The Perfect Marriage(59)

“I’m in and out of there all the time,” Jessica said. “I told you I was there the day before he died.”

“We understand that,” Detective Jamali said. “Still, it’s protocol that we get everyone involved to provide DNA. If for no other reason than to confirm it’s your DNA on the sheets in the bedroom.”

“Who else’s could it be?”

“Forgive me for saying this, Ms. Sommers, but it’s possible your husband washed the sheets after you left and then was with another woman. Perhaps this Allison, who we haven’t yet been able to find.”

Jessica supposed that could be true. But even if it was, she didn’t want to know. Not now. Not anymore.

“I don’t care,” she said. “I just don’t want to think about James being unfaithful. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

Lieutenant Velasquez looked as if he understood. “There’s another reason too. We believe that your husband and his killer might have been involved in a physical altercation, which is what led to his death. Perhaps a blow that knocked him down. Or maybe tripped him. We came to that conclusion because there was blood left at the scene that was not your husband’s. We believe it will match the killer.”

“I didn’t hit my husband, if that’s what you’re insinuating. And he never lifted a finger to hurt me.”

“A DNA test will prove that, then,” Detective Jamali said.

“I don’t need to prove anything to you. I know.”

“Ms. Sommers, it hasn’t escaped our attention that you’re keeping your hands out of view,” Lieutenant Velasquez said. “Why is that?”

Jessica didn’t reply. Not audibly, at least. And certainly not by revealing her hands.

Lieutenant Velasquez sighed loudly. His way of expressing displeasure. “Help us, Jessica,” he said.

His use of her first name didn’t go unnoticed. She told herself not to get drawn in. They weren’t there to help her. Not really.

“I need for you both to leave now,” Jessica said.

Rather than get up to leave, Detective Jamali said, “Was your ex-husband in James’s office recently?”

“Wayne?”

“Yes.”

“I . . . Why are you asking?”

Lieutenant Velasquez jumped in. “It’s a simple question. Was he or wasn’t he?”

“He was,” she said.

“When? And for what purpose?”

“I feel like I’m being interrogated here,” she said.

“We’re asking about your ex-husband,” he said. “His fingerprints were at the crime scene. That struck us as odd. Now you’re telling us that he was there, and we’re wondering for what purpose he would be visiting your husband.”

“Please, you need to leave. Now.”

“I don’t understand,” Lieutenant Velasquez said, looking as if he truly didn’t. “Is there something you haven’t told us? Something you’re hiding? Because that’s the only conclusion we’re going to draw if you stop cooperating with us.”

“If you can’t rule me out because I loved my husband and would never hurt him, then I don’t want to participate in your investigation any longer,” Jessica said. “I’ve told you everything I know about the night of James’s death. There’s nothing more for us to discuss. I need to grieve now. In peace. I don’t expect to speak to you again.”

“We weren’t talking about you, Ms. Sommers. I was inquiring about your ex-husband. He’s a suspect. Are you protecting him?”

“I’m sorry—you both need to leave now.”

Lieutenant Velasquez stood. He still looked completely blindsided. It had to be an act, of course. He understood perfectly well why Jessica had changed her tune. He had said it himself: there was something she was hiding.

Jessica moved toward the door, careful to keep her hands out of sight. The police officers followed a step behind. She opened the door in the hopes that it would cause them to vacate sooner. Before he passed out of her home, however, Lieutenant Velasquez said, “You’re making a big mistake here, Ms. Sommers.”

She shut the door behind them without responding. Then she prayed Lieutenant Velasquez was wrong.



Authority figures reminded Wayne of his father, and that was never a good thing. Still, he thought he was ready for the police’s arrival.

Jessica had called forty minutes earlier. They went through her interaction with the police in step-by-step detail.

“Don’t even let them in the house. I regret doing that,” she said. “Just tell them at the door that you do not want to be involved.”

“I know what to say,” Wayne said, annoyed that she thought he needed to be spoon-fed in this way.

Then, when the time came, he screwed up his first line, allowing the police officers to enter his house.

“Thank you. We won’t be long,” Lieutenant Velasquez said.

“What can I do for you both today?” Wayne asked, sounding a bit too chipper for the circumstances.

“We’re going back to people who knew Mr. Sommers to obtain a DNA sample,” Detective Jamali said. “It’s just a scrape of your cheek. Takes a second. Doesn’t hurt.”