"Ms. Stillman if I could question you first in private followed by Mr. Bartlett."
I see her look to Patrick for guidance before guiding us to yet another room in this massive mansion, it must be a sunroom with a skylight roof above and patio windows leading to an opulent garden outside. You can see the wealth in every detail of the architecture not to mention the decor everywhere radiates money.
It didn't escape my attention that Mr. Bartlett was not pleased with this turn of events. I take my place opposite as does Patrick.
"Ma'am can you give me a detailed description of the events of 11 October 2012. Leave nothing out no matter how minuscule it may seem."
She looks at Patrick before even thinking about my question. With his subtle nod of approval, I can see her eyes glaze over as she searches her memory for the events of that day.
"I started my day like most days during my pregnancy. Although exhausted I couldn't sleep so I'd wake up to try and get some work done. But as usual, within minutes of getting on my feet, I'd become nauseous and end up in the bathroom throwing up which was usually around five in the morning. It would take me about two hours before I'd get my bearings before I could function as a human being. On this Thursday at eight-thirty I had my weekly obstetrician appointment."
"Ma'am why do weekly appointments seems highly irregular."
I see her look to Patrick for approval and can see this as the pattern we will be following during my questioning.
"Not for multiple pregnancies."
"I see, you may continue."
"I barely just about got myself put together by seven-fifteen. I had half a cracker with some tea before my driver Joe drove me to my appointment at the South Calgary Hospital where my doctor Cynthia Beecham was practicing."
"South Calgary Hospital and not RockyView General Hospital, Ms. Stillman."
"Yes, my doctor is at SCH. Anyway, Joesph had me at SCH by 8:05 am."
"Did you go to your doctor's rooms alone?"
"No, Joseph always accompanied me inside and waited until I was done and accompanied me back to the car and to Fairfield or where ever else I wanted to go."
"I waited barely five minutes before I was in with my doctor. She did the usual tests and was happy with both the babies and my progress given that it's always high risk with multiple pregnancies given my small frame."
"Did she do anything out of the ordinary were there other people paying undue attention to you."
"Nothing it was the same routine with my doctor and the same nurses always assisting."
"Do you recall the nurses' names?"
"Claudia Silva and Jordon Issac."
Ms. Stillman notices me write down the nurses' names. I see the wheels in her head go to places it hadn't ever thought it would.
"Go on Ms. Stillman."
"As Joe and I stepped out of the hospital and made our way to the car a man lost balance with his crutches as he was trying to use a nasal spray and barrelled into both Joe and me as he was helping me into the back passenger seat. The older man managed to grab hold of both my hips helping to stabilize himself before he fell right open on top of me with the spray still clutched in his gloved hand. I was somewhat startled but Joe was furious with the man and his elderly wife for not being more careful. He hastily sent them on their way before making sure I was okay. I was startled but otherwise seemed fine. Joe was not as confident and repeatedly insisted I go back to my doctor to make sure. I just wanted to get back home and change and put up my feet, his suggestion of going back to the doctor was not something I was willing to do unless I felt something was off. We sat there for an entire fifteen minutes as I made sure I felt fine before heading back to Fairfield."
"I must have dosed off as soon as we got on the road because I think it was fifteen minutes after we left I had dosed off but woke up confused, and experiencing server cramps. I remember in this haze of maybe having a seizure and then throwing up my phone alarm going off reminding me to take my morning vitamins."
"What time was your alarm set to take the morning vitamins?"
"9:30."
I don't think Ms. Stillman is aware that both her hands are clutched to her abdomen. You can see that she is reliving it as she recalls the events of that day. I encourage her to continue.
"All I remember before waking up at RockView General Hospital was that my body had become heavy and I was hazy before becoming numb before passing out."
"How did you end up at RockView General Hospital?"
"Joe said it was five minutes from when I started cramping so he took me to the nearest hospital."
"What else do you remember Ms. Stillman?"
I see her armor almost crack as she stares through me like I'm not even there before collecting herself while maintaining her resolve and answering my question.
"I woke five days later Tuesday, 16 October. I woke up with my sister Anna and nephew Ben at my bedside where they relayed to me the news that I had miscarried all the babies. I don't remember much after that just a numbness and functioning on autopilot and going through the motions but not really paying attention to much of anything."
Ms. Stillman notices her hands across her abdomen and quickly places them back across her lap.
"Ms. Stillman has told you everything about that day now can we get onto what you really want to know."
I'm not shocked at Patrick's remark, because if he was a good Inspector at Scotland Yard he know where my questions are headed next. Ms. Stillman on the other hand looks confused and I'm hoping that will get me truthful unfiltered answers.
"Okay, Ma'am your husband is significantly older than you are with this in mind were you somehow coerced into a marriage with him and perhaps gave your babies up for adoption because you didn't want to have his children so you could be free of him?"
Ms. Stillman stares me down like a lioness waiting to pounce on her prey. I've never felt this uncomfortable under scrutiny by anyone. She gets up looks me up and down and this time very noticeably she doesn't look to Patrick for approval before answering.
"NO to all of your questions Detective Constable Keller, is it?"
The dressing down from a mere answer is obvious to anyone.
"I am the one with the money, and I pursued my husband not the other way around. And I most certainly did not give my babies up for adoption in return for money or for this freedom you allude to. I am done answering your questions Constable."
Her disdain for those questions appear in her dismal of me and my rank as she leaves with a poise I haven't seen anyone manage after the line of questioning I put her through.
Patrick knows the score and gets on with it.
"I'll get Mr. Bartlett and then we'll Joseph up here for you Keller."
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