“Likewise. I’d like to talk to your client, but he insisted that I wait until you arrived.”
“I’m sure you understand why, given his recent experience with the justice system.”
“I do, but you’re here now, and given your reputation, I’m sure you’ll protect him.”
“Has Mrs. Dowd’s body been moved yet?” Regina asked.
“No. It’s at the base of a cliff with no easy access. We’re going to have to wait for the storm to abate before I send anyone down there to recover it.”
“I’d like to see the scene of the accident before I give Mr. Chesterfield any legal advice. Would that be okay with you?”
“You don’t need my permission, Miss Barrister. Mr. Chesterfield isn’t under arrest, and the path along the cliff is open to the public.”
Regina smiled at Easley. “Will you show me the way?”
“My pleasure,” he said as he flipped up his hood and then headed outside.
Gale-force winds drove massive waves against the coal black rocks, sending spray high into the air. Other waves, unimpeded, crashed onto the shore. The storm made the trek slow going. Several deputies suddenly appeared through the curtain of rain. They looked miserable, hunched forward, hoods up, and hands plunged into their pockets, trying to stay warm and dry and failing miserably. When they reached the deputies, Easley handed Regina a pair of binoculars.
“She’s down there!” Easley yelled so he could be heard above the howling wind and pounding surf.
Regina brought the binoculars up and looked over the side of the cliff. Raindrops dotted the lenses, and she had to wipe them off to get a decent view. Through the mist, she could see a body splayed across the top of a boulder, arms and legs spread wide. Regina couldn’t make out the corpse’s features, because long strands of wet hair spread across the dead woman’s face.
“How can you be sure that’s Lily Dowd?” Regina shouted.
“We can’t, but Mr. Chesterfield said those were the clothes she was wearing when she went out for her walk.”
Regina straightened up. “Okay, I’ve seen enough. Let’s go back.”
No one objected, and the trio walked back as fast as they could. When they reached the front door, Regina noticed a black BMW. Chesterfield swore.
“What’s the matter?” Regina asked.
“It’s the fucking Bobbsey Twins.”
“Who?”
“Tweedledee and Tweedledum, Lily’s offspring, come to make my life miserable.”
A short, plump woman and a rail-thin man were standing in the entryway. As soon as Chesterfield walked in, the woman rushed toward him.
“What have you done to my mother?” she shouted.
Easley held up his badge. “I’m the detective in charge here, and I’ll ask the questions. Now, who are you?”
Neither person seemed intimidated by the badge. “I’m Dr. Iris Hitchens, Lily Dowd’s daughter, and this is her son, Andrew Dowd. He’s an attorney. I called here two hours ago to talk to my mother. A policeman answered the phone and refused to tell me why he was in my mother’s house. I’m here now and I demand an answer.”
Easley relaxed. “I’m afraid I have some very bad news for you. You might want to sit down.”
“I’m a medical doctor, Detective. Not some frail damsel. Now, tell me what’s happened to Mother.”
“Your mother went for a walk in very bad weather. When she didn’t return, Mr. Chesterfield called the police. We’ve found a dead person at the base of a cliff near here. It appears to be a woman, but we can’t get down to the body, because of the weather—so we haven’t been able to make a positive identification.”
Iris glared at Chesterfield. “You killed her, you bastard. You already got away with two murders, but you’re not going to get away with murdering my mother.”
Easley stepped between Iris and Chesterfield. “There is no evidence indicating that your mother was murdered, Dr. Hitchens.”
Iris turned on the detective. “This man poisoned two people. He’s a killer. He’s after Mother’s money, and murdering her is the quickest way to get it. I demand that you arrest him.”