Page 119 of Last Girls Alive

Katie watched her mannerisms and could tell with most certainty that the woman was bored and was trying to figure out the best way to make her excuses to leave the couple. This was Katie’s chance. She picked up a glass of water and made her way through the crowd purposely bumping into a few guests as she went, as if she had a bit too much to drink. Smiling and weaving, she made a beeline for Mrs. McKinzie and tripped herself up at the perfect moment to send the water in her glass in a perfect arc that spotted the front of her dress.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry. Here, I have a trick to help you get that out,” she said and guided her to the ladies’ room. The female security guard zeroed in on them, but Mrs. McKinzie waved her away.

They walked in the ladies’ lounge and restroom. It was larger than any restroom Katie had ever seen. Beautifully decorated with several stations where you could sit down and check your makeup. There were changing rooms. Attendants if you needed them.

“Mrs. McKinzie, I’m so sorry, but—”

The woman laughed with an almost musical tone as she took a seat in front of one of the beauty stations. “It’s quite all right. I was trying to figure out how to get away from the Lawsons.” She studied Katie for a moment. “You seem familiar. What’s your name, dear?”

“I’m Katie Scott.”

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Scott.”

“Actually, I’m Detective Katie Scott.”

“Detective?” she said as her smile faded.

“Mrs. McKinzie, I wanted to speak with you and I know that you don’t have to but I was hoping that you would make this exception…”

The older woman watched Katie closely—with curiosity. Her mouth straightened as her right eyebrow lifted. “Well, I find it refreshing when people just say what’s on their mind.”

With relief, Katie explained, “I’m investigating the death of two young women that were both the last residents at the Elm Hill Mansion.”

“That’s terrible. I believe I read something about that.”

The bodyguard entered the restroom and Mrs. McKinzie waved her away again.

“I have just two questions for you.”

“I’ll give you five more minutes, so I’d make it quick.” She began touching up her makeup and hair.

Several women entered and exited the lounge. No one paid them any attention.

“Why did you and Mr. McKinzie donate the Elm Hill Mansion?” said Katie.

“We didn’t want to live there anymore. It was too big and we weren’t interested in remodeling. We thought it would feel more remote. After giving it much thought we wanted to have it benefit the community, so we spoke with a couple of local councilmen and asked if there was something the county needed. They gave us some suggestions.”

“And you wanted it to be a home for foster girls.”

“Why yes.”

“What was the real reason, Mrs. McKinzie?” Katie watched the woman closely as she stiffened, indicating she might be hiding something.

“I have a feeling, Detective, that you are very good at your job.”

“I try to follow up on every possible lead.”

Mrs. McKinzie stopped applying her lipstick and turned to face Katie. “I like you, Detective. And I’m rarely wrong about people. I can count on you for your discretion about this, of course.”

“Yes. That goes without saying.”

“I love my life. I’ve been blessed with the right decisions, right pedigree, and with a lot of luck. But… I made one decision that I wish I could take back.”

Katie listened intently, trying to second-guess what the woman was going to tell her.

“I was seventeen when I got pregnant. As a silly girl, I thought he loved me and that we would get married and life would be wonderful.” She sighed. “But that didn’t happen, of course. I was forced by my parents to have the babies, and then give them up for adoption.”

“Excuse me, but did you say ‘babies’?”