Vanessa didn’t look up. “I don’t know if it was by his hand or not, but his foolish affair is the reason my mother is dead. I just know it.”
Claire asked gently, “What was your mother’s mental state? Could she have taken her own life?”
Vanessa’s head shot up, her eyes flashing. “Absolutely not. My mother would never have jumped from that window.”
Claire knew that people did things they wouldn’t normally do when under duress. “Did your parents drink? Do either of them take medication?”
“What does that mean?” Vanessa challenged.
“I mean,” Claire said slowly, “maybe your mother and father had a few drinks that night. Maybe she and your father had words about the affair. Maybe she was so distraught that--”
Vanessa held up her hand in a “stop” gesture. “No. No matter how upset my mother might have been, she would never do anything that would take her away from Maddy and me. No. She did not jump from that window.”
“Have any reports come back from the medical examiner?” Nicole asked. “That information could shed some light on what might have happened.”
“Nothing is back yet. Tomorrow, possibly.” Vanessa’s anger over the suggestion that her mother might have taken her life seemed to fade and her energy seemed to flag as she leaned against the sofa, her shoulders sagging.
“You said that you’d like us to talk to some people.” Claire moved the discussion in a different direction. “Who should we start with?”
Vanessa adjusted her position on the sofa and sat up straighter trying to collect herself. “I’d like you to talk to the neighbor. Lorraine Hale. She and her husband were friends of my parents. Lorraine was a close friend of my mother’s for years. She might tell you things she wouldn’t say to me.”
“Is there someone else you’d like us to speak with?” Nicole asked.
“My father.” Vanessa’s words were hard. “I want you to talk to him. I’ll show you the room, the window where Mom fell from.”
When she heard that Vanessa wanted them to talk to her father, Claire’s stomach lurched. The man must be in a terrible state and talking to him would seem intrusive. Trying to think of reasons she could voice against paying the man a visit, Vanessa headed off her concerns.
“I know Dad is in a delicate state right now, but I think this is the time to question him. He might let something slip. He might not be able to keep his guard up.”
Nicole looked as wary as Claire did. “When do you want us to visit him?”
“Tomorrow tonight. As soon as we finish talking here, I’m going to Dad’s house. I’m going to move back there for a while.” Vanessa’s eyes darkened. “Maddy’s living in the house. I don’t want her home alone with Dad. Can you make it tomorrow night?”
Nicole took a quick look at Claire and then said, “I guess we could come over tomorrow.”
Vanessa suggested a time and the girls agreed.
“What else can you tell us?” Claire asked. “Do you know the name of the woman your father was seeing?” Claire noticed Vanessa’s jaw tighten as she took in a long breath.
“I know her name.” Vanessa didn’t say anything for half a minute. “Her name is Victoria Lowe.”
The name sounded familiar to Claire, but she couldn’t immediately place it.
Nicole spoke up. “Victoria Lowe? She’s a state representative, isn’t she?”
Vanessa gave a slight nod.
“Wow. Victoria Lowe’s husband is a political advisor. He works in D.C. Obviously, no one knows about the affair. It would be all over the news.”
Tension squeezed Claire’s stomach. “Do you know Victoria Lowe?”
“I met her once,” Vanessa said. “Dad took all of us to a political fundraiser in Boston. It was a big deal with lots of important people. He introduced us to Representative Lowe … me, Maddy, and mom.” Vanessa smiled, but it looked like more of a grimace. “Dad was in the middle of an affair with the woman and he had the gall to introduce us to her. Can you imagine? I feel like I don’t even know him anymore. He makes me sick.”
“Should we talk to Victoria Lowe?” Nicole asked. “See if your father is stilling seeing her?”
“I don’t think there’s any use. She’d never admit to it,” Claire said. “Especially now, under the circumstances. She wouldn’t want to get pulled into the whole mess. I imagine that Ms. Lowe wouldn’t want to get between Dr. Dodd and the family. I’m sure she would want to protect him.”
