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Chapter48
“OKAY, THIS IS HARASSMENT,damn it.”
Decker and Lancaster were standing on the front porch of Mitzi Gardiner’s home, while the woman stared angrily across at them over the width of the doorway.
“I can understand your feeling that way, Ms. Gardiner. But the fact is, we’re doing our best to solve multiple homicides connected to your father, and, like it or not, you’re one of the best resources we have. We just have some questions for you, and we’ll make them as painless as possible. I promise.”
Lancaster looked incredulously at Decker, having obviously never seen him talk this way to any suspect or person of interest.
Gardiner eyed Lancaster. “I remember you. You two worked the case together.”
“We did, yes. And I have to say I doubt I would have recognized you.” Lancaster ran her eye over Gardiner’s long, healthy frame, her elegant clothes, her perfectly coiffed hair, and her blemish-free complexion.
“I know that I’ve changed quite a bit from when you last saw me.”
“You look great.”
“Thank you.”
“And I have to say I never thought we’d end up revisiting this case. But then your father came back to town proclaiming his innocence.”
Gardiner pointed at Decker. “I already told him that was crap. My father just wanted to mess with you. Make you doubt his guilt.”
“We still haven’t found out who killed him,” said Decker.
“You said you were checking with the two widows.”
“Right. Well, one of them was murdered.”
Gardiner gaped and Decker saw her fingers on the door tremble. “Murdered? Which one?”
“Susan Richards. We believe she was abducted from her home and then killed.”
When Gardiner didn’t respond, Decker added, “Can we come in?”
She led them down the hall to the conservatory. She motioned for them to sit while she stood there clasping and unclasping her hands.
“You look pretty surprised,” said Decker.
“Of course I’m surprised. First my father and now Susan Richards.” She abruptly sat down across from them and stared at her lap.
Lancaster looked around the graceful lines of the room. “You have a lovely home.”
Gardiner nodded absently, but still wouldn’t meet their eyes.
Decker took something from his pocket and held it out to her. “I thought you might want to have this.”
Gardiner looked up but did not reach for the photo.
“It’s you as a little girl. We found it in your dad’s wallet. There wasn’t much else in there. I know you said you never visited him in prison, but he evidently kept this photo all these years.”
Gardiner shook her head. “I…I don’t want it.”
Decker put the photo down on the table, face up.
“What are your questions?” said Gardiner, glancing at the photo and then quickly looking away.
“Well, and don’t be offended by this, because we’re asking everyone connected to this case. We need to know where you were when Susan Richards was last seen.”
