The Perfect Spouse Read online

  She had reminded him of a big, slobbering dog who jumped all over people and couldn’t be controlled unless shut up in a room apart from the people. He thought about all he and the two men had discussed. Could the police suspect one of them. I won’t be afraid of that happening because I’ve done nothing wrong. They’re right, though. Innocent people get accused all the time of a crime they didn’t commit.

  Chapter Eleven

  The next day Corella called Jason and informed him that the police had asked all of them to come down to the agency and be interviewed. “We had to tell them who was present the night of the party and what a nuisance Margaret made of herself. How soon can you get here?”

  “I need to clean up and dress to go out. I’ll be there in about thirty or forty minutes.” Jason became angry at himself because of the feeling of fear that washed over him. Get a grip, stupid. You’re not guilty of anything.

  * * * * *

  When Jason walked into the agency, he was happy to see Mark Clark and Tucker Weinstein together. Not far from them was Gary Beaumont, Nigel Scovell, Jacob Openheimer, William Penta and a man he had yet to meet.

  The women were gathered in another group. Jason recognized, Rose Schilling, Rebecca Glover, Annalea Porter and Alice Daniels. He smiled as Jenny hurried to him.

  “Jason, what a sad time to get together, but necessary. The police have been questioning us one at a time in another room. They’ve cautioned us not to talk about Margaret to each other until we’ve talked to them. Would you like coffee or hot tea?”

  “I’ll get my own tea. Thank you, Jenny.” He turned as Corella and Drew Murray came to greet him. They talked a couple of minutes and then Jason walked over to the table to prepare a mug of Peppermint tea. He dropped a tea bag in the mug and poured some hot water over it. He then added two cubes of sugar. Looking around the room, he discovered coats, scarves, gloves and other outer wear on a long table at the side. He added his clothing to the pile and turned when he heard someone speaking low to him. It was Mark Clark.

  “Come on over here, Jason and join us. I know we’re not supposed to be discussing the reason we’re here, but we need to stick together.”

  “Is this all of the members?” Jason asked surprised.

  “Oh, no. This is only the ones who attended the Christmas party. The police will get around to the others in time. Believe me, they’ll find everyone.”

  As Mark and Jason joined the group of men, Jason looked around to see several people he had yet to meet. Everyone greeted Jason warmly. They were careful to talk of innocuous subjects although they were all antsy to discuss Margaret’s tragic end.

  “Heads up,” William Penta spoke softly.

  They turned to look in the direction he was looking. Three serious men were approaching them. Jason, in his nervousness, had a strange desire to laugh aloud. He thought of Jack Webb and James Bond. Two of the men seemed very business-like, and the third one was looking around and grinning at everyone.

  “Good afternoon. My name is Irving Snouder, Lt. Snouder. I’m a detective with the police department. This is Detective Maurice Watson and Detective Monroe Boggs.”

  The detectives were greeted politely even though most of the people seemed nervous to be talking to them. Jason looked at them carefully and tried to look as if he spent time daily answering questions by the police.

  Irving Snouder was obviously the SAC. He appeared to be early sixties.

  About five-eleven and maybe one ninety. He had brown hair which was receding and mostly grey. His hazel eyes were very keen. Jason felt this man was an excellent detective and would be hard to fool. His grey suit was fitted as if it had been fitted and made for him. A surprising lilac shirt was open at the throat and a white handkerchief was folded just so in a pocket of his jacket. Black shoes with thick rubber soles allowed him to move with little noise.

  Maurice Watson was possibly late fifties. His blondish hair was thick and wavy. Green eyes were also keen and showing that he noticed more than one would think. He wore black wool slacks and a red sweater. Black boots finished his outfit. He was an inch or two taller than Irving and maybe the same weight. Even though he was watching everyone and craftily getting a visual reading, he didn’t butt into Irving’s questioning.

