Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Pierce ran a hand through his hair. “Listen, Spencer, you’re not licensed to practice law in Idaho, but I’m letting you sit in here. I know you’re here to protect your brother, but I just need some answers, all right?”
That made sense. If either of my sisters were called in to speak with the law, I would want to be present as their lawyer. I studied him. He looked to be about the same height as Wayne at probably five nine-ish. Wayne’s nose was bigger and Spencer’s jaw wider.
Pierce cleared his throat. I imagined the expression he wore was one of mild interest. I had been interviewed by him before. “Run me through the last time you saw your wife, Wayne.”
Wayne looked at his brother and then shrugged. “Fine. It was the day she left. She told me she was in love with Richard Basanelli and that they were going to sail the world together.” He rolled his eyes. “She hated the water, man. She got seasick even going out on a dinghy. But, oh no, she was going to go sail away with Richard.”
Spencer patted his brother’s arm. “It was a long time ago, Wayne.”
“I know. I just can’t believe she left me for that jackass,” Wayne said. “I tried to talk her out of it.” He looked down at his hands.
“What?” Pierce asked.
“I begged her not to leave me,” Wayne said, a flush creeping across his hangdog face. “I think she felt sorry for me because she said she would think about it.”
“What then?” Pierce asked.
Wayne looked up, his eyes tortured. Even with the distance between us, I felt his pain. “Then I went to work. She promised we’d talk about it at breakfast since I was working the night shift. When I got home in the morning, she was gone.”
Spencer tapped his fingers on the table. “That’s all we have to say until you tell us what’s going on.”
Pierce ignored him. “Did you ever hurt your wife?”
“Of course, not,” Wayne burst out. “I loved her.” He looked like he was telling the truth. Although I had seen good liars before. Tears gathered in his eyes. “Why are you opening Imogen’s case again, Detective Pierce?”
Pierce settled back in his chair. “I regret to inform you that we found your wife’s body last week.”
Wayne’s expression fell. More tears gathered in his eyes. He drew shaking hands to cover his face. “Oh, no. She’s really dead?”
His brother slid an arm over his shoulders. “I’m so sorry, Wayne.” He glared at Pierce. “That’s how you had to tell him, by questioning him first?”
Pierce slightly turned his head. “Spencer, you practice tax law. I know the criminal justice system is new to you, but yeah, that’s how I had to tell him. I needed to get any information from him I could.”
“Sheriff Franco repeatedly interviewed him back in the day when she went missing,” Spencer objected.
“I know. I have the case files,” Pierce said.
Wayne dropped his hands to his lap. “How did she die?”
“She was stabbed to death along with Richard Basanelli, most probably fifteen years ago.”
Spencer’s shoulders dropped. “She was killed the night they left town?”
“It looks like it happened sometime that week. That’s as close to the time of death as we can get. Where were you at that time, Wayne?” Pierce asked.
Wayne sniffed. “I was working that night. Then I was searching for my wife the week after.” He looked over at his brother. “I called Spencer, and he finished the cruise he was working on and flew home. What was that? About a week after she left me?”
Spencer nodded. “Yeah, I was on an Alaskan cruise at the time, so I was able to get home quickly.” He shook his head. “I figured Imogen really wanted out and wasn’t coming back.”
Pierce reached for a file folder and flipped through it. “I have the background here that confirms you were on the ship and when you arrived in Silverville.” He looked up and, I was sure, gave Wayne that quizzical, intense look he got. “However, we don’t know where you were that night or that week, do we?”
“I was at work,” Wayne insisted.
“You were at work until that morning. Yes. But after your shift, you took the week off,” Pierce said.
Wayne threw up his hands. “I took a leave of absence so I could look for my wife. Sheriff Franco helped me. You need to—”
“I’m aware of that,” Pierce said calmly. “But what I’m saying is, your whereabouts are not accounted for during that week.”
“So, what?” Spencer asked. “You’re saying he did…what? Nobody saw Imogen or Richard after that night. We talked to everybody in town. So did Sheriff Franco. They just disappeared.” He shrugged. “Honestly, we all figured they headed to California or somewhere warm to start a new life.”