Page 69 of Rocky Ride

“Not happy lately, I’m sad to say. Maria was entertaining thoughts of divorcing Hal. She’d had enough of his verbal abuse. My poor girl couldn’t do anything right—according to Hal.”

“Did he ever threaten her?”

“Oh, no. Nothing like that. He constantly nagged her about everything she did and how she did it. Overly critical…I’d say. Hal is one of those people who thinks he’s perfect. Know what I mean?”

“Yes, I do.”

A knock on the door made Mrs. Preston jump. “Who can that be? Hal wouldn’t knock.”

“It will be the coroner, ma’am. Doctor Olsen from Cut Bank.”

“Oh, yes. We’re expecting him. I forgot.” She dabbed at her eyes with more tissues.

I let Doc in and pointed at the stairs. “The victim is in the upstairs bathroom, Doc.”

“Thank you, Harlan.”

“This is Mrs. Preston, the victim’s mother.”

“Ma’am. So sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

Doctor Olsen went upstairs, and not more than a minute later, Hal came blasting through the front door. “Where is my wife? Where is Maria, Helen? I don’t believe what you told me. Why would you lie to me like that and upset my morning at the store?”

He tore over to the stairs like he knew the victim was up there, but it might have been a reflex action.

I stood up and pointed to the sofa. “Sit down, Mister Hoover. You can’t go upstairs.”

He laughed. “You don’t think so? Watch this.”

I hollered up, “Sheriff, Hal Hoover is coming up.”

At the top of the stairs I saw Dad step into the hallway and block the door to the master suite. “Wait downstairs, Mister Hoover. The coroner isn’t finished.”

“I want to see my wife.”

“You can view her body at the morgue.” Travis pointed. “Wait downstairs. I’m only saying it once and if you come up here, I’ll cuff you to the fuckin railing.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll wait downstairs.”

Dad could be scary when he was pressed.

I thought I detected a slight smile on Mrs. Preston’s face when Hal retreated and took a seat on the sofa.

My notebook was already in my hand when Virge came down and asked, “What time did you leave the house this morning, Mister Hoover?”

“Who are you? You look like a high school kid in a uniform.”

“I asked you a question.” Virge took a stance in front of Hal.

“Umm…I left at my regular time. About ten after eight.”

“And Maria was alive when you left?” asked Virgil.

“Of course she was. What kind of stupid question is that?”

I turned to Mrs. Preston. “You arrived around nine, ma’am?”

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