Seven Deadly Colors Of The Rainbow [#Wattys 2016]

Everything Is Not As It Seems

I went back to the scene of the crime yesterday to see if I had overlooked anything. Probes proved nothing and I called Patrick and went over to Jessica's husband.

The widower was sort of happy to see us, hoping we could have provide some consultation to him. He was disappointed needless to say but that didn't prevent me from doing my job.

"Mr Walcott has your wife mentioned any jealous ex boyfriends over the period which you were together?"

Patrick already had his notebook open and pen ready.

"Uh, no. We kept those things to ourselves but Jessica had this really close friend. Her name's Marsha Stephenson. She knew all about those girl stuff." The man wasn't too torn up to talk.

"We are going to need to speak to her sir." I said.

"Okay, let me go get her contact information." Derrick got up leaving me and Patrick alone in his living room.

"What did you notice?" I asked Patrick in a whisper.

"He used the word 'had' when speaking about his wife's friend, already referring to Jessica in the past tense." Patrick said.

"Yes, people usually take some time to actually accept that loved ones are gone. Anything else?"

Patrick looked around the room, "no pictures of them in the living room. Maybe the marriage wasn't so steady. Running a business with a spouse is very difficult."

"Indeed but his eyes aren't red nor wet. He got plenty of sleep last night as no bags are underneath his eyes."

I was about to ask Patrick if he thought Derrick Walcott killed his wife but the man came back in the room and handed us a piece of paper.

We thanked the man and left his house. Patrick was driving my car and I tried to compose my thoughts.

"We need to go and speak to that lady."

"Waaaaay ahead of you," Patrick said, eyes glued to the road. "I called ahead and asked two plainclothesmen to escort her to the station."

"Suppose I didn't want to talk to her?"

"Then I'd know that aliens have indeed come to earth." Patrick said jokingly.

Laughter ensued in the car after that statement and we made our way back to the precinct.

***********************

Marsha Stephenson was a very beautiful woman. Her hazel brown eyes were almond shaped and her cheek bones raised high. She was a tad shorter than the average human but had more hair than most females.

Her small hands held a steaming cup of mint tea which we made for her. We didn't have her in the interrogation room as I wanted her to be as relaxed as possible. Instead she was in the office I shared with Patrick.

"So I understand you and Jessica were really good friends?" I let Patrick do the talking this time around. This was our first case together and I wanted to see how well he can manage himself.

"Yes, we are best friends. Since middle school in fact. I can't believe she's gone." Tears welled the eyelids of Marsha.

"Yes death can be a terrible ordeal for us all." Patrick offered Marsha a box of tissues. 

"I'm sorry I'm not usually like this. Why are the police investigating this?" Marsha Stephenson could do well on this force.

"Just a few standard questions we ask close friends and families whenever they die."

Well played Patrick.

"Now Ms Stephenson, where were you at the yesterday at 9:30 a.m?" Patrick was busy writing but listening.

"I was at work, I work at the restaurant downtown. I'm a chef there. After work Jessica and I would just meet up and hang out. That's how we kept the friendship alive all these years."  Patrick nodded his head every few seconds to indicate he was listening.

"Ms Stephenson, have you noticed any problems with Jessica's marriage." Patrick asked what I wanted him to ask.

"Marriage? They weren't really married." Jessica shocked us with her reply.

"What do you mean?" I cut in.

"They had this arrangement after Derrick discovered Jessica was cheating on him. He let her do her thing as long as they don't get a divorce. This agreement has been ongoing since two years into their marriage." Marsha kept her eyes averted while she spoke to us.

"Why didn't Derrick want a divorce?" Detective Sutherland asked.

Marsha spat the next few words. "Isn't it obvious? If they divorced the bastard would have to give up half of everything he owned."