“Lauren Fitzgibbons is back in the hospital. Her infection just worsened!” Gwen said.

“Is she all right?” Val managed to get out.

“No. She’s critical.”

35

Colin slumped over the table in the interrogation room. A month in prison had taken its toll. He looked tired and defeated. Arrogant smiles no longer stretched across his face, the cocky attitude had been replaced with the solemn image of hopeless desperation. When told of Lauren’s condition he didn’t seem to care and appeared far more concerned with his own fate.

“I told you before, I don’t know how that other woman’s DNA got on my clothing,” Colin said. Thomas and Jack had been questioning him for nearly two hours and were no further along than when they first started. Gavin sat quietly in the corner. He hadn’t said two words since they began.

“I think my client’s had enough,” Colin’s lawyer said firmly.

“He’s my client too.” Thomas’s tone was sharp. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his forehead. He hadn’t felt well all morning and this interview was draining what little energy he had left. Turning to Colin, he stated as strongly as he could, “Tell me again how Julia’s blood got on your clothes then. Let’s start there.”

Colin put his hands to his head, running his fingers through his hair, holding the strands back from his face. He sat up and continued. “I got her blood on me after I grabbed her wrist. She had a towel wrapped around it and it was dripping with blood. Now that I remember, it wasn’t just wet with blood. It was soaked with water too. She was washing her wrist under the faucet and had the towel wrapped around it. The bloody water from the towel splashed my shirt and I know at some point I wiped my hands on my pant leg.”

“What happened next?”

“She ran to the bathroom, I followed her and—”

Thomas interrupted him. “Did you do anything before going after her?”

“I opened the cupboard door to grab another towel for her.”

“Okay, then you followed her to the bathroom.”

“Yes, I stood outside the door trying to get her to let me in.”

“How long before she opened the door?”

“Not long. She yelled out that she was okay and she was bandaging her wrist. She came out a few minutes later.”

“She didn’t want you to take her to the hospital?” Gavin finally spoke up.

“I suggested it. She was embarrassed about what she did and didn’t want anyone to know. She said she took care of it and wasn’t worried.”

“Your wife cuts herself badly enough to get blood all over you and she’s not worried about it?” Gavin said. He stared at Colin, challenging him.