people like me?â
I thought about it and nodded. âYeah. Actually, I do always give cold bottled water to people exactly like you.â
âYouâre very kind,â he said, dropping his head. âToo kind.â
I knocked two quick raps on the two-way glass.
âWhat was that for?â he asked with a concerned look.
âIâm letting them know on the other side to start the video.â I pointed up to the two corners of the tiny room where the video cameras were perched and pointed toward the table.
âYouâre filming this?â
âYes, sir. Have to get it on record.â I sat down and started the tape recorder. âThatâs my backup in case something goes screwy with the video.â
Gambrel seemed overwhelmed. âHow many people are behind the glass?â
âTwo, I think,â I said, opening the manila folder on my lap. Gambrel gazed at the two-way glass with great concern. âYou thought this was going to be private?â I asked him. âGet used to it, sir. Confessing to murder can become a very public affair. Especially when itâs someone as prominent and well-loved in the community as you.â
âMy world is crashing down around me.â He tossed the Denver newspaper to the side.
That was the second time heâd said that in the last ten minutes. âYeah, after weâre done here, Iâm going to call that news writer and show him some love. My job is tough enough without having a case tried in the court of public opinion. It canât help but infect a jury pool â â
âBut Iâm confessing ,â he said quickly. âThat means no trial, right?â
âYour lawyer is going to fight you on that. They hate it when you confess.â
âI donât want a trial,â he stressed. â Thatâs why Iâm confessing .â
âYou know that youâve got the right to remain silent? Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law â â
âYes. Fine. Understood.â
âNo. I really have to finish this spiel. This is how the defense likes to catch us up later in court and Iâm not going there.â I rattled off the rest of his Miranda rights. âTake a sip of water,â I suggested.
He took a rushed sip and shook his head. âYou must think Iâm awful.â
I studied him. âYouâre not the first husband to confess killing his wife. You wonât be the last.â He looked at me briefly, pain laced in his blue orbs. âI see the guilt all over your face.â
âYou do?â He seemed shocked by my statement.
âOh, yeah. I saw the guilt when I talked to you in the entryway of your house too. Guilt has a way of shadowing all of us. The things we strive to conceal from others tend to hide in the baggage around the eyes.â
He was taken aback. âReally?â he said quietly.
âItâs not obvious to everyone,â I assured him. âYou have to be observant . You have to know the codes.â
âWhat codes?â
âIf I told you that, Iâd give away all my secrets and then Iâd be an open book, and we canât have that now, can we?â
âI suppose not.â
âYou want a cigarette?â
âExcuse me?â
âA cigarette? Sometimes it helps to calm you down. Iâm sorry I donât have any Dunhill ciggies to offer you â â
âDunhill?â Gambrel looked at me, his mouth slightly agape. He gulped another sip of water.
âThatâs a fancy English brand? Lots of well-heeled Brits and celebrities favored them back in the day.â
He was flustered. âYes. I know.â
âI figured you probably smoked those at some time in your life?â
âIs that right?â
âWell? Didnât you?â
âYes.â He paused. âBut I quit.â
âWell, good for you, Mr. Gambrel. I still canât give
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