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“When I got home this afternoon, the police were at my house.”
“Do you know what they were doing there?” Marcus asked.
“I don’t. They were talking to Scott when I came in. After a while, they got up to leave and walked outside. I heard them ask Scott if that was his black Mercedes in the driveway. When he told them it was my car, they came back inside. They asked me if I would mind answering a few questions, and me, thinking it was no big deal said, ‘sure’.”
“What did they ask you?”
“They wanted to know where I had been on Tuesday. I told them after I left your office, I drove around for a while, and then I went to a friend’s house.”
“What’s your friend’s name?”
“Wade, Wade Long.”
“What time did you get there?”
“You ask questions just like they do,” Panthea said and smiled at Marcus. He took a breath. Every time she smiled, Marcus got a little weaker for her. “I’m really not sure, Marcus. I had a lot on my mind that night. I had just found out who Scott was seeing—and I just drove.”
“Did you stop anywhere before you went to Wade’s house?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Did you talk to your husband about the affair?”
“No, I hadn’t said anything to him.”
“Why not?” Marcus asked, more as a man who was interested in Panthea than her lawyer.
Just then, the door swung open and one man walked in. “I’m detective Silver.”
Marcus stood up and shook the detective’s hand. “Marcus Douglas. I’m Mrs. Daniels’ attorney.”
“It’s good to meet you,” Silver said and the two men sat down. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“So, tell me, detective; what’s my client being charged with?”
“She is being charged with the murder of Abril Arrington. As you already know from the investigation your firm initiated at Mrs. Daniels’ request, Mr. Daniels was involved with the deceased. After receiving the information, your client went to Ms. Arrington’s home, there is evidence at the scene that a fight ensued and your client pushed Ms. Arrington. She fell through a glass coffee table in the living room. Although she was knocked unconscious and there was some head trauma, the force of the fall wasn’t sufficient enough to kill her. Unfortunately, the victim cut her jugular vein and she bled to death.”
Panthea looked as the detective placed a picture of Abril Arrington on the table. Marcus glanced at the pictures briefly. “What time was the murder committed?”
“Somewhere between eight-thirty and nine-thirty that night,” the detective responded. “During that time, your client can not account for her whereabouts.”
“I told you, detective. I drove around and I went to a friend’s house,” Panthea protested.
Silver looked at his notes. “Yes, Wade Long. So far we haven’t been able to substantiate your alibi.”
Marcus looked at Panthea and then to Silver. He knew that Silver had established a motive for the crime, Panthea’s knowledge of her husband Scott’s infidelity and had just established that Panthea had the opportunity to commit the murder.
“That doesn’t necessarily mean that she committed a murder,” Marcus blurted out before he knew it.
“We also have an eye witness who saw somebody leaving Ms. Arrington’s condo in a hurry at the time of the murder,” Silver said. “Then the witness saw that person get in a black Mercedes Benz, which just hap
pens to be the same color, make and model of the one that your client drives. Then the driver, who I believe is your client, Mr. Douglas, left the scene driving very fast.”
8
The following morning, Panthea was arraigned on the charge of murder. The bailiff stood up and called the next case. “The docket number is 12624. The state versus Panthea Daniels. The charge is murder in the first degree.”
“Is the defendant represented by counsel?” the judge asked.
