Going Under_ A Bill Roberts Thriller - Silas Payton Page 0,9

reached for his packet of tissue again.

Bill gave her a minute without saying anything. He wondered how he would have described his relationship with his wife before she passed away.

I worked crazy hours and when I was home I was often immersed in cases, both current, and past, solved and unsolved. I tossed and turned most nights, thinking about work or re-living the close-calls, keeping my wife awake the whole time. I missed countless dinners. Yes, we still loved each other, but I must wonder why she stayed. Almost twenty-three years -- she deserved an award.

He wanted to lighten things back up a bit. "Have you ever fallen off a treadmill?"

She was in the midst of wiping her eyes again and stopped. She looked over at him with a questioning expression.

"Twice?" he asked.

She looked at his forehead and she started to giggle. Just a little at first, like she didn't want to offend him. But when he made a face like -- that's right, I'm an idiot -- she started laughing even harder. When Bill joined in with the laughing, it just got worse.

Likely amplified from the stress of the situation, she couldn't stop laughing. Tears were again pouring from her eyes, but this time from laughter. Bill felt, for the briefest moment, she forgot the fear, sadness and confusion of the situation she was in. For this he was thankful.

Once they both stopped laughing, and the pain in Bill's sides had subsided, he told her he had to make a few calls, but he'd be back for more questions later. He got up, smiled at her and said, "You won't tell anyone about the treadmill will you?"

She shook her head.

With that, he left the room.

Chapter 9

Cliff Jones

While he waited for the processing team to show, Sergeant Cliff Jones had gone through the rest of the house, careful to not disturb any evidence. In Mr. Elliot's study, he found an open box on a desk, with a drawer which had also been left open. He presumed this was where the gun had come from, but forensics would have to confirm this. Nothing else seemed out of place.

Once the team got there, they started their work collecting anything that could possibly be evidence, and packaging the body for transport to the city morgue. Satisfied they were being careful, and that there wasn't much to disturb, he decided he could head back to the station.

First, a quick detour to check on something for the Inspector. He had to stop by the residence of Andrew Livingston.

After a quick drive, maybe ten minutes, he found the Livingston house at 215 McBurney Drive. He parked fifty yards down the street where he stayed for a few minutes to assess the area. There were a few lights on in the house, and a minivan in the driveway. It was a large two story with a double car garage. After a couple of minutes and nothing unusual, he walked to the front door and rang the bell.

A tall lady with shoulder length blonde hair answered the door, dressed in semi-casual business clothes.

Probably got home from work and went straight into making dinner for the kids. No chance to even change. I know what that's all about.

When he saw two kids, he guessed ages five and eight, he understood. "Are you Mrs. Livingston?" he asked.

She looked at him with concern. "This isn't like in the movies, when you tell the wife something's happened to her husband, is it?"

He looked at her sympathetically and said, "Mrs. Livingston then, I presume. I'm only here to ask you a few questions. I'm hoping we can clear this up quickly. Would you mind if I come in for a few minutes?"

He pulled out his badge and held it for her to see. "I'm Detective Sergeant Cliff Jones of the Toronto Police."

She backed away from the doorway and gestured with a wave of her hand, for him to come in. They entered, and she pointed to the living room where she said they could sit. She asked the kids to go upstairs and get ready for bed. Once she and Cliff were in the room, she closed the French doors behind her, presumably, in case there was something she didn't want the kids to hear.

He looked around the room and noticed the furniture and decor was pretty upscale. He and his wife had been shopping for a new couch and love seat, and what he was sitting on, wasn't in any stores he'd