Chapter 2 HER TRUST

The room felt unbearably cold, though the Texas heat outside was relentless.

I paced the living room, my footsteps echoing in the silence between the officer's questions.

My heart pounded harder with every second, but I forced myself to keep my expression neutral.

Panicking would only make me look guilty.

The officer stood by the coffee table, flipping through a small notebook calmly.

Eleanor sat on the couch, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her face pale but with no expression.

I hated that she was so calm about the situation. Could it be that she was still in shock?

In the next room, Margaret's lifeless body lay on the bed, a haunting presence just out of sight.

"Mr. Thompson," the officer began, "your wife's sister left a note before she passed. It's brief, but it's significant. It says, and I quote, 'Your husband is the father of my child.' We have reasons to believe there may be more to this."

I stopped pacing.

My throat tightened, but I forced a scoff.

"What? That's absurd," I snapped sharply. "She was like family to me, a younger sister of my wife. Why would she even write something like that?"

The officer raised an eyebrow, his pen poised over the notebook.

"That's exactly what we're here to figure out, sir. Were you having any sort of... inappropriate relationship with Miss Margaret, sir?"

My blood boiled, not just with fear but with indignation.

"Listen, officer," I snapped, "I'm a family man! I treated Margaret like my own sister. These accusations are insulting. She's a teenager! A younger sister of my wife. What do you take me for? This is ridiculous!"

"No one is accusing you of anything yet, Mr. Thompson. But we can't ignore the note. It explicitly points to you," the officer replied.

Before I could say another word, Eleanor cleared her throat softly, drawing both our attention.

"Officer," she said, "with all due respect, I don't believe my husband would ever do such a thing. I trust him."

She looked up towards us and smiled.

Her words should have been a relief, but instead, they made my stomach churn. She was defending me against her own sister, even knowing my promiscuous lifestyle.

Is she acting?

The officer and I exchanged surprised glances. I'm sure her dry smile made him uncomfortable too.

Then he shifted his focus to Eleanor.

"Mrs. Thompson, this is a very serious matter. I understand wanting to protect your husband, but the note-"

Eleanor cut him off, her voice bold, not even a tremble noticed.

"I know my husband. He's not perfect, but he wouldn't harm Margaret, and he certainly wouldn't..." (pauses) "...do anything to hurt her. Like he said, she is only a teenager and like a younger sister to him. She must have been confused. Teenagers can be like that sometimes."

"Confused? Ma'am, it's difficult to dismiss that as confusion."

Eleanor nodded her head.

"Yes, I understand, but I know my husband well. He's not perfect, but he wouldn't harm Margaret, and he certainly wouldn't..." She paused abruptly and smiled again. "There must be a misunderstanding somewhere."

The officer raised a brow and didn't seem convinced.

"Respectfully, ma'am, that's hard to ignore. The deceased explicitly pointed to your husband. Are you absolutely certain there's no possibility of... tension between them?"

I was triggered by the nosy officer.

"Are you even listening to her? My wife is standing by me! Doesn't that mean anything? She knows I can never harm her sister, and what is your evidence? A note from the deceased which can be forged?"

"I was talking to your wife, sir. I want to hear from her. Mr. Thompson, you are a little too tense since you claimed to be innocent."

I clenched my fist in anger.

Damn this officer!

How dare he disrespect me like some random average American citizen.

"Do you know who you're speaking to? I could buy your entire precinct with the flick of a finger. Think carefully next time you speak to me,young man."

I reached up and ran my fingers across his badge.

"Officer John Harris, rank of patrolman."

I paused, looking at the badge with a mocking smirk.

"A patrolman. How quaint. Do you know I can have you reassigned, discredited, or removed with a single call. The people you answer to-your superiors-answer to me. Do you understand that?"

The officer said nothing and didn't even flinch.

A brave brat, I see.

He turned to Eleanor.

"What do you say, ma'am?"

Eleanor hesitated.

"My sister Margaret was a quiet girl," she said softly.

"And I know she adored Charles. She respected him. I am sure nothing happened between them; someone else must have pressured her to write this. Charles has nothing to do with this. I am sure."

I resisted the urge to sigh with relief.

The officer frowned, tapping his pen against the notebook.

"Alright. For now, we'll classify this as a suicide, but the note does raise questions. Mr. Thompson, I'd advise you not to leave town. We may need to ask you more questions in the coming days."

I spread my hands, feigning exasperation.

"How fantastic. While you waste time chasing baseless accusations, my family is grieving."

The officer closed his notebook with a snap.

"If it's baseless, Mr. Thompson, you've got nothing to worry about, sir."

Eleanor stood up.

"Officer, I appreciate your work, but please, my sister Margaret is gone, and this is my family. Let us grieve in peace."

The police officer nodded reluctantly.

"We'll be in touch. My condolences for your loss, Mrs. Thompson. If anything else comes to light, don't hesitate to call. We will take the body to run some tests to make sure it's suicide."

"Thank you, Officer," Eleanor replied again and smiled dryly.

When the officers finally left with Margaret's body in the ambulance, I sighed sharply.

"That bald brat doesn't know who he is dealing with. I will have to speak with his police chief."

I muttered bitterly, then turned to Eleanor, trying to gauge her mood.

"You handled that well," I said cautiously.

She looked up at me with a faint smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Of course, darling. What kind of wife would I be if I didn't?"

"You don't believe that note, do you? I never had an affair with your sister. I mean I may be that man but come on she is your sister. You know I can't do that to you, right?" I asked, my voice quieter than I intended, "You trust me."

I stared searchingly into her eyes.

Her smile widened, but her eyes stayed cold.