49

 

 

“Oh, Jesus,” Jeni Garrison said softly. “Oh, Marie.”

Marie Brassart clutched the stone carving in her hand, staring back and forth between Walter Garrison’s crumpled form and Jeni’s surprised expression. “He was pointing the gun at you,” she said quietly. “He….he was going to hurt you, so I…I…oh, my.”

She let the carving fall from her hand. It thudded heavily on the carpeted floor, bounced shortly, and sat still. Marie sank into the chair, shaking her head slightly in small movements, her eyes glazed in shock.

A silent moment passed, then Jeni rushed to her. She wrapped her arms around Marie, squeezing.

“It’s okay, baby,” she whispered soothingly. “It’ll be okay.”

Marie didn’t answer, but she began to sob soundlessly.

I watched all of this as if it were some sort of performance for my benefit. Then my shoulder throbbed painfully, and that spurred me to action. I took one limping step and knelt next to Garrison. He lay perfectly still. Dark blood matted his short hair. I pressed my fingers to his carotid artery and waited for a pulse.

There wasn’t one.

“Everything will be all right,” I heard Jeni whisper to Marie.

I looked up and met her gaze. Her expression implored me to tell her that she hadn’t just lied to Marie, that everything really would be all right.

I shook my head, and Jeni’s face twisted into something profoundly sad. Tears flooded from her eyes and streamed down her face.

“God help us,” Jeni murmured thickly. “God help us all.”

 

 

My first call was to Harrity. His receptionist Maureen seemed to sense the urgency in my voice and put me straight through. I explained what had happened slowly and mechanically, surprised at how calm I remained throughout the conversation. Maybe it was a holdover from my days on the job.

When I’d finished, Harrity was brisk and direct.

“First, call the police. Tell the dispatcher as little as possible.”

“How much?”

“Just that there has been an altercation, and that someone has been killed in self-defense.”

“They’ll push me for more, and try to keep me on the line.”

“Hang up. Then leave the crime scene. The three of you can wait for the police on the front porch.”

“All right.”

“You know how the police will respond, correct?”

I knew how I would have, years ago. “Yes.”

“Make sure to tell the other two. We don’t want to complicate matters.”

“Too late for that,” I said.

“Further,” he said. “I should have said we don’t want to complicate things further.”

“What about after the scene is secure?” I asked. “They’ll take us all to the station.”

“Of course they will. And I will meet all of you there.”

“So say nothing?”

“Marie should say nothing. Just ask for me. You and Mrs. Garrison should also ask for an attorney, but I can’t represent either of you.”

“Because we’re witnesses.”

“Yes.”

I thought for a moment, then said, “I don’t see why I can’t tell the police exactly what I saw and did. I didn’t do anything wrong, and neither did Marie.”

“If I were your attorney, that would be my advice to you. But I have to ask that you restrict your statement only to the events that happened in the living room, and not divulge anything regarding my client’s case.”

“All right.”

“Can you compartmentalize your statement in that way?”

“Yes. But I don’t know if Jeni can or not.”

“That should be a conversation between her and her attorney.”

“Understood.” I hung up, and turned to the two women. Both were now staring at me with red-rimmed eyes. I wondered how much of the conversation they’d heard. “Listen up,” I said. “This is what we have to do.”

And I explained it to them.