Requiem Murder [Book 2 of the Katherine Miller Mysteries] (19 page)

"I know you're here. I have to talk to you about what you did yesterday. That wasn't very nice. Did I tell you I'm leaving Martin so we can be together? Don't you think that will be wonderful?” The sing-song rhythm of her words made my muscles quake.

With caution, I straightened and tried to judge which set of stairs she would use. If I could duck into the other stairwell, I could escape. Her presence here would be better proof of my theory than the demonstration I'd planned.

"You! What are you doing here?"

My heart beat so fast I was afraid my ribs would splinter. She stood at the head of the stairs on the other side of the choir loft.

"Busybody. Always where you shouldn't be. You have no right to be here. He's mine and that's our secret. You have no right to tell the world."

I edged away from the front of the balcony. Could I reach the stairs before she caught me?

"Why are you here?” she asked.

"I came to check the donations for the Food Cupboard and saw the stray cat had somehow gotten inside. You know what Roger thinks of cats."

"Liar.” Her voice was shrill. “I saw the can of food outside. I didn't bring it, and you know I'm the only one who feeds Shadow. He's mine. Martin won't let me bring him home. That's why I keep him here.” She laughed. “Catnip works."

She started to close the distance between us. I continued to creep toward the stairs. The scarf dangled behind me.

Judith halted. “There you are, my pretty boy. Shadow, come to me.” She held out her hands. “Martin thinks I'm crazy. He wants me to see a shrink. Do you think I'm crazy?"

I gained a few more inches in my quest for escape. Where was Pete? Surely it was time for him to arrive.

"I don't like people who won't let me have the things I want. I don't like people who take away the things I want. I don't like people who mind my business."

Her voice died to a whisper. The distance between us narrowed and I knew she would reach me before I gained the stairs.

"He hurt me and he paid. You'll pay."

The veins in my neck felt engorged. My vision blurred. Was I going to faint? Have a stroke? I forced my feet to move. The cat grabbed the end of the scarf and tore it from my grasp. It leaped to the organ console and rolled over and over.

"Shadow, who let you in? It's not time for you to be here.” She moved toward the organ. “That's not the right scarf. It's supposed to be hers. She wants him but she can't have him. He's afraid of you and for a silly reason. You wouldn't hurt him, but I did."

I reached the head of the stairs. “Roger isn't coming. He's dead."

She whirled and glared at me. “Dead. Dead. He can't be dead. He wants me in his bed. I'm leaving Martin. You came to gloat. Martin suffocates me. He wants me to quit the choir. He loves me. Can't you see that?"

I crept down the steps and wished there was more light. Her voice sounded closer.

"I was here when Marcie came. I told her she wasn't to see him again but she wouldn't listen. He kissed her. He should have kissed me. Me. Me!” Her voice rose to a scream. “That wasn't right."

"I know that, Judith."

"He hurt her. He hurt me. Why won't you believe me? You never do. He's always right."

My heel caught on the runner. Only my grip on the railing kept me from plunging forward.

"I know you're still here and I'll find you."

I reached the last step and prepared to dash for freedom. Her hand clamped on my arm.

"Mrs. Miller, how nice of you to come."

My heart pounded. The rush of blood in my ears was so loud I could barely hear. I turned to face her. “I know what you did, but I had to be sure."

She laughed, a high piercing sound that raised gooseflesh. I shuddered. Ten o'clock. I told him to be here then.

"I couldn't let him choose her. I couldn't let Tom hurt her."

"But he did."

She jerked me forward until we were inches apart. “He won't hurt me again. He needed his energy for music. No, that's not right.” She giggled. “I kissed and caressed him but he wouldn't touch me except once when he was drunk."

I assessed my chances of escape. Her grip on my arm tightened. She pulled me into the sanctuary.

"He's here. I know he is. Shadow's waiting but that's not how it happened. He shouldn't be here until his host arrives."

"Roger isn't coming. He died yesterday when he fell from the choir loft because the cat startled him."

She laughed. “He didn't scream. His mouth opened and closed like a fish's. I used Beth's scarf. She left it at my house. I walked up the stairs. Shadow followed. We practiced every day the week before the Evensong. I tossed the scarf on the organ. Shadow jumped after it.” Her laughter echoed in the vast space. “He tried to back away but there was no place to go."

