File M For Murder

I awoke some time later to the sounds of activity down the hall. I sat up and rubbed my neck, sore from having slept at an odd angle. I needed water and aspirin, in that order. Diesel still sprawled on the sofa beside me, but he stirred as I got up. He yawned, and then I couldn’t resist yawning myself.

“Come on, boy, let’s get something to drink.”

Diesel chirped, stretched, then stepped down from the sofa to follow me out of the room.

Sean and Laura were at the table drinking iced tea when Diesel and I walked into the kitchen. Laura looked tired, but relaxed, and I realized with a pang that I would have to upset that as I remembered the events of the day.

“Hey, Dad,” Sean said, half rising from the table. “Can I get you something?”

Laura greeted me as well, and I thanked Sean and said I’d take care of myself. Diesel, after pausing long enough to warble a welcome at them, disappeared in the direction of the utility room. Laura and Sean exchanged grins.

“How are you feeling, sweetheart?” I asked Laura as I poured myself a large glass of water from the pitcher we kept in the fridge. I was stalling, but the news could wait a bit longer.

“Tired, but otherwise fine.” Laura smiled before she had another sip of tea. “I’m not sure I accomplished much today. All my students wanted to talk about, of course, was Connor’s death.” She ran a hand through her hair and left it looking artfully disheveled.

“Only natural” was Sean’s comment. “Probably the most exciting thing that’s happened in their lives in a while.”

“That’s a pretty callous way to put it.” I sat down across the table from him.

“Plain fact.” Sean shrugged.

“Sadly, yes.” Laura rubbed her forefinger around the rim of her glass, seemingly mesmerized by the sight. “Connor didn’t do much to ingratiate himself with them.”

I found it hard to imagine Lawton taking the trouble to ingratiate himself with anyone—unless it was some woman he was trying to get into his bed.

I pulled up short mentally at that notion. Not a profitable train of thought, I realized, as I gazed at my daughter.

“What have you been up to today, Dad?” Sean asked.

“Dealing with the insurance agent and the contractor, to begin with.” I gave them a quick summary of those conversations. Then I decided I could no longer put off telling them about Damitra Vane. “Kanesha Berry came to talk to me.”

“More questions?” Laura looked up from fidgeting with her glass.

“Yes, but she also came by to share some news with me. Some pretty distressing news, in fact.” I hesitated. “It’s about Damitra Vane. She’s dead.”

Laura drew in a sharp breath and her hand jerked, knocking her glass over. There was little liquid left in it, and Sean quickly retrieved a paper towel to mop it up.

“How? How did she die?” Laura didn’t even seem to notice she’d spilled her tea. Her anguished gaze was focused on me.

“She was murdered,” I said as gently as I could. “Sometime last night, probably while we were in the midst of dealing with the fire.” I hoped neither she nor Sean pressed me for further details. I wanted to spare Laura as much as I could, at least for now.

Laura bowed her head, and Sean and I exchanged concerned glances. I reached across the table and clasped both her hands in mine. When she looked up at me, tears shone in her eyes. “She drove me crazy sometimes, but she didn’t deserve this.” Laura’s voice was barely above a whisper.

“No, she didn’t.” I squeezed her hands lightly. “I’m so sorry I had to give you such terrible news, sweetheart. It’s small comfort, I know, but Kanesha will find out who did it and that person will be punished.”

“She was a silly woman with not much self-esteem.” Sean’s words were a sad, but probably accurate, epitaph. “Still, she deserved better.”

Laura pulled her hands from mine, and Sean offered her his handkerchief. She wiped her eyes and then stood. “I think I’ll go lie down for a while, if you don’t mind.” She offered Sean his handkerchief back but he shook his head, so she tucked it into her pocket.

“Of course not. You get some rest, and we’ll call you for dinner.” I heard meowing and turned to see Diesel coming back from the utility room. “And here’s Diesel. Take him with you, why don’t you?”

The cat didn’t need any prompting. He went straight to Laura and rubbed against her legs. She smiled. “Let’s go upstairs, okay?” Diesel chirped and followed her out of the kitchen.

Sean sat with one ear cocked in the direction of the hall, his eyes on me. After a moment—perhaps after he was satisfied Laura was out of earshot—he said, “Okay, Dad, what didn’t you tell us? You were holding something back.”

I nodded. “I didn’t want to upset Laura any more than I had to. She’ll find out soon enough. The killer cut Damitra Vane’s throat according to Kanesha.” I grimaced when the image slid back into my head.

Sean looked as sick as I felt at that moment. Neither of us spoke for a long moment.