Page 71 of Such a Good Wife

I walk to the front door before the kids hear the bell. I see Collin as he walks down the stairs and freezes before he reaches the bottom. We look at each other, fear in our eyes. I crack the door just a slit and peer out with one eye, looking as unwelcoming as I can manage.

“My kids are home. I don’t want to scare them by having cops in the house. What’s this about?”

“Evening, Melanie.” Joe tips his hat. He’s clearly going to waste my time with pleasantries. “You remember Detective Davis.”

“What can I do for you?” I ask.

“Well, we’d like to ask you to come down to the station with us and answer a few questions.”

“The station? I thought I answered your questions.”

“We have some additional questions. You’re not under arrest or anything like that, but your cooperation would help us out.”

“Why not ask me here?”

“I thought you were worried about your kids getting spooked.”

“Well, on the porch, then.”

“Look, Mel, we need the interview recorded, official. You understand. You don’t have to come down, but it would make this easier. I’m sure you could just clarify a few things and be on your way.”

I don’t know what else they would want to ask me, but I’m relieved that they didn’t come for Collin. I look to him to see what he thinks we should do, if I should go. He nods, and I understand because not cooperating would look worse and make them dig more. I open the door wider and tell them I’ll get my things.

“Evening, Mr. Hale,” Davis says to Collin when the open door reveals him still rooted on the stairs. Collin nods and comes to stand next to me.

“What’s this about?” he asks, pretending he didn’t eavesdrop.

“We just have a few more questions for your wife about the Luke Ellison case. No need for alarm.”

“Can I go with her?”

“It’s okay,” I say to him. “Please, just stay with the kids. Watch the rice. Dinner is in the oven. Just take it out when the buzzer goes off.”

We both observe the other, forcing a calm demeanor. He kisses my cheek as I pull on my coat, and I hold a flat hand up to say goodbye.

The room they question me in isn’t like the interrogation rooms on TV. There is no naked light bulb hanging above a shadowy metal table in a dark room. It’s unpleasant enough though; it’s cramped, with a rectangular fluorescent light recessed into the ceiling panels and plastic chairs, but I keep repeating to myself in my mind, I don’t have to be here. I can leave at any time.

I breathe and think about Panama. It’s starting to sound like a good idea.

When Joe comes in, he doesn’t sit on his chair backward or pound his fists like in the TV shows either. He just sits across from me, crosses one leg over the other and pushes his notepad and pen away as if he doesn’t need them. The look on his face says, We’re old friends here. No need for all that.

“Let’s just talk,” he says.

“Okay.”

“It’s been reported to me, from a reliable source, that you were involved with Mr. Ellison. Romantically.”

“What? What source?”

“I’m not at liberty to say. Anything you want to tell me about that?” he asks.

That bitch. She took my money and told him about me and Luke anyway. I don’t believe it.

“No,” I say firmly.

He looks me up and down even though he thinks he’s being subtle. He even licks his lips a little.

“Now, Mel. If you had something going on the side, that’s not a crime. It’s best if you just tell me about it. You’re a beautiful woman, I’m sure men pursue you. If that’s what happened and there was an indiscretion of some sort, now’s the time to come clean.”

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