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attempting to force a kiss upon my wife. I felt a good pop in the nose would bring him to his senses.”
    “Mr. and Mrs. Faraday, I know this is difficult for you. I’m almost finished. According to Mr. Heathrow and Mr. Albright, the strap on your wife’s gown was broken. Are you sure Mr. Barrington was only attempting to kiss your wife?”
    There was silence as Charles thought rapidly of how to answer this question.
    Instead Carrie spoke. “Detective Jenco, I attempted to resist Todd’s advances. In doing so, I leaned too far back, putting pressure on the strap on my gown. It wasn’t torn by Todd. It simply snapped.”
    “Detectives, I think we’ve been more than helpful in answering your questions. It’s unfortunate that Todd’s juvenile behavior with my wife occurred on the same night as his murder. But other than that coincidence, there’s no relationship between the murder and my punching Todd in the nose. I’m very sorry that Todd was killed.”
    Detective Jenco ignored Charles’s hint that the interview was at a close by asking another question. “Then you didn’t threaten Mr. Barrington that if he—and I quote—‘acted this way again, he would get more than a pop in the nose’?”
    “Perhaps I did say something like that, but I wasn’t thinking of punishing Todd. I was thinking of saying something to his father. Believe me, telling Todd’s father was a far greater threat to that young man than any physical threat. Now, again,I think we’ve answered all of your questions.” Charles stubbed out the cigarette.
    “But you didn’t add that piece of information when you were threatening him, did you? I mean, the piece about telling his father.”
    “To be perfectly honest, I don’t remember.”
    “Mr. Heathrow and Mr. Albright don’t remember that part of your statement either.” Detective Jenco remained still for a moment before he asked the next question. “Could you tell me where you both were from the time you left the dance?”
    “We left right after the incident with Todd,” Carrie said. “He ruined the evening for us as well as my dress. We came straight home and went to bed.”
    “And you remained here all night?”
    “We generally don’t go wandering around after we retire for the night. Now, detectives, I must emphasize again that we’ve answered enough questions,” Charles said.
    Detective Jenco still wouldn’t budge. He reached into his pocket and withdrew an item. “Perhaps one of you could help us identify this.” He held out a small evening bag.
    Charles looked at Carrie, but before he could speak, she did. “Yes, I can identify that. It’s the evening bag I took to the dance last night. Where did you find it?”
    “We found it sitting on the coffee table in the library at the Country Club.”
    “I guess I left it in all the excitement last night. May I have it back?” Carrie held out her hand to Detective Jenco.
    “I’d prefer to keep the bag. However, I’ll release the card case, which has your license, credit cards, and a twenty-dollarbill in it. Would you sign this property slip, showing I’m returning these items to you?”
    Carrie very calmly accepted the slip of paper and the detective’s pen. Then she turned and went over to the desk to sign the slip. Charles could see from his angle that her hand was shaking as she signed the receipt.
    “Here you are, Detective. Is there anything else we can do for you?” she said, handing him the property slip.
    Jenco accepted the receipt and his pen, and stood up somewhat reluctantly. “Mrs. Faraday, I understand you’re writing a mystery.”
    “Yes, I am. By profession I’m a photographer, but I’m also working on writing a mystery novel. What are you implying, Detective? Because I’m writing a mystery novel, I’m more likely to commit murder?”
    “Not at all. I just like to get an understanding of what people do. I also understand that you helped to solve the murder of Mr. Faraday’s