I’ve seen the hairdresser standing out on the corner outside my surgery. She doesn’t approach, she just watches. She’s done her part and as far as I know, has gotten away with it. I wonder if she’s been following the nurse around because according to the set out timeline, the nurse is next. We each have a few weeks so as not to raise too much suspicion. I know that the nurse is soon and the woman my husband has been sleeping with will be gone.
I repeat that over and over again. My husband deserves this, look what he’s done to me and my family. He could have given me AIDS just like the hairdresser’s husband did, or any of the other types of sexually transmitted diseases. And I’ve seen them. They are not pretty. I hope he’s using protection with her. The slut.
I keep searching the computer for news confirming that Doc Tipring was capable of murder but I can’t find any. I know he came from the Tipring family. They are a well-known and very rich family. Could a killer come from a background like that? What if he wasn’t? What if the hairdresser killed a perfectly innocent old man? How could I know if E’s husband was really gay? Was he really a cheater? How could I be sure?
I knew E’s husband was my victim so I began to follow him around. He was younger than I imagined and extremely thin. He drove a simple dark blue Peugeot to and from his office. In the week I followed him, I never saw him with a man. I only saw him go home to E. E and her husband never did anything together. She stayed in her bedroom when he arrived home and he watched television until bed. They didn’t even share a bedroom.
In two weeks, my husband’s girlfriend is supposed to die. I debate every day whether I should go to the police. Confess to the plan. Tell her to watch herself. But I don’t and I don’t know why. What am I going to say? I can’t even prove who it was that killed the old man. Hell, the police don’t even know what he’s done. But above all, I don’t because I’m so afraid of E. She was crazy and now I know she’s capable of killing someone. She feels like she has nothing to lose. If she gets caught, she’s sick and only has a few years to live anyway.
And the person I’m supposed to kill is killing without any remorse.
And the person I’m supposed to kill is killing without any remorse.
And the person I’m supposed to kill is killing without any remorse.
And if I keep repeating it, it’s easier.
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Dorie and her sister, Marla, sat down on the sofa and stared at Theo and Dorland. The two women did not seem impressed that the officers were making another visit. Dorland stood up and went over to the mantle above the faux fireplace. He picked up one photo of Charlotta. She was extremely beautiful, standing in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and trying to hold her flowery dress down. Another photo showed Dorie and her sister Charlotta at the market buying clothes. They were so happy.
That was when he saw the earrings. Dorie was wearing the earrings. The exact earrings from Doc’s collection, the ones that were missing. They had her. Dorland handed the photo to Theo and tapped the spot. It took a few moments for Theo to understand the point.
“We have found out a lot about Doc Tipring in the last few days. For instance, we have discovered he may have murdered over thirty women.”
Dorie didn’t move or say anything.
“Who is this Doc Tipring?” Dorie’s sister asked. “What does he have to do with us?”
“Your sister worked for him, did she tell you? For a total of three days. However, it was long enough for her to discover that the man killed her sister, your sister.”
Marla turned to Dorie. “What are they talking about? You found the man that killed Charlotta?”
“How would I know he murdered my sister?” Dorie asked.
“Because of the earrings. The missing earrings. These missing earrings.” Theo held the photo up to Dorie’s face and pointed directly at the emerald earrings.
“If they are missing, how do you know that those are them?”
“Because they were extremely important to Tipring. Not only did he fire a nurse over them but ahead of time, he had each set photographed and gave them to his solicitor. We know the exact set that was missing.”
“Even if what you say is true, there’s no way I knew Doc killed my sister. And there is no way I killed him. I have an alibi, remember?”
Although her sister was meant to step in and protect her, Marla seemed too shocked by what she heard.
“We know, but even though you may have an alibi, but that doesn’t mean you didn’t hire someone to kill him. Do you know a woman named Marjorie Peters?”
Dorie squinted at him and studied his eyes. For a moment, Theo thought she would just come out and admit the truth, but finally she leaned back in her chair and smiled at him.
“No. Who is she?”
“She died recently. On the same day another victim—Sharon Yoder—died.”
“I don’t know who either of those people are.”
“I think you do.”
“We found a journal belonging to Mrs. Peters in which she tells the story of three women trapped in an elevator.”
Theo watched Dorie waver but she didn’t say anything. He gave a brief summary of the journal.
“Does it mention my name?”
“No, but it does mention a nurse with the first initial D.”
“That doesn’t prove anything,” said Marla.
“I hired no one,” Dorie said quickly. “You can search my bank statements all you want.”
“We are searching through your financial records. So, my suggestion is, if you have information that could help us catch Mr. Tipring’s killer, it would be in your best interest to help us.”
“Just a minute now,” her sister stepped in, “are you charging my sister with murder?”
“Not yet, but we are close to finding all the missing pieces.”
“Well then, in the meantime I want you both to leave. What you’re insinuating is horrendous. I just found out my other sister has been found and you dare accuse my family of murder? I don’t know what evidence you think you have but—” She stopped. She turned to Dorie, but Dorie was looking at her hands in her lap. “Just leave. And don’t come back until you have something concrete. If you ever find anything.”
As soon as Theo stepped from the house, he turned to Dorland and said, “I want that woman watched. I want to know everything she does; I want to know who she sees. I’m not going to let her get away with murder—no matter who the victim is. We’re missing something.”
“Yes, sir.”
Dorland’s mobile rang. Theo stopped while his partner took the call.
“They have talked to Maddock’s sister,” said Dorland, placing the mobile against his chest, “but she doesn’t have any idea where her brother and uncle went to hunt. There are many different hunting spots near the house, but she said it would depend on things such as where the game was found that year and party preference. As for irises, there are a few places they grow in the area and on the property. It may take a while to make a search through it all. What do you want us to do?”
Theo looked up at the sky, perhaps for a sign. There was no way he had the manpower or resources to handle a search of that magnitude. He needed help. Someone who had the resources he didn’t.
“Tell them I’ll let them know,” said Theo.
Theo rang Sophia. She answered on the first ring.
“It’s not a good time, Theo,” she answered.
“Listen, Sophia, I actually really need some help. I have a large area of land to search and I can’t possibly ask for the manpower.”
“What do you want me to do?”
He had no idea. “I’m not sure.” He explained what happened during the interview with Dorie and Dorland’s previous phone call.
“I’ll see what I can do. Let me ring you back.” She rang off before he could say anything.