Silent Strike by Melinda Colt

Author:Melinda Colt [Colt, Melinda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781955642019
Publisher: Written Musings
Published: 2021-09-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Jenna glanced at Finn, then back at Martha Bloomsbury.

“Martha.” Jenna cleared her throat. Did Mrs. Munroe ask you not to say anything about her possible absence from the house on the night her husband was murdered? In exchange for money?”

The housekeeper looked sideways at her. “Well, she didn’t outright say it, like clearly, but I read between the lines. She implied that she’s happy to pay for my retirement, so I can relax and not get in trouble because of my tricky memory. That’s what she called it.”

“Uh-huh. And what did you say?” Finn asked.

“I didn’t say anything. I didn’t know what to say. She placed the check on my nightstand and left.”

Jenna asked, “Did she mention anything about what would happen if you didn’t accept her offer and decided to talk to the police after all? Did she threaten you in any way?”

Martha shook her head. “Nothing like that. She didn’t have to. I’ve known her for a long time, Detective. Mrs. Munroe is a very powerful woman. Perhaps more powerful than Mr. Munroe. Everyone thought he was running the show, but she’s been the one behind every major decision he’s made. She has a lot of connections. If she wanted to harm me in some way, she could. Easily.”

Jenna watched Martha’s resigned expression. This was the kind of attitude bullies tried to impose on their victims, and Caitriona Munroe had played quite a number on Martha. Except, in this case, Caitriona might be more dangerous than even her housekeeper realized.

Biding for time, Jenna stood and went to the sink, filling two glasses of water for herself and for Finn. As she carried them to the table, she drank deeply, the cold liquid soothing her dry throat. She sat again, pushing the other glass toward Finn, who took it gratefully.

Jenna sat back down, feeling more refreshed. “Martha, have you ever heard the name Sam Garvan?”

The housekeeper’s eyes widened slightly. She nodded once. “Aye. The journalist who wrote those terrible things about Mrs. Munroe. She didn’t allow newspapers in the house after that story showed up in the paper.”

Jenna stared deeply into the woman’s eyes. “Is any of it true?”

Martha’s light brown eyes were trapped in Jenna’s gaze, round with anxiety, sparkling with fear. She shook her head automatically, but Jenna saw beyond the meaningless gesture. The woman knew or suspected something. But if the senator was involved too, Martha would be hard to crack. She was loyal to her employer, even if he was now dead. She would be inclined to defend him and refuse to believe he could be a monster, like his wife. Martha didn’t have any issues believing the worst of Caitriona. Nevin Munroe, on the other hand, was her hero.

“I don’t know anything about that,” Martha said, studying her short, clean nails. “I know it was an article from a cheap rag, but no one believed those things because that reporter didn’t have any credibility.”

“That reporter is dead,” Finn said, pushing her glass of water aside.

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