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“You and Tina...?” Catherine prompted.
Madelyn said, “I should have been with him.”
Robin cleared her throat. “Maddie, don’t.”
“He wanted to come home with me, but I said no. He wanted to talk to Vince about business. I don’t even know about what, but it was important to Pierce, and I didn’t want to take it from him. I...” Her voice trailed off again.
“We’re done here,” Robin said emphatically.
Kara stood. She agreed. Catherine also rose. “Thank you, Mrs. Jeffries.”
Madelyn didn’t look at her.
On the way out, Catherine turned to Kara and asked quietly, “Was Madelyn that disconnected when you spoke to her yesterday?”
“No. She was more engaged, a bit slow to answer, but she understood that Pierce was dead. She was teary, but functional, and she stood up to her stepkids.”
Catherine had her phone out and was scrolling through her contacts as Robin walked them to the door. “Robin, you need to get Madelyn into therapy as soon as possible. I know an outstanding therapist in Seattle, if you want to take down his contact information. He doesn’t accept many new clients, but if you mention my name, he’ll take her.”
“She’s grieving,” Robin said. “We’ll be here for her.”
“She’s disconnected from what has happened. She doesn’t speak about Pierce in the past tense, and while that is not unusual, it’s her tone and mannerisms that have me concerned. The fact that she regressed from yesterday is disconcerting. Under no circumstances should you leave her alone for a length of time.”
Robin looked out onto the deck where Madelyn still sat.
“Are you saying she’s suicidal?”
“Not consciously. I don’t think she has a conscious thought to kill herself, but she is not connected to the present, and needs to find a way to process what has happened. Until then, she may not know what she’s doing. In fact, if you contact the doctor I recommend, he may come up here for a private consult.”
“I’ll take good care of her. I love Maddie like a sister, and I will do anything to help her get through this. I’ll talk to Justin. I’m sure he’ll agree.”
“And while I understand this is a sensitive family situation, for at least the next few days, keep Pierce’s other children away from her. The emotional stress isn’t good for the pregnancy.”
“Thank you for your concern. I promise, we’ll take care of Maddie.”
They left, and in the car Kara said, “That was really nice.”
“I’m not a cold bitch, Detective.”
“You can call me Kara.”
Catherine didn’t say anything.
“Do you believe me now?”
“I didn’t disbelieve you.”
“You thought I was unqualified to make the call on this.”
“Yes, that is true.”
Kara was almost surprised she admitted it. While it angered her, she appreciated Catherine’s honesty. Yet she didn’t elaborate. And by her tone, Catherine still didn’t trust Kara’s skills and experience.
Kara drove them silently back to the sheriff’s station.
20
Kara left Catherine in the FBI conference room and drove to the high school in the center of town. It was time for summer classes to end, and she wanted to talk to Ashley Dunlap alone.
