Sixty Six

Chapter 66

New York City police station.

"So, can we start the interview now Mrs. Veronica?"

Nicholas' room, which had been quiet, was now transformed by the arrival of a woman named Veronica Smith. The legal wife of the second victim, Mr. Rich Greek.

The woman, who was wearing a black blouse and a long skirt of the same color, was only able to attend the police invitation given by Noel, as she was still in a state of grief and busy clarifying all the news about her husband in the media over the past few days.

Indeed, as a successful medical device entrepreneur, Rich Greek's unnatural death has caused quite a stir in New York City. And as the heiress to a fortune, it was Veronica's responsibility to answer all the public's assumptions about her husband's horrific tragedy.

"Of course, the detective," she said quietly.

Veronica Smith was a councilwoman in the city. She was thirty-four and was now the sole caregiver of her two sons, Jason and Anthony.

"Did you know that that day your husband had a meeting with his business colleagues at the Sunshine Cafe?" Nicholas began.

And the lanky woman nodded quickly. "His personal secretary always tells me everything Rich does while he's in the office and as far as I know, he was planning to go to Sunshine Cafe that day to discuss a contract with a business colleague," she replied. But suddenly tears came to her eyes. "But I didn't know, if... I just didn't know he would die that day."

Nicholas cleared his throat softly as he thrust his handkerchief at the woman. "May I know, where were you when the great massacre took place? Isn't your office quite close to the scene?"

Veronica looked up. "I was at home because my children were going on vacation in the evening." Her eyes looked straight at the detective. She seemed to be trying to show the sadness in her eyes. "As a good mother, I took permission to leave early that day so that I could take Jason and Anthony to the airport."

Nicholas knew how sad Veronica was over her husband's death. The woman's eyes even looked droopy and surrounded by black bags, which certainly explained that after her husband's death, she did not have enough sleep. "By the way, when was the last time you saw and spoke to your husband, Madam?"

"Of course, before we went to work in the morning," she said, her voice still low. "Like a premonition, he held me for a long time and said that I was the only woman he loved." Veronica shook her head weakly and bit her lip in doubt. "My husband has never behaved like that before, detective. He behaves very strangely."

Nicholas' brow furrowed deeply. But he continued, "By any chance, do you know anyone around your husband who seems to dislike him or his business?"

"Dislike my husband?"

"Like people who might be his business rivals? Or something like that that you suspect of being the mastermind of his death on that day?"

It took a few seconds before Veronica finally mumbled a short answer to the question, "I think Rich, my husband, told me that his business had fallen short of expectations because someone had messed up his plans. But he didn't specify what or who it was all about." The woman looked back at Nicholas sadly. "As a wife, I only listened to his complaints well."

Then Natalie's face flashed in Nicholas' head. He then rubbed his forehead slowly while looking for ways so that the questions he would ask after this, would not cause negative assumptions from the woman who was the legal wife of the victim.

"Apparently, my husband is bothered by something," Veronica continued. "But I don't know for sure because we don't have much time to talk. I'm very busy, and so is he."

Then Nicholas cleared his throat softly. "You see Madam, your husband, Rich Greek...," Nicholas seemed to be trying to mask his nervousness now. "died shortly after a woman named Natalie was murdered." and Veronica's gray eyes were clearly awaiting Nicholas' question with curiosity. "Is it possible that you or Rich, knew this person named Natalie Heele?"

Not only did Nicholas throw out the question, he also immediately thrust Natalie's picture onto the table so that Veronica could be sure and not make a mistake.

"This woman...," the short-haired woman's words hung in the air. And her sad gray eyes began to wander, going nowhere.

"Have you seen her, ma'am?"

Veronica suddenly turned around, as if she had just been awakened from her reverie. "No, I don't know her," she said quickly. Then her hand moved to push the photo away from her. As if reluctant to look at Natalie's face for any longer.

Nicholas was certainly suspicious. "Are you sure?" because the woman who wore a lot of jewelry on her body showed a drastic change of expression on her face now.

"I don't know her," she said, in a deep, depressing tone.

Although Nicholas knew that Veronica was lying, there wasn't much he could do now. Other than agreeing with her answer and pretending not to know. "Well, I guess you don't know her. But may I know who else knew that your husband was having a meeting on that day?"

Veronica nodded. "I think I, his personal secretary, assistant and of course the business colleagues who will be attending the meeting," she replied.

"Do you mind if I check out your residence?" Nicholas raised one eyebrow curiously. "I think we should also check the victim's activities while at home."

Veronica's eyes widened instantly. Presumably surprised by Nicholas' request just now, but she hurriedly covered it with a nod of her head. "Yes. You can call me if you want to come," she said coldly. "I'm rarely home these days. You'd better make an appointment in advance."

"Okay then," Nicholas said.

"Is this interview over?" asked Veronica. She cast an uncomfortable glance around and suddenly looked at Nicholas with a sharp glare. "I have to get back to the office for a political meeting."

"You seem to be in a hurry," Nicholas said sarcastically. "So, go ahead." The tall detective got up and smiled politely. "Thank you for coming, your testimony is very valuable to the investigation of this case and hopefully we will catch the perpetrator of your husband's murder soon."

Veronica, however, gave a short snort, "I hope so," as she walked out of the room.

Nicholas realized then, that she was displaying two different attitudes during the investigation. Veronica seemed sad and drowning in sorrow when she first arrived but turned cold and antipathetic as soon as she left.

She must be covering something up.

Then Nicholas glanced at the picture of Natalie that was still lying on the table. "That woman must be covering something up," he thought. "I need to get to the bottom of Natalie and Rich's relationship so this case doesn't go nowhere again." []