The Final Act by Lisa Gray

Author:Lisa Gray [Gray, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Published: 2024-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

17

SARAH

SEPTEMBER 2022

“Two visits in two days, Detective Delaney? Wow, I must be popular.”

Jefferson Cantwell still worked the preppy image and still looked like he was wearing someone else’s clothes. It was like he had no sense of personal style and just bought the most expensive item in the store.

“Can I come in?” Sarah said.

“Did you change your mind about the podcast interview?”

“No.”

“That’s a shame. You have a wonderful voice, Detective Delaney. Authoritative, yet feminine at the same time.” Cantwell stuck his head out of the doorway and glanced around theatrically. “Your note-taking sidekick isn’t with you today?”

“He’s busy.”

“Oh, I can imagine. I bet you’ve had at least ten confessors to Madison’s murder since the press conference. Come on through.”

It was smoggier today, the vista less impressive. This time Cantwell invited her to take a seat on a beige L-shaped couch and offered her something to drink. She sat and declined the drink offer.

“You won’t judge me if I have a small refreshment myself?” he said. “It is past noon and I’ve just received a shipment from a distillery in Scotland that I’m desperate to try. I guess you could say that fine Scotch is my greatest weakness.”

And pretty young actresses, Sarah thought. Especially dead and missing ones.

Cantwell went over to the bar area that housed a vast collection of Scotch. A FedEx parcel was sitting on the worktop, and he removed a bottle from the cardboard box and opened it. Sniffed appreciatively and poured a finger measure into a crystal glass and added some water from a porcelain jug.

“How the Scots drink it, I believe.” He sipped and smiled and nodded his approval. “Worth the wait and the expense.” He took the tumbler and perched on an Eames ottoman that was part of a set with the matching chair. “I was very impressed by your performance at the press conference. Professional yet likeable.”

“It wasn’t a performance,” Sarah said. “I was doing my job.”

“Every time we present ourselves to the outside world, it’s a performance. Terrific outfit choice by the way. A packed stuffy room, with all those hot lights and the nerves jangling? Anyone would perspire under those circumstances, but a black or white blouse conceals the unsightly damp patches. But of course, you knew that. Just like you knew a ponytail would have been too severe and made you less likeable. The lipstick was a small faux pas though. I much preferred the deep-rose shade you wore yesterday. Far more flattering with your dark hair and those chocolate eyes. Anyway, enough small talk. What can I do for you, Detective Delaney?”

“When we spoke yesterday about Madison James, you forgot to mention a small detail.”

“I did? What would that be?”

Creepy smile.

“I asked if you knew Madison and you said you’d met a couple of times.”

Cantwell brought the tumbler to his lips and regarded her over the rim. “Yes?”

“The time you attacked her and tried to abduct her must have slipped your mind.”

The smile vanished.

“That sounds like an accusation, Detective Delaney. Perhaps I should call my lawyer this time.

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