A Bed by the Window by M. Scott Peck

Author:M. Scott Peck [Peck, M. Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-41779-4
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 1990-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Sergeant Mitchell ushered Heather into Petri’s office slightly before four that afternoon. She was wearing jeans and a tunic. Petri had two impressions. One was that she looked exhausted. That may be helpful, he thought, in breaking her down. The other was that, despite her fatigue, she was beautiful. He noticed this much more powerfully than the first time. He was startled. Was it a shame or was it only natural, he wondered, that the angel of death should be beautiful?

“Thank you for coming down here so promptly, Ms. Barsten,” Petri said formally. “I wish it could be under more favorable circumstances, but the fact of the matter is that the situation is very serious. Indeed, before you say anything, I must warn you that our entire conversation is being tape-recorded. Furthermore, I must warn you that anything you say might be used against you. You therefore have the right to remain silent at any and all times, because you have the right not to say anything which might incriminate you. You also have the right to contact a lawyer and not proceed any further without the help of counsel.”

Heather looked at him dully. “It sounds like you’re accusing me of murdering Stephen.”

“I’m not accusing you at the moment, Ms. Barsten,” Petri said, “but, yes, you are under suspicion. That is why I wanted to be sure you understood your rights. Do you want a lawyer?”

“No, I don’t need one, thank you,” Heather replied.

“Why are you so sure you don’t need one?”

“Because I’m not guilty.”

“I am not certain you realize how serious this is, Ms. Barsten.”

“Look, Lieutenant,” Heather said irritably, “I told you I am not guilty. But even if you make some mistake and conclude that I am, I couldn’t care less at this point. I’m so tired and so sick at heart over Stephen, as far as I’m concerned you’re quite welcome to lock me up and throw the key away. But why am I under suspicion?”

Petri was surprised. He had expected her to be fearful at having been summoned to a police station and read her rights. Instead, she seemed oblivious to her surroundings and to what he had told her. Was it because she was so depressed? She couldn’t actually have been in love with him, could she? No, he had seen the body. Pity, perhaps, but not love. Maybe she was hiding how afraid she was. Well, she had asked why she was under suspicion, and he would tell her. He would begin to tighten the screws and see if she showed a little fear.

“Mr. Solaris was apparently murdered,” Petri recounted, “ten feet away from the nurses’ station at a time when either you or Mrs. Grimes or both were present. The murderer used surgical scissors and gloves such as you would have access to. The murderer seemed to have the kind of medical knowledge such as a nurse or physician would possess. You had access to the victim, to the weapon, and to the skill.

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