  Monroe Boggs seemed to be in constant motion. When he wasn’t walking around, he had his hands in his pockets jingling items he carried. He was possible in his late twenties, no more than thirty, about six-two and pushing two hundred. His dimples worked in and out as he looked at every female. His honey blonde hair was sporting a military cut which made Jason wonder if he had been in service recently. Caramel eyes twinkled as if he wanted to burst out laughing. He, too, kept quiet and waited for Irving to finish.

  Irving looked around and finally spoke again. “We appreciate all of you coming to talk to us. I realize some that were here at the party are at work and couldn’t make it, but we’ll talk to them later. I realize you’ve been talking among yourself, and that’s only human nature. I must ask that you not talk any more about the case while you are here. We’ll talk to the group and then I have a few names I’ll call to talk to privately.

  A half hour passed more quickly than the people thought it might. Most of them had already talked to the detectives. Those were excused and six names were called to stay for a while. Jason could not keep from having a sinking feeling when his name was called with Mark Clark, Nigel Scovel, Gary Beaumont, Tucker Weinstein and surprisingly, Rebecca Glover.

  The detectives took Rebecca in first. She appeared nervous, but held her head up trying to look as if she had charge of her emotions. Elaine Harper watched her go into the interrogation room and then came to stand by the men who remained.

  “I’m so, so sorry that this happened. Margaret was hard to like but I can’t think of anyone who would wish her harm.” She smiled shakily at Jason. “She was one of the first to join when we opened four years ago. She was intrigued with the name, The Perfect Spouse. She thought we were going to assure her that we would find someone for her. I explained to her that I named the business because I felt that my husband was a perfect spouse and I hoped to bring people together who would find someone and be as happy as we are.” She sighed.

  Jason realized she was talking non stop because she was so nervous. He smiled and hugged her. “I’m so sorry it happened to anyone, but I’m truly sorry you are being put under stress.” She smiled and patted his chest as she turned to speak to her husband.

  Joe joined the group holding a mug of hot cider in his hands and tried to change the subject. He recognized that his wife was very upset. “Has anyone heard the latest weather report? The last I heard we could expect to be snowed in royally for the new year.”

  Tucker chuckled. “Yeah, we might as well live in Alaska. It’s always a cold winter here but we’ve sure had more snow than usual. At least it won’t lay on long.”

  Rebecca walked out of the interrogation room, gave them a shaky smile and almost ran to get a mug of hot cider. Andrew stepped up and put a comforting arm around her shoulders. “Was it rough on you, Becca?” he asked compassionately.

  “Not really. That oldest one, Lt. Snouder, looks at you as if he knows you’re guilty and he’s going to force you to confess. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depends upon how you view it, I couldn’t tell them much. Someone, I don’t know who, had told them that Margaret and I had a quarrel and I had yelled at Margaret. We didn’t fight, physically, but I did tell her she was coming on too strong to the men and they would like her better if she were more lady-like. She cursed at me and I told her to just leave me alone and not speak to me again.”

  Gary chuckled, “And he thought that made you look guilty? He should hear what some of the rest of us said about her, and to her.”

  “Oh, he didn’t accuse me except to ask if I’d ever hit anyone. I told him no, because my parents had taught me to walk away if it was a rough conversation or if I was talking to someone of a violent nature. I assured them I always walke
d away rather than to continue arguing with Margaret. Poor woman. What a sad thing to happen, and, sad but true, I bet there will be little grieving.”

  Tony sneered. “More than likely there’ll be rejoicing.”

  “Tony!” Elaine rebuked him. “You’re entitled to think what you please, but don’t broadcast it.” She huffed off to a group across the room and left the little group smiling guiltily at each other.

  The men were called in one at a time. Jason was last. The others stayed to give each other moral support.

  Detective Watson met Jason at the door and shook hands. He invited him to sit at the table facing Detective Snouder. He sat on Jason’s right and Detective Boggs was sitting at his left taking notes and operating a recorder.

