Alex Harris 00 - Poisoned

look like after being developed?” I reluctantly turned back to J.T. and asked with as much enthusiasm as I could muster.
    “Well, no, not with me. But here’s my card. You’re more than welcome to come by the office and view the plans when you have a moment.” He handed me one of his business cards quickly touching my hand in the process, while June’s face flushed with anger.
    “Thank you.” I tucked the card into my purse. “So, getting back to Monday evening, you all arrived together and left together, is that right?”
    “Well,” May answered, “we all arrived within a half hour of each other, except of course, Kendra, who showed up later. Kendra, a lovely girl, but Bradley could do better. Do you know her family history goes back to the beginning of ours? Our illustrious ancestor, Lucien Cournet and Kendra’s great great, oh I don’t know how many greats, but her ancestor was Raymond Thiry. Of course, he was murdered is how the story goes, and any chance of a good line stopped there. I believe Kendra’s parents work in a factory.”
    “Yes, that’s right, they do. Poor souls,” interjected June.
    “So, yes,” May continued. “Let’s see. So, everyone arrived. A bit of arguing ensued as usually happens at these get-togethers, and then about eight or so, Virginia brought out a light supper and I had two macaroons myself. Though why Roberta made them so evil looking is beyond me. Knowing my sister like I do, she probably did it to bother me. She knows how frightened I can become. But they tasted good nevertheless. She made them from the same recipe our mother used and I just love them so!” She put her hand to her heart again and started to sway.
    “May, are you all right? Sit down! J.T., run get a cold compress.” June barked at the developer and I began to see how the relationship worked.
    I helped June put May on the sofa where she started to recover and grabbed at her sister’s sleeve. “June, you ate a few of the macaroons as well.”
    “You’re right. I did. And so did J.T. Good lord. We all could have been killed.”
    “Do you think it’s possible to sue Roberta for failing to insure her buffet?”
    I thought all that was missing was a southern accent and a hand fan.
    “May, you may have something there. We’ll have to contact our lawyer.” June turned to look at me. “Please don’t misunderstand. We love our sister, but well, we could have been killed. Every last one of us. Roberta should be taught a lesson.”
    Losing a grandson seemed like quite a lesson to me, and besides, Mrs. Brissart was not responsible for what happened. One of these idiots was. A headache started at the back of my head, working its way to the front, which took my mind off my stuffed stomach, and I understood completely why Mrs. Brissart hated her family. I wanted to walk out on the pair of them but still hoped for a bit more information. I also wanted to talk with June about the love of her life, Charles, but thought it better to confront the woman alone.
    “If you’re feeling better May, could we get back to the events of Monday evening,” I said a bit abruptly. “So you tried to convince Mrs. Brissart to sell but she wouldn’t listen?”
    “She certainly did not,” May said as she fanned herself with her lace hankie. So now all we needed was the southern accent. “My sister never listened to anyone in her entire life. We’ve told her over and over again to stay away from certain elements , if you get my meaning. She continues to throw herself into work with women who don’t have the good sense to get out of bad marriages and she works with the homeless. Why, any one of them could have come right in here and poisoned Bradley.”
    “Mrs. Doliveck, that doesn’t make any sense. First, I think the work your sister does for this community is something to be proud of. I wish I did more, I’m ashamed to admit, and second, why would someone from one of her charities kill Bradley, for goodness sake?”
    “Well, that’s a good point, I’ll grant you that, though perhaps they wanted to hurt Roberta. You know, maybe in their warped mind they resented her all her money and her house and just wanted to cause her some pain.”
    “Afterward, you all went home? Together?” I asked while massaging my temples.
    May sat up on the sofa. “Yes, we all left together. June and J.T. dropped me off at my house.”
    “Do you live alone?”
    “Yes, I do. I have a housekeeper but she doesn’t live in.