“All right,” she said. “Go ahead.”
Good luck, Jess mouthed. I saw Mr. P. give Rose’s arm a quick pat.
Rose and I got out of the SUV and started up Aleida Scott’s driveway.
“So, what’s the plan?” I asked.
“You know Maddie didn’t kill Arthur,” Rose said. “You know she’s not capable of anything like that.”
“Of course I do,” I said.
Her eyes met mine. For once there was no sign of her stubborn streak or her mischievous sense of humor. For the first time I saw fear. “I think you should talk to this woman. I think you, better than any of us, can convince her to help Maddie.”
I wanted to say no. I wanted to tell Rose that she would be a lot better at convincing Aleida Scott to help Maddie. But I didn’t. I could see a hint of fear in her gaze, but I could also see her complete faith in me. All of them—Rose, Liz, Charlotte, my grandmother—they had always been my cheering section. If Rose thought I could do this, then I would.
We rang the doorbell and waited. I hoped the fact that there were no cars in the driveway meant Aleida Scott was home alone.
She opened the door and gave us a polite smile. Before either Rose or I could speak she held up a hand. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m not interested in changing my religion.”
“We’re not trying to convert you,” Rose said. “We’re friends of Madeline Hamilton.”
She blanched.
“Please give us two minutes,” I said. “That’s all. Then we’ll go.”
I kept my eyes fixed on her face. “All right,” she said. “You’d better come inside.” She stepped back and we stepped inside.
Her living room was a warm, welcoming space with a caramel-colored sofa and two black leather chairs. The floors were oak and there was some beautiful artwork on the walls. Aleida didn’t invite us to sit down.
“I can’t help Madeline,” she said. “I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can say that will make a difference with the police.”
I felt Rose stiffen beside me. I swallowed, hoping the words I was about to say would be enough. “Mrs. Scott, when I was five years old my father was hit on his way home by a car that crossed the center line. His car went down an embankment and a tree sliced through the windshield. He died before my mother, my grandmother and I got to the hospital.”
“I’m so sorry,” she said.
“He didn’t die alone, surrounded by strangers and machines, because Maddie was there. She was a nurse in that hospital. It was the end of her shift but when she heard about the accident she went down to the emergency room and she stayed with my father.”
Rose reached over and took my hand and the warmth of hers reminded me that I could do this.
“She held his hand and he didn’t die all alone. He died knowing that somebody cared about him.” I worked to keep my voice steady. “That’s the kind of person Maddie Hamilton is. That’s how I know she didn’t kill Arthur Fenety. You know because you were in her house. What I know doesn’t mean anything to the police. What you know will.”
The silence seemed to go on forever, even though it was maybe half a minute.
“You don’t know what you’re asking,” she said at last.
“Yes, we do,” Rose said. “That’s why Maddie hasn’t told the police or even her lawyer about you. I know exactly what we’re asking. Please think about what you’re asking her to do if she keeps your secret.”
Aleida looked around her living room. “I’ve spent forty-one years in this house,” she said. She turned her gaze to Rose. “Do you have a house?”
Rose shook her head. “Not anymore. I live in an apartment at Legacy Place. It was my daughter’s idea.”
“Do you like it?” Aleida asked.
Rose shook her head. “No, I don’t. All my neighbors do is talk about their ailments and what store has prune juice on sale this week. But I love my daughter and I know she loves me.”
Aleida sighed. She looked at me. “You’re right. Madeline is a good person.”
I nodded.
“If it’s not too late and you can get her lawyer on the phone, I’ll talk to him.”
I had to swallow a couple of times before I could answer her because I could suddenly feel the press of tears at the back of my throat. “Thank you,” I finally managed to get out.
Rose and Aleida had stepped into the living room. I pulled out my phone and punched in Josh’s cell number.
“Hi, Sarah,” he said when he answered.
I explained quickly about Aleida and then I put her on the phone. She repeated pretty much the same story that Maddie had told us at the sandwich shop.
Rose took both of my hands in hers and grinned at me. “You did it, my darling girl,” she said.
I smiled back at her. “I think you did it,” I said.
She tossed her head, because she couldn’t really toss her hair. “Drew Barrymore would be so proud,” she said.
Josh arranged to meet Aleida in person the next morning at eleven o’clock. She handed my phone back to me. “I’ll be there. I give you my word.”
“We know that,” Rose said. “Would you have time for lunch afterward?’
“I think I’d like that,” she said.
I smiled at her. “Thank you doesn’t seem like enough.”
“Thank you for showing me that I needed to do the right thing,” she said.
We said good night and headed for the SUV. Once we were on the sidewalk, Rose grinned and gave the car a big thumbs-up. Jess and Mr. P. high-fived and Liz nodded approvingly.
“She’s going to talk to the police?” Liz asked as I slid onto the seat.
“She’s already talked to Josh,” I said.
“What did you say?” Jess asked.
“We just reminded her what a good person Maddie is,” Rose said.
We headed back to North Harbor, with Rose making plans for a party to celebrate the charges being dropped against Maddie.
“Slow down a little,” I warned. “It may not happen right away.”
“Horse pucks,” she said. “They don’t have a case now.”
I left Liz at her house and headed for Legacy Place to drop off Rose and Mr. P.
“Are you headed home or do you want to come have a cup of coffee?” I asked Jess.
“Coffee sounds good,” she said. “Do you have any cookies?”
Cookies. This was getting embarrassing. I’d forgotten to get groceries again. I made a face. “Sorry.”
Jess grinned. “Not a problem,” she said, holding up a bag from the sandwich shop.
“When did you get those?” I asked.
“When you were telling everyone to use the washroom before we hit the road.”
“She always does that,” Rose said, unfastening her seat belt. “I’ll see you in the morning,” she said to me.
“Next time you guys go on a road trip I want to come,” Jess said.
“You’re welcome anytime, dear,” Rose told her. “Thank you for the cookies.”
“Are you coming up front?” I asked.
Jess shook her head. “I’m fine here.”
“You’re as bad as Elvis,” I said, shaking my head.
When we got to the house I stepped into the kitchen, turned on the light and found myself face-to-face, or, more accurately, face-to-whiskers with Elvis. He was sitting on the stool at the counter.
I jumped and sucked in a breath and Jess banged into my back. “You scared the bejeebers out of me,” I said. I put my face close to his and he licked my chin. “Cute does not work on me,” I warned. He licked my chin again, tipped his head to one side and blinked at me. “Nobody likes a smart-ass,” I said.
Jess leaned around me. “Hey, Elvis! How’s it shakin’?” Much to her delight he meowed and shook his head.
“You’re as bad as Liam,” I said.
Jess just laughed and picked up the cat.
Liz had called Charlotte and Maddie from the road, but I wasn’t sure if Charlotte had called Nick, and he deserved to know what was going on.
“I should call Nick,” I said.