She dragged me toward the stairs. I tried to grab the back of one of the pews but my hands slipped.

"They'll find Beth's scarf and blame her. Don't you think that's fair? She tried to take him from me. He's always been mine. Years ago and now. That policeman knows all about Beth and Roger."

"You're wrong. Beth worked late at the hospital. Besides, the police think it was an accident."

"It was. It was.” She giggled. “Daddy, I didn't mean to trip him. He's just clumsy.” She tugged on my arm. “You have to come with me. He's waiting."

When I tried to talk, my lower lip trembled. I sucked in a breath. “Who's waiting and why do I have to come?"

"Because you won't believe me. You never do. You slipped on the ice and broke your head. Should have been your back. I stepped on every crack."

"Judith, what are you talking about?"

"Tom fell down and broke his crown. Roger fell and broke his head. You will, too."

Her eyes glittered with madness. My knees buckled and I nearly fell.

"You're not afraid of cats.” She laughed. “You should be. Curiosity kills —"

"Mrs. M,” Pete called. “Are you in here?"

"I'm —"

Judith clamped her hand over my mouth. I tried to bite her.

"You should have stayed at home,” she whispered.

The sanctuary door banged against the wall. Judith jerked. The light flared on.

She began to cry. “He hurt me. He hurt me but you never believe anything I say.” Her hand slipped from my arm. “Dead, dead. I'm glad he's dead. He took my dreams and made them his but he didn't get to keep them. He fell down the stairs and he's dead.” She sank to the floor and curled into a fetal position. “Why won't you believe me?"

I knelt on the cold stone floor. “I believe you. He won't hurt you again."

She looked up and smiled. “He's dead. He fell down the steps. Then he came back and he was afraid of cats. You're dead, too. You slipped on the ice but I didn't push you.” She put her thumb in her mouth and began to hum.

Pete reached me. Edward was on his heels. Pete helped me to my feet.

"Are you all right?” he asked.

"Katherine, whatever happened?"

I rested my head against Pete's shoulder. “I'll tell you later. Edward, have Mary call the high school for Martin. Let him know Judith's here and she needs him. Have him leave a message for Marcie to come to my house after school. Then call Andrew and tell him Judith's had a breakdown. He'll know the best place for treatment."

After Edward bustled off, I sank on one of the pews. My body shook and I gulped breaths of air.

"Did she push him?” Pete asked.

I pointed to the choir loft. The gray cat sat on the organ console. “That's what pushed him. I told you about his phobia. She lured the cat into the church with catnip."

"Thus Beth's scarf."

"You've got it.” I told him the things Judith had said. “She confused him with someone, maybe her brother."

Pete shook his head. “Diabolical and definitely not sane. Will she get better?"

"Recovering might be too painful. She's been sick a long time."

Were the deaths she'd mentioned actual or products of her twisted mind? I believe she'd been sexually assaulted years ago and I knew she was capable of plotting murder. The whole story might never be known and that could be the best solution.

A short time later, Martin rushed down the aisle. “What happened?” His eyes widened. “Is she dead?"

"She's had a complete breakdown. Andrew's on his way."

"Did she try to kill herself?"

I shook my head and related what had occurred. He groaned and put his hands to his face. Then he smiled.

"She did it for Marcie. I know she did."

"Maybe you're right. She's going to need a lot of help."

"With her drinking."

"For more than that."

He knelt and stroked her arm. “How could one man create such havoc?"

"I don't know. Only Judith knows what happened. It'll be a long time before she can tell us."

He looked at Pete. “Will she be charged?"

"I don't know. In the state she's in, right now, she's not capable of standing trial. And there's the problem of proving she intended to kill him. She might have thought bringing the cat was a joke."

Just then, Andrew strode into the sanctuary. He examined Judith and rose. “Edward's calling an ambulance. I've spoken to the doctor at Kinurst. She'll have the best care there.” He grasped my arm. “Did you put yourself in danger again?"

"Not a bit."

Pete laughed. “Your mother's indestructible. Besides, I had my eye on her."

Sure he did. There was no sense in Andrew knowing about my recent escape. He'd start talking about his latest idea for his mother's safe living—a retirement apartment complex being planned for the area. I'm not ready for sheltered living.

