“Appreciate that,” said Mattheus.
“Listen, sorry we were so hard on you yesterday,” Rodney scrutinized Mattheus carefully.
“Forget about it,” said Mattheus, “You had to. It’s business. I’d have done it, too.”
“Drink your coffee,” said Rodney.
Mattheus raised the cup to his lips but couldn’t bring himself to drink. The smell of the coffee made him nauseous, but it felt good to hold the warm cup in his hand. It calmed down the trembling that came and went at the thought of talking to Anthony.
“They’re gonna bring him over in about ten minutes,” Rodney said then. “You’ll be in a two way vision room in back. There’ll be a table between the two of you. Alex and I will be watching from the other side.”
“Good,” said Mattheus. It was relieving to know they’d be watching. It would stop him from getting too rough.
“Pull out all the stops,” said Rodney, as if reading his mind. Let him know you’re the husband. See what you can get him to spill. We could use a confession. It would be terrific.”
“He denies that he did it?” Mattheus asked. “Tell me more.”
“Yeah, he denies everything,” said Rodney. “You go in cold and see what you can drag out of him. He’s been in custody a few days now, that should be taking some kind of toll.”
Suddenly Mattheus smirked. This was the moment he’d been waiting for, wasn’t it? Waiting for years! Face to face with the killer? Okay, now he’d go and get the guy for all he was worth.
“That’s it,” said Rodney, “let’s go.”
Mattheus stood up, his legs suddenly wobbly and followed Rodney out of his office, through the corridor, around a hallway, to a room in the back.
“You go in through this door,” said Rodney, motioning to the first door. “I’m going in the door behind. He’ll have no idea we’re here listening in. Good luck.”
*
The room was small and stifling with a window high up, through which early morning light was trying to stream. Mattheus took a seat behind the metal table and waited. He didn’t want to plan what he was going to say, was going to let it all just rip. It was better to work off the moment and see what it brought.
The door opened suddenly, and a warden came in with a tall, dark, good looking, muscular guy. Too good looking for his own good, thought Mattheus. The guy was dressed in prison garb, his head held high.
“Anthony Freeway,” the warden said.
Mattheus bolted, stood up and stared at him, baring his teeth.
“Ring the bell over there when the interview’s done,” the warden said, “and we’ll come back and get him.” Then he left.
Mattheus couldn’t take his eyes off this guy. This was the guy Shelly had slept with, lived with, chosen over him. Why? The guy seemed strangely comfortable being here, too. That surprised Mattheus and irritated him.
“Sit down,” Mattheus hissed, taking charge.
Anthony went around the table and took the seat opposite Mattheus. For a second, they sat absolutely still, staring at each other.
“You’re looking at Shelly’s husband,” Mattheus spit out.
Anthony closed his eyes a second.
Open your lousy, rotten eyes, bastard, Mattheus thought. Don’t try to pull something like this on me.
Anthony kept his eyes shut tight.
“Law enforcement! Detective on the case,” Mattheus threatened. He wanted to see the guy flinch. Anthony didn’t. “Did Shelly tell you about me? Did she tell you she was married?”
Anthony opened his eyes and stared a long time. Now this seemed hard for him, too.
“Answer me, you rotten bastard,” Mattheus felt his blood begin to boil.
“No, she didn’t,” Anthony said sadly.
“I don’t believe you.”
“I didn’t know a thing about you,” Anthony said, finally, not a word all these years.”
Mattheus felt completely side swiped. He didn’t know why.
“Look man, I’m really sorry,” said Anthony, lurching back in his chair.
Mattheus was even more thrown off. An apology was the last thing he’d expected. “Sorry about what?”
Anthony shook his head, “I’m truly sorry you have to go through something like this.”
“Like what?” Mattheus’s voice rose and he felt his body clenching. “Don’t talk in riddles to me, man.”
“Whatever you’re thinking, it’s not my fault. Give me a second, man. I didn’t know Shelly was married. I had absolutely no idea.”
Mattheus felt the blood drain from his face. “Shelly lied to you, too?”
“Looks like it,” said Anthony.
Something about this guy caught Mattheus. Something in his tone, in his voice, disconcerted him. “Okay, talk,” Mattheus said.
“When I met Shelly, she was living down here alone, a free floating woman, if you know what I mean,” Anthony went on.
“No,” Mattheus felt, heat rising. “I do not know what you mean!”