Camilla MacPhee Mysteries 6-Book Bundle. Mary Jane Maffini
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what can go wrong?”
“To begin with, you could get charged with murder in the first degree, go to trial, get convicted and because of the bizarre, premeditated aspects of the case, you could get the full weight of the law—twenty-five years. Of course, reformers are trying to get that extended so…who knows.”
“Camilla. You know perfectly well that won't happen. And you have to admit this presents such a wonderful opportunity to highlight the plight of battered women and to show the world people like Benning do exist and they can be stopped.”
“Please do not say that or you may be highlighting this very plight from a correctional facility. Might be another wonderful opportunity for you. You'll find many situations need fixing in the slammer. What a terrific outlet for your energy. Congratulations.”
“Don't be silly, Camilla. After all, it's not like I'm guilty.”
“It's so cute the way you think only the guilty go to jail.”
“Oh, come on.”
“No, you come on. Why do you think the system needs two sides, prosecution and defence?”
“Okay, sure, but lets face it. Most murderers get caught and they're fairly convicted.”
“Four little words for you: Marshall, Morin, Milgaard, Sophonow.”
This did not have the desired effect on Elaine. “You're right. I should get involved. There's only so many hours in the day but, I guess I should give the Elizabeth Fry Society a call. Maybe John Howard too. And what's the group that works with the falsely convicted? I feel a bit ashamed of myself that I've never done a thing for those people. Isn't there another organization that works to reopen hopeless cases? What's it called? Yes, I lose perspective sometimes.”
“Like right now, for instance. Look, forget your crusade. Just tell me what they asked and what you answered. And then don't say one word to anyone under any circumstances. Not to the police and especially not to the media.”
“Are you kidding? This is my chance. Nothing will shut me up.”
* * *
“Don't be like that, Conn. We're family. And besides, non-disclosure of pertinent information to the defence can get your carefully constructed case tossed out of court.” I didn't like the stubborn way McCracken's jaw jutted out. “You hear me? I said tossed out of court”
He shrugged.
“Hey, your call. No hard feelings,” I said. “Wonder if it's too late today to get a court order.”
McCracken turned his head and stared at the empty wall.
I said, “That is an exceptional wall. I wonder if we should get a camera and get a couple of shots of it, send them to the media.”
“Funny. You want to know what happened?”
“I want to know what she said.”
“No problem.” He reached into his rumpled suit pocket and yanked out a small white notebook.
“That's more like it.”
“Let's see, where are we? Oh, yeah,” He flipped the pages. Lucky he hadn't called my bluff about the judge, because I prefer to reserve court orders until my back is to the wall. “Okay, Camilla, here's what your client said.”
I held my breath.
“All right. To the first question, name and address, she refused to answer. Then she gave us the following responses:
“I don't believe I can answer that question.
“No, officer, I don't remember.
“Seems to have slipped my mind.
“I have no idea.
“Hard to say.
“Are you sure? I don't recall.
“It could be, but I'm not certain.
“I prefer not to comment.
“My mind is blank there.
“I must have been asleep.
“My apologies, officer, but what can I say?
“Gosh, I wish I could help but.…”
McCracken smirked when he snapped the notebook closed. “Lucky you, your client has no recollection of leaving the property on Echo Drive last night during the key hours when Benning would have been dumped in Confederation Square.”
I pursed my lips.
“She'll be a big hit with a judge. Can't wait to see that.”
That Elaine. There's no one in the world quite like her. “You have to admit she is polite.”
“She's the only person I can think of who's more irritating than you, Camilla.”
“Oh, come on, she's not trying to irritate you. She wants to protect WAVE.”
“Don't be so sure.”
“But I am sure. Elaine Ekstein has a heart as big as the world. She might have hated Benning for what he stood for and what he did to women, but she would be totally unable to commit a murder. I know that the way I know my own sister's name.”
“Well, that's great, Camilla.”
“What are you smirking about?” I asked.
“Might it be the video surveillance footage of the big-hearted Elaine Ekstein as she wheels a box out of a parked van and down into the centre of an ice sculpture? Nice thing about this video camera: it recorded the time and the date.”
I tried to keep my jaw from hitting the floor.
McCracken smiled. “Ain't technology grand?”
“I think I'd better see this video.”
Eleven
“Well.” I stared at the grainy video footage of a woman, muffled to the ears with a thick scarf, hair hidden by a slouchy hat as she struggled to wheel a large wooden box on a dolly down the loading ramp of a white van.
“Well, indeed,” McCracken said.
“I don't know. Could be anybody all bundled up with a scarf.”
“You think so?” he said.
I chose not to mention that I recognized the slouchy hat as Elaine's favourite faux leopard number, the ugliest and most recognizable article of her clothing. If you didn't count the matching coat. Moonlight lit the sky behind Elaine. Great. Maybe I could incorporate the full moon as part of a diminished capacity defence for her.
“Nice attention to detail,” McCracken said. “See how she sets it up at just the right angle, right in front of the original ice sculpture of Justice. Smooths it out. Adjusts the sign and all. She's a pro. And yet, she doesn't remember any of it.”
“You know, Conn, I'm not sure that's her in the video. In fact, I'm almost certain it's not. But, even in the unlikely event that it were, she'd have to be psycho to move a body in front of a surveillance camera. I'll make sure she gets a proper psychological evaluation.”
Mombourquette leaned forward and gazed at the screen. Elaine stood, apparently admiring the unboxed sculpture, her face turned away from the camera. She ran her hand over the smooth surface of the ice.
Mombourquette's pointy little teeth showed. “Spunky little gal, though, isn't she?”
* * *
Okay, so here's what I believe. Sometimes life can treat us roughly. Then we need a bit of help to cope with some of the slings and arrows. Big deal. I do my bit through Justice for Victims. I've seen what big bureaucracies, small minds and bad breaks can do. I'm happy to line up on the side of the angels and toss a few punches.
But