“That’s true.” Nicole deflated.
“Is there anything else you can remember about talking to your father the morning after the accident?” Claire asked.
Vanessa thought back on her interaction with her father. “Just his odd request not to talk to the authorities, not to let Maddy talk to them. And he seemed so disconnected, so spaced out.”
“How is Maddy doing?” Nicole asked.
“She’s a mess.” Tears gathered in Vanessa’s eyes. “She’s been sleeping most of the time. That’s one of the reasons I need to move back into the house for a while.” Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, she added, “The other reason is to find out what happened to my mother.” Vanessa took a quick look at her phone to check the time. “I should get going. I want to get to the house.” She stood up and thanked Nicole and Claire for their help, and taking Nicole’s hand, she said, “I’ve known you for a long time. There aren’t many people I’d trust to ask for help in this thing. Thank you for being here for me.”
Nicole and Vanessa hugged.
“I need to run. I worry about Maddy being in the house with Dad. I don’t trust him. I’ll walk out with you.”
Vanessa grabbed a small rolling suitcase and locked the apartment door before descending the staircase to the first floor of the building with Nicole and Claire. Outside on the sidewalk, Vanessa dropped her wallet when fumbling for a credit card for the cab. Claire picked it up and handed it back, and when she did, she brushed hands with the young woman causing a ping in Claire’s brain.
The cab pulled to the curb, but before Vanessa got in, Claire asked, “Did Maddy say anything about how your father looked last night?”
Vanessa turned and thought back to the previous evening when she was sitting with her sister at the hospital and her eyebrows raised. “Maddy said Dad looked spaced out. She said he had blood on the side of his face.” Vanessa breathed deeply. “When I talked to him at the house, Dad had scratch marks on his temple and on his cheek. Why the heck would he have fresh scratches on his face?”
A look of anger flashed over Vanessa’s face as she turned around to get into the cab.
Claire and Nicole stared at each other.
“Why would Dr. Dodd have blood and scratches on his face?” Claire asked. “There must be other reasons besides having an argument with his wife.”
Nicole started for the subway station. “Maybe, but it doesn’t sound good, does it?”
5
Running down Beacon Street past the State House with her training partner, Detective Ian Fuller, Claire suddenly sprinted off toward the Boston Common. Ian caught up to her just as she reached the grassy hill where her dogs were playing.
“Why have I not caught on yet that you always try to beat me back here?” Ian used the end of his t-shirt to wipe some sweat from his brow.
Claire chuckled. “I could never beat you unless I take off when you least expect it.” She pointed to her head. “Brains over brawn.”
“We’re training with each other. We aren’t racing each other.”
“I know.” Claire grinned, pushing an unruly strand of her curly blond hair over her ear. “But it’s fun to beat you.”
Bear and Lady spotted the return of the two athletes and they took off like rockets down the green hill to welcome Claire and Ian back to the Common. So that she and Ian could go on the training run, Claire had left her Corgis with a friend who often brought her Westie to the grass
y hill to play with the other dogs. When the friend had an errand to do or wanted to exercise, she left her little white dog with Claire and the Corgis.
Lady and Bear danced around the two people and then dashed off, turned speedily, and raced back to the couple. They repeated the action two more times until Claire and Ian roared with laughter at the canines’ nutty antics.
“Where do those two get all their energy?” Ian bought two cold bottles of water from a vendor and handed one to Claire.
“I wish I knew. I’d like to capture some of it for myself.” Claire opened her bottle and guzzled. Sweat caused her long bangs to stick to her forehead.
The two tired runners found a shady spot under a large Maple tree and sat down to watch Lady and Bear run and jump and chase the other dogs.
“How’s your friend doing?” Ian asked.
