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“We were friends.”
“Seems odd to me that a ‘friend’ would show up in a married woman’s town once her husband escorted her back to her home.”
So, they already knew about Louis dragging her back. There wasn’t any need to wonder who gave them those details, since Martin came to mind immediately. He’d better have saved money over the years because he was about to be fired.
“He was concerned for my welfare.”
“Is that right? Care to explain that, Mrs. Smith?”
The door to the sitting room opened and Martin carried in a tray with coffee, tea, and cookies. Grateful to have something else to focus on, she instructed
Martin where to place the tray and offered coffee and tea to the policemen.
They refused.
“As I was saying, Mrs. Smith. Can you explain why Mr. Henderson was concerned for your welfare?”
In the three years of her marriage, the only person she’d ever spoken with about her beatings was Hunter. Millie and Maria, having seen her undressed, most likely suspected, but the words had never come from her mouth until Hunter. She’d always felt embarrassed about it, as if it were her fault. Even now she felt dirty as she tried to form the words. “My husband beat me.”
To her absolute horror, both men glanced at each other and chuckled. “Mrs. Smith, you’re going to have to do better than that.”
She stared at them with her mouth open. “You don’t believe me?” Several times she had thought about going to the police, but didn’t want to call attention to herself, or embarrass Louis, thinking it would only enrage him further. But never had she thought they wouldn’t believe her. Of course, had she dragged herself to the police station after a beating there would be no question.
“No, I don’t believe you, and even if I did, what happens between a husband and his wife is not police business.”
Anger flared in her as blood rushed to her face so quickly she was afraid her head would burst. She fisted her hands at her side and stood. “Get out.”
Now it was their turn to look genuinely surprised. “Excuse me?” the Chief said.
“Am I being charged with anything?”
“No. We’re only looking for more information.”
“Then look elsewhere. If I am not being charged with a crime, then I refuse to answer any more questions.” She walked to the sitting room door and flung it open. “Martin!”
The man came scurrying. “Yes, Mrs. Smith.”
“Show the officers out.” She brushed past him and raced up the stairs, her heart pounding so hard she felt as if it would burst from her throat.
“Henderson.” Hunter looked over from where he studied the crack in the ceiling above his bunk, to the guard who stood holding his jail cell door open. “They want you.”
He stood and followed the guard past other cells, the occupants cursing and spitting as he walked by. He’d been in many jails over the years, but never as a guest. He just needed to hold himself together until Jesse got here. There was never any doubt in his mind that his uncle wouldn’t come. Even though Hunter had been away for years, he always knew Jesse was the rock that kept the family together. In times of need he’d always been there when they were lost and alone.
Like now.
Several times over the years he’d chastised himself for not confiding in his uncle about his father’s death. The time had never seemed right, and no matter how hard he’d tried, he couldn’t get his mouth to form the words.
At the end of the hallway the guard opened a wooden door and waved him in. Police Chief Grafton sat behind a small desk. He had a notebook open in front of him. “Take a seat, Henderson.”
He settled in, not at all enjoying the look of pure joy on the Chief’s face as he shifted a toothpick back and forth in his mouth.
“How well do you know Mrs. Emily Smith?”
If the Chief was looking for a surprised reaction from him, he wasn’t going to get it. He knew they would flush out their relationship. It had only been a matter of time. “We’re friends.”
The Chief consulted his notes. “You met her in Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory, is that right?”
“Yes.” Hunter glanced around the room as the chief wrote in his notebook. All interrogation rooms looked the same. Dull, dismal, and depressing.
