I've Got My Eyes on You(11)

“Can you believe it? That poor girl, Kerry, was murdered. She had one of those teen parties the kids have when their parents are away. The police are talking to all the neighbors. They rang your doorbell. They asked me if I knew who lived in your house. I told them about you and Jamie and said I didn’t know where you were.”

Marge tried to conceal her anxiety.

“Grace, did you say anything about Jamie?”

“I told them that he is a very nice young man with special needs and didn’t go to the high school anymore. I guess they want to talk to everybody in the neighborhood who might have seen something.”

“I suppose so,” Marge agreed. “I’ll see you later.”

When Jamie came home a few hours later, Marge could see that something was disturbing him. She didn’t have to ask him what it was before he said, “The girls on the soccer team were sad because Kerry went to Heaven.”

“Jamie, a policeman is going to come and talk to us about Kerry because she got sick in the pool and went to Heaven. Remember you won’t tell him that you went over to the pool.”

The words were barely out of her mouth before the bell rang. Jamie started up the stairs to his room. When Marge answered the door, it was not a policeman in uniform but a man in a suit.

“I’m Detective Mike Wilson from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office,” he said.

“Yes, come in, Detective,” Marge said, as she gestured toward the living room. “We can sit in here and talk.”

After they settled into two chairs facing each other, Mike said, “As I’m sure you are aware, Mrs. Chapman, your neighbor Kerry Dowling was found dead in her family’s swimming pool this morning.”

“I did hear about it,” Marge sighed. “A terrible tragedy. Such a lovely young girl.”

“Mrs. Chapman, my understanding is that you and your son live in this home?”

“Yes, just the two of us.”

“Were the two of you home last night after eleven o’clock?”

“Yes, we both were.”

“Was anyone else with you?”

“No, just us.”

“Let me tell you why I am particularly interested in speaking to you and your son. When I was called to the Dowlings’ home this morning, I stood at their backyard pool and looked around. Above the tree level I could clearly see the upstairs room in the back of your home. That means anyone who was in that room might have seen something that could be helpful to our investigation.”

“Of course,” Marge said.

“I’d like to see that room before I leave. How is that room used?”

“It’s a bedroom.”

“Your bedroom?”

“No, it’s Jamie’s bedroom.”

“May I speak to him?”

“Of course.”

Marge walked over to the stairs and called up to Jamie.

Detective Wilson interrupted her. “If it’s okay with you, Mrs. Chapman, can I talk to Jamie in his room?”

“I guess that would be okay,” Marge said as she began to climb the stairs with the detective one step behind her. She knocked tentatively on Jamie’s door and then opened it. He was sprawled on his bed watching a video.

“Jamie, I want you to meet Detective Wilson.”

“Hi Jamie,” Mike said, extending his hand forward.

Jamie stood up. “I’m pleased to meet you, sir,” he said as he shook hands. He turned to Marge for her approval. Her smile confirmed to him that he had used good manners.

Jamie and Marge sat on the bed. Mike went over to the window. The Dowlings and the Chapmans were backyard neighbors. He looked down at the Dowling swimming pool, then sat in the chair opposite the bed.

“Jamie, I just want to talk to you for a few minutes. You know Kerry Dowling, don’t you?”

“Yes. She’s in Heaven.”

Wilson smiled. “That’s right, Jamie. She went to Heaven. But her parents and the police want to find out what happened before she went to Heaven. There was a party last night at Kerry’s house.”

“Kerry didn’t invite me.”

“I know you weren’t there, Jamie, I just—”

“It was for the kids who just graduated. I’m older. I’m twenty years old. I just had my birthday.”

“Well, happy birthday, Jamie.” Wilson went over to the window. “Jamie, I can see Kerry’s backyard and pool from here. So that means if you were in your room last night, you could too.”

“I didn’t go swimming with Kerry,” Jamie said as he looked at his mother with a conspiratorial smile.

Mike smiled. “I know you didn’t, Jamie. Did you see Kerry in her backyard cleaning up last night?”

“I help clean up at the Acme, where I work from eleven o’clock to three o’clock.”

“So you didn’t see Kerry in her backyard or see her go into her pool last night?”

“I did not go swimming with Kerry. I promise,” Jamie said as he put his arm around his mother and kissed her.

“Okay. Thank you Jamie. Mrs. Chapman, I’m going to leave you my card. Sometimes people recall things later. If you or Jamie think of anything that might be helpful to our investigation, please contact me.”