Dead Politician Society

Chapter 29: Laura

Laura fiddled with the radio until the CBC was loud and clear. A jazz trio from Vancouver filled the room with its confident, upbeat melody.

She checked the clock.

The clock must be stuck. It wouldn’t move past three p.m. Laura wanted it to be later, like five, so she could pour herself a Scotch.

Susie’s voice cackled in her head. So let me get this straight. You ditched your husband to live in sin with a woman, but you won’t crack a bottle on a weekday before five because the WASP gods don’t approve?

Oh, what the hell. Laura pulled a tumbler from the cabinet. The lone remainder of the crystal set she and Hayden had registered for, when they were about to be married and crystal tumblers had been important. She couldn’t remember the other glasses breaking but they must have shattered one by one, a careless politician here, a drunk in-law there, until there was one.

She wasn’t worried about what Penny had said, about being a suspect in Hayden’s murder. Of course the police would suspect anyone close to Hayden—and now anyone close to Libby Leighton, too. What was eating her was the second card; the one she’d found an hour earlier as she gathered clothes to take to the cleaners.

The Scotch was fabulous. Big Peat Monster. The smoky blend had been in the cupboard since Susannah’s parents’ last visit from Montreal. We normally like single malt, they’d said as they presented the bottle upon their arrival. But we were introduced to this blend recently, and we decided not to be snobs. Laura had warmed to the couple instantly. They were only a few years older than she was, and they seemed relieved that their wild daughter had settled down with someone so conventional.

God, she’d better be wrong about what she’d found in Susannah’s pocket. She imagined the Steinbergs’ eyes, wide with horror as they found out they’d raised a monster. They might have taken the lesbian thing in gracious stride, but a murderer would be a whole new ballpark.

Another long sip, and Laura’s shoulders relaxed into the plush living room sofa. A third sip melted the stress away almost physically. She traced a finger along the etched pattern in the glass and contemplated becoming an alcoholic.

One good thing: The card in Susie’s jacket did not have that horrific message typed onto the back. But the rest was identical to the one she’d found in Hayden’s suit: A plain white background with SPU printed inexpertly onto one side. Laura’s resolve bounced back and forth between (a) asking Susannah directly what it meant and (b) replacing the card—she hadn’t made it to the cleaners—and not letting on that she’d found it.

What she couldn’t think of—yet—was a good reason not to tell the police. Not wanting to was not a good enough reason.

She thumbed the card, flipped it over and back in her trembling hands. She needed a manicure. French would look nice. Or maybe that two-tone thing Penny had. She needed to shake things up—reverse the aging process, or die trying. She didn’t remember having this many wrinkles on her hands.

“What’s that?”

She hadn’t heard Susannah open the door.

“It’s a Scotch. Can I pour you one?”

“I’m good.” Susannah lifted a corner of her mouth. The half-smile looked forced. “Is this what you do all day when I’m in school?”

“I think Hayden’s death is affecting me more than I’ve acknowledged.” Laura smiled nervously. “Are you home for the day?”

“For a few hours.” Susannah kicked her shoes onto the mat by the door. “I’m supposed to go back to campus tonight to hear a speech.”

“It’s great you’re so into school this year.” Laura tucked the card under a couch cushion.

“I was thinking of missing the speech.” Susannah gave her a sheepish glance. “I have tickets for the film festival. You want to come with me? That is, if you’re not too drunk to stay awake.”

“What’s the film?” Laura wasn’t sure she could manage a night alone with Susannah. Not until she figured out what to do about the card.

“Something French and subtitled. It looked erotic when I bought the tickets.”

“Sure,” Laura said. At least while the movie played, she could let her mind mull the right solution.