“We are going to need to collect those clothes,” Masters tells him. “An officer will be in with a change of clothes to collect those you are wearing. After that, you will be able to leave. You will also need to find a place to stay tonight. We won’t be releasing the crime scene until sometime tomorrow.”
Both detectives then leave the room. Within minutes, an officer comes into the room to collect Cooper’s clothing. Once he is done changing, he is allowed to call his brother Richard to pick him up.
Back in the office, Tippen looks at Masters and asks him what he thinks.
“I think he killed his wife,” says Masters.
Tippen nods her head in agreement.
“Let’s complete our reports from today and make a list of people we need to interview. We can then get started first thing tomorrow,” suggests Masters.
While waiting for his brother Richard, Cooper thinks, what is going on? Am I crazy? Did I kill Naomi and don’t remember it? During the drive to Richard’s house, Cooper explains to Richard all he knows about the murder.
“Was Naomi having an affair?” asks Richard.
“Not that I know of,” says Cooper. “She never said anything, and I never saw that note.”
Friday
On Friday at 9:00 am, Masters and Tippen are at KC Spark Electric to talk to Justin King. King invites them into his office. Detectives explain why they are there.
“Yes, it’s horrible,” says King. “When Ryan didn’t come in yesterday I got worried and tried to call him. I later heard on the news that his wife had been murdered. He finally called me from his brother’s phone in late afternoon and told me what had happened. I’m just sick about it.”
“I can imagine,” says Tippen. “were you at Ryan’s home Wednesday night?”
“No. But you know what? He told me he thought I was there, and we were drinking. Really strange.”
“Why would he say you were at his home?” Tippen presses.
“I don’t know, I guess he was confused. We often meet at his house to either talk business or socialize.”
“When was the last time you were there?”
“It would have been Tuesday night. We needed to go over some details on a large new contract we had recently signed. He probably has Tuesday mixed up with Wednesday. Naomi can confirm I was,” King stops in mid-sentence. “Sorry, it’s just so hard to believe she is gone.”
“Justin, were you aware Naomi was having an affair?” asks Masters.
“Yes, I was. She told me about it a week or so ago. I told her if she didn’t tell Ryan I would. He is my partner and good friend.”
“Did you tell Ryan?”
“No, she promised me she would.”
“Who was she having an affair with?”
“I don’t know, she wouldn’t tell me.”
“Any ideas?” challenges Masters.
“No, I really don’t. But I can tell you this, Ryan did not seem himself this past week.”
“What do you mean?” asks Tippen.
“He seemed noticeably quiet and sullen, like depressed. I asked what was eating at him a couple of times, but he just said he was okay. I figured Naomi must have told him.”
Masters then asks, “Do you have any idea who might have wanted to kill Naomi?”
“I hate to say this,” cautions King, “but I think Ryan couldn’t take the news and lost it. From what he told me, it sounds like he shot her and blacked out or something.”
“Did Naomi ever express any fear of Ryan?”
“She was afraid of how he might react.”
“In what way?”
“She wasn’t sure, but she was afraid, I know that.”
“I need to ask one more time,” says Masters. “Are you sure you were not at the Cooper home anytime on Wednesday?”
“Positive, Ryan has to be confusing Tuesday night for Wednesday,” King assures them.
Masters then shows King a picture of the gun. “Do you recognize this gun?”
“I’m not sure, it looks like the one Ryan owns. He went to the range with me one time and had a five-shot revolver like this one.”
“Do you know where he kept it?”
“No, only that he kept it hidden somewhere.”
“We would like to take your fingerprints for elimination purposes. You did say you were there Tuesday.”
“Yes, that’s fine,” replies King.
Before leaving the police station, King has his fingerprints scanned by a crime technician.
The next interview is with Naomi’s sister, Serena Mills. Mills lives in a quaint country home with her husband and daughter about five miles south of Castle Rock. Upon the detectives' arrival, Mills, while being visibly upset, invites the detectives in and offers them fresh coffee. Masters graciously accepts. He figures it’s going to be a long day.
Mills tells Masters and Tippen that yes, Naomi was having an affair. Naomi had told her this several weeks ago and Mills had encouraged Naomi to tell Ryan. Mills is now upset and blaming herself for Naomi’s death.
“If only I hadn’t encouraged her to tell Ryan, maybe she would still be alive right now,” cried Mills.
“Don’t blame yourself, Mrs. Mills,” says Tippen with a comforting tone. “She had to tell him sometime, or he would have eventually found out anyway. Who was she having the affair with?”
“I don’t know, she wouldn’t tell me,” Mills replies sadly.
“Was she unhappy with Ryan?”
“Yes, she said he was inattentive to her and worked too much. She told me her affair made her feel alive again.”
While driving from Mills’ home, Tippen says, “I sure wish we knew who this mystery lover is.”
“Sounds like Mrs. Cooper was very secretive about it,” states Masters. “Maybe it’s because she knew how her husband would react. King indicated she had been afraid to tell him.”
“Drive to 1512 North Spencer Avenue,” advises Tippen. “That’s the accounting office where Debbie Davis works, the host of the book club meeting. I already called and told her we were coming.”
Detectives contact Davis at her office, and she invites them in. With tears in her eyes, she says, “I can’t believe Naomi is dead. It is devastating. She was a close friend.”
“We are sorry for your loss