  Detective Snouder nodded at him and started. “Do you mind if we record this conversation. Talking to so many people we want to be positive that we have correctly what each person said. Too, if you have questions, we want to remember them.”

  “No, I don’t mind,” Jason answered, clearing his throat which had suddenly felt as if it were closing on him. He sat up straighter and took deep breaths for fear they would think he had something to hide.

  Lt. Snouder stated: “We’re continuing in The Perfect Spouse with the investigation of Margaret Archer. It is December twenty-eighth, two thousand eight at two pm. Present are Detective Watson, Detective Boggs and Mr. Jason McBride with myself, Lt. Irving Snouder.

  “Mr. McBride, do you understand that this conversation is being recorded and will be used in an investigation of the death of Margaret Archer?”

  “Yes, sir. I understand and have nothing to hide.”

  “Good. How well did you know Miss Archer?”

  “Just her name. We are --- we were both members here and I saw her and talked to her a couple of times.”

  “You never dated her or had any personal contact with her?”

  “No, sir. She found my picture in a book here and followed me one day to discover where my office was located. She got the phone number of my business from the phone book and did call several times. She refused to tell my secretary what she wanted or to make an appointment. She accosted me one day on the street and told me how she had tried to contact me. At that time, I had never seen her or knew anything about her. It was my understanding that everything about us would be confidential unless we choose to tell about ourselves.”

  “Did it make you angry that she had -- let’s say, investigated you?”

  “No. I wasn’t angry, just disturbed that she had tracked me down in that manner. I did not join to find a permanent relationship, which she seemed to be trying to find. I’m fairly new in town and just wanted something to do, other than church, and maybe meet new friends,”

  “Did you ever have a confrontation with Miss Archer or argue with her about her behavior?”

  “Not exactly.” Jason realized the detectives had been told of the behavior of Margaret at the Christmas party.

  “Well, exactly what?”

  “She seemed to be desperate to gain attention and did come on strong one night during our party. I think some of the others told her to go away. The owners stepped in and asked her to talk privately with them. That’s the last I saw of her.”

  “You never met her outside of the agency?”

  “No. I told you I had no contact with her, except the day she accosted me on the street.”

  “When did you first learn of her death?”

  “Yesterday morning when I read it in the paper.”

  “How did you feel when you read it?”

  “First disbelief, then shock, then, I guess grief for her going through whatever she did. I also hoped she didn’t suffer. I can’t stand to think of anyone suffering.”

  “How did you know it was Miss Archer when you read the article?”

  “I didn’t know for sure until I got word from the manager of this agency. The description of the corpse was so familiar that I thought it might be her.”

  “Mr. McBride, you understand we’ve investigated everyone that is a member here in hopes of finding a clue to this hideous crime. Of course there is a possibility that it had nothing to do with anyone in the agency.”

  “I do understand and it should be done.”

  “Then we can tell you that we found the police report that your father had served a prison term for beating your mother to death, and your wife, your pregnant wife, was beaten to death in a home invasion.”

  “Yes. I moved here to get away from those ugly, heartbreaking actions. My father had been abusive to both my mother and me. At the time I was just hurting, but as I matured, I, for a short time, hated my father. I decided, and have tried hard, to be a different and better man than he was. I was only five when he killed my mother. It was a bigger heartbreak when my precious wife was killed. I was almost ready to take my own life when I was informed that she was carrying our first child. She was four weeks pregnant. I loved her with my whole heart and would have welcomed a child with a heart full of love.”

  At this point Jason broke down and shed a few tears. The detectives kept quiet and allowed him to compose himself.

  “Gentlemen, I shall apologize,” Jason said quietly. “It is still a sensitive subject to remember the horrendous death of my beautiful wife. She was a gentle, compassionate person, who loved her Lord, and would never have done anyone any harm. It is unfortunate that the murderers have not been apprehended.”

