Chapter 67
APRIL
On Friday afternoon, I got a call from the LAPD.
Hardly the best timing with my meeting with Eddie on for that evening.
“Hello,” I said, knowing who was calling.
“Mrs. Devers, this is Detective Abbott. We were wondering if you could come by the police station today.”
What choice did I have?
I had some pretty important business to attend to that night. It was better to get this over with.
“Sure, I can come down there. What time?”
“How about 3:30?”
“I’ll see you then.”
I arrived at 3:15 and was greeted courteously by Detective Abbott. His partner was nowhere to be seen.
I didn’t know what to expect. Maybe they were going to tell me I was no longer a suspect. That was the best-case scenario. I didn’t want to think about worst-case scenarios.
He took me down the hall and had me sit in one of their interrogation rooms, saying he’d be back in a few minutes. This meeting seemed more official than previous ones, and I started worrying maybe they’d found something.
Could they have possibly followed me to the Little League field? Could Eddie have left a fingerprint at the scene? I was starting to worry.
When Detective Abbott returned, he was still alone. I’d joked that he and Detective Wright were exact replicas, but I did think Abbott had a slightly softer spot for me, so if it had to be one of them, I’m glad it was him.
He paused for a few seconds, and somehow I just knew everything was going to be just fine.
“Mrs. Devers, I think you’ll be happy to know that we are closing the part of the investigation that involves you.
Understand that if we are given new information that implicates you in any way, you’ll be back on our suspects list, but for now, we don’t believe you were involved in your husband’s murder. ”
I dapped my eyes, but the fake tears wouldn’t come as easily as they once had.
“You have no idea how much that means to me, Detective Abbott. Thank you very much. I assure you that there will be no new information that implicates me. As I’ve said dozens of times, I had nothing to do with David’s murder. I loved him very much.”
“I believe you, Mrs. Devers,” he said. “I’m not sure my partner was as convinced early on, but even he would admit that we’ve found nothing to suggest otherwise.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I understand that Detective Wright was just doing his job. And I also understand that the spouse is always the number one suspect. Speaking of which, do you now have any other suspects in mind?”
“We are not allowed to talk about that. I’m sure you understand.”
I’d had many genius moments since this all started, but deciding to cast doubt on his co-workers due to his impending promotion was a watershed moment. It’s like I served them fifteen suspects on a silver platter.
I had never even heard most of David’s co-workers’ names.
Conrad O’Malley. Draven Harker. Evie Lumpkin. Buford Williams. Nora Campbell. Trinity Boyle. Zelly Baker. Aria Mackenzie. Kayleigh Lewis. Brenda Floyd. Ryan Stark. Landon Perry. Archer Haynes. Tully Bane. Axel A. Albright.
These were the fifteen people who were in contention for the VP job that David eventually got. Fifteen people who were almost certainly law-abiding citizens who had been thrown under the bus by yours truly.
Once I mentioned David’s promotion, the officers had to start looking into every one of them. It would have been crazy not to. So one day, they wanted to go over every one of them with me, just in case I remembered David having a beef with any.
Of course, I said no to every person on that co-worker list. Why narrow it down to one suspect when you’ve already given them fifteen? Am I right?
I realized that my mind was wandering, and I had to snap back to attention. What had we been talking about? Oh yeah, suspects.
“I’m sorry, you’re right,” I said. “I know you can’t name any specific suspects.”
“Thanks for understanding.”
“Is there anything else I can help you with?”
“I think that’s it for now. Obviously, we’d appreciate a prompt call back if we do decide to reach out again.”
“Of course. I’d say I never want to hear from you again, but that’s not true. I still want you to catch my husband’s killer, and I’ll be grateful when I get that call.”
“Let’s hope that day comes,” Abbott said.
He stood, and I followed suit. I leaned in and hugged him.
“Thank you for everything,” I said.
“You’re welcome, April.”
Ah, the sweet sounds of hearing someone calling you by your first name when it’s wholly inappropriate.
Men are so fucking easy.
I looked at my watch as I left the police station.
I still had over seven hours before I met with Eddie Sykes.