call me Anthony, if you prefer that.â
âIâm a psychologist, Detective Walker. People come to see me with problems of one kind or another.â
âFair enough. Putting aside her usual problems, then, did you notice anything out of the ordinary in Mrs. Knoebelâs behavior the last time you saw her?â
Randi Conway stood up and walked to the window overlooking the townâs main street. She watched the morning traffic crawl by as she recalled the scuffle between Elizabeth and Fran. She also thought about some of the many other things she could tell him about Elizabeth. âI would like to help you, Detective, I really would.â She turned from the window and faced him again. âAs you know, whatever my patients discuss with me is strictly confidential. Elizabethâs death doesnât change that.â
âLook, Doctor, would you mind sitting? I have trouble with people talking down to me.â Walker smiled in apology. âMust be some sort of hang-up I should look into. What do you think?â
Randi returned to her chair without answering.
âThanks,â Walker said. âYou do a lot of marriage counseling, that right?â
âThatâs the basis of my practice, yes.â
âYour specialty is working with couplesâtalk with them about their relationships, their personal lives, deal with their children, all that?â
âYouâve come here prepared, Detective.â
âItâs my job. Sorry.â
âYou should never apologize for doing your job well.â
Walker grinned. âIs that free professional advice?â
âCall it an observation.â
âThatâs all Iâm asking for. Some observations about Mrs. Knoebel.â
âNo, in her case youâre asking me for specific information about a patient.â
âFormer patient.â
Randi shook her head slowly.
âYou say the last time you saw her was in the group?â
âRight.â
âWas that a regular meeting?â
âThat group usually meets on Monday. I occasionally saw Elizabeth for private counseling.â
âNo regular date for that?â
âIt varied. Some of my patients need flexibility in their appointments.â
âMrs. Knoebel worked, did she?â
âShe was a freelance software consultant. But I assume you knew that already.â
âDid you ever see Mrs. Knoebel anywhere else?â
âBesides my office, you mean?â
âYes, anywhere else.â
âNo.â
âNever saw her socially?â
âNever. She was my patient.â
âNever ran into her on the street, in a grocery store, nothing like that?â
âNot that I can recall.â
âItâs a small town, Doc.â
âIf I see a patient on the street, I generally head in the other direction. Protects their privacy, avoids embarrassment.â
âShe ever phone you?â
âCertainly, from time to time.â
âWould she talk about her problems or would she just call to make appointments?â
âFrom time to time patients call to talk things over.â
âShe call at your office? Your home?â
âMy office. I also have a line for patients to call me at home in the event of an emergency.â
âWhat about Mrs. Knoebel? She ever have an emergency?â
âI canât recall Elizabeth ever telephoning me at home.â
âDid you speak to her at any time after Mondayâs group meeting?â
âNo.â
âDid she ever mention that she was having an extramarital affair?â
Randi frowned. âCome on, Detective. You can do better than that.â
Walker offered another smile. âJust doing my job. You said you canât blame me for that.â
âNo, I said you shouldnât apologize for doing your job well.â
Walker sat back and rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands. âNo offense, Doc, but this isnât a whole
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