The Shop by J. Carson Black Page B

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    It was clear Maddy knew about Danny’s suicide. It was common knowledge. She’d used Jolie’s own feelings about her husband’s suicide against her.
    The theory was this: Amy lured Chief Akers to the motel, and Maddy snuck up on him and shot him point-blank. In one inspired stroke, Maddy deflected attention away from the act of homicide by making it appear to be a covered-up suicide, eliminating the spouse as primary suspect in the bargain. Not only that, but she’d provided a viable explanation for any trace evidence she might have left at the scene.
    It was a brilliant, audacious plan.
    But Maddy’s scheme fell apart, as brilliant schemes often did, when she relied on the wrong people.

    Amy Perdue looked small and childlike, her limp red hair concealing half her face.
    Jolie led her through the confrontation with Royce Brady. As the injured party, Amy was cooperative. She was the wronged woman, a victim of domestic violence.
    “No idea why he was so angry?”
    “No. It was like he had a crush on me or something. It was crazy. He said really crazy things.”
    “Like what?”
    “I don’t know, just crazy stuff. He was paranoid. Like a paranoid schizophrenic. Why? What did you hear?”
    “You work for Maddy, right?”
    “Uh-huh. Did—” She stopped.
    “Did what?”
    “Nothing. Can I go now?”
    “Just a few questions and we’re through.” Jolie smiled.
    “Okay. It’s just, I’m really tired and it’s been so scary and I want to see Niraj. I want to see if he’s okay. Is he all right?”
    “Niraj is fine.” Jolie leaned forward so their legs were almost touching. “Amy, was Maddy afraid of her husband?”
    Jolie noticed that every time Amy got nervous, the leg crossed over her knee bounced. Right now Amy’s legs were going like a jackhammer. “How would I know?”
    “Royce said you were worried about Maddy Akers because her husband beat her. He even threatened to kill her.”
    “Is that what Royce said? She did mention something about that.”
    “So Maddy thought he was going to kill her?”
    “That’s what she told me.”
    “Thing is,” Jolie said, “Royce said that you and Maddy planned to kill Chief Akers and make it look like a suicide. He said you asked him for help because the chief was beating his wife and he threatened to kill her.”
    “That’s bullshit!” Her legs shook so much, the one on top slid off, hitting the floor with a smack.
    “Is it? He went into a lot of detail.”
    Amy kept quiet, but Jolie saw something in her eyes. More than worry—the beginnings of panic.
    “You know what I think?” Jolie said. “Maddy’s a bad influence on people. Telling Royce that her husband wanted to kill her. That wasn’t even true, was it?”
    Amy concentrated on the table.
    “Maddy lied to Royce. I bet she lied to you, too. It sounds to me like she used you. She told you she was afraid for her life. I can understand you’d be sympathetic—it’s not easy being a woman. Domestic violence isn’t taken seriously, is it? Men threaten their wives, and you just know some day they’re going to do it. It happens all the time. So I can see how you’d believe her. Why wouldn’t you believe her?”
    Amy opened her mouth to say something. Stopped.
    Jolie said, “To me, that’s just plain self-defense. If my husband told me he was going to kill me, I surely would try to kill him first. I’m not going to wait there like a sitting duck.”
    Amy took a deep breath. Said in a small voice: “She told me he hired a hit man to kill her. He said it could happen any time. She was terrified.”
    “And you believed her. Who wouldn’t?”
    “If I told you what she did, what would happen to me? I mean, what kind of deal would I get? Would I have to do jail time?”
    “Amy, if Maddy lied to you about her husband wanting to kill her, if she used you, that would be a mitigating circumstance. If you’re forthcoming about this, I could talk to the state attorney, see what he