Page 30 of Deception

“He was at Coffee and More not long after we met on the Trace. Besides me, two other people stopped and talked to him. Judith Winslow and a woman I didn’t recognize.” Clayton walked to the desk. “His pens are all arranged on the left side.” He opened a drawer. “And his notepads are in this left drawer.”

“He kept his revolver in that drawer as well, so he could easily access it with his left hand. That’s proof he didn’t kill himself.” Weight lifted from Madison’s shoulders. “Ask Nadine—she’ll back me up.”

Pete turned to his crime scene investigator. “Check with Miss Nadine,” he said as his phone rang. He answered, and after a briefconversation, he disconnected. “That was one of the paramedics who transported the judge.”

Madison’s heart banged against her ribs. “Is he...”

“He’s in surgery now. The paramedic gave the OR nurse my number—she’s supposed to call with an update as soon as the surgery ends.”

He was still alive. She closed her eyes briefly. His life was in the surgeon’s hands ... and God’s. Madison looked up when the officer returned.

“Miss Nadine confirmed he was left-handed,” he said.

“The killer must have put the gun in his hand and fired it again so he would have gunpowder residue on his skin.” Clayton glanced toward the ceiling. “Have your techs found a second bullet?”

“We weren’t looking for one,” Nelson said. “Hugh Cortland will be taking over the case. He’ll bring in his own team, and they’ll comb every inch of the room to find it.” He instructed the crime scene tech to seal the room. “I don’t wantanyonein here.”

After they stepped into the hall, the chief turned to Madison. “Did you see anything unusual when you left the house?”

“No, and I checked the grounds because of Grandfather’s concerns about the prisoner who was murdered.” Of course, she’d had her mind on other things. Like why Clayton had thought she’d been shot. “Have you issued a BOLO on Corbett’s brother?”

“I’ve sent a detective to his home to interview him.”

If only she hadn’t left. Madison shook her head. She couldn’t think that way—she hadn’t known something like this would happen. “What’s next?”

“Right now, I’m going to see what Miss Nadine can tell me.”

“I’ll go with you.” Knowing the housekeeper, she would have a pot of coffee going, and Madison needed more caffeine.

“Mind if I tag along?” Clayton asked as they left the study. “I’ve known her most of my life—we attend the same church. Good Shepherd.”

Madison glanced sharply at the ranger. “She didn’t go to St. Matthews with my grandfather?”

He shook his head. “She’s a charter member of Good Shepherd.”

More surprises.

When they entered the kitchen, Nadine sat primly at the table. She nodded at each of them, then took a sip from the cup she held.

“That’ll keep you up tonight.” Then Madison cringed. Her grandfather had just been shot. Why had she said something so inane?

The older woman squeezed her hand. “It won’t be coffee that keeps me awake. I will never believe the judge did such a thing.”

Madison exchanged a glance with Clayton and gave him the barest nod. He sat across from Nadine and took her hand. “We don’t think he shot himself. We believe that someone else did, and now we need your help in catching this person.”

Nadine gasped. “I knew it!”

“They made it look like he tried to take his life, but whoever shot him put the gun in the wrong hand,” Clayton said.

“Yes!” She clasped her hands together and pressed them against her lips. “That’s what it was! My mind, it kept telling me something was wrong, but I did not understand until now.” The older woman lifted her gray head heavenward. “Thank you,” she murmured. Then she turned a troubled gaze to Madison. “But why? And how did they get in? Didn’t you lock the door when you left?”

“No. That door locks automatically when you close it. I didn’t think I needed to.”

“Something was wrong with the lock, and the judge kept saying he would get it fixed, but now you must use the key to lock it. Didn’t he tell you?”

“No, he only reminded me to set the alarm when I came in.” If he’d told her to use her key, she didn’t remember. Nadine’svoice held no criticism. It didn’t have to—Madison’s conscience made up for it.

“Miss Nadine,” Clayton said, “can you describe what happened?”

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