The Charade

Chapter 8

Pierre stood in the living room with a pair of cops and David.

"Mr Bouvier?" One of the cops asked a second time.

When Pierre didn't answer, David nudged him gently.

"Pierre..."

Pierre blinked and his eyes focused on David. "What?"

"He asked you a question"

Pierre looked at the cop and blinked again. "I'm sorry?"

"What happened here?"

"I..." Pierre shook his head "I..."

He let out a breath trying to organize his thoughts and he couldn't do it; he had to lie...he had to.

"I came home and I-" Pierre sighed again "I don't know"

"You don't know?" The cop questioned

"We came back here from the studio" David interjected "And Pierre found her in the bedroom"

Pierre looked at David and then back at the cop and nodded.

"And you called 911?" The cop asked David

David nodded "He was a bit shook up, so I called"

"Does your wife have a history of substance abuse?"

Pierre shook his head 

"Depression?"

Pierre shook his head again "No" he spoke quietly "Nothing like that"

I'd be depressed if I were her The voice in David's head added Her husband was in love with us.

"Did your wife have any enemies?"

Yes.

"No" Pierre shook his head "Everyone loved her"

"Except for you" David thought

"Had you fought recently?"

Pierre shook his head again. "No"

"Nothing seemed out of the ordinary when you spoke last?"

Another head shake

"When was that?"

Pierre thought for a minute.

"This morning before I left for the studio"

"And not since?"

"I called twice this afternoon and she never answered"

"And that was irregular?"

Pierre nodded "She always answered"

Except when she's dead. The voice whispered in David's ear.

"And you found her in the bedroom just as she was when we first arrived?"

Another nod. "I tried to wake her, but she was already..."

Pierre stopped and swallowed the lump in his throat.

David's brow furrowed when he saw this; Pierre was getting emotional. Over her.

David watched Pierre take a breath and finish his thought.

"....she was already dead" Pierre finished

The cop nodded and jotted something on his notepad.

"I'm sorry again for your loss, Mr Bouvier"

David had to bite his tongue to keep from scoffing out loud.

The cop showed himself out and David sighed irritated.