Page 39 of No Quarter

“You seem to want to tell us something, Mary,” Charlie offered. “If there’s something you know about his involvement with Gillian Pugh, you need to tell us.”

Valerie sensed, by the woman’s body language, that she had a deeper connection to Patrick Ives than she was letting on.

“Mary, did he like Gillian Pugh?”

“No!” Mary blurted out. “Well, not anymore.”

“Did he find someone else?” Valerie asked, certain more than ever that she was pushing the right buttons.

Mary nodded, looking like a bashful child.

“I’m sorry, Mary, I know that puts you in a difficult position. But if you know anything about Patrick that might help us ...”

“I know that he didn’t kill Gillian,” she said, finally.

“How do you know that?” Valerie asked.

Mary blushed again and looked down at the ground. “Because I was with him.”

“You were with him?” Charlie repeated, incredulous.

Mary nodded. “We sneaked away to one of the empty rooms on the top floor. We were ... together ... when it happened.”

A tear rolled down Mary’s cheek and she brushed it away angrily. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she said. “Patrick is a good man.”

“When you say you were ‘together,’ do you mean ...” Will trailed off, not wanting to finish his question.

Mary nodded, her face red with embarrassment. “Yes,” she whispered. “We were having sex.”

“And are you willing to testify to that, if it comes to it?” Charlie asked.

Mary nodded. “It’s embarrassing, but he really was with me.”

“And how can we be sure you’re not just an accomplice?” Charlie pressed.

“One of the only working cameras is in that hall,” she said. “I didn’t find out ‘till afterwards. Patrick told me that he didn’t know either. I asked him if he could erase it, but he said he couldn’t touch it. We just had to hope no one would look at it. It should show us goin’ into the room and staying there for a while.”

“If that checks out, you might be off the hook,” Charlie said quietly. “With us at least. I’m not so sure about your employers.”

She turned to Doctor Whitmore. “I ... I’m so sorry, Doctor Whitmore.”

“So am I, Mary,” he said. “Patrick will most likely be fired over this and some of the other things he’s accused of. It’s highly likely the same will happen to you.”

Valerie felt for the woman. Although she had been highly unprofessional, she wouldn’t be the first person to fall in love with the wrong man and do something silly.

“Perhaps, Doctor,” Valerie said, calmly. “If Mary cooperates fully with us, then we can vouch for her when the Board at Elmwood investigate her behavior?”

The doctor smiled. “That would definitely help Mary.”

Mary began to sob.

“It’s okay,” Doctor Whitmore said, putting his arm around her shoulders. “We’ll sort this out. At the very least, if the Board decides to terminate your employment, I have some friends at other treatment facilities who will take you on. You won’t be without a job, Mary. I promise.”

“Thank you,” she said wiping tears from her eyes. “I guess I’ll be suspended, so I should go home.”

“We’ll be in touch, Mary,” Valerie said.

Mary left the kitchen, her footsteps somber on the hard floor.

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