“One of the last times Madison and I spoke, I told her that if she ever wanted my help in the future, to come with divorce papers.”
Lawson made a note on his tablet. “When was that conversation?”
“Nearly eleven years ago.”
“What happened when you arrived at the house?”
For the next five to ten minutes, I recounted everything I could recall up until Madison pulled the trigger. The entire time, Julia’s hand trembled in mine. At one point she wiped a tear from her cheek.
The more I recalled, the angrier I became.
Today was Julia’s wedding day, and once again, Madison was ruining it.
“Ms. McGrath,” Lawson said, “we’d also like your statement.”
Julia sat forward still holding my hand. “I gave my statement to the detective who called my parents’ home. I can give it again.”
Lawson’s eyes narrowed as he brushed the tablet screen. When he looked up, he confirmed my earlier suspicions. “Ma’am, we don’t have record of a telephone interview.”
Julia’s wide blue eyes came my direction. “I spoke to someone.”
Lawson went on, “This type of incident is generally handled in person. I know there was talk about involving the Chicago PD. However, you left Chicago and went to Madison. My captain made the decision to wait for your statement. Did you get a name?”
The color drained from Julia’s cheeks. “No.”
“Do you recall what you told him?”
She pulled her hand away from mine and ran her palms over the soft black slacks covering her thighs. “I told him what I remembered.”
“Please share.”
Julia’s account was exactly what she’d told me before and also said earlier in the kitchen. She added the information about meeting Madison in Ashland and how Madison had helped her find a wedding dress at the consignment shop.
“The one owned by Sally Coopmans?” Lawson asked.
Julia nodded. “That’s what Margaret said.”
“I’ll talk to Sally,” Lawson volunteered.
Each word, phrase, and sentence she uttered burned within me.
Julia was mine.
I found her.
She’d suffered because of me.
I’d allowed all of this to happen.
Julia may want the easiest outcome for Madison, but with each passing second, I wanted her to pay. Not only her. Phillip was somehow involved with Madison’s release. He was an accomplice.
More questions came to my mind as Julia continued speaking.
Who the fuck was behind MMT?
Was it Logan or Marlin?
Madison was released the day Julia’s and my engagement was announced. The same day that the filing had been made to contest Herman Wade’s last will and testament. And around the time Phillip’s calls began to Connie. There was no way that this was all one big coincidence.