Free A Wrongful Death by Kate Wilhelm

Standifer regarded her with a dour expression. They had met before, and she had never seen him smile. He was tall and underweight, with a fair complexion and gray eyes, and he had a pale mustache. "They said you were on the scene. What's the story?"
    "I had an appointment with Elizabeth Kurtz at this address and when I walked in I found her on the floor. The officers and this woman came in immediately after me. And that's all I know about it."
    "Right, "he said skeptically. He pulled a straight chair around and sat before the other woman. She had quieted, with both hands pressed against her face. Now and then a convulsive ripple shook her whole body. "Miss, who are you? What's your name?"
    "Leonora Carnero," she said in a faint, dull voice. Barbara looked at her more closely, remembering what Terry Kurtz had said. He'd heard Elizabeth talking to Leonora and he knew. Leonora had black hair in tumbling curls about her face, nearly to her eyes, and she was dressed in jeans, a loose jacket, sneakers, the same kind of clothes Barbara wore when flying. She glanced toward the door where there was a roll-on suitcase with a garish red and yellow tie and an airline baggage claim on the handle, along with a small, wine-colored carry-on.
    "I flew in and she said to come here and when I came in, she was..." She began to sob again. Then, brokenly, she said, "I was sick, vomiting, and crying, and I had to call Mother and tell her, but I couldn't find a telephone. And she said I had to call the police. I couldn't find this address. Mother said to call the police. I had to look in her purse for the address book, and she was dead and I had to call Mother..."
    "Hold it, Ms. Carnero. You came here and found the victim, is that right?"
    "She said to come here. I flew here. I didn't want the police to tell Mother or for her to see it on the news and I couldn't find her number. Her room, her things, on the floor, everywhere. I had to look in her purse for the number, and I was sick..." She lifted her head from her hands and stared straight ahead, with her nose dripping, tears running down her face. "I had to call Mother."
    "Let it go, Standifer," Barbara said. "She's in shock, hysterical. Get her out of here and give her a little time." Then she said, "Ms. Carnero, did you fly here from New York today?"
    "She said to come and bring the passports and I found her." She swiveled about in her chair, and said in a voice that sounded almost robotic, "Mother said not to let Terry touch her, or get near her. Mother will come. She said she will come." She stood, swayed and clutched the arm of her chair, then sat and be pan to sob again. "Mother will come."
    Barbara shook her head at Standifer. "You'd better have someone take her to a motel or something, let her calm down. You know the drill here. The medical examiner, forensics, it's going to take hours and you're not going to get anything from her while all that's going on. Keep at her and she will collapse altogether. Flying all day, probably no food, vomiting, now this. She's ready to keel over."
    Reluctantly he pushed his chair back and stood.
    In a few minutes a female officer led Leonora away. After a short consultation with Standifer, a plainclothes detective took her bags out. When they were gone, Barbara stood. "It's going to be a while before the medical examiner gets here. I might as well go to Dad's house and wait for you there if you have questions for me. Or else, I have to sit in this chair in everyone's way, and cool my heels while you follow the proper protocol. You know where Dad lives. I'll be there."
    For a moment he regarded her with a hostile expression, but he knew she was right; she would simply be in the way here, and there was nowhere else to wait.
    "Tell me again how you came to be here," he said brusquely.
    She shrugged. "We had an appointment, no one answered the bell and I tried the door. It wasn't locked. I came in and saw her, felt for a pulse and then Carnero and the officers