The Dead Guy- Chapter 4

Book Him Dano

The problem with small towns is that everyone knows everyone. The problem with my small town is, not only does everyone know everyone, but my boys and I are related to almost half of the police force if somewhat peripherally. This made the job of interviewing the twins and I somewhat awkward. Drew and I would not allow the boys to be interviewed without one of us present. But we too needed to be interviewed. None of my relatives wanted to interview the boys because they were family. No  one wanted to interview me because I had a little history of anger. Finally it was decided that officer Yum would take his life into his own hands and interview me with my lawyer present. Less chance of bodily harm that way. The boys would be interview by Officer Joe, the school police man they had known their whole lives, with Drew present. And Drew would be interviewed by my brother. No love lost there since Drew had broken my heart. 

I was volunteered to go first. Officer Yum sat at the table with Carolyn and I and began with my Miranda rights. Already this was not looking good. I was still agitated over this mornings game of slap and tickle in my sleep...well sort of my sleep. So I was far from happy to now be "interviewed" by Officer Yum. I indicated that I did understand my rights as they were read, and Officer Yum cut to the chase. " Jacqueline Barbour, how are you acquainted with Jeff Chase?"

"Who?" I asked

"The deceased."

"Oh the dead guy? I am not aquainted with him at all."

"How did he get into you bed room?"

"That is a good question. When you find out maybe you can let me know." I replied relaxing a little. clearly this was going to be easier than I thought. 

"Do you lock your doors when you leave the house?" Officer Yum continued.

"Yes of course. I don't want to come home to dead guys in my bed room. Clearly that isn't working out for me though is it?" I replied sarcastically. Sarcasm is my special gift.

"How did Mr Chase get into your house then?"

"You are the detective. All I know is I came home and found a dead guy in my bed."

"Can you explain why your shoes were in the hall and shirt you were wearing earilier in the day was on the floor in your closet? Where you having a tryst that went wrong?"

"Look Officer Yum" Oh no did I just say that our loud?"Er I mean Young. I don't do trysts. I came home around 8 pm, went to my room to change. Realized what exactly I had seen on my bed and thought maybe the guy was asleep. My kids came home with my ex husband minutes later, just as I was trying to determine what the hell was going on.  The four of us together tried to rouse the guy and then called Tim. That  is it. Can I go now? I want to check on the boys." I started to get up

"Just a few more questions. Do you usually arrive home so late?"

"No I was having a shit day that went on far too long and then I had a dead guy in my bed. " I was sounding testy and I didn't like it. I took a dead breath and started again slowly. Trying to sound like a rational woman. "The truth is, officer Young, I have no idea who the dead guy is, what he was doing in my house much less in my bed, and his appearence in my bed had put me in a little bit of a bad mood. I am not usually so testy." I smiled trying to woo him to my side.

"You are not usually testy? What about the time you destroyed your husband Lexus with a ball bat? Or the time you stood outside your son's teachers house at 11pm screaming for her to come out and answer for her refusal to let him take a make up test when he was sick? Where those times when you were 'not  testy'?" He did the air quotes around the words not testy. This just lit my fuse. I started to stand up ready for battle but Caroline, bless her, stood up too."I think we are done here. My client will be available for questioning if you need her. Other wise you can contact me here." She dropped her card on the table grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the room.  Once out of the room she began hissing under her breath "Shut up now or I will let you swing for the Lexus." You see everyone in town knew that I had destroyed Drew's Lexus with a ball bat but no one could prove it. The women in town mostly sided with me that he deserved it for carrying on with another woman. The police, however, had a different view of destruction of property.

"You almost admitted in there that you were responsible and that he deserved it. Lets get you out of here while I still can." She was dragging me by the arm but I stopped and dug in my heals. "I have to wait for the boys. Where do you think they are?"

"Wait here I will find out for you. Not a peep out of you until we are out of here understood?" I nodded

After about 20 minutes the boys and Drew exited room 5 with Officer Joe. The boys looked up and saw me and blushed. What the heck? There was a story there and I was going to get it out of them. I opened my mouth to ask them what had happened and Caroline got in my face and said "NO!" I remembered I was not to speak until we were far from the police station. Caroline turned and smiled at the boys and Drew "Well lets get out of here." she looped her arms with Dash on one side and me on the other. She was leading this parade and everyone needed to get with the program. And of course Dylan and Drew followed our pied piper lawyer out of the building and back to our cars. 

"Follow me back to my office. I want to know exactly what they asked you all." She directed as she entered her car.

We followed her advice. I mean really what else were we going to do? Once we were all seated in her office, she had Dylan start off. Dylan is the thinker. He will process a conversation for years and then come back and ask you about what you said long after you have forgotten that you even had that conversation. He was the best candidate for a verbatim recall of events.

"Well " he started "Officer Joe wanted to know how we knew the dead guy and whether or not you and the dead guy were dating."

"I told him you didn't date dead guys." Dash broke in. He was my comedian.

Dylan rolled his eyes and continued "Um, then he wanted to know how the dead guy got into the house. I had no idea until Officer Joe told me that the guy was a security specialist and worked for AAA security. Then I knew that he got in with the key I gave him."

"You GAVE a stranger a key to my house?" I couldn't believe it.

"No Mom. Stop freaking out. I went to AAA Security about a week ago and hired them to wire our house, for picture and electronic control. The pictures will be uploaded to the internet so we can check the house remotely at any time. We can also turn on and off the lights over the internet. I gave them the key so that they could install it during the day."

"Why did you want to wire our house? How were you going to pay for that?"

Drew answered for Dylan "I was worried about you guys and wanted some extra security. The boys and I thought it would be a great Mothers Day present. I was paying for it."

"And were you going to have access to the remote feed too?" Now I was really upset.

"No. Just you and the boys. I am not some weird voyeur. I am their father and your husband. I want you to be safe."

"Ex husband."

"That was your idea. I never wanted that." he replied calmly. He always seemed calm and I was always 5 second form a melt down when he was around. the more calm he was the more aggravated it made me.

"Well you should have thought of that before" I slapped a hand over my mouth. I never wanted to discuss Drew's infidelity in front of the kids.

"Excuse us" Drew grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the room slamming the door behind us "I did not have an affair with that woman." he stated letting go of me and crossing his arms in front of him.

"Then why did she come to me all crying and begging me to let you go?I am not stupid."

"She had been trying to get me into bed all during her divorce. I kept telling her I was happily married. If I was having an affair how come I have been alone since you left me? Why didn't I just run off and marry her? I will tell you why. Because as crazy as you make me I love you. I don't want to be with anyone but you.  I am just waiting for you to realize that you really love me too so we can get married again and go back to living together." He unfolded his arms grabbed me, pulled me against him and kissed me. It was passionate and full of frustration. And it was a kiss that melted my bones. It made me think crazy thoughts like maybe he was telling the truth. I kissed him back. Maybe I was crazy. Then he stopped and I stumbled back away from him blinking my eyes and waiting for my brain to focus.

"Uh I need to go to the bathroom." I blathered and headed to the only safe place I could think of. I wasn't ready to admit I was wrong. And I was still mad about the whole "security" being placed in my house with out my knowledge. And then there was the dead guy. Why was he dead and why did he have to die in my bed?

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