The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year

Prologue

Excerpt from the Official Police Interrogation of Margaret Chase and Ethan Wyatt

December 25

Ms. Chase: Well, of course I have his blood on my hands.

Mr. Wyatt: It was just a scratch.

Ms. Chase: I obviously didn’t try to kill him.

Mr. Wyatt: Maggie’s more of a lover than a—

Ms. Chase: If I’d tried to kill him, he’d be dead.

Mr. Wyatt: She’s such a good person. [ Mr. Wyatt pats his heart. ] Right here.

Ms. Chase: Of course, I’m not offended that you’d accuse me of murder. I’m offended you’d think I’d be bad at it.

Mr. Wyatt: It’s a point of professional pride. Ha! Wait. That was a joke. Can you please write down that I was—

Ms. Chase: You should have separated us, you know? We shouldn’t be together for this. Not that we’re together! Oh no! We are not a we . He is he and I am me and we are not...

Mr. Wyatt: We’re colleagues.

Ms. Chase: I prefer nemesis. Nemesis is a far better word.

Mr. Wyatt: It’s a big market, and we appeal to different— Have I mentioned they’re making one of my books into a movie?

Ms. Chase: I’m sorry, but are we seriously still sitting here, doing nothing? Am I really wearing this ridiculous sweater, answering

these ridiculous questions when she’s...

Inspector Patel: Why don’t you start at the beginning?

Mr. Wyatt: I... uh... I don’t understand the question.

Inspector Patel: When did it start?

Mr. Wyatt: Oh. It started—

Ms. Chase: In the elevator.