Chapter 5 - A Host of Troubles

The police herded those remaining at the scene into a ballroom for questioning.

Lee suggested to an officer that the police focus on the groom's side, since the angle of the shot was clear. What was clearer was that the police weren't interested in being told how to do their job by a submarine jockey. Apparently those dolphins really distracted from his marksmanship medals for both pistol and rifle.

Forty minutes later, Detective Black of the San Diego Police announced himself in charge and addressed those gathered (members of the wedding party and wedding guests and workers who had failed to flee earlier). "We appreciate your patience. We know how upsetting this must be, but it is necessary to help catch the villain that did this." Lee thought his introduction was a bit over the top, almost cartoonish.

"We will be interviewing each of you. Also, in a few minutes, our lab technicians will be here to conduct a simple test on all of you. It will not hurt or be invasive, but will involve the use of an adhesive to test for gunpowder residue. If you refuse to submit to this test, let us know now so that we can seek an emergency warrant to require it. We hope you understand that the sooner you comply, the sooner you may leave."

"Detective, I don't mind doing it," one of the ushers offered, "but a whole lot of us are going to test positive. The whole bridal party went target shooting yesterday. Well, the men anyway, and the best man who's a lady."

Lee pondered if that boded better or worse for Rachael. Eventually he'd have to confront her. He hoped to do it before the police did. Lee thought about pulling her aside even as she continued to comfort Mrs. Mattingly and her family but he didn't want to intrude and, frankly, her actions had him at a loss. How could she have pulled the trigger and then acted so sympathetically to the family? Rachael was not a psychopath. No, Lee corrected himself, the Rachael he used to know wasn't a psychopath.

Roger's arrival in the room surprised Lee. Roger certainly did not take the shot. Why hold him as a suspect? It seemed unfair to Lee for Roger to be put in this position given the blow he'd just taken. Lee was one of many who rose to check on Roger or to offer condolences. Most drifted away quickly. No one ever knew what to say in such circumstances. Lee stayed behind. "Can we pull up a corner of the room and talk?" Roger nodded. "Maybe we better make it the bathroom."

Lee asked an officer for permission to go to the restroom in the back left side of the ballroom. "Be my guest. We've got a long day ahead of us."

Lee checked for other guests. "I'm going to make this fast, because I don't know how much time we'll have without interruption. Do you think there's any chance that Rachael could have done this?"

"Rachael?"

"Yes, Rachael."

"Why?"

"You tell me."

"Lee, she was upset at this whole shindig, but to shoot Mel? To kill her and the baby, she would never, she couldn't."

"Melanie was pregnant?"

"Oh, right, we never did talk. Yes."

"Your baby?"

"It would have been."

"In name, you mean?"

"Yes."

"So you were marrying Melanie to be a father?"

"In exchange for which she got the officer husband she always wanted. Except she wouldn't really have much to do on that front as you know. Jesus, Lee, this is all going to come out now and the shit will really hit the fan."

"None of it may be relevant, so maybe not. I assume Rachael knew all this."

"Of course she did. She hated the whole thing, including Melanie."

"I wish you hadn't said that."

"Why?"

"I found a gun off in the grass, an easy toss from where Rachael was standing. It looked like that S&W snubbed-nose that she used to carry as a backup, even had her initials on it. It was still warm too."

"Oh god. If she did it, oh Lee, it's my fault. She's my best friend. I pushed her to stand up for me even though I knew how she felt and what she'd been through."

"I saw her wrists. Do you want to tell me what happened or should I ask her?"

"She's not the same Rachael anymore, Lee. I wanted her to be, but how could she be? I made her stand up there, watch me marry a girl she knew I didn't love like I love my best friend even, all to have a baby that Rachael would have given me any day of the week had I let her. Then after Kuwait, she couldn't."

"It sounds to me like you are making excuses for Rachael having done this. Is that what you believe?"

"I don't want to. I wouldn't think it possible, but if what you say about the gun is true . . . Jesus, what did you do with the gun? Did you get rid of it?"

"I thought about it, but no, I couldn't. It would have been wrong."

"I don't know what to do, Lee, what to do or say. The police will ask me stuff. It'll all come out."

"You don't have to tell them everything. There's no reason to sacrifice your career. It's not relevant."

"Maybe it is. It led to all this."

"No, Roger. Someone had an issue with Melanie and shot her. She was the target. The explanation lies there."

"Yes, but if it was Rachael, it all ties back to me. To our relationship. If we're truthful, how can it not come out?"

"No one has to volunteer details like that. Rachael won't."

"Others might have suspicions."

"That's their problem. Ours right now is Rachael and how we can help her. Tell me what happened to her in the Gulf."