  “We understand your feelings,” Detective Watson said, placing a kind hand on Jason’s shoulder. “Did you ever think of taking the law into your own hands and going after the intruders?”

  “Truthfully? At the time I found out about the death of my wife, I was hurt and so angry that I’m afraid I would have attempted to do harm to them. But as time went on, I knew my sweet wife would not have wanted me to vent my grieve in violence. We both attended church regularly and had Bible study in our home. To approach violence with violence is not the Christian thing to do. No, I would not try to do anything on my own. That’s best left up to the officers of the law.”

  “Thank you, Mr. McBride. We appreciate your honesty and cooperation. You may go now, but don’t leave town until you are told differently. Please try not to discuss this case publically. I realize it is tempting to go over know facts and speculate, but you never know who is listening or who will tell something in front of the criminals and block the investigation.” Lt. Snouder stood to shake hands with Jason as did Detective Boggs and Detective Waton.

  “I understand. Thank you gentlemen. If I can be of any assistance, please feel free to call on me. I don’t know what I can do, but I shall be happy to cooperate.” Jason walked thankfully out of the room.

  He was met in the outer room by Gary and Nigel who immediately questioned him as to what was said. He told them briefly what he could without being obnoxious and refusing to talk about it.

  Tucker joined them, venting his frustration. “I don’t know why they wanted to talk to us. Neither of us had ever dated Margaret. She was too old for me and I didn’t like her anyway. I wouldn’t have dated her under any circumstances.”

  “Maybe we shouldn’t talk so much about her because it might give the wrong impression. The police might think we have something to hide and are nervous. Let’s talk about the big game between the Ohio Buckeyes and Indiana Hoosiers coming up,” Jason suggested. The men walked to get mugs of hot cider.

  “Ohio will walk all over Indiana,” Gary strutted. “I’m willing to put good money on the Buckeyes for this game. Who wants to take me up on it?”

  “Not me,” Jason smiled. “I’m too chicken to bet on anything. I’ve never been lucky. You may be right though. The Penn State Nittany Lions whipped the socks off the Hoosiers the last game they played. If I bet any at all, I’d put money on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beating the New Orleans Saints next weekend. The Bucs have a score to settle and they’re primed and ready for bear. That’ll be a lively game.”

  Nigel sat his mug on the ta
ble. “Sorry fellows. This is all very interesting, but I think we’d better clear out of here while the getting’s good. We’ve answered all their questions and we’ve all been told not to talk about the homicide. We’d better leave before someone decides to talk too much and cause the police to be suspicious about us.” Jacob had joined the group and spoke with authority. “I agree” As a practicing attorney, he knew how circumstantial evidence could convict someone.

  The men quickly wished each other a happy new year and left. The women followed behind them. They would have liked to talk to the men, but none of them built enough courage to join the group of men. They were all cautious for fear the men would think they were like Margaret -- eager to be in their company.

  Chapter Twelve

  Jason parted from the group and decided to walk a bit in the crisp, cool air. He thought the lovely village looked like a Norman Rockwell painting with all the holiday trimmings and the snow. As he walked, snow began to gently fall in big, fluffy flakes. He knew this meant there would not be much snow. The mercury lights began to come on in the gathering dusk, and, with the snow falling in front of the lights, he thought that now it looked like a Thomas Kinkade painting. This gave him a warm, happy feeling.

  He looked appreciatively at the big, old hotel built as a masterpiece of Victorian architecture with elaborate wedding-cake trim, soaring columns and a stained-glass cupola. Other than the Senior Center, this was the social center. Many wedding receptions, formal balls and proms as well as arts and craft shows had graced the old building.

  In the cold winter weather the flower beds were bare and the vines of the rose bushes looked lonely. He visualized the grounds next spring and could hardly wait to see all the beauty that he knew was there. Again he thought of how he would like to own his own property and raise flowers and flowering shrubbery of his own.