Chapter 35
“Roni!” Cora said as she ran to her.
“What on earth?” Ruby exclaimed.
The crowds of crafters gasped and swarmed around as Cora tried to rouse Roni.
“What’s happening?” Brodsky asked.
“She’s fainted,” Jane replied.
“Okay,” he said. “Everybody stand back and give the woman some air.”
The women backed off, and some went back to their seat.
“She was next,” Cora said, looking up at Brodsky. She gently patted her face. “Roni. Roni.”
Roni’s eyelids fluttered.
“Roni!” Cora said again.
Brodsky stood next to them, crouched over, and said, “Maybe someone should get her some water. When she comes to, she’ll need it.”
Ruby walked over to Roni’s seat and fetched her glass, which was still full of water. “Land sakes,” she said. “Maybe she’s dehydrated. She hasn’t drunk much of her water at all.”
“She was next for questioning,” Annie said. “She was very nervous. I’ve been watching her.”
Cora’s eyes met Annie’s. She wanted to ask if Annie had any money on her. She thought it best not to blurt it out in front of Brodsky. They were betting on who killed Stan, and it rubbed Cora the wrong way.
“Roni!” Cora said.
Roni lifted her eyelids. “Cora? What happened?”
“You passed out, dear,” Cora said.
She struggled to stand. Cora held her there. “Don’t move yet. Give yourself some time to get your bearings.”
“I’m sorry,” she sobbed.
“Sorry for what? You passed out,” Ruby said.
The woman was crying, suddenly, a big, ugly cry, and gulping for air.
“Can someone bring some tissues?” Cora asked, helping Roni to sit up on the floor.
“Now, now,” Cora said. “It’s fine; you just passed out. No worries. You’ll be fine.”
Ruby shoved a box of tissues into Roni’s hands. Roni took a tissue and blew her nose.
“You don’t understand,” she said. “None of you do.”
“Did she hit her head when she fainted?” Jane said, edging her way toward them, crouching down. “Your eyes are dilated. You must have conked your head.”
Roni examined her head. “Yes,” she said. “It hurts. I have a couple of bumps. Silly me.”
“Maybe we should take her to the hospital to have her looked at,” Brodsky said.
She jumped at the sound of his voice. Her face went white, mouth flung open.
“I did it,” she said.
“What’s that?” Cora said.
“I did it,” she said with her voice trembling.
“What did you do?” Ruby said.
“I killed Stan!” she yelled. “I killed him.”
The room silenced.
“Now, Roni,” Lena said, moving in to be closer to her. “That hit on your head must have scrambled your brains.”
“I’m serious,” she said, gasping for air. “I killed Stan.”
Cora hushed her. “Don’t say another word.”
“Why not? He was a bastard,” she said, standing up. “I didn’t mean to hurt him. How was I to know that one good push could kill a man?”
“What? Hold on,” Brodsky said.
“Take me away! I deserve it,” she said. “I deserve to rot in prison. I killed a man!” She sobbed, her face scrunching up.
“I don’t understand!” Lena said. “What happened?”
Cora’s arm circled Roni.
“He hurt my daughter,” she said. “She was twelve!” The words came tumbling out of her. The women gasped. “When I saw him, standing in the alley, I just couldn’t help myself! I let him have it! He came at me, said she was messed up! I gave him one good shove and his head cracked on the cobblestones. And the blood ... all the blood.”
Cora rubbed her shoulder. The poor woman, killing someone by accident. But that wasn’t murder. It was manslaughter, wasn’t it? In any case, Roni was going to need help and plenty of it. How did she get the body to the theater and when did she shove the blade into him? Cora surmised she’d answer those questions at the station.
“Roni, is it?” Brodsky said.
She nodded weakly.
“I’m going to need you to come down to the station with me,” he said with a gentle tone.
“I’ll call Cashel,” Ruby said. “He’s my son. A lawyer.”
“I’m going to need one,” she said.
“He’s an exceptional lawyer,” Brodsky said.
Brodsky’s partner cleared her throat. “I’ll escort you to your room so you can collect your purse and anything else you need.”
Roni nodded. “Thank you.”
“I’ll go with you,” Cora said.
“Thank you, Cora,” Roni said. “You have to believe me. I didn’t mean to kill him!”
“Absolutely,” Cora said. “I do. I believe you.”
Cora’s eyes met Brodsky’s. He believed her, too. Still, he had a murder investigation to lead. He was going to arrest her, certainly, but Cora was familiar with Brodsky’s character. He’d be fair. She also appreciated that Cashel O’Malley was a good lawyer. She’d had cause to use him in the recent past.
But she also understood that sometimes, even with the best lawyer, the most concerned police, justice could be a hard, cold slap. She sent out a prayer to the Universe for Roni, for she was a woman who killed a man, even if it was an accident, and Cora knew her fate.
She wanted to be happy because now they’d let Zee out of custody. They’d have to, wouldn’t they? Roni confessed. Zee didn’t do it, which everybody knew. And the poor woman was sitting in jail all this time.
Even if it was the prettiest police station and jail on the planet, it was still jail. Cora hoped that Zee fared well. Her haunted gaze was etched in Cora’s mind. Most certainly, Zee was going to need time to heal.