LIES ALL LIES

"Have you seen this bracelet before, Bruce?" Jim Brass said as he threw down the evidence bag on the table in the interrogation room. Bruce Romero shifted in his seat, his expression pained and uncomfortable. Sara stood quietly in the shadows by the wall, her arms crossed over her chest.

"I have, sir, yes," replied Bruce. "I gave it to my wife before we came to Vegas. Where did you find it?"

"Well, that's the funny thing, Bruce," Brass said coolly as he leaned on the table. "We found it in the grass by your house, far away from any sort of jewelry box where something like this should be kept. Have you any idea how it got there?"

"I'm not sure," Bruce said as he gave a forced expression of confusion. Sara came out from the shadows and keenly looked the husband of Eve Romero in the eyes.

"We printed the bracelet and found both your wife and Ava's prints on the band," she said matter-of-factly. "Were you aware that there were any problems between them?"

"No, I can assure you I wasn't. I mean, Ava and Eve weren't the closest of sisters, but I've never known them to fight openly about their issues." Bruce looked down at his hands which fidgeted on the table. He seemed nervous to Sara. And nerves can get in the way of grieving, she thought to herself.

"Which house is Ava staying in?" Brass asked as he sorted through some papers.

Bruce replied, "She isn't exactly staying in a house. She's been staying at a hotel for the last couple of days."

"Which one?" Sara asked.

"Uh…" Bruce shifted his eyes from Brass to Sara. "The Dwarves Hotel."

"Really?" Brass said. "According to our information, Ava's been in Las Vegas since RES came to the city, and that's been a few months. Where was she staying before that?"

Bruce looked very uncomfortable now. "She was staying with Eve and me."

"Why did she leave?"

"Personal reasons. She never told me."

Sara, who had been sitting quietly as she listened, stood up and moved closer to Bruce whose brown eyes watered with sweaty tears. "You know, Bruce, I'm not sure I believe you when you say you didn't know about Eve and her sister. Your wife's jewelry was mostly silver and now say you got her the gold bracelet? I think you and Ava are closer than you let on."

"The bracelet was inscribed!" Bruce shouted. " 'O For Ever More' is an anagram for 'For Eve Romero'!"

"What is 'Shadow Velter'?" Sara shouted back.

Bruce glared and then faltered. "I… It's sort of a legend. It's something I called my wife. Shadow Velters protect the world from harm. I guess I felt my wife did the same thing."

"So you admired her?" asked Sara.

"Yes, of course," replied Bruce. "I loved her."

"Then why did you cheat on her?" demanded Sara. Bruce made a face and Brass sent Sara a warning glance.

"I think we've said enough here," said Brass.

As they went to leave the room, Sara turned to the suspect and said, "We'll find out what you're keeping from us, Bruce. You can be sure of that."