Page 98 of The River We Remember

“What do you know about your father’s death?” Charlie asked.

“I’ve spoken with Marta and with my brother. They’ve kept me informed.”

“I’m not convinced that Noah Bluestone killed your father.”

“Obviously,” she said in a dead voice. “You’re defending him.”

“That’s not it. I took the case at the request of the court because Noah refused to defend himself.”

“How noble,” she said.

Charlie ignored her tone and went on. “Fiona, I believe your father may have attacked Noah’s wife, a young woman named Kyoko. And I believe it may have been Kyoko who actually killed your father and, if so, she did it in self-defense.”

“If that’s true,” Fiona said after a long moment, “why hasn’t she or her husband said as much?”

“Her husband, as you well know, is Sioux. Kyoko is Japanese. People in Black Earth County have long memories and deep antipathies. Noah and Kyoko are certain that no one there would believe their story. So silence is their response.”

“They’ve told you this?”

“They refuse to say anything, even to me. It’s what I believe.”

“What evidence do you have?”

“I spoke with a young woman who was briefly in your father’s employ last winter. She told me that your father assaulted her. This happened after Marta became too ill to meet many of your father’s needs. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

She stared at Charlie a long while, then said, “Yes.”

“Your mother was also quite ill for a very long time. Did your father hire anyone to help with the housework?”

“He did.” Her lips were drawn in a thin line.

“Can you tell me her name?”

“Of course. It was Marta.”

Charlie sat back a little, hoping the surprise she felt didn’t show on her face.

The patio door slid open, and the young woman who’d greeted Charlie earlier stepped inside. “Mom, is it all right if I take the car to Woolworth’s? I’d like to get some bobby pins and hair spray. Danny’s taking me to the movies tonight.”

“Yes, Susan.”

Her daughter went into the kitchen, and Charlie heard the door to the attached garage open and close, the engine turn over, and the car back out of the driveway. In all this time, the woman’s eyes didn’t leave Charlie’s face.

“I’m from Black Earth County myself,” Charlie said. “Ran away, if you want to know the truth, when I was eighteen, just as fast I could. I didn’t return until seven years ago. Even my father’s death didn’t bring me back. Sound familiar?”

“What do you want from me exactly?”

“To know if you believe your father was the kind of man who’d assault a young woman. And if so, why do you believe it?”

“I can’t help you, Miss Bauer.”

“You mean you won’t help me.”

“I’d like you to leave now.”

“Noah Bluestone will probably go to prison. I’m not sure I can prevent that. How long he stays there, that I can affect. But I need your help.”

“No, you need his. Or his wife’s.”