Evangeline fumbled for a tissue in her purse and handed it across the coffee table to the crying woman. Meredith Courtland took it gratefully and after a moment, she dabbed at her eyes as she turned to look out the French doors at her daughter.
In the ensuing silence, every sound in the house seemed magnified. The ticking of the grandfather clock in the foyer. The soft humming of the maid upstairs.
And into that awful silence came the high-pitched laughter of Paul Courtlands little girl as she splashed happily in the shallow end of the pool.
Meredith drew a deep, shuddering breath and folded the tissue into a neat little square on one thigh. But her eyes never left her child.
I wondered if something was wrong when he didnt come by for Maisie on Sunday, she finally said. They always spend the afternoon together, and he never missed a single Sunday. Never. He loved being with her. He was a wonderful father. She paused to unfold the tissue as painstakingly as she had creased it. A lousy husband, but a great father.
Evangeline and Mitchell shared a look.
You and Mr. Courtland were divorced, then? Mitchell asked carefully.
Separated. He moved out a few months ago. He has a place in the Warehouse District. A loft. Her head was still turned away, but there was no mistaking the bitter, derisive edge to her tone. She may as well have informed them hed moved into a whore-house for all the scorn that dripped from her voice. I guess the Garden District just wasnt a cool or hip enough address for him anymore.
Evangeline and Mitchell exchanged another glance. Mitchells nod was almost imperceptible.
Do you have his current address? Evangeline asked.
No, Im sorry, I dont. Its just off Notre Dame, I think. I dont know the street number. Ive never been over there. When I needed to get in touch with him, I called his cell phone or the office.
She was still watching her daughter, and Evangeline studied her profile. There was a lot of anger beneath that cool surface. Was Meredith Courtland the kind of woman who would retaliate against a husband who had rejected her and her lifestyle?
It was hard to imagine, especially considering the way Paul Courtland had died. But then, Evangeline had seen a lot of things that were hard to imagine.
When was the last time you talked to him?
Sunday before last. He came over early so that he could take Maisie to a movie shed been begging to see. They had dinner afterward and then he brought her home.
You had no contact with him after that? Not even a phone conversation?
She shook her head. We rarely talked on the phone once he moved out. And we only saw each other when he came by for Maisie. But as I said, I did think it strange when he didnt show up for her on Sunday last. I called his office the next day, but Lisa, his assistant, said hed taken a few days off. I just assumed hed gone out of town and forgotten to tell me. That wasnt like him, but then a lot of things hed done in the past several months werent like him.
Such as?
She gestured helplessly. Moving out. Leaving his family. A year ago, I could never have imagined wed be separated. Let alone She shook her head. This all just seems like a bad dream.
Evangeline gave her a moment. How did he seem the last time you saw him?
She turned with a frown. What do you mean?
His demeanor. His mood. Did you notice anything about him that was out of the ordinary? Did he seem worried or anxious? Anything at all that you can remember?
Not really. He may have been a little preoccupied, but that wasnt unusual for Paul. He had a case that was about to go to trial, and he always got a little strung out before going into court. Her gaze dropped to her hands. Her nails had completely shredded the tissue. I just dont understand, she whispered. Who would want to kill him?
Thats what were trying to find out.
Ive been sitting here going over it in my mind. None of what youve told me makes any sense. You said his body was found in the Lower Ninth Ward. Why would Paul go there? Everyone knows how dangerous that area is. I cant imagine that he would have a client in that part of town. Maybe Is it possible this could be just some terrible mistake? she asked in a hopeful voice, but her hands were balled into fists, and when she looked up, the pain in her eyes struck Evangeline anew.
My God, she thought. Is that how I looked?
Evangeline didnt have to try to put herself in the distraught womans place. Shed been there herself. She knew exactly how Meredith Courtland felt.
Except she and Johnny had still been together at the time of his death. He had remained, until the very end, the love of her life.
Identification was found on the body, she said. Its highly unlikely theres been a mistake.
But Merediths voice trailed off, as if she finally realized the futility of false hope.
I know this has been a terrible shock for you, and Im so sorry we have to burden you with all these questions at a time like this, Evangeline said. But the sooner we get them out of the way, the sooner well be able to figure out what happened.