“She’s Nicole’s friend. They’ve known each other for years. I only met Vanessa the other night.” Claire poured some water into her hand and splashed it onto her face. “She’s not doing great. Vanessa is suspicious of her father. She claims her mother would never have committed suicide.” Spending the next fifteen minutes telling Ian what she’d learned from Vanessa about what happened the other night, but leaving out who Dr. Dodd was having an affair with, Claire paused, pulled her legs up, and wrapped her arms around her knees. “It could have been an accident, but I’m worried that the doctor pushed his wife. His behavior seemed very odd.”
“The man had been through a traumatic experience so that could explain his conduct.” Ian leaned against the tree trunk. “It’s not unusual for people to act dazed, confused, out-of-it after a devastating experience. The brain has to process the event.”
“What about what he said to Vanessa, that she should pretend to be someone else if anyone came by to serve her a summons? Dr. Dodd told her not to speak to the police. He told her they had to stick together. If it was only an accident, why would he say such a thing?”
“He could have meant that he and the daughters had to support each other through the tragedy.”
“Don’t you think it’s odd that he told Vanessa not to talk to the police.” Claire brought up something else. “Dr. Dodd reported that he was in two different places when his wife fell. One time, he said he was resting on his bed on the second floor and another time, he said he was on the first floor when it happened.”
Ian shrugged. “That could be chalked-up to the shock and brain fog.”
Claire groaned. “You don’t think it’s anything to be concerned about then?”
“I didn’t say that,” Ian said. “There could be a whole lot to be concerned about. The police need to investigate.” He gave Claire a look. “The police.”
“I know you think we should keep our noses out of it.” Lady came to rest in the shade with her owner and Claire scratched the dog’s ears. “But Vanessa had a point. People might open up more with us than they would with an investigator. If some bit of news should come out of it, we’d go right to the police with the information.”
“I can’t stop you and Nicole, but I can offer you advice … and warnings.” Ian eyed Claire.
“And we’ll gladly take your advice.” Claire pushed at her drying bangs. “I’m looking at this as helping Vanessa. If we talk to a few people and nothing seems amiss, then maybe she can let go of the thought that her father pushed his wife out the window. Maybe she’ll be able to reconcile with her father. Maybe, over time, she can forgive his infidelity. She’s lost her mother. It would be terrible to lose her father, too.”
“Families can be shattered by things like this,” Ian said. “I’ve seen it time and time again. When you and Nicole are talking to people, if things seem odd or shady or whatever, immediately extract yourselves from the situation. Don’t press or challenge anyone. And report your findings to the police.” Ian looked Claire in the eye. “Don’t put yourselves at risk. Pay attention to what’s going on. When you enter a room, look for two ways out. Watch the person’s behavior for subtle changes. Desperate people can do desperate things. Don’t dismiss your intuition.”
“You’re scaring me.” Claire shuddered.
“Good. Keep on your toes. Trust no one. A situation can change in a flash.”
“Want to come with us?” Claire gave a half-smile.
“I’m a detective. Wouldn’t I make the interviewee clam up?”
“Oh, right,” Claire kidded. “I forgot, you’re a cop.”
Bear rushed over and gave Ian a slurp on the cheek causing the man to let out a hearty laugh. “Great, now I have dog slobber mixed with my sweat.”
Claire smiled at the handsome Boston detective. “You’ll be a hit with everyone at the police station.”
“Speaking of which, I better get home so I can get ready for my shift.” Ian high-fived Claire. “Nice run today. I’ll meet you at 5am tomorrow to bike?”
Letting out a groan, Claire nodded. “So early. Why did I sign up for this mini-triathlon? In the future, stop me if I ever again suggest such a ridiculous thing.”
“Next time, we’ll train for an Iron-Man.” Ian gave the dogs a pat and with a wave, headed down the hill.
The Corgis rested on the grass next to Claire and they watched the people and dogs walking by, college kids playing catch with a football, and others sunning themselves on the warm summer afternoon.
