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“Oh we’re fine.” She waved her hand dismissively as she sat back comfortably in her seat. “He’s just been busy with the farm what with calving season just over and now a few sick calves; but we’re good.” Now it was she who took a sip of the hot brew more to hide behind the cup than for any real need for more coffee.
She hadn’t thought anyone else had noticed the strain between Riley and her; she’d gone to great lengths to hide it after all. In a town this small news travels fast and everyone is always in everyone else’s business.
She knew the slightest sign of a tear in the fabric of her marriage and tongues would start wagging. She hated that, hated the thought of pitying looks from the town’s people, people she’d known all her life. Or worst yet, being the leading topic on everyone’s tongue.
It’s one of the things she’d worried about when Sonya had first told her about the affair. She hates change and was worried that if found out, it would put a rift not only in her friend’s marriage but in the relationship the four of them shared. It was a good relationship, and she never wanted anything to spoil it. But now…
“What did that detective say? Have they found any leads yet?”
“Nothing, she called and asked for Sonya’s passcode to her phone. Apparently Bridgette told her that someone texted right before Sonya rushed out of the house.”
He shook his head and looked down at the brown liquid in his cup as if not seeing it. “It just doesn’t make any sense. Sonya never went into those woods. I can’t figure out why. Did you see her, talk to her?”
“No, at that time in the morning I’d have been too busy getting ready to open the gallery. The last time I spoke to her was a few nights ago. I wish I’d spoken to her, wish she’d have called me…” He didn’t say anything and they both tapered off, both lost in their own thoughts.
The housekeeper came out the backdoor just then. “Mr. Davis the police are here.” He looked up as though not quite comprehending her words and got absently to his feet. “I’ll be back Valerie, unless you need to head to the gallery...”
“No, I’ll come with you.” They walked into the house together to find Detective Sparks and officer Bailey waiting for them in the den where Nettie had left them after offering them both a cup of coffee, which they’d both declined.
“Good morning Mr. Davis, Mrs. O’Rourke, it’s good that you’re here, I wanted to ask you a few questions as well but you weren’t at the gallery when I went by.
“Sit down detective.” Niall took a seat and gestured to one of the many stuffed chairs across from him.
“That’s okay sir. I just wanted to ask you if you’d let us go through your wife’s things.” His eyes widened and he shook his head before opening his mouth to speak.
“No, I want her things to stay exactly as she’s left them. She wasn’t killed here detective I see no reason for you to go rifling through her things. Didn’t you already go through her phone? Who was it that texted her?”
“That’s just it, the passcode you gave me isn’t the right one...”
“What? That can’t be, we’ve used those same numbers for years. It was the day we got married…”
“It’s no longer working and the code has been encrypted. We need the code to access any valuable data that might’ve been left on the phone. Do you know of any reason why your wife would’ve gone to such lengths sir?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“She’s trying to say that poor Sonya had something to hide. How dare you?” Valerie felt herself begin to sweat.
What use would it be for the man to learn now at this horrible time that his wife had been unfaithful? It’s bad enough that she had to live with the guilt of carrying that secret; the least she could do now was protect him from that ugly truth.
“Mrs. O’Rourke we’re not jumping to any conclusions, we’re just trying to understand what’s going on. I think if we’re given access to her things there might be something there to shed some light on what was going on in her life before this happened.”
“No way, now get out. How dare you come here and imply…” Niall jumped to his feet enraged, feeling like he was going to be sick. All night he’d tossed and turned, trying to make sense of this whole situation. Not knowing what she’d been doing out there in those woods…
Detective Sparks put away her trusty little notebook and offered an apology. She knew before coming here that this wouldn’t an easy request and had half expected this very outcome.
“I’m sorry that I’ve upset you Mr. Davis, but this investigation has just started and already we’re running into dead ends. My only interest is in finding the person who did this to your wife. I’ll leave you to think about it. Give me a call if you change your mind.”
“I’ll walk you out.” Valerie offered as she got to her feet. She walked over and bent down to give Niall a goodbye kiss on the cheek. “I guess I’ll head to the gallery now, I’ll call you later. Detective!” She turned and gestured towards the door before following them out.
“You said you wanted to talk to me detective, do you mind following me back to the gallery? I don’t want to do this standing around out here.” She looked around at the neighboring houses with a look of disdain on her face.
“No need for the neighbors to be sticking their noses in.” She walked down the stone steps ahead of them and entered her car, driving away without waiting for a response.
“Well, looks like we’re back to square one.” Detective Sparks looked back at the door they’d just left before turning and walking down the steps herself. “I thought for sure he’d be more cooperative. What did you make of that?”
They both got in, she in the driver’s seat as he buckled up. “Of what, you mean him saying he didn’t want his wife’s things disturbed? I guess I can understand that.”
“Yes, but if it helps the investigation…”
