Free A Wicked Truth by M. S. Parker Page A

and then back to me. “Just so there aren't any misunderstandings later.”
    “Of course,” I said amicably. “I don't have anything to hide.”
    I wondered if Henley had anything to do with that, or if it had come from the DA due to the less-than-honest way the detectives had gone about getting my arrest warrant. I was sure the police department didn't want to risk something like that happening again.
    Detective Rheingard pressed the button to record, waited a moment, and then spoke, “First, I want to make it clear that you're not under arrest.”
    I had a feeling Reed would've liked to have added 'yet' to the end of that statement.
    “I understand,” I said. “I came in voluntarily to answer any additional questions you might have.”
    “And we appreciate you having come,” Rheingard said.
    “Especially since you have such a busy schedule,” Reed added. “What with school, and running the vineyard, and your new live-in boyfriend.”
    I wanted to shake my head in amazement. He was jumping right in there.
    “I am busy,” I said calmly. “With the holidays coming up and everything, but this is more important. I want to make sure everything possible is done to find out exactly what happened to my late husband.”
    “Except you know what happened, Mrs. Lockwood,” Reed said. He gave me one of those smiles that made me itch to reach across the table and slap him. “But we're going to hold off on that for a moment. We have a couple other matters to discuss before we have you go over the details of that day.”
    Again, I wanted to add. Go over the details again.
    I'd told it so many times that I wasn't even sure how many times I’d said the words anymore.
    “You were originally supposed to come in last night after work,” Rheingard said.
    “I was,” I agreed.
    “Why didn't you?” he asked.
    “I wasn't feeling well,” I said. “So I called to reschedule.”
    “That's not entirely accurate, is it, Mrs. Lockwood?” Detective Rheingard gave me a hard look. “You weren't sick yesterday. You didn't want to come in because you'd been suspended from your job, and you were worried that you'd be too emotional to hide the truth from us.”
    My fingertips turned white as I pressed them together. How had they known I'd been suspended? Then again, I couldn't say I was entirely surprised. The other teachers would've known, of course, and the office staff. Gossip could spread like wildfire, especially when it was bad.
    “I wasn't feeling well,” I repeated. “And, yes, a lot of that was due to having been suspended from my job.”
    “So you lost your job and that made you feel sick so you couldn't come in and answer questions about something you said was important to you?” Reed asked.
    “I didn't lose my job,” I said tersely. “I was suspended pending the conclusion of this investigation.”
    “Were you suspended because your employer believes that you might've had something to do with your husband's death?” Rheingard asked.
    “No.” I put my hands on my lap so the detectives couldn't see me digging my nails into my palms. I had no doubt they'd think it was guilt rather than annoyance.
    “Then what was it, Mrs. Lockwood?” Rheingard pressed. “If you don't have anything to hide...”
    “The principal is concerned the students might be confused since news of my arrest and the charges were made public.” I kept it simple.
    “Isn't it true, Mrs. Lockwood, that the real reason you were suspended is because Principal Sanders is afraid for the safety of his students? That he considers you dangerous.”
    “No,” I said, nearly shouting. I took a deep breath before continuing. “I mean...” Shit. “Yes, he's worried about their safety, but not because he thinks I'd hurt them. When Aime Vargas came after me, she came into my classroom. He just doesn't want to risk anything happening to the kids.” I lifted my chin. “And neither do I.”
    “So you agree that you should be kept away from your