By Lauren K. Joyce
Officer Ward pulled up to the house. Danielle’s car sat in the driveway behind Taylor’s SUV. Coincidence? Might make his job easier—two birds, one stone—but he dreaded the coming conversation… or confession. Too close to this case, he cursed himself for not asking the chief to make this call. Parking his cruiser on the road, he lumbered up to the front door and knocked. He waited, then knocked again. A muffled “Coming!” sounded from inside and the locks released.
Taylor rubbed at her smudged mascara and flattened her bedhead. She croaked. “Officer Ward.” She tried to smooth out her wrinkled blouse and slacks. “Come in. Danielle’s here. Is this about Este?”
Officer Ward stepped inside, clocking the wine glasses and pizza box on the table. A just-as-haggard Danielle rose from the living room couch. “Did you find her?” she asked.
He grimaced. “No, sorry. I’m here about your brother-in-law.”
Danielle flinched and crossed her arms. “Brian? What about him?”
“Have you seen or spoken with him recently?”
She scoffed. “No, I haven’t—that cheating, murdering, piece of—”
Officer Ward cleared his throat. Danielle had made her feelings about Brian Englehart quite clear over the last couple of weeks. Maybe he agreed with her. The man seemed to move on quick from his wife’s disappearance. Should’ve asked the chief to come instead. “Sorry, it’s just… We got a call this morning. From Jen.”
The mistress. Her name filled the room with palpable tension.
“She reported going over to Brian’s this morning. Apparently, his car, phone, and wallet are there, but he’s not.” He shifted and braced himself. “She suggested we follow up with you two, especially since…”
It was no secret they thought Brian did something to Este.
Neither woman moved nor spoke. They now stood expressionless, guarded.
Officer Ward gestured to the wine glasses and pizza box. “You stay over last night?” he asked Danielle.
“Yeah, it was Este’s birthday.” Danielle’s voice softened on her sister’s name. “Taylor invited me over. We watched her favorite movie.” She blushed looking at the state they were both in. “Got a little drunk.”
“Go out at all?”
“No,” Taylor said. “We even got the pizza delivered.”
“Mind if I get the info on that?”
Taylor nodded. “Sure.”
Officer Ward’s phone buzzed with a text.
Mistress took out a big life insurance policy a couple days ago.
He pocketed the phone. “Thanks for your time. Hopefully this thing with Brian is nothing. But if something does come up, we might ask you both to come in and make a statement.”
Taylor and Danielle both nodded along as he spoke, unfortunately familiar with the process already, and thanked him for coming.
Officer Ward strode back to his cruiser, more than a little relieved. He’d taken the information on the pizza order and watch history, just in case. But he probably wouldn’t need it.
***
“Hey Danielle, it’s me, Taylor. Can you do something for me—well, for Este?
This evening, come over to my place. Bring a bottle of wine. Park in the driveway behind my SUV. Let yourself in—the spare key is still under the gnome.
There’s a half-finished bottle of wine on the table and two glasses. Drink the one that’s full, then refill both glasses with the wine you brought. Drink yours. Leave everything on the table.
When it gets dark, turn on some lights. My phone and wallet are on the kitchen counter. Order pizza—get it delivered—tip the driver well. Watch Dirty Dancing. Sleep over. I’ll make breakfast in the morning.
If anyone asks, we were together the whole night.
***
The digital clocks on the stove and TV read 3:52AM when the back door creaked.
Some of the lights were still on from earlier.
From her place on the couch, Danielle watched Taylor tiptoe in the kitchen, wearing her blouse and slacks from the previous workday. Standing by the table, Taylor downed the remaining glass of wine. She crept into the living room toward the couch. When their eyes met, Taylor froze, a sudden question on her face.
The words of all the cops they’d been talking with for weeks echoed in Danielle’s mind. No body, no crime. She gave Taylor a subtle, knowing smile and went to sleep.
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This was a great twisty mystery. Your economy of words invites the reader’s imagination to fill in the blanks. Fun.