Page 51 of She Didn't See It Coming
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Jayne sits down beside Kilgour,across the interview table from Alice Gardner. The woman is unusually attractive, Jayne observes, remembering her in her bathrobe at their opulent home the previous morning. It’s no surprise, given the husband’s looks and his apparent taste for fine things. Alice Gardner looks very well cared for, like an expensive cat. Pampered. “Thank you for coming in, Alice. Of course you’re here voluntarily. We’re hoping you can help us with our inquiries into the death of Bryden Frost.”
“I don’t see how,” Alice says. “I don’t know anything about Bryden Frost. And neither does my husband.”
“I’m not so sure,” Jayne says pleasantly. “You see, Bryden’s best friend knew all about their affair. Bryden told her about it.”
Alice, apparently unfazed, says, “Derek barely knew that woman.”
“That’s what he says, but we have information contradicting that.”
“I don’t believe it. Can you give me details? I’m sure I can find holes in her account,” Alice says.
If Jayne’s not mistaken, she senses a curiosity there. Alice seems to want to know what her husband’s been up to. She doesn’t trust him. Good to know. Unfortunately, Jayne is rather short on details about the affair. Paige hadn’t had any to give her. Which is frustrating. She hesitates.
Alice smiles. “She didn’t provide any, did she?” She tilts her head.“You don’t have any factual evidence at all. If you did, you’d tell me exactly where they met, and when. You’d show me hotel receipts.”
A pampered cat, with claws, Jayne thinks.
“Well, I’m afraid I believe my husband over this friend you mention,” Alice says blithely, as she rises to go.
“Sit down,” Jayne says sharply.
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Jayne regards Alice coldly; the gloves have come off.
Alice hesitates, raises her eyebrows at her. “Am I no longer free to go? Am I being detained? Shouldn’t you read me my rights?”
“Why do I have a feeling you already know your rights?” Jayne says. “But yes, read her her rights, Detective Kilgour.”
Kilgour does so, as Alice sits back down in her chair.
“Do you want an attorney?” Jayne asks, when he’s done.
“No, of course not,” Alice says coolly.
“Your husband has cheated on you before,” Jayne says. She says it with confidence because they know this for a fact. They have checked all the local hotels and shown photographs of Derek Gardner and Bryden Frost. He had been seen taking a room in one particular hotel, the White Stag, on more than one occasion, with a woman who does not match the description of his wife, but does not match the photograph of Bryden Frost either. But she’s not going to tell his wife that.They are now seeking this other woman, to see what she might have to say about Derek Gardner—perhaps he likes to play asphyxiation games—but they have little to go on. No photo, no name—just a vague physical description. She could be anyone. Jayne is hoping that when they go public with Derek Gardner as a person of interest, the mystery woman will come forward.
Alice eyes her carefully but says nothing.
Jayne says, “In fact, Icanprovide details.” Alice regards her stonily as she continues. “He’s been seen visiting hotel rooms at the White Stag with women other than yourself.” She provides the relevant dates. “One of them was Bryden Frost,” she lies. “I don’t know the other woman’s name, unfortunately. Do you?”
Still Alice says nothing.
“Just one more thing,” Jayne says, “and then you can go.” She leans forward. “I’d like to talk about how your mother died.”
•••
Alice is surprisedat the mention of her mother but is careful not to show it. It makes her realize, now, that this detective is serious. That she’s really going after Derek, that she thinks he slept with this woman, killed her, and stuffed her in a suitcase. Well, it’s possible. “Sure,” she says.
“Your mother was killed in a hit-and-run accident that was never solved,” the detective says. “That must have been difficult for you.”
“Very,” Alice says.
“Were the two of you close?”
“Yes, we were. I was an only child. And my father died of a heart attack about ten years ago.”
