The Trophy Exchange Read Online Free PDF Page B

at her with his hands resting on her upper arms. “ You okay , now? ”
    She nodded.
    “ Good. I need a shower. Bad. I ’ m surprised you didn ’ t gag when you got close. ” He raised his arm and sniffed in the direction of his armpit. “ Phew! ” He pulled off his pants, dropped them on the bed and left the room.
    Ellen stared at the bulge of his wallet in the back pocket of his pants. She heard the water pounding the glass shower enclosure. Trust, she told herself. Trust. It’s all about trust. But her eyes couldn ’ t pull away from the pocket and the proof that it might hold.
    When she heard the shower door shut and Ted ’ s humming begin, her resolve dissipated. She wrestled out his wallet and flipped it open. Her hands shook as she made her first quick scan; she didn ’ t see Lucinda. She inhaled deeply and went through the pictures again. This time she turned each plastic sleeve with care and looked for any pictures hidden between the photos that faced out on either side. Nothing.
    The pipes clinked as the water shut off. She crammed the wallet back in his pants, grabbed her book, jumped on the bed and started to read. She believed him now. A smile of relief locked on her face.
    Ted walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. “ What are you grinning about? ”
    “ Just waiting for you, ” she said with outstretched arms. Ted dropped the towel and joined her in bed. Ellen gave her passion full rein – her fears of the last few months laid to rest.
    I was stupid that night , she thought now. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid . She grabbed her robe and stomped into the shower.

 
    Seven
     
    Four days later, Lucinda led Dr. Evan Spencer into an interrogation room. “ Please have a seat, doctor, ” she said as she eased into a chair. They sat on opposite sides of an ugly gray metal table. He was even better looking in person than he was in the studio portrait she ’ d seen in his home, she noticed. She thought in an odd way the pain in his eyes animated his features and brightened his face.
    She laid a manila envelope on the surface. “ I know it is difficult for you to talk to me right now. I want you to know I appreciate your willingness to do so. And I want to thank you for rushing back from your trip overseas. ”
    He studied her face. The repulsion or pity she often saw in others ’ eyes was absent from his stare. His lips parted as if ready to ask a question or make a comment about what he saw. Then he shook his head and clamped his mouth shut. After a moment he said, “ Did you think I wouldn ’ t? ”
    Lucinda studied his face without making a response.
    “ It wasn ’ t a pleasure trip, Lieutenant. It was work – important work. ”
    “ I understand that, Doctor. I ’ m fully aware of the reason you were in Afghanistan . The fact that you had to leave ahead of schedule only adds to the tragedy. ”
    “ I love the work I do for Doctors Without Borders. But I love my wife – and my daughters – more. ”
    “ Of course, ” Lucinda said and slid the envelope across the table to the new widower. “ Here is your wife ’ s jewelry. Her autopsy is complete but we ’ ve kept her clothing for further analysis. We can release her to the funeral home of your choice at any time. ”
    “ How did Kate die – was she killed with that concrete block? ”
    I hate that question, she thought as she struggled to find the right words. He is a suspect now but he might only be a victim in the end. “ It appears as if Kathleen died from strangulation. The coroner believes she was already gone before the concrete block was used. ”
    Evan threw his hands to his face and leaned into them with his elbows resting on the table. Lucinda sat quietly waiting for Evan to resume the conversation. He slid his hands up over his face and ran his fingers through his hair to the back of his neck. “ I guess that ’ s supposed to make me feel better. ”
    “ I don ’ t think anything could make you