No more trusting a man to solve everything for her. She cared a great deal for Hunter and welcomed his help, but there would always be a part of her that she held back. Never again would she place her complete trust in anyone else.
“I will see them, Martin. And please ask Cook to send in coffee and tea.”
Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself. She must appear saddened, not nervous. She schooled her features into the proper expression just as they entered the room. “Good morning, officers. Please have a seat.”
The men once again looked askance at the furniture offerings in the room, but eventually settled on two of the sturdiest looking chairs.
The Chief cleared his throat. “Good morning, Mrs. Smith. We hate to bother you at this difficult time, but we have a few questions we need to ask.” Once again he licked his thumb and flipped through the pages of his notebook.
Not yet sure of her voice, she nodded.
“Yesterday when we were here, I understand you were overwrought at the time, but I want to question you on something that has come to our attention.”
Nod.
“When we mentioned who we were about to arrest for Mr. Smith’s murder, you fainted.”
She licked her lips. “It was a terrible day, sir.”
“Yes, yes. I agree. Terrible time. Which is why we allowed your maid to attend to you and decided we would return another day to question you further.” He leaned forward, his eyes boring into hers. “Do you know Hunter Henderson, Mrs. Smith?”
Well, then. There was certainly no beating around the bush for the Chief. He waded right into deep waters. Waters that were about to drown Hunter.
“Yes, as a matter of fact I do.” She wiped the sweat from her upper lip. Where was the tea and coffee? She needed a distraction.
“You don’t say?” He glanced at Officer Mallory who smirked.
“According to our notes,” the Chief said, “Mr. Henderson spent the last ten years wandering Texas as a Ranger. Then after leaving the service he returned to Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory where his family lives.” He looked up from his notebook. “Given his background, how is it you know him?”
Oh, God. Here it comes.
She drew herself up, using all the dignity she was able to muster. “We met in Guthrie.”
Although she had the feeling the Chief already knew that, he raised his eyebrows, pretending surprise. “When were you in Guthrie?”
“I was there for a few months earlier this year.”
“Visiting family, I assume?”
“No.”
“Friends, then?”
“No.”
He continued to stare at her, obviously waiting for her to elaborate. Since he would find out anyway, there didn’t seem to be any point in refusing to answer his unasked question. “I lived in Guthrie for a few months working as a Harvey House girl.”
The chief sat back, aping disbelief. Everything in his eyes said he already knew the answers to the questions. Smart police officer—ask questions you already know the answers to. Or was that for attorneys?
“And Mr. Smith approved of this? I was under the impression the Harvey House only hired single women.”
“I felt the need to get away.”
“From Galveston? Or your husband?”
“Both.”
“How ‘close’ were you and Mr. Henderson?”