Corpse Suzette

Murder is such a deep, horrible evil. It upsets...” She waved her
arms, indicating the mountains, the trees, that surrounded them. “...it upsets
the balance, the harmony of nature. It is a wickedness that damages us all.”
    Savannah could agree with
that, absolutely and completely. In her years of experience she had seen the
ripple effect caused by a homicide that was more like a tsunami. The taking of
a human life could destroy not only the victim, but entire families. Even
communities were deeply damaged by the act of homicide, taking generations to
heal.
    “It does damage us
all,” Savannah said. “That’s why I feel so strongly about bringing a murderer
to justice. For the victim, for the family, for all of us.”
    Yasmina wiped her eyes and
straightened her back. “How can I help you, Savannah? Tell me what you need
from me.”
    “I need to know if he had
any enemies, anyone who may have threatened to do him harm recently.”
    “Other than Suzette... and
the women he’s thrown aside when he was finished with them... and the husbands
of the women he’s seduced... and the patients who weren’t happy with their
results... and the people who have lost the fortunes they invested in his
dubious business ventures... the professionals whose careers he has destroyed
through his lies and incompetence... people like that?”
    Savannah’s jaw dropped.
Then she recovered herself and nodded. “Yes. Exactly. People like that.”
    “Come inside,” Yasmina
said, heading back to the building. “We might as well get comfortable. This
could take a while.”
     
    An hour later, Savannah’s
brain and her notebook were filled with the names of people who were everything
from disgruntled to furious with Sergio D’Alessandro. She didn’t know whether
to feel grateful or overwhelmed.
    “It’s been ages since I’ve
had a list of suspects this long,” she said, flipping through the pages. “I
must admit, I didn’t care for Mr. D’Alessandro when I met him, and I think even
less of him now.”
    Yasmina sighed and took another
sip of hot herbal tea. “I hate to speak ill of the dead. But under these
terrible circumstances, we must also tell the truth, even if it’s ugly.”
    “I appreciate that.”
    When the doctor had first
brought Savannah into her office, she had made them each a cup and offered her
some coconut macaroons from an antique tin. Savannah had settled into a
comfortable chair next to her desk and allowed herself the luxury of
temporarily basking in the peaceful ambiance the woman seemed to create around
her.
    Some people had an air of
spirituality about them, an aura of otherworldliness that calmed and nourished
those fortunate enough to spend time in their presence. Savannah’s grandmother
was one such soul. And Dr. La Rue was another.
    Savannah was reluctant to
leave her, but she had work to do— processing this list, among other things.
    She looked around the
office with its pictures of tranquil island scenes on the walls, candles and
fresh flowers floating in sparkling, cut glass bowls, the sweet, exotic scent
of lemongrass in the air. “So, you’re moving out of here, huh?” she said.
    “I am. This part of my life
has been dying for a long time. And that’s fine. All things die sooner or
later.”
    “A sad thought.”
    Yasmina smiled. “Not at
all. The leaves die and fall in a blaze of glory, and they feed the hungry
saplings that grow and flourish. Everything in its time.”
    Savannah offered her hand
and wondered at the power that radiated from the other woman’s touch. “Thank
you, doctor,” she said humbly, “for all your help. I’m so glad we met.”
    “Me, too, Savannah. Do stay
in contact. I’d like to hear from you from time to time, and I’d be pleased to
get to know you better.”
    “Absolutely. It would be my
pleasure.”
    The two women walked out
together, as Savannah took yet another box to the Jaguar.
    It was when Savannah was
saying good-bye that she glanced back at the main building—the back door in
particular—and she thought of one more question she wanted to ask Dr. La Rue.
    “By the way,” she said,
“did you speak to Jeremy Lawrence a while ago, before I arrived.”
    “Indeed I did. Jeremy
rushed over here from Emerge to say good-bye and wish me well.”
    “And how long was it, would
you guess, from the time you said good-bye to him and I met you there in the
hallway?”
    Yasmina shrugged. “I don’t
know, a few minutes. I was involved,