Meredith nodded. Her blue eyes were brimming again. Of course. Ill do whatever I can to help. Paul and I had our differences, but he was I still cared about him. The latter she said with a catch in her throat. I want you to find who did this. I want you to make them pay, she said fiercely.
Outside the French doors, Maisie Courtland began to sing again, off-key and at the top of her lungs. She was a beautiful, happy child whose life, from this day forward, would never be the same.
J.D. had been born after Johnnys death. Evangelines son had never even seen his father, never had the chance to know him, but maybe it was better that way.
Maybe you cant miss what youve never had.
Mrs. Courtland Mitchell leaned forward, his gaze searching the womans face. Did your husband ever receive any threats?
What kind of threats?
Guys in prison have a tendency to blame their lawyers, he explained. Did your husband ever have any problems with disgruntled clients?
Not that I know of. Buteven if he did, he probably wouldnt have mentioned them to me. Paul was He used to be very protective. She swallowed and glanced away.
What about his coworkers? Did he get along with the other attorneys at his firm?
Paul was the rainmaker. Everyone loved him.
Now it was Evangeline who leaned forward, her gaze scouring Meredith Courtlands smooth, tanned face. Do you have any idea who might have wanted your husband dead?
She blinked, as if confused by the directness of the question, and then her expression hardened. Thats why youre here, isnt it? You think I had something to do with this. The spouse is always the prime suspect. Especially when theres an impending divorce.
Right now, all were trying to do is come up with a lead. If you can think of anything, anything at all that might give us something to go on, we would certainly be grateful for your cooperation.
My God, if I knew anything, dont you think I would tell you? He was my husband. My childs father!
Her anger was so quick, the flash of fire in her eyes so genuine, that her reaction told Evangeline more about the woman than an hours worth of questions would have yielded. Despite the bitter separation, Meredith Courtland had still been very much in love with her husband.
Her eyes shifted away, as if she were embarrassed by how much her outburst had revealed.
What can you tell us about Pauls relationship with Sonny Betts?
Meredith jerked up her head and she looked at Evangeline with a mixture of fear and revulsion. They certainly werent friends. It was a professional relationship only. Paul believed everyone was entitled to the best defense possible. Even slime like Sonny Betts.
Did you ever meet Betts?
Once at Pauls office. She shuddered. He was not someone I would ever have in my home. I cant tell you how relieved I was when he and Paul parted ways.
When was this?
Right after the trial.
Did they have a falling-out?
All Paul ever said about it was that his services were no longer required.
The split was amicable, then.
I guess so. She looked doubtful all of a sudden.
What is it?
She bit her lip as she glanced out the window, collecting her thoughts. I dont know if it means anything Id forgotten all about it until now.
Thats okay. The more you can tell us, the better chance well have of finding who did this, Evangeline persisted.
It was a few days after the verdict came back. Meredith placed the shredded tissue on her thigh and absently smoothed out the wrinkles. Paul had scheduled some time off from work so that we could go to a friends place in the Bahamas. Then all of a sudden, he said he couldnt get away. Something had come up at work, but he wanted Maisie and me to go on without him. I didnt really want to we hadnt had a family vacation in ages. But he was so insistent, almost as if he were trying to get us out of town. She paused. Which I suppose he was and I was just too naive to see the signs.
So you decided to go on the trip without him? Evangeline prompted.
Yes, after some arguing. The night before we were to leave, I finished packing and went to bed early. Id just dozed off when I heard voices downstairs. Loud voices. I thought Paul must have fallen asleep in front of the television, but when I came downstairs, I saw two men with him in his study. Which struck me as odd because it was after midnight. We never had visitors that late.
Did you recognize the men?
Id never seen them before in my life.
You said you heard loud voices. Were these men arguing with Paul?
It appeared so. Paul was clearly angry. He kept telling them that hed done what they asked, and now that the trial was over, he wanted out.
Did you know what he was talking about?
I didnt have a clue. But the way he kept pacing back and forththe look in his eyes She took another breath. He wasnt just angry. He looked scared. I remember he said something about a cop. I dont want to end up like that dead cop. Or words to that effect.
A wave of shock rolled through Evangeline. Her face felt frozen, and for the longest moment, she didnt trust herself to speak.