The Trophy Exchange (6 page)

Six

Ellen sank down in the softness of the quilt on the edge of the bed. She held her body as stiff as if she was sitting in a hard wooden pew. She
’
d regretted her outburst the moment she slammed the door. But pride, embarrassment and hurt kept her cloistered in the lonely room.

The children
’
s muted giggling drifted into the room. She felt relief and a keen sadness – tears coursed down her checks. She didn
’
t want to be so angry. She didn
’
t want to lash out at Ted. But she
was
no longer in control – not since the baby died.

When she first started dating Ted she knew he still carried a picture of Lucinda in his wallet. That was
okay
. She didn
’
t hold on to any pictures of her first love but she still thought of Mark often. In the beginning, she
’d
even fantasized about him when she and Ted made love.

Time passed, her relationship with Ted grew serious and Mark faded from her mind. The only time his memory resurrected was when she ran into an old high school friend and she
’
d wondered if she
’
d
ever
bump into Mark at Wal-Mart before they were both too old to remember.

She didn
’
t expect Ted would ever run into Lucinda. When Ellen and Ted married, they
’d
settled down in
her
home town, not his. She assumed Lucinda
had
drifted out of Ted
’
s thoughts, too. She had no idea that they were both working in the same police department until the day a shotgun blast tore through Lucinda
’
s face.

Ellen shot to her feet and paced around the perimeter of the bed.
I should go out to the table. I should smile like nothing happened. Joke with the kids. Flirt with Ted.
Her hand wrapped around the bedroom doorknob then jerked back as if a jolt of electricity shot through the brass and into her flesh.
I can’t do it. I can’t pretend I’m happy. I can’t walk around pretending I don’t believe something is going on between Ted and Lucinda.

She paced again thinking about the day she learned of Lucinda
’
s continued presence in Ted
’
s life. He
’d
told her about the injury
,
the loss of her eye. Ellen
had
recoiled at the sound of the other woman
’
s name but was too stunned by the revelation to ask any questions. Then, it became too awkward as she said nothing week after week with Ted coming home recounting tales of Lucinda
’
s recovery, rehabilitation and her return to active duty. She
’d
kept trying to brush her concerns away. After all, Lucinda was a hot topic on everyone
’
s tongue at the department
’
s Christmas party that year. Ellen
had
employed logic in an attempt to banish her fears but still they would not stop haunting her sleep.

On Christmas Eve
,
after they
’
d put the presents under the tree and were preparing for bed, the question
had
finally crossed her lips:
“
Why didn
’
t you tell me you were working with Lucinda before?
”

“
Before?
”
Ted asked
,
turning his face away from her to rummage in a dresser drawer.
“
I
’
ve been talking to you about her for months.
”

“
Not until she was shot. How come you didn
’
t mention it before then?
”

“
I didn
’
t think it mattered.
”

“
It didn
’
t matter? You
’
re working with your old girlfriend and it didn
’
t matter? For the last few months, you
’
ve been obsessed with her.
”

“
Oh, Ellen,
”
Ted said as he turned around and crossed the room without looking her in the eye. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.
“
Don
’
t be jealous. Sure, I
’
m obsessed with her . . .
”

Ellen squirmed trying to push off and get free.

Ted
just
tightened his grip and planted a kiss on top of her head.
“
But so is everyone else. It
’
s what she went through – a cop
’
s worst nightmare. She was shot in the line of duty and we
’
ve all been pulling for her. You
’
re my wife, Ellen. I come home to you every night – to you and the kids and the warm home you
’
ve created for all of us. This is where my heart is.
”

She wanted to believe him but with her head against his chest, she couldn
’
t see his face. She couldn
’
t scan his eyes for hidden lies. Still
,
she relaxed and they stood together in quiet reflection. She lost herself in the comfort of familiar arms and inhaled the scent she knew so well.

Ted pulled back and looked down at her with his hands resting on her upper arms.
“
You
okay
, now?
”

She nodded.

“
Good. I need a shower. Bad. I
’
m surprised you didn
’
t gag when you got close.
”
He raised his arm and sniffed in the direction of his armpit.
“
Phew!
”
He pulled off his pants, dropped them on the bed and left the room.

Ellen stared at the bulge of his wallet in the back pocket of his pants. She heard the water pounding the glass shower enclosure.
Trust,
she told herself.
Trust. It’s all about trust.
But her eyes couldn
’
t pull away from the pocket and the proof that it might hold.

When she heard the shower door shut and Ted
’
s humming begin, her resolve dissipated. She wrestled out his wallet and flipped it open. Her hands shook as she made her first quick scan; she didn
’
t see Lucinda. She inhaled deeply and went through the pictures again. This time she turned each plastic sleeve with care and looked for any pictures hidden between the photos that faced out on either side. Nothing.

The pipes clinked as the water shut off. She crammed the wallet back in his pants, grabbed her book, jumped on the bed and started to read. She believed him now. A smile of relief locked on her face.

Ted walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.
“
What are you grinning about?
”

“
Just waiting for you,
”
she said with outstretched arms. Ted dropped the towel and joined her in bed. Ellen gave her passion full rein – her fears of the last few months laid to rest.

I was stupid that night
, she thought now.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid
. She grabbed her robe and stomped into the shower.

Seven

Four
days later, Lucinda led
Dr.
Evan Spencer into an interrogation room.
“
Please have a seat, doctor,
”
she said as she eased into a chair. They sat on opposite sides of an ugly gray metal table. He was even better looking in person than he was in the studio portrait she
’
d seen in his home, she noticed. She thought in an odd way the pain in his eyes animated his features and brightened his face.

