Death of a Washington Madame by Warren Adler Page A

you didn't," Fiona said.
    "Why take him out of his misery so soon. I'd rather
see him suffer." He shot a glance at Gloria, who turned away.
    "He should be charged with attempted murder,"
Gail persisted.
    "We'll get to that Gail," Fiona rebuked.
    "That's for sure," Gail said, pouting.
    "You killed her, right Martine?" Roy's voice boomed. He turned toward Fiona. "His name is Martine Flowers. "Is
that your name boy, Martine? Flowers?"
    The boy nodded twice.
    "Raped her?"
    The boy shrugged.
    "You know what I mean. Tell them."
    "I.... yeah.."
    This time the boy nodded.
    Fiona shook her head in despair. It was obvious that the
boy was too terrified to offer a denial. He had probably been pounded on for
hours.... which made the confession suspect.
    "Better get him untied," Fiona said, as he and
Gail untied his ankles and hands. After he was untied, the boy tried to rise,
faltered, then fell on his knees on the stone floor. He was small and skinny.
Fiona knelt beside him, then turned to Gloria.
    "Your sweater please," she barked. Frightened,
Gloria quickly removed her sweater and Fiona gently wrapped it around the boy's
shoulders. Joined by Gail, they lifted him back into the chair.
    "You could have killed him," Fiona said after the
boy was seated.
    "Considering your reaction, I wish I had," Roy said. "He did it. He confessed. We have it on tape."
    "How old are you, Martine?" Gail asked gently.
    "Fo'teen," the boy whispered. As he spoke, blood
came out of his mouth and rolled down his chin.
    "You've got a problem, Roy," Fiona said cutting
him an angry glance.
    "He got in the door in the rear of the house, came up
the back stairs, got into Madame's room killed her and raped her. Isn't that
right, Martine?"
    The boy looked into Roy's face. He was still terrified.
    "Tell them, you little son-of-a-bitch," Roy shouted.
    The boy raised his hand as if to protect himself from
further blows.
    "Don't tell him anything Martine," Gail cried.
    The boy, still terrified, said nothing.
    "Which side are you on?" Roy protested, then he
turned to Fiona. "It doesn't matter. We have it on tape."
    "It may not be admissible," Fiona said.
"Could be thrown out of court. Besides, he's a juvenile."
    "That didn't make a difference to Madame," Roy said.
    "You've got a point," Fiona sighed.
    Fiona's eyes were drawn to the boy's battered genitals.
They looked small, shriveled, and incapable of performing an act of forced
rape. Gail called for an ambulance on her cell. As she talked, Fiona patted the
boy's shoulder.
    "There's help coming, Martine. They'll fix you up.
You'll be fine."
    "Are you people mad?" Roy shouted, saliva
gathering on the corner of his lips. "He's confessed. We have it on tape.
He's guilty. What's wrong with you people? He came in here and stabbed Madame
to death. Then he raped her."
    His sequence was surprisingly logical, although, as Dr.
Benson had told her: he couldn't be certain.
    "You've scared him to death. He'd say anything just to
get you to stop." Gail said.
    "I don't believe this." He looked toward Gloria.
"Are we the perpetrators now? What has happened to this country?"
    Gloria looked confused and turned her eyes away.
    "Why did he say he did it?" Gail asked, her eyes
narrowing as if it were a trap question.
    "Why?" Roy shouted. "Tell them Martine. Go
on tell them!"
    They all looked at the captured boy.
    "Why?" Roy shouted again. "Tell them,
Martine. Go on tell them!"
    "You don't have to Martine," Gail snapped.
    Roy lunged suddenly, grabbing the
boy around the neck. Fiona and Gail grappled with him, pinning his hands behind
his back. He was surprisingly strong for a man his age. Gail cuffed him and he
calmed down.
    "I wish Madame could see this," Roy croaked.
Fiona turned to Gloria.
    "We had no choice, Gloria," Fiona said.
    "Tell them about the five hundred dollars,
Martine" Roy hissed, shooting hateful glances at Gail and Fiona.
"Killed her and raped her for five hundred dollars."
    "Is that true, Martine?" Fiona asked.
    "It's