Murder at Tri-City Mall by Bernie Ziegner

Author:Bernie Ziegner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2021-06-24T18:27:50+00:00

Chapter 16

Elaine Owens, standing by the window with a drink in her hand, saw the gray car stop in front of her house. Two men in dark suits got out, one of them with a briefcase, and started up the walkway to her door. She gulped the rest of her cocktail, put the glass on a coaster, and straightened her blouse. There was a knock on the door.

She opened the door to the limit of the safety chain. “Yes?”

“Mrs. Owens, I am FBI Special Agent Brian Ludlow and this is Agent Grant Foster. We’d appreciate fifteen minutes of your time to help clarify some details concerning your deceased husband.”

Elaine looked from one to the other and then at the ID they held up. She nodded and undid the safety chain from the door. “Come in.”

The two men entered her living room and introduced each other again and shook hands. Elaine gestured toward the sofa. “Please. Sit down.”

The agents sat, and Ludlow removed a notebook from his briefcase. He retrieved a voice recorder and placed it on the coffee table in front of him, then looked up at Elaine. “We’d like to record our conversation, make sure we get it right.”

Elaine nodded and sat in the chair close to the window. She glanced at her empty cocktail glass, and then folded her hands in her lap. “Do I need a lawyer?”

“I don’t know why,” said Ludlow. “You’re not under arrest. You may terminate this meeting at any time. We would appreciate your help, however.”

“Okay.” She looked at Ludlow. “What can I do for you?”

“It seems to us that the motivation for the attack on your husband was to obtain the briefcase he was carrying.”

“But … but they killed him,” she exclaimed.

Ludlow nodded. “Yes. I’m sorry. But we think it was to obtain the briefcase. Frankly, we’re not real clear why Mr. Owens was killed. We don’t think it was the primary intent.”

Elaine shook her head. “It doesn’t make sense. Who would do that?”

“Did your husband have enemies at Century Design?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Did your husband uncover some malfeasance or irregularity, maybe involving Mr. Downy?”

“What? No. He never told me …”

“Where did you meet your husband?”

Elaine pursed her lips. “It must’ve been six years ago now. I was doing some accounting at Century Design. Edward was the head accountant. I reported to him.”

“You haven’t worked there in the last four months. Mind telling us why you left?” asked Ludlow.

Elaine shrugged. “Bored, I guess. We didn’t need the money. Edward had a good salary.”

“Did you leave on good terms with Mr. Downy?”

She nodded. “He and Edward and I were friends. We went out once in a while.”

“Do you still see him? Is he still a friend?”

“He’s been over once since Edward passed away. We talked for a while.”

Ludlow looked at Elaine. “Please forgive me. I have to ask some personal questions … so we can get a good overall picture.”

Elaine glanced at her empty glass, scowled, and nodded.

“Would you say your marriage

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