Room for Murder - Tim Myers [31]
“Go talk to her, Alex. I can handle things here.” He smiled gently. “Thanks, Elise. I appreciate it.”
“She’s my friend too, Alex. Tell her I’ll be by later to see her myself.”
“Sheriff, you can’t keep her locked away from everybody who cares about her,” Alex said, fighting to keep his voice steady. He’d been battling Armstrong for ten minutes, trying to get the sheriff to allow him in to see Emma.
“Alex, I keep telling you, I can’t do anything about it. She’s made it pretty clear she doesn’t want to see anybody. If you ask me, she’s ashamed of what she did, and I can’t say that I blame her. Murder’s a bad business, no matter how nice the killer might be.”
Alex asked, “How did she say she killed him? There wasn’t a mark on him.”
Armstrong stroked his chin. “She walked in first thing this morning and confessed. Emma said she did him in, and after that, I haven’t heard another word out of her.”
Alex said, “She didn’t tell you because she doesn’t know how he died.”
“Alex, Emma’s not the type to come in here and confess to something she didn’t do. We get those crackpots now and then, but she’s not one of them.”
“I can’t believe she could kill anybody. Now are you going to go ask her if she’ll see me, or do I have to come back in ten minutes with Sandra?”
It was the threat of returning with the lawyer that finally worked; there was no doubt in Alex’s mind about that.
“Okay, I’ll ask, but we’re both wasting our time. She’s not going to talk to you.”
Alex waited outside the detention area while Armstrong went to ask Emma. Looking out the window, he could see storm clouds building on the horizon. They were in the middle of a drought, and any rain would be welcome, but the blackness of the sky matched his mood. It was surreal, visiting one of his best friends in the Elkton Falls jail.
Armstrong came back rubbing his chin. “I guess you’re more special than I thought you were, Alex. She’s agreed to see you.”
As Alex started for the door, Armstrong said, “Listen, you’re not her lawyer and these aren’t regular visiting hours.” Alex started to protest as Armstrong finished, “But I’m making an exception for you. I can give you five minutes, but that’s it. Go on in the interrogation room and I’ll bring her to you.”
“Thanks, Sheriff,” Alex said, glad for any time he could get with Emma.
Alex expected Emma Sturbridge to be wilted by the ordeal, so he was a little surprised to see her head held high as she came into the interrogation room.
Alex started to get up to hug her when Armstrong said, “No physical contact, Alex. I’m sorry, but those are the rules.”
“I understand,” Alex said. “Emma, how are you?”
She waited until the door closed, then said, “I’m fine, Alex. The sheriff’s been truly nice. He even ran down to Shantara’s and picked up a few magazines for me to read while I’m in here.”
Alex took a deep breath, then said, “Do you mind telling me what this is all about?”
Emma shook her head. “Sorry, I’m not in the mood to talk.”
“Then why did you agree to see me, blast it all,” Alex said, letting some of his frustration seep through.
Emma smiled briefly, a flicker that was gone in a heartbeat. “I want you to tell Mor to stop trying to visit me. How is he, Alex?”
“He’s fine, but then again, he’s not the one who just confessed to murder.”
Emma sighed. “I did what I had to do, Alex.”
He said, “I can’t believe you’re in here.”
“Oh, don’t let that bother you another minute. It’s not so bad.”
Alex shook his head. “It’s worse than you think. When you pulled this little stunt of yours, Armstrong stopped looking for the real killer.”
Emma tipped her head to one side. “I didn’t have any choice, Alex.”
It suddenly hit him why she had put herself in that position. “You think Mor killed him, don’t you?”
For the first time since she’d been ushered in, Emma broke eye contact with him.
Alex pushed on. “You confessed so Armstrong would quit hounding Mor. Admit it.”
Emma, her gaze still on her hands, said, “Don’t be foolish, Alex. I don’t know