She laid a manila envelope on the surface.
“
I know it is difficult for you to talk to me right now. I want you to know I appreciate your willingness to do so. And I want to thank you for rushing back from your trip overseas.
”

He studied her face. The repulsion or pity she often saw in others
’
eyes was absent from his stare. His lips parted as if ready to ask a question or make a comment about what he saw. Then he shook his head and clamped his mouth shut. After a moment he said,
“
Did you think I wouldn
’
t?
”

Lucinda studied his face without making a response.

“
It wasn
’
t a pleasure trip, Lieutenant. It was work – important work.
”

“
I understand that, Doctor. I
’
m fully aware of the reason you were in
Afghanistan
. The fact that you had to leave ahead of schedule only adds to the tragedy.
”

“
I love the work I do for Doctors Without Borders. But I love my wife – and my daughters – more.
”

“
Of course,
”
Lucinda said and slid the envelope across the table to the new widower.
“
Here is your wife
’
s jewelry. Her autopsy is complete but we
’
ve kept her clothing for further analysis. We can release her to the funeral home of your choice at any time.
”

“
How did Kate die – was she killed with that concrete block?
”

I hate that question, she thought as she struggled to find the right words. He is a suspect now but he might only be a victim in the end.
“
It appears as if Kathleen died from strangulation. The coroner believes she was already gone before the concrete block was used.
”

Evan threw his hands to his face and leaned into them with his elbows resting on the table. Lucinda sat quietly waiting for Evan to resume the conversation. He slid his hands up over his face and ran his fingers through his hair to the back of his neck.
“
I guess that
’
s supposed to make me feel better.
”

“
I don
’
t think anything could make you feel better right now, Doctor.
”

“
That bastard has to pay.
”

“
We are following up every lead we can, sir. We want – I am determined – to get justice for your wife.
”

“
Well, that
’
s just not going to happen, is it?
”

“
We are doing everything we can,
Dr.
Spencer. We have devoted massive resources—
”

“
Damn your resources. It doesn
’
t matter what you bring into play here, Lieutenant,
”
he interrupted.
“
Justice for Kate means that she would walk into her home and hug her daughters and the man who killed her would be the one lying dead on the floor. That would be justice. You can
’
t manage that, can you?
”

“
No sir. We can
’
t do that. I wish—
”

“
Keep your wishes. They
’
re not going to do me or my daughters any damn good.
”
He picked up the envelope, squeezed the metal fastener and upended the package. The contents slid out onto the table.
“
Where
’
s her ring?
”

Lucinda pointed to a small gold band.
“
There it is, sir.
”

“
Not that. Not her wedding band. Her engagement ring. Where is it?
”

“
She wasn
’
t wearing one.
”

“
She had to be. She always wore it. She never took if off. He stole it.
”

“
You think she might have been killed because someone wanted to steal her ring?
”

“
It was a valuable ring but what he did to take it makes no sense. He didn
’
t have to be so violent. He didn
’
t have to kill her.
”

“
He? Do you know – or suspect – who took her ring?
”

“
The bastard who killed her – who else?
”

“
Just how valuable was the ring,
Dr.
Spencer?
”

“
Don
’
t know. I haven
’
t had it appraised in years. I paid at least ten thousand for it when I bought it.
”

Lucinda flipped out her notepad.
“
Can you describe it to me?
”

“
It
’
s unusual – custom-made. If you find it, you
’
ll know it. It was a two-carat emerald-cut diamond with a small heart-shaped ruby on each side. The points holding the diamond were shaped like small leaves.
”

“
Sounds lovely,
”
Lucinda said.

“
My wife is lovely, Lieutenant. The ring was just a thing.
”

“
Yes, but a ring that valuable could make robbery a motive.
”

Evan did not respond. He hung his head and stared at the surface of the table.

“Dr.
Spencer, do you know of anyone who would want to hurt your wife?
”

He raised his head, looked in Lucinda
’
s eye then shifted his gaze back down.

“
Do you know anyone who was angry with her? Anyone she may have slighted or insulted?
”

Evan raised his head again; this time he maintained eye contact.
“
Lieutenant, when I tell you Kate is lovely, I mean it in every way. Sure, she is a beautiful woman to look at – but she
’
s more. She
’
s warm. She
’
s caring. She
’
s a wonderful mother and a supportive wife.

“
People think of a mathematician and they think cold and remote. Kate isn
’
t like that. She lights up any room she enters. She embraces the world. She is kind to everyone – even those who don
’
t deserve it.
”

Lucinda remained silent, her eye focused on his face. She hoped her quiet would compel him to continue. Instead, Evan averted his eyes. Was he avoiding the sight of her face? Or was he avoiding her?

He pushed around the jewelry he
’
d dumped from the envelope. Then he picked up the watch and looked at the black smudge on its face.
“
A fingerprint?
”
he asked.

“
Your wife
’
s. I
’
m sorry. I should have cleaned that up for you.
”

“
I
’
m glad you didn
’
t. I never will. It
’
s a unique piece of her,
”
he said and sighed. He fingered her gold wedding band and the small gold hoop earrings. Then he picked up the tarnished silver chain with a turquoise cross and dangled it in front of Lucinda.
“
This does not belong to Kate.
”

“
Are you sure
Dr.
Spencer?
”

“
Absolutely.
”

“
She was wearing it when we arrived on the scene.
”

“
It is not hers,
”
he said pushing his chair back from the table and rising to his feet. He shook the cross in Lucinda
’
s direction.
“
She would not wear this.
”

“
I realize it
’
s not an expensive piece, sir. But she may have just taken a liking to it. It was a minor purchase and maybe she just never showed it to you.
”

“
No!
”
he shouted.
“
She would not buy this. She would not wear this.
”
He clenched his teeth and nodded his head.
“
He put it there. He put it there to taunt her.
”
He dropped the chain as if it were molten metal. It clattered on to the table.

“
Who put it there?
”