Who killed Wanda Day? (DAY! Series Book 1)

Chapter Twentyfour - An ex, an interrogation, and a couple

McBride rudely shoved Colin into the small Sheriff's office, while Baxxter disappeared into the library office with Chris. Colin immediately realized what was happening - they were being separated and interrogated to see if their stories matched up. He couldn't help but wonder what all the fuss was about as he was pushed into a chair by McBride. "I really believed you, Mr. Day," the detective said in a serious tone, rounding the desk and taking a seat opposite Colin. "Really. But now we've received a tip."

"Well, color me intrigued," Colin deadpanned. He knew that McBride was a formidable opponent, but he also knew that he was innocent.

The detective leaned back in his chair, looking like the cat that got the cream. "A little birdie told us that you and Mr. Thielmann were cooking up a murder plot," he said with a smug grin. "And wouldn't you know it, that was just a week before your wife's untimely demise."

Colin stared at him in disbelief. "Planning a murder?" he repeated incredulously. "Chris and I planned a murder? Who told you that? Mrs. Fletcher?"

"Nope, it wasn't Mrs. Fletcher." McBride stood up and walked over to the window. He clasped his hands behind his back and gazed out at the townhouses. "It was Mrs. Thielmann."

***

"Wait, what?" Chris exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief. "My wife said we were planning a murder?"

Baxxter nodded gravely and fixed his counterpart with a stern gaze. "Mr. Thielmann, I hope you understand the gravity of this situation," he began, his tone calm. "These are serious accusations, and I-"

"That can't be true." Chris shook his head in disbelief. "Let me guess." He leaned forward and had an expression on his face that Baxxter couldn't interpret. "Was it last night? Yes? Did she come to you last night?"

"It doesn't matter." McBride had trained him well in the art of evading questions and throwing them back like a hot potato. "So you planned a murder with Mr. Day. Did you want to kill his wife?"

Chris let out a long, exasperated sigh. "Oh, come on, that's preposterous! We didn't plan a murder. And Colin was head over heels for his wife, he wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone plot a heinous crime."

Baxxter cleared his throat and put on his best serious face. "Now, this is where things get juicy," he said, brandishing a piece of paper like a magician with a trick up his sleeve. "Your dear wife claims that she heard Mr. Day utter the following words, and I want to make a direct quote..."

***

McBride raised an eyebrow as he read from the note. "'Mr. Day said he wanted to kill her, then my husband said he'd help him.' Well, well, well, this sounds like a plot straight out of a soap opera," he quipped, glancing up at Colin with a wry smile. "But let's cut to the chase, shall we? Who was the lucky lady you and Mr. Thielmann allegedly wanted to bump off? Your wife, perhaps? Or maybe it was the nosy neighbor who always complains about your lawn? But your wife died, so I guess that limits the possibilities."

Colin closed his eyes, feeling like he was in the middle of a bad dream. He knew Ashley had done that because Chris had left her. "We didn't plan a murder."

"You're saying you didn't say that? Mrs. Thielmann was adamant that you used those exact words."

"I did say that, yes." Colin folded his hands on his lap. He looked up at McBride with a straight face. "Not word for word... But pretty darn close, yes."

McBride had anticipated many things, but he certainly didn't expect Colin to confess so easily. "Is that so?" he asked incredulously. "Are you really admitting to the murder of your wife?" McBride's tone was laced with sarcasm as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.