‘So you’re saying that in the time you were in the shower, someone came into the house, shot and killed your husband, walked down two levels, found your bedroom, stole jewelry, and then escaped.’

‘That’s correct,’ Janine said.

‘You must take long showers,’ Stride said without humor.

‘In fact, I do.’

‘How long?’

‘I didn’t time myself, Lieutenant. I sat in the spray for a long time.’

‘Did you hear anything? Did you hear the gunshot?’

‘No.’

‘What did you do when you found Jay’s body?’ Stride asked.

‘I was in shock,’ Janine replied. ‘The front door was open. I ran to the doorway, and I heard the noise of a car on the streets below us, but that’s all. I didn’t see anyone or anything.’

‘What next? Take me through it.’

‘I confirmed that Jay was dead, although the wound made that obvious.’

‘And then you dialed 911?’

Janine hesitated. ‘I believe some time passed.’

‘Some time? How much time?’

‘Again, I don’t know. There are no clocks in my house. I’m not interested in what time it is when I’m home. I sat on the sofa and stared at Jay. As I say, I was in shock. When I was myself again, I called the police.’

‘And Mr. Gale,’ Stride said.

‘Yes, that’s correct.’

‘Anybody else? Neighbors? Friends?’

‘No.’

‘Did you go anywhere? Did you leave the house?’

‘No.’

Some time. Time enough to hide a gun. Time enough to hide jewelry. Time enough to craft a story.

‘Do you own a gun, Dr. Snow?’

‘No, I don’t,’ she replied.

‘What about your husband?’

‘He used to, but I asked him to get rid of it when we got married. I didn’t like the idea of a gun in the house.’

‘What about enemies? Threats? Either directed at you or your husband.’

Janine shrugged. ‘You know who Jay was. The way he was. He collected enemies like stamps.’

‘Where are your clothes?’ Stride asked.

‘Excuse me?’

‘The clothes you wore home from the party. Where are they?’

‘In the washing machine.’

‘You already washed your clothes?’

‘Having thrown up on them? Yes.’

‘I would have pegged you for more of a “dry-cleaning only” kind of woman, Dr. Snow.’

‘In Dallas? Maybe. In Duluth in January? No.’

She spoke down to him with all the superiority and impatience of a surgeon doing rounds with her residents.

‘Was Jay abusive?’ Stride asked. ‘Did he ever hit you?’

Gale broke in sharply. ‘Enough of that, Lieutenant. We’re not discussing their relationship.’

‘It’s all right, Archie,’ Janine added calmly. ‘No, he wasn’t physically abusive. Jay was many things, but he never touched me.’

Stride watched her face, expecting a crack in her facade. Instead, she was calm and deliberate.

‘Is there anything else you want to tell me?’ he asked.

‘I think that’s everything.’