Page 32 of Willowbrooke
“But she was staying in the back cottage at the time?” I clarified.
“Yes; she’s been living there for at least three years.”
“And what about motive?”
“I mean, you could argue money for everyone on our short list.” Leo frowned. “But she’s got a black AmEx without a limit that my father paid off every month without asking questions, and I do the same. She wants for nothing.”
“Do you know where William was before and after his visit?” I asked.
“Probably the office; I don’t know if they’d have records—maybe GPS if his phone was tracking his location as he drove?” Leo suggested.
I was impressed with Leo; he’d clearly given this a lot of thought.
“He majorly benefited from your father’s will—getting to take over the businesses.” I liked William, but he had both means and motive. “And you said it yourself that he was here all the time—he’d know everyone’s habits and schedules. He was the last person to—”
“I know!” Leo snapped quietly. “I just—in my gut, I don’t think he did it. He’s been more of a father to me than my actual father. I just don’t think he has it in him. And my dad was dying anyway—why the rush? They didn’t have any major deals or issues at the companies around the time Dad died. It just doesn’t make any sense.”
I put my hands up defensively. “We’re just talking through the facts. I’m not accusing anyone.”
“Sorry…” Leo exhaled.
“It’s okay,” I consoled him. “This is…a lot.”
Leo covered the simmering saucepan with a lid, then returned to the counter, facing me. “Who’s next?” he said, ready to continue.
“You mentioned Val and Carl. How long have they worked for your family?”
“Val’s had to have been here for over thirty years; she practically raised me. I know she was here before my parents were married. Like I said, she was full-time up until Dad died. And for as much of an asshole as he could be, he was actually pretty generous with his staff: both Val and Carl.”
“Generous how?” I was curious.
Leo pulled the pasta dough from the plastic wrap and began to flatten it with a rolling pin after sprinkling some flour on the counter. “Gave them whatever time off they needed for family stuff and holidays, always gave large holiday bonuses. Growing up, I was always jealous because I thought he was nicer to them than he was to me.
“I don’t see a motive for either of them, regardless of access…unless there were some deep-seated feelings of resentment built up over the years or something?” Leo seemed to be grasping at straws. “There was just a camaraderie he had with both of them; they’re both hardworking, discreet, and loyal—that’s all my dad ever wanted from them.”
“We can’t exactly rule them out without talking to them. But I agree, they seem less likely.”
“So who does that leave?” Leo asked, as he started cutting the flattened dough into long strips, winding every couple strips together into a small twisted ball, then moving on to the next.
“The nurses.”
“Right.” Leo contemplated them for a few moments. “I suppose they had just as much access as me. Becky, the backup nurse, I’d put her on the bottom of the list with Val and Carl because she wasn’t around as much, and wasn’t there that day, that I know of. But I suppose we’ll have to confirm with her to rule her out as well.”
I watched Leo’s eyes darting back and forth, not focusing on the pasta in front of him, but rather, trying to review what he knew of the other nurse.
“I have no idea why Julie would have done it.” Leo sounded perplexed. “I knew her a little less than a year; she started right before I came home, when Dad was placed in palliative care here.”
I could sense there was something Leo was holding back. “What is it?”
Leo’s shoulders slumped. “She was here for a year, and she took care of him almost every day, and I feel like I don’t know anything about her—I never bothered to ask.”
He felt guilty.
“I think that was understandable, considering everythingthat was going on.”
“I guess—I just…” Leo paused. “You’re right.”
“William and Julie are still at the top of the list for me,” I decided. “Do you have any contact information for Julie?”
