Chapter 53
"Ihave nothing to say to you," Judy said, her voice crackling through the speaker phone at her gate.
"I think you'll want to talk after I tell you this," I replied.
She didn't disconnect.
"I'm sure by now, you're aware we have solid evidence against Bryce in the murder of your daughter.”
"If you had solid evidence, the prosecuting attorney would have brought charges."
"A clothing fiber from one of his suits was found on your daughter's body. Does that fact bother you?"
"Gentlemen, you’re grasping at straws. There are any number of possible reasons why that fiber would be at the scene of the crime.
This is a distraction, taking much-needed focus away from the real killer.
I can assure you, Bryce did not kill my daughter.
That’s preposterous.” She paused. “I’ve spoken to the sheriff, I'll have you know.
I must say, I'm a little shocked that you two are still on the case. "
"I think you'll also be shocked by what I'm about to tell you."
She still didn't hang up.
"Technology is incredible these days, as I'm sure you're aware. Before Preston’s body was cremated, the mortician collected hair samples." It was complete BS. But it wasn't illegal for a police officer to lie in the state of Florida. “Those hairs were examined, and traces of digoxin were found.”
It was a long shot.
“That’s one of Preston’s regular medications. Of course, there were traces found.”
“These levels were excessive. Enough to cause toxicity.”
She went silent, then said. "I'm not saying anything else to you without an attorney."
A slight grin tugged my lips. I was getting close. "You're not under arrest. And if you want to stay that way, you'll continue talking to me. Or you can put your faith in Bryce. The man who killed your daughter."
Again, she remained on the line.
"I think Sydney discovered your plan. She came to visit Preston the night you had gotten him to sign the documents.
She flipped out and threatened to expose you both.
After she left, Bryce followed her back to her apartment.
He knocked on the door, tried to reason with her, maybe offered her a payout.
She wouldn't take it. In order to protect himself and secure the funds, he strangled her and made it look like a random assault.
" I paused for dramatic effect. "As a mother, I don't know how you can sit back and allow something like that to go unpunished. No matter how much money you have, you can’t buy a clear conscience.”
The line went silent a moment.
“I know you loved your daughter.”
That got to her. Judy broke down into sobs.
“I think we should talk face to face.”
To my surprise, she buzzed us through the gate a moment later.
We stepped into the courtyard and walked to the front porch. Judy approached and opened the door. She stood there and said nothing for a moment, looking tortured. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“I think you know in your heart what the truth is,” I said.
A grim frown tightened her lips, and her eyes filled.
"I'll tell you how this is going to work out," I said. "We know you slowly poisoned Preston with digoxin.”
She swallowed hard.
“You cooperate with us fully, wear a wire and help us bring Bryce down, and I'll make sure you get minimal if any jail time.” I was making promises I couldn’t keep.
After a long pause, she said, “Preston became difficult. He promised us we would always be taken care of. Then something changed. He grew to despise all of us. He changed the trust agreement to give everything away. He left us nothing. Nothing!” Anger swelled.
“I was in a state of panic. I don’t think he was in his right mind.
Bryce came up with the idea to amend the trust agreement, and I did my best to persuade Preston.
But I promise you, I did nothing to hurt my father.
” The tears spilled over. “I dedicated my life to that man. Everything he asked, I did. I took care of him when he needed me. I fed him, wiped his ass, everything. I handled all of his affairs.”
She was painting a selective picture.
“You felt like you were owed the estate,” I said in a sympathetic voice.
“You’re goddamn right I’m owed the estate! None of those worthless pieces of shit lifted a finger to help Preston.”
“Your siblings?”
She nodded. “It was all me.”
It was crazy to me that she thought herself some kind of martyr for taking care of Preston as a result of an illness that she induced. The delusion was next level.
“You had no choice but to change the trust,” I said, continuing to sound sympathetic to the cause.
Jack recorded everything on his phone.
“Absolutely,” she blurted without thinking. “What would you have done?”
“I wouldn’t have poisoned my father.”
Judy frowned and hung her head in shame.
“Tell me everything that happened the night Sydney was murdered.”
Judy took a deep breath. "Bryce was in a panic that night. Sydney threatened to ruin everything. I told Bryce I would handle her.”
“How were you going to handle her?”
“Talk to her. Promise to fund whatever cause she thought was important at the moment.” She paused.
“I went to her apartment. I didn’t mean to do it.
” She broke down into sobs, her chest jerking.
“You have to believe me. I would never hurt Sydney. She just made me so mad. She wouldn’t listen to reason.
The next thing I knew, my hands were around her neck… ”
Her throat welled, and she couldn’t speak.
JD and I stared at her in disbelief.
“You killed your daughter,” I said.
She lost it, and violent sobs jerked her body. Her knees went wobbly, and soon she collapsed to the tile, crying.