Alex Harris 00 - Poisoned

a couple of men,” I added.
    “I can probably tell you who was here. They’ve been here before,” Chantal said with a roll of her eyes. “Besides Mrs. Brissart’s two sisters, I’m sure Mr. Smit showed up. He’s a developer, and Steven Estenfelder. That’s Mrs. Estenfelder’s son. Steven’s daughter, Trish, would probably have come and Larry Estenfelder and his wife. He’s Steven’s brother. I would imagine Marsha Myers showed up as well. She’s Mrs. Doliveck’s daughter.”
    “Was Bradley still here when they all arrived?” John asked me.
    I nodded. “Yes. I wanted to stay and help but Mrs. Brissart assured me she would be fine with Bradley’s help. I think she’s a bit embarrassed by her sisters.”
    “Why is that?”
    “I don’t know,” I shrugged. “Chantal?”
    “Well, the family, I should say the three sisters, own a piece of land outside of Farmington, and Mrs. Estenfelder and Mrs. Doliveck hooked up with a developer, Mr. Smit. He wants to buy the land and turn it into houses and shopping and business complexes. Mrs. Brissart flat out refuses to sell. There’s a house on the land. It used to be the retirement home of her father and she goes up there from time to time to get away. Not too much anymore.
    “Anyway. Her sisters want to sell it and Mrs. Brissart won’t. They need her signature to sell. She says why should she? She doesn’t need the money and she likes the house.”
    “Do you get the impression perhaps the sisters need the money?” John asked.
    Chantal took a moment. “Well, I never thought of that, but it could be possible. They’ve all got money from family investments, I believe, and I know Mrs. Brissart is fine on that front, but come to think of it, her sisters are always saying they weren’t left with as much as Mrs. Brissart after their husbands died. And I get the impression they’re not as frugal as Mrs. Brissart. Don’t get me wrong,” Chantal tapped the table for emphasis, “she is most generous and giving, but it’s not her character to spend money on what she considers foolish things.”
    “Such as?”
    I leaned in closer. This was getting good. I’d have to remember every detail for Sam.
    “Well, trips and jewelry and fur coats and spoiled children and grandchildren.”
    “Mmm. Yes.” John looked pensive.
    “Detective. Could I ask you something?” Chantal said.
    “Certainly.”
    “How did Bradley die?”
    “We can’t be sure yet. Have to wait for the coroner’s report,” John said. “Let me ask you something. Can you think of anyone or any reason why someone would want to kill Bradley Brissart?”
    Chantal shook her head. “Absolutely not. I can’t image why someone would want to kill Bradley .”
    “But kill someone else perhaps?” John asked speculatively.
    “Well...”
    “Go ahead,” John prompted as I leaned even closer.
    “Well, it’s just that Mrs. Brissart’s family really wants to sell that land and she’s always saying they’ll have to kill her to get it.” Chantal’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, my!”
    John sat back and smiled. “That’s exactly what I thought.”

CHAPTER SIX

    Not knowing how Bradley died, I couldn’t figure out how someone could kill him if they meant to kill his grandmother, unless the murder took place in the dead of night with all the lights out. But even then, it seemed farfetched.
    Before letting us go, John gave us the big speech about not letting anything that had been said out of the study. Yeah, right. I knew John knew that I would tell Sam everything, but he couldn’t stop me because I couldn’t see what it would hurt. I grabbed onto his arm as Chantal walked away. “Exactly what is going on here?”
    “Not now.” And then he pointed a finger at me. “I saw how you leaned in closer for all the good bits.”
    Jim Maroni stepped into the hall and walked toward the rear of the house.
    I waited until the young man was out of earshot. “John? How could someone mistake Bradley for Mrs. Brissart?”
    “I can’t get into it now.” John walked toward the living room.
    Mrs. Platz sat next to Mrs. Brissart holding her hand. Seated across from them were two women. The vultures.
    “Detective, these are my sisters.” Mrs. Brissart did not venture to introduce them further.
    “We came as soon as we heard, Detective,” June said. “I’m June Doliveck and this is my sister, May Estenfelder.”
    “Thank you both for coming.” He nodded to both of them and turned to Mrs.