Part 9 (1/2)

”No, no, nothing like that,” Riley hastened to rea.s.sure him and prayed silently that was true.

”Then I'm afraid I can't tell you. I'm sure you've heard of client confidentiality and legal professional privilege.”

”Of course, it's just that when you said you'd been expecting the police, I a.s.sumed Mrs Watson had told you something that would lead you to make such a statement. You must agree, it's a fairly odd thing to say.”

Westport's eye contact didn't falter. ”Mrs Watson asked me to draft her a new will. I a.s.sume you already know that, or you wouldn't be here. Apart from that, I can't tell you, other than to say she left with me a sealed envelope that was to be opened in the event of her death.”

Riley went to speak, but Westport cut him off. ”Before you ask, I don't know the contents of the envelope, Detective. She gave it to me already sealed. I witnessed her signature across the seal and locked it in my safe.” His eyes filled with challenge. ”And there it will stay until you furnish me with a Death Certificate.”

Riley sat back against the hard wood of his chair. ”You're right,” he replied, his tone affable. ”I saw your logo on the bottom of Rosemary's will.” His gaze drilled into the lawyer's. ”I also know what's in it.”

Westport refused to be intimidated, shrugging as he began to shuffle files around his desk. ”So, you read the will. What more can I tell you?”

”Did she come in alone?”

Furrows dug deep across the mottled forehead. ”Yes, she did. I can't say if someone dropped her off here or if she caught a cab, but she did ask my receptionist to call the disabled taxi when it was time for her to leave.”

”How did she appear?”

The lawyer frowned again. ”What's this all about, Detective? I might be old, but I'm not stupid. If Rosemary Watson's not dead, then something else is going on.”

”You're right. Again. There is something going on. I'm just not sure what it is, yet.”

”Have you spoken to her husband?”

”Yes, of course. He told me she'd gone on a holiday. Did Rosemary say anything to you about going away?”

”No, she didn't mention anything like that. She wanted to have the will prepared and finalized as quickly as possible, but she said nothing about leaving town.”

”How quickly?”

”Normally, I take instructions at the first appointment and then get the client to come back in a couple of weeks later to approve the draft. Once that's done, the will is finalized and executed before the requisite witnesses.

”Mrs Watson didn't want to do that. She waited outside in reception until I'd prepared a will based on her instructions and she signed it the same day.”

”How long did she wait?”

”I guess it must have been at least a couple of hours.”

Riley sat forward again. ”That's a little odd, don't you think? Especially given that she lives in town. Did she say anything about why she was in such a hurry?”

Westport shook his head. ”No, the only thing she did say was that she didn't want to have to make another trip downtown to see me. Something about the cost of the disabled taxi, if I recall.”

Riley pulled out his notebook and scribbled in it.

Westport frowned. ”This is all off the record, Detective. I probably shouldn't be saying anything at all.”

”Mr Westport, Rosemary Watson is missing. No one's seen or heard from her for over a month. Not even her daughter.”

The lawyer's face paled. ”Not even Kate? Rosemary would never cut off contact with Kate. Not after what happened.” His eyes narrowed. ”You do know about...?”

Riley offered a tight nod. ”I know Kate ran away from home at fourteen.”

Westport nodded. ”Rosemary told me about it when she attended upon my office. I'd heard the rumors, of course. Watervale's a small town and we were talking about the daughter of the Local Area Commander.”

”Stepdaughter,” Riley said.

Westport shrugged. ”Stepdaughter, whatever. I understood from Rosemary she married Darryl when Kate was a small child?”

Riley opened his mouth to answer, but the lawyer cut him off with a shake of his head. ”It doesn't matter. Rosemary said she was devastated when Kate left. I can't believe she'd cease to have contact with her. If what you say is true, there must be something terribly wrong.”

Dread slowly uncoiled in Riley's gut. Was Kate right? Maybe Darryl had done something to her mother? But, if so, what was in it for him? Rosemary's will had left everything to her daughter.

Another thought occurred to him. ”Did Rosemary tell Kate about the contents of her new will?”

”Without Rosemary's consent, I'd rather not say any more.”

Riley gritted his teeth. ”Mr Westport, I'm investigating Mrs Watson's disappearance. It's possible the woman's been murdered. I understand your obligation to your client, but in the circ.u.mstances, surely you can see how your information might a.s.sist me.” Riley fought to keep his voice even. ”I'd like to ask you again: Did Rosemary Watson tell you she'd spoken to Kate about it?”

The lawyer closed his eyes. His shoulders slumped. When he opened them again, the expression in them was one of sadness and finality. ”Yes, she did.”

Thoughts ricocheted through Riley's head.

Kate had lied to him.

She'd told him she'd never discussed the will with her mother. Why had she lied? He was on her side. Wasn't he?

The truth of it was, he didn't know what to believe. Kate's distress over her missing mother seemed genuine, but she appeared to have a lot of reasons for wanting to make Darryl's life difficult-including her as yet untold reasons for running away. He still hadn't gotten to the bottom of that, but his suspicions were more than a little disquieting.

Kate had made no effort to hide how she felt about Darryl: She despised him. She'd used that very word. Was she capable of framing him for something he didn't do? Like murder?

Riley frowned and looked across at the lawyer. ”What about Darryl? Did he know about it?”

”I don't know. When Rosemary asked for him to be written out of her will, I advised her on the rights of a spouse, in particular their right to challenge a will.”

”What did she say?”

Westport's lips compressed and his gaze turned somber. ”She told me that challenging the will would be the last thing on Darryl's mind.”

CHAPTER 10.

Kate pushed open the gla.s.s door that led into the waiting room of the Watervale Police Station. Her earlier panic had made her short of breath, but she'd managed to quell the nausea and now just wanted to get it over with.

”Can I help you?”

She walked closer to the high counter and tried to smile at the young officer who stood behind it. His cheeks were as s.h.i.+ny as his hair. He looked fresh out of the Academy.