The Congressman's Wife

Chapter 5

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

3:00 pm

Christian Marquart came from what the detectives had guessed was his office. His face looked pained when he looked at them.

Buzz turned around and turned on his video recorder pin so that Christian could not see what he was doing.

"Detectives, I can't believe Margarita didn't escort you into the living room. I apologize. Please follow me." He started to walk into the living room. The three detectives followed him as he had requested.

Provenza looked around and let out a large exhale. The room had to be at least twice as large as the murder room. Two of the walls were nothing but floor to ceiling sliding doors that overlooked an exquisite pool. In the background, it had a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean.

"Congressman, you have a beautiful home." Provenza told him. "That view is spectacular."

"Thank you, Detective. My wife decorated the entire house. She has such a gift for these things." At that comment, Christian Marquart broke down crying. He went to one of the windows and looked out. Without turning around, he asked the detectives if the news reports were true.

"Was that my wife at the shelter, Detectives?" He asked sadly. He broke down crying again.

Buzz walked up to him and angled his body in such a way that he knew he was recording what Christian was saying. "Sir, why don't you come sit down so we can talk?" He directed Christian to the couch and sat him down. Buzz sat directly across from him. Buzz's phone pinged letting him know that a text message was coming in.

The text was from Myra letting him know that the picture that was coming into the RACR room was perfect and not to move. Buzz read the message and sent back a thumbs up.

Andy and Flynn sat on the chairs on opposite side of the Congressman versus sitting. As they sat down, the three detectives took the time to introduce themselves without telling Christian they were from Major Crimes.

"Sir, can you please tell me the last time you saw your wife?" Flynn asked Christian.

"Why won't you answer my question, detectives? I'll ask it again. Was that my wife found at the shelter?" Christian asked again this time a bit more emphatically.

"Sir, we can't give you that information right now. The person found at the shelter hasn't been identified. Right now, it is critical that you answer our questions so that we can find your wife." Andy told him trying to be as empathetic as he could, but as Provenza likes to say, it's always the husband.

Christian took a deep breath in and told Andy "Of course. You're right. We shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. I'm sorry, Lieutenant. I'm just worried something bad has happened to her. Fiona loves us. She would never do anything to hurt us or leave us. I just can't see why she wouldn't come home unless something bad has happened to her."

"So, when is the last time you saw your wife?" Andy asked him again.

"The last time I saw her was last night. I was walking in as she was walking out." He said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Andy looked at him and encouraged him to continue.

"I flew home from DC yesterday. Session has ended and we won't start up again for another month. I went ahead and came home. Anyway, as I was coming in, she was heading out to a board meeting at the shelter. She told me that she expected to be home around eleven o'clock. That was her normal MO. The meeting usually finishes at ten and it takes her an hour to get home." Christian told them.

"What time did she leave? Provenza asked him.

Christian turned to Provenza. "She left at four thirty. You know California traffic. The meeting starts at six thirty, but it always takes her that long to get to the center."

All three detectives shook their heads at his traffic comment.

"So, what did you do while she was gone, Congressman?" Buzz asked.

"I spent a bit of time with the kids. I ate dinner with them. Watched a bit of television with them. I then had several virtual meetings I had to take care of. That took me to my bedtime. I am still on Eastern time so I was in bed by nine o'clock. I tried to stay up for Fiona, but it was no use. When I awoke at four and she still wasn't home, I freaked out. I called my security guy right away." He finished and looked off in the distance. "If I thought she was in any danger, I would have gone with her. I swear."

"Why would you think she'd be in danger?" Provenza asked. "You know versus being in a car accident or something like that."

"My wife would have called me if she was in a car accident or the police would have notified me. I knew something bad happened to her because I have had some threats against my life recently." Christian informed Provenza.

"Threats? Who made threats against you?" Andy asked

"A couple of weeks ago, I voted against a bill that my conservative constituents supported. Let's just say that it didn't go over well." He continued, "I have been getting threats from a Far-Right group. It is why I brought in Trent. He was for my protection not my family's. I always thought they'd come after me. Never my family. Why would they go after my family, detectives? My family had nothing to do with my vote." Christian said starting to cry all over again.

"Do you have these threatening letters?" Flynn asked him.

"Trent does, as well as the Capital Police. We are required to turn them over to them and the FBI. They said they investigated them and didn't find them credible, but now this happens. How could they have been so dumb not to believe that nut job?" Christian said in a heightened tone.

"Can anyone verify that you were here all night?" Flynn asked Christian.

"Of course. My children can, as well as our nanny and the house help can, as well. I saw both Margarita and Alexis, our nanny throughout the night. My computer can verify that I was on meetings for two hours and my security system can verify I didn't leave during the night. We have cameras all over this place. There are a lot of evil weirdos out there." Christian paused waiting for a response from the trio.

When none came, he continued. "If I left, you'd see it on camera. You don't think I'd kill Fiona, do you Lieutenant? Fiona is the mother of my children. That and the fact that woman is the love of my life. I can't believe she might be gone. I feel partially to blame." He responded to Flynn. He then said to the air "Why didn't I go with her or send Trent with her?"

Flynn stood up and put his hand on Christian's arm. "Congressman"

"Please call me Christian." Christian responded.

"OK. I can do that." Flynn told the Congressman. "Christian. We have to ask you to go down to the morgue and see if the woman who is there is Fiona. We have to have a next of kin do that. Do you think you can do that for us?" Flynn finished.

Christian teared up again. "Yeah, I have to. I can't bear to have her down there if it is her."

Buzz gave Christian the address and put his hand on Christian's shoulder. "It will be ok, Sir." Christian then called Margarita into the room and asked her to have the car brought around without responding to Buzz's comment. Christian Marquart knew things were not going to be ok and that the death of Fiona Marquart just triggered off a set of events that he would have no control of and would change his life forever.