The Congressman's Wife

Chapter 8

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

7:00 pm

As the team pulled into the Marquardt compound, Myra worked on assuring that there was connection to the RACRR room.

"Mike, is Amy's camera working?" She asked into her microphone.

"Yep." Mike Tao assured her through her earpiece.

They went through each detectives' cameras before considering it a success.

As Myra was working on the team's cameras, Buzz was identifying where each of the compound's cameras were located so the detectives knew where to avoid unless absolutely necessary.

The detectives huddled around Myra's tablet as Sharon gave them last minute instructions. As she wrapped up, she told them to be safe. Afterwards, each detective got into place and Amy and Wes got into the car and drove to the compound's entrance pushing the button for the intercom.

"May I help you?" a high-pitched female voice came over the intercom.

"We are here to see the Congressman. He is expecting us." Before Amy could continue, she saw Trent Mawbry exit the home and walk towards their car. He opened the gate for them and escorted them in. If he saw the team, he didn't express it.

"Thank you for coming. I'm sure the Congressman appreciates it." Trent told the two of them as they were walking towards the front door. Trent walked quickly in front of them to open the door. When they got into the foyer, he directed them towards the family room.

Wes and Amy sat on the couch and Trent disappeared back into the house. Amy used the time to text Myra to ensure she could hear everything that was going on and had clear camera angles. Myra texted her back assuring her she could.

Amy paused and looked around the room. Her eyes looked out the large window bays. The views of the Pacific Ocean were magnificent. From her vantage point, it looked as though the house sat right on the ocean. Amy's eyes drifted to a vase that she had eyed when they were watching the death notification at RACRR. In person, the vase was even more gorgeous and accented the view perfectly. It was tall, exquisite and the most perfect shade of blue that Amy had ever seen. The room had such perfect personal touches that Amy wondered if a designer or Fiona Marquardt had picked them out for the room and a sadness washed over her. She shook her head several times to shake the thoughts out of it and texted to Myra again about her ear piece.

As she finished the texting though, the Congressman, who looked as though he had been crying, walked into the room with his children. Trent walked in with them but positioned himself in the corner of the room. Amy introduced herself as Amy Stevens but failed to tell the kids she met their father at the morgue. Wes introduced himself as Derek Anders and said he was a friend of the Congressman.

The kids looked sad but introduced themselves. At that point, Christian Marquardt sat on the couch next to Amy. Amy was nervous Christian would see the ear piece in her ear and if he commented, would simply say it was her ear bud she forgot to take out.

After pulling his youngest on his lap, Christian started the conversation. "My babies, Amy and Derek are here from the morgue. Unfortunately, they found your mommy today and she isn't coming home. She went to heaven.

By the look on his face, Joshua Marquardt, the couple's oldest child, knew what the statement meant right way. Amy found it odd that he shed no tears over the loss of his mother and became stoic. As he was telling the children, Christian started crying again.

"Joshua, are you ok?" Amy checked in on him.

Amy's simple question broke Joshua down into tears.

"Who would want to kill my mother?" Joshua broke down. "My mother was a kind woman who always went out of her way to help others." Both detectives looked at Joshua their hearts breaking at this young boy who tried to present himself older than his nine years.

Amy and Wes looked at each other. Christian said nothing about Fiona being murdered. Just simply that they were from the morgue.

Amy looked at him "Why do you think that your mother would be murdered?"

At that question, Trent stood up from leaning against the bookshelves and his eyes set on Amy. Christian looked at her as well trying to understand why she asked him the question.

"You're here from the morgue, right? There would be no reason for my mother to leave us other than if she was murdered. My mother loves us. She wouldn't leave us willingly and was very cautious. How did she die?" He asked her.

Amy and Wes looked at each other again. Both knew Joshua was insightful and could bring great insight into their case.

"Amy don't answer his question. He is too young to understand the issues." Dr. Joe came over the ear piece.

Amy, heeding Dr. Joe's advice, told him. "We don't know yet, Joshua. We are still investigating it."

With that response, Christian, feeling a sudden need to get the two visitors out of his home, thanked the two for coming. He called for the children's' nanny and despite the children's' cries had the nanny remove them from the room and then directed his visitors towards the entryway. Both detectives had the strong sense he was clearly trying to get them out of his home.

As he was escorting the duo out the door, Christian's phone rang.

"Hello" He answered into the phone.

"Congressman, this is Louie Provenza from the LAPD. I'm calling to set up a time for you to come in tomorrow to discuss the death of your wife. Can you be here tomorrow about nine am?" Provenza asked him.

"Of course," the Congressman told him.

After a pregnant pause, Louis added "Oh and Congressman, why don't you bring your son."

"My son?" Christian asked. "Why my son? What would he have to do with it?"

"You never know Congressman. He may have seen things you didn't."

"Oh. OK." Christian answered still apprehensive.

The two hung up.

Suddenly, Trent Mawbry's phone rang. He looked down at the number and up at Christian Marquardt.

"Hello?" He asked apprehensively.

"Mr. Mawbry" came the voice on the other line. "This is Andy Flynn. We met earlier today. Listen, any way we can get you down to PAB tomorrow morning? Let's say 8:30." Andy asked Marquardt's security.

"Sure." Trent Mawbry responded slowly. "Is there anything you need me to bring?" He asked.

"Just yourself, sir." Andy responded. "Just ask for me at the front desk."

Christian Marquardt looked at his security professional with a concern of why the LAPD would be calling him. What could he possibly add to the death of his wife?