Ten Oaks Police Dept. Interrogation Room; Monday, 5:16 PM
Sam stepped into the interrogation room of the Ten Oaks PD, a bit unsure of herself and what she would find. But after her episode with Bailey her self-esteem experienced a boost. She made her way to the only chair of two that wasn’t occupied. Sam took her seat at the end of the cold, metal table that lay between them. She looked at the widow, studied her appearance. For a woman that had just been informed that her husband had been brutally murdered just that morning, she had none of the usual symptoms. Her make-up was perfect, she didn’t look as if she had been crying. She was rather calm, not trembling or showing any signs of nervousness or grief. Sam started, "Mrs. Lansing, I’m very sorry for your loss."
"Ha, you’re sorry for my loss?! God, if you only knew." The widow replied in a mumble. Sam didn’t hear her. "I’m Samantha Waters. I know this may be difficult, but I need to ask you some questions about your husband. We want to capture your husband’s killer as soon as possible." Sam spoke, waiting for a reaction.
"Let me see, where to start? Well, first off, my husband was a cheating bastard. If someone else hadn’t gotten to killing him first, I sure would have." Mrs. Lansing said, fire in every word. Sam was taken aback by this reply. All she could manage was an "Oh." She thought hard on what to ask next.
"Umm…he was having an affair?" Sam asked, thinking maybe this bit of information could help their case. "Ha, more like affairs. Michael was the sort of guy who would hang around bars, act like he was single, and hit on anything of the opposite sex," she replied coolly.
"How did you find out about his affairs?" Sam asked, avoiding direct eye contact with her interviewee. "This is a small town, Ms. Waters. I knew before he did." Mrs. Lansing replied with resentment in her voice. "Irony of it is that I was going to file for divorce next week. Guess I don’t need to now."
Sam was surprised by her forwardness. She thought it best to end it now. "Thank you Mrs. Lansing. We’ll contact you as soon as we have any information." Sam got up and went to the door that lead to the room behind the double mirror. Bailey was waiting for her there.
"Did you hear that? I can’t believe her. She felt no remorse or grief about what happened to her husband." Sam started. "I know, but how would you feel in her place? Adultery is a hard thing to deal with. Let alone the embarrassment that comes from the whole small town talking about you at the hair salon." Bailey said.
"Yeah…so you think this affair thing could have something to do with the case?" Sam asked her partner. "I don’t know. We’ll wait ‘til John checks in, see if he’s found anything out."
Ten Oaks Police Station; Ten Oaks, New Mexico; Monday, 6:02 PM
"Ring, ring." Sam and Bailey were sitting in the quaint little police station’s main room waiting for just that sound. Bailey answered his cell phone. "Malone".
"Yeah, its John. You’ll never guess what I found out. Turns out this guy Johnson wasn’t being all that faithful. The local playboy if you will…" John said. "We thought as much. Turns out our guy Lansing was the same way. Who told you?" Bailey asked his insubordinate.
"I was talking with one of his bowling buddies. Can you believe they have bowling leagues out here? That’s so ‘Andy Griffin’." John joked. "Anyway, Johnson’s rep was pretty well known around town. Seems everyone knew but his wife."
"I think we just found our connection. Talk to you later, John." Bailey hung his phone up. "Sam, same situation with the first vic. He was having an affair too." Bailey informed her.
"That changes the whole profile." Sam replied. "Well, make a new one." Bailey said leaning back in his chair, fiddling with a pen, looking at Sam from across the old wooden table. She thought. "We assume that its a he because of the strength involved in subduing his victims. (Don’t get me wrong, I am like the feminist. But men are stronger. But, hey, I could probably kick anyone’s yotz!) He has serious issues towards adulterers. White male, 25 to 35, since all his victims have been white. One of two scenarios. 1) this guy was married and his wife cheated on him or 2) someone close to him has been hurt, emotionally, by someone having an affair. If it had been physical abuse, there would have been more rage in the killing ritual." She paused, then added. "Scratch the first idea. His aggression is towards the men . So its probably a relative that has been hurt. A sister, an aunt…" Sam told him.
"Or mother," Bailey added. "Yeah,…you know what Bailey? I need a drink. Care to join me?" Sam said to Bailey’s surprise. "Great minds think alike." Bailey chuckled as he got up and walked her out the door.
