10 minutes later.
Four policemen sat down in the office and compared their findings.
âHow confusing.â
âItâs unexpected, isnât it? It doesnât line up...â
An officer picked up a form and browsed through it. He said, âThis is your discovery, eh? It was strange on our side, too.â
âDid his wife own up?â
âNo, but found out about something else.â
âDonât keep us in suspense.â
âSimple. The couple isnât on good terms.â
âWhat did you guys ask? Why did she even talk about this?â
âShe didnât tell us about it, but we could tell.â
âWhat did you notice?â
âI canât point it out, but youâll understand if you heard what she said. Itâs pretty funny and strange at the same time. Iâll play the recording so listen for yourselves.â
He took a recorder out and pressed play.
...
âSorry to bring you here at this time and thank you for assisting with our investigation. We would like to know more about your husband.â
âOkay.â
âHe did not go to work on June 3. Why?â
âMy tummy was aching so he brought me to a doctor.â
âWas he acting strangely that day?â
âNo.â
âYou didnât notice the dent in your car?â
âI was the one who did that. I wanted to drive but I ended up ramming the car against a curb. Did he do something wrong? Is it serious?â
âWeâll answer all your questions later, but for now, please just answer us. We have every reason to suspect that you and your husband are in cahoots,â one officer said, his brows wrinkled.
âWhy?â
âWeâve brought you here to seek evidence, but thereâs a need for me to tell you what Iâm about to say.â He leaned forward and said earnestly, âHave you thought it through? Your testimony will influence our verdict. Your husbandâs already admitted to killing her so why are you still lying? Fabricating lies to mislead us is a serious offense and we have every right to lock you up.â
âWait. He killed somebody and even admitted it?â
The officers smiled slightly and one whispered to the other, âContinue fanning the fire.â
âYes, heâs admitted to it. We can sue you for obstruction of justice if you keep lying and we can detain you for 10 days.â
âIâve done wrong,â she admitted.
âThatâs good. Now, be honest with us and be responsible for your words.â
âGot it. He made me do it.â
âYour husband? What did he ask you to say?â
âI donât know anything. Will he be sentenced to death? He made me say these. Iâm innocent.â
âCan you tell us everything that had happened? How did he coerce you?
âWho did he murder?â
The officers looked at each other.
She continued, âA colleague? Did he throw the body into the sea? I know that thereâs some misunderstanding between him and his colleague. He mustâve done it.â
âSorry, but could you please tell us exactly how he forced you?â
âHe assaults me every day. He has a bad temper so Iâm not even surprised that heâs a murderer.â
âYour answers are becoming stranger. Is there any conflict between you two? What did he force you to do?â
âHe forced me. Yes, he forced me. He told me not to answer anything. Iâve said everything. I hope he receives the punishment that he deserves.â
âAlright, moving on. Are you two on good terms?â
âNo, weâre great. Sir, he should be punished if he did something wrong. Itâs for his own good. How can he get away with murder? I donât know anything. Iâm not working with him.â
One officer covered his ears and said softly, âAsk her about the clinic.â
âYou had a tummy ache on the 3rd of June? Which clinic did you visit?â
âI forgot, sorry. He refused to take me to the hospital. There are so many clinics around, I really donât remember which.â
The other officer added softly, âThereâs no point asking further. Is she even his wife? There seems to be a serious feud between them. Did he get cuckolded by her?â
âYou said your husband abuses you. Why, then, did he still pick up your call and send you to the clinic?â
âNo, no. Sir, he might be ill. Erratic.â
âBut it sounds like the problem is with you. You said he hit you? Any bruises?â
âI told you heâs unstable. Itâs been a while since he hit me.â
âWeâre recording your every word. You said he assault you every day.â
âYes, he does, but not with a lot of force so there are no marks.â
Again, the other officer whispered, âNo point digging further.â
The investigating officer nodded. âThank you for your cooperation. We will process the information youâve provided.â
âAlright. Can I leave now?â
âOh, can we visit your home tomorrow? Weâll need to check your computer for data, and also the carâs camera recordings.â
âNo problem. Can I leave now?â
...
The officer stopped the recorder.
âDid you sense anything?â
âDisharmony? Heâs been cuckolded?â
âExactly my thought. She wants him dead, it seems.â
âShe was still acting fine until she discovered that he killed someone.â
âEver thought of letting him hear this recording and see how he reacts?â
âIsnât she malicious? And here we are thinking that they are in cahoots with each other.â
âShe mustâve cheated on him and wants to jump on this perfect opportunity to get rid of him.â
âStop guessing and show a proof of that.â
âSpeaking of proof, are we really following her to get the data from the camera and computer?â
âWait. Sheâs released?â
âYes, long ago.â
âIf she really has something against him, wonât she go home and destroy the only evidence?â
âEvidence? What evidence?â
âThe copy in the computer and car camera. You said youâll look for her tomorrow so wonât she have time to destroy it? Whatâs going to happen then?â
All four of them stood up at the same time.
âIâll give her a call.â
âShe should still be on her way. Go after her, quick.â
...
Half an hour later, the policemen arrived at the parking lot and found the car in question.
The camera was already removed by then.
âWeâre in trouble.â
âFind her. Weâll collect the evidence and find you guys later.â
The two other officers rushed up to the apartment and rang the bell.
My wife opened the door very naturally.
âHi, weâre here to collect evidence.â
âYou told me that earlier so I came back to look for it but itâs been damaged. Perhaps itâs because we havenât used that in a long time,â she explained.
âItâs our duty to charge you with obstruction of the law, Madam.â
âWhat? I donât know much about computers. Itâs spoiled. Are you convicting me because itâs spoiled?â
âWhat about the car camera? Why is it gone?â
âWhat camera?â
âPlease, follow me.â
âWhat have I done?â
They held onto her and one said, âItâs obvious that there had been a camera installed but youâre denying its existence. Youâre hindering our investigations. Youâll have to follow us back to the center. Do not resist. Itâs an even bigger crime.â
The two policemen from the carpark came up and met with them.
âBring her back and weâll stay to investigate,â an officer instructed.
After 10 minutes of searching, one of them found the carâs camera in the guest bedroom.
The other stared at the computer for a long time before dismantling it.
âSpoiled?â
âYeah, itâs been smashed before, there are marks here. The motherboard is damaged. Not a big problem, though.â
âRepairable?â
âNo need, weâll just take the hard disk back.â
...
I waited impatiently for four hours until finally, an officer opened the cell door.
âYou may leave, Mr. Chalk.â
âReally? Am I cleared?â I asked.
âWe will remove you from our suspect list for now, but please do not leave the city as we may call you back anytime.â
âDid my wife testify?â
âContrary. Sheâs going to be detained for 10 days for obstructing the law. A piece of advice, you should be wary of that wife of yours.â
âWhy?â I asked.
The officer only smiled.
I exited the police station with a grin on my face.
10 days later.
My wife returned home to a candlelight dinner that I had prepared.
âI know I did wrong, dear wife,â I said as I lit the candles.
âItâs all over. 10 days in exchange for half your lifetime? Itâs worth it,â she said, the corner of her lip curling up.