Once the ambulance arrived, Martin and Andrew left. Martin promised to call from the hospital and talk to Marcie about her mother.

Pete and I left the sanctuary. Edward waved from the side porch. We walked through the garden and joined him.

"This is dreadful, simply dreadful,” Edward said. “We're going to have to bless the church and I don't know what I can tell the Vestry. Poor Mrs. Simpson."

I looked at Pete. He raised an eyebrow.

"Judith's been sick a long time,” I said.

Edward shook his head. “I don't understand what went wrong. He was the perfect organist—talented, dedicated and charming.” He sighed. “And Judith was the perfect wife, the perfect mother and a perfectly dedicated choir member. Katherine, we're approaching another holiday season and there's no organist. You must lend your aid."

Pete rolled his eyes. I poked him in the ribs.

"Edward, I can't. I've too much with the bazaar, the holidays and I'm taking a trip out west.” The instant I made the announcement, I knew my decision was right. I'd accept Lars’ invitation to spend New Year's Eve with him.

Pete took my arm. “Reverend Potter, I'll talk to you later. This lady needs to get home."

"He's right. I'm exhausted. Don't worry. Things will work out."

"I certainly hope so."

Pete walked me to my car. “Taking a trip is a good idea. Are you going to be all right?"

"I'll be fine. I need to plan for my weekend guests. Do you have a cot I can borrow for tomorrow night?"

"Since you'll have Marcie, Beth and I can change our plans."

"No need. Robby and Andrea will help Marcie forget about what happened. About the cot?"

"Will an air mattress do?"

"As long as you bring a pump."

"Will do.” He kissed my cheek. “Be careful."

"Always."

The sound of his laughter followed me home.

At a few minutes past three thirty, Marcie arrived. She sat at the kitchen table and lifted Robespierre to her lap.

"I'm glad you went to school today."

She smiled. “The counselor told me hiding was the worst thing I could do. What happened to Mom? Dad left a weird message for me."

"She's in the hospital."

"Here?"

"Across the river. In a private psychiatric hospital."

She rubbed the cat's head. “Her drinking?"

"Partly."

"Will she get better?"

"I don't know. Your dad's with her and he's staying over there tonight. He'll call this evening. He'd like you to spend the weekend here...Now, how are you?” Though I could have told her more about the morning's events, I think Martin should be the one to tell her.

"Numb. Angry. I wish he wasn't dead so I could tell him what I think of him.” She sighed. “He was a wonderful musician. Why wasn't he satisfied with doing the best he could? Why did he have those crazy ideas? Why did I fall for them?"

"You weren't the first.” I set some cookies on the table. “Milk or tea?"

"Milk."

"Andrea and Robby will be here this weekend, too. Do you think you can handle that?"

"I'll be gone most of tomorrow. There are my classes and the counselor.” She ate one of the cookies. “We could rent some videos to entertain them."

"Andrea's bringing a couple from home."

She ate a second cookie. “Do you mind if I run home for some clothes and to practice.” She smiled. “He didn't take my music. I can feel it inside."

"I'm glad."

After she finished the snack, she hugged me and left. She'd be fine. Not today or tomorrow, but soon. She still believed in her talent. Nothing Roger or her mother had done would destroy that.

At a little after six the next morning, the doorbell rang. I put the hairbrush down and left the bathroom. Marcie rolled over. I tiptoed past the couch where Andrea slept. Robespierre arrived first, followed by Pete and Robby.

"Put him in my bed."

"I'm awake,” Robby said.

"You were supposed to go back to sleep."

"Can't. I'm hungry.” He looked at the pan of cinnamon rolls I'd just taken from the oven. “Want one of those."

Beth arrived and halted in the doorway. “Quiet, Robby. Marcie and Andrea are sleeping.” She dropped a duffel and a pillow on the floor.

Robby sat at the kitchen table. “One roll and then you can rest until the girls get up.” I poured him a glass of milk and put a roll on a plate.

Beth hugged him and hovered. I took her arm. “He'll be fine. Hanging around won't make it easier to leave. I'll walk you down.” I halted on the landing to let Pete dash past. “Now tell me how you are."