Nothing makes a person feel her age like viewing the body of a deceased lifelong friend. CJ watched his aunt age before his eyes as he escorted her into the morgue to view Suzette and officially identify her body. Without her red lipstick and her jewelry, Ursula looked like a lost little girl. When her husband passed, CJ was barely out of diapers so he couldn’t recall if his death cast a similar spell on his aunt or not. She even walked slower now.
“You don’t have to do this, you know, Aunt.:
“I want to, CJ. I’m dreading it with every step, but I swear I want to. Suzette was one of my oldest and dearest friends. I owe this to her.”
The walk through the building to where the bodies were kept was a blur. All that mattered was that Suzette was lying on a roll-out tray looking like a butterfly pinned to a mat. Even in death, she was a specimen of beauty.
Ursula stiffened her back and strode confidently to her friend’s side and took her hand. “Honey, you feel so cold. I wish I could take you home with me so I could warm you up and make your cheeks rosy again.” Ursula’s eyes glistened but she was not going to let Suzette see her cry. ‘Why, Little Sister, didn’t you come over to my house last night? We would have had a grand ol’ time and you would have been safe. Don’t you worry. I will find out who did this to you because I know you didn’t fall down any cathedral steps. I know you didn’t bring this on yourself.”
Ursula pulled the sheet up to expose Suzette’s feet. “Just look at those feet, Doctor, and convince me this woman managed to stuff them into a pair of high heels and go out walking!” Ursula demanded.
“I agree with you, Mrs. Beaumont. However as unlikely you and I think it was, it is the evidence we’re presented.”
“Do you have the shoes, Doctor? I want to see the shoes the police say she wore.”
“They’re right over here, but —.”
Ursula grabbed one of the shoes and looked inside at the label. “Just as I thought. These are not her shoes!” she blared.
“They were found with her, Mrs. Beaumont.”
“I don’t care, Doctor. With her is not the same as on her. Look at them. They’re far too small. Try to slip one of them on her foot. I dare ya. Nine into six don’t go!”
The doctor took the shoe from Ursula and attempted to place it on Suzette’s foot. “Rigor mortis aside, you are correct. These cannot be her shoes. I will notify the detectives.”
“Damn straight, Doctor! Besides, these shoes came from a discount store. We don’t do discount stores, especially not for shoes. This woman might have hit her head, but she was murdered, Doctor. Put that in your report to the detectives. I’m going to pay a little visit to my brother. C’mon, CJ, we’re finished here. I want you to take me over to Robbie’s. We’re going to have a little chat.”
“I’m happy to take you anywhere your heart desires, Aunt, but I need to make a phone call first.”
“Phone call?”
“I was supposed to meet Sebastian this morning for a swim, remember?”
“Oh, my God, CJ! Of course! It slipped my mind. Take me home. Charles can drive me. You go on over to the club. Tell Sebastian it’s all my fault. I’ll make it up to him somehow.”
CJ looked at his watch. “It’s only half passed eight. I’ll take you home and call him from there.”
“Good. He said something about working with that detective friend of his in New York on murder cases. Invite him over for dinner. I want to talk to that young man about Suzette.”
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