Lady let out a soft woof and Claire followed the dog’s gaze to see two men sitting on a bench several hundred yards away. One of the men was small and wiry with jet black hair and seemed to be in his mid-fifties. The other man looked to be in his mid-sixties, carried a few extra pounds and had a good head of silver hair. He wore chinos and a long-sleeved button-down shirt. The older man had a serious expression and talked intently with his companion, occasionally gesturing to make a point. Claire thought his bearing and manner expressed agitation. She started to look away, but stopped and turned her attention back to the silver-haired man and her jaw almost dropped. It was Dr. Dodd.
Claire shifted a bit around the tree to keep an eye on the interaction and wished she was closer so she could hear the conversation. After several minutes, Claire decided to act, she took her phone from her arm band and discreetly took a photo of the two men, then she stood and strolled over towards the bench with the two Corgis walking behind her. When she approached the men, she acted surprised to see one of them. “Dr. Dodd? Hello.”
The doctor looked up obviously unsure of who the young woman was. Bear and Lady held back and watched the doctor with suspicion.
“I’m Vanessa’s friend. I’m very sorry for your loss.”
“Oh, I see. Thank you.” The doctor managed.
Claire turned to the doctor’s companion and extended her hand. “I’m Claire Rollins.”
The dark-haired man shook with her, but didn’t introduce himself, disappointing Claire.
Unsure if the doctor’s reported behavior on the night of the accident was due to the horror of his wife falling or from the guilt he felt for causing her death, Claire used a gentle tone when she asked, “How are you doing?” Dr. Dodd had several deep scratches on the side of his face.
The man wouldn’t make eye contact with Claire. “As expected,” he muttered.
“Vanessa and I made plans to meet this evening at your home. Is there anything I can bring by? A meal? Anything at all?”
“Nothing. Thank you.” Dr. Dodd adjusted his position on the bench to better face the man he was with, subtly indicating to Claire that he wanted her exchange with him to end.
“I’ll see you tonight.” Claire nodded at the two men and started away, tension squeezing her muscles. Whether you want to see me or not.
6
The Dodd’s six-thousand square foot home had high ceilings, gleaming wood floors, woven carpets of muted colors, and rooms that looked like an expensive designer had been given free rein and access to an unlimited bank account. Luxurious furnishings, chandeliers, and expensive art work decorated every room that Vanessa walked Claire a
nd Nicole through to the kitchen.
“What a beautiful kitchen.” Claire stared at the walls of cherry cabinets, the massive granite countertops, and the high-end appliances. A fireplace stood on the wall of the dining nook. ‘Nook’ wasn’t a word Claire would use to describe the enormous space.
“My parents added this room and the family room when I was in high school. The kitchen was recently updated.” Vanessa gestured to the round glass table. “Have a seat. My father’s at a meeting so we have some time to talk before he gets home. I’ll go get Maddy.”
Claire couldn’t imagine growing up in such a place. Despite her mother working two jobs, they were always only one paycheck away from losing their apartment. Even though her late husband had been a wealthy businessman, Claire never quite got used to having the sense of stability that came with financial security. “Did you grow up in a house like this?” Claire whispered to her friend.
Nicole snorted. “I grew up on the other side of town.”
Maddy and Vanessa came into the kitchen and sat down at the table. Maddy looked pretty, she had done her makeup and styled her hair, yet the spark Claire had seen in the young woman when she met her was gone. Maddy shrank into herself and her eyes flicked about the room as she clutched her hands together in her lap. The sadness Maddy gave off pulled at Claire’s heart.
Nicole reached across the table and took Maddy’s hand. “I’ve been thinking of you.”
Maddy nodded. The edges of her eyelids were tinged red and her eyes were bloodshot.
“My father will be home soon,” Vanessa said. “I thought we could talk before he gets back.”
Claire made eye contact with Vanessa and then glanced at Maddy.
“You can speak freely in front of my sister. We’ve talked about everything. We feel the same way about what’s been going on.”
Claire said, “I ran into your father today on the Boston Common. He was sitting on a bench talking to a man.”
