I grabbed a coffee and headed back to my car to wait.
My phone rang and I picked it up. “I’m two minutes away.”
I pulled out of my car space and headed down the road to get through the gate. I flashed my badge when I got to the gate.
“Who are you here for?” he asked me.
“I’m here to speak to Chastity Delaponte,” I said.
“Oh,” he replied, his eyes giving away that he may know this had to do with Claude. “Sure. Can I call ahead and let her know?”
“I’d rather you didn’t give her a chance to run.”
He nodded. “She wouldn’t do that, it’s more just so she doesn’t freak out.”
Tommy was behind me.
“That’s my partner. We’ll be gentle.”
He nodded and opened the gate for us. I waved at him as I headed through, Tommy on my tail. When we got to the large two floor house, well, mansion would be more accurate, I got out of my car and waited for Tommy.
“It’s a simple notification,” I said to him. “We ask questions and only if she’s suspicious do we proceed, yes?”
“Got it.”
I already knew he had an idea of what he wanted to say to her. I’d let him take the lead, and watch her reactions.
I knocked on the door and waited. When it opened, I didn’t expect to see a woman in her early fifties, her graying hair up in a clip and the lululemon outfits that most expensive women wore.
“Can I help you?” she asked, looking out at the street. She must be used to being warned by the gatekeeper.
“Ma’am, my name is Detective Kane Garrick and this is my partner, Detective Tomasz Woljart. We need to speak with you in relation to Claude Delaponte.”
Immediately, I saw darkness take hold of her expression and a steel barrier went up.
“He’s my ex-husband,” she said, stonily. “I don’t know where he is.”
“Ma’am, perhaps we can come in and talk to you.”
She hesitated but finally moved aside and allowed us to walk inside. Her house was light and airy, and showed her wealth.
“This way,” she ushered us toward an entertaining area with a large fireplace and beautiful chaise lounges facing each other. She sat down on one, as Tommy and I sat on the other. “What is this about?”
“It is my duty to advise you that Claude Delaponte was found this morning in Fairview Cemetery, deceased.”
She was understandably startled by the news, but she quickly replaced her surprise with a cool expression.
“I see. As I said, he and I are divorced.”
Tommy edged closer to her in his chair. “We understand he was a bad man, but I’m a little surprised by your cool response. Were you aware that he would pass?”
Her eyes went to him, and I saw the icy demeanor I knew was common in the higher society women, come out. “Are you accusing me of murdering my ex-husband?”
“Did you?” he asked, without missing a beat.
“Trust me, Detective, I wanted to, but sadly, not all of us are made for murder.”
Tommy’s phone rang and he excused himself, heading outside.
