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It was just over an hour since the police had first arrived and my house was now a cacophony of officers and noise. I was sitting in the front room with two police officers on guard. I’d been asked all the usual questions you see on the television.
What time did you find the body?
Did you check if she was alive?
Where were you all day?
Now I was just being left here to stupor. Probably to see if I would break and suddenly confess everything, that I had killed my wife. They had even taken my phone away from me so I couldn’t make any phone calls.
I continued to sit there in silence, looking down at my hands. I could see myself physically shaking at the situation that I was in. It was obvious to me that I would be the main suspect, especially when they found out everything that had gone on.
I heard a set of footsteps walk into the room. One of the benefits of having hardwood flooring; you couldn’t really sneak around the house. I didn’t move from my position until I heard the person who had entered speak.
“You can both wait outside.”
I looked up to see a tall, dark-haired, well-built gentleman wearing a suit walking over to me and sitting in the chair next to me. He must have been the detective that had been assigned to investigate the case.
“Mr. Cooper, my name is Detective Callum Stevenson, and I have been assigned to investigate your wife’s murder.”
He held out his hand, and I took it to shake.
“I would say nice to meet you, Detective Stevenson, but I would rather not have to. Please call me Daniel. I’ve never been one for formalities.”
He gave me a slight smile. I understood that he was just doing his job and there wouldn’t be that much time for pleasantries, but I could at least be civil. After all, I was innocent and had absolutely nothing to hide.
“I understand this evening has been quite distressing for you, and you have probably been asked the same questions a few times now. But I am going to have to ask you to come down to the station to answer a few questions for us. Will that be a problem?”
I guessed that even if it was a problem, this was not a polite request. More like,you WILL be coming down to the station with us.
“That isn’t a problem, Detective Stevenson. I have nothing to hide and would like to know who has come into my house and killed my wife as much as you would.”
He sat there for a moment, just nodding his head and taking a look around the room. I could tell he was far more observant than the officers who had been babysitting me. I knew the question he was going to ask before it even left his lips.
“Daniel, if you don’t mind me asking, how long were you and your wife married? I don’t see any wedding photos here.”
I wasn’t going to lie about my situation. What was the point? It would only add ammunition that I was trying to cover something up.
“We’ve been married nearly four and a half years. I may as well tell you. We weren’t the traditional meet each other, fall in love, happily married couple. In fact, we never shared a bedroom from the day we got married. We were both forced into it by our parents. I’m actually gay, so I would never have married Katherine by my own choosing.”
I saw recognition come over his face, as though he had been trying to piece something together in his head and my comments had put the final piece of the puzzle together.
“I thought there was something about your situation that was different. The separate bedrooms, for starters.”
I could see him smile as I gave him a quizzical look.
“I looked around before coming in here. I think we should leave any further questions for down at the station. You aren’t currently under arrest, and I am not about to read you your rights, so you don’t require a solicitor present at the moment. But you can, of course, call one if you would like.”
I didn’t see any reason at present to involve a solicitor. I was innocent, and they would soon see that.
“No, it’s fine. Let’s get everything over with. Am I able to drive down to the station myself? I would like to pick up my cases, as I don’t really want to stay here tonight. Plus, I suspect you will be treating my house as a crime scene for a while.”
“Yes, that’s fine. But it will be my station, New Scotland Yard. Would that be a problem?”
I was quite shocked that they had sent an officer from New Scotland Yard to investigate Katherine’s murder. I had assumed he was from Kingston Police Station.
“No. I am actually staying in a hotel in London, so that won’t be an issue.”
“Good. I have a few things to tie up here. Shall we meet in two hours, say around half past three?”
