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Then again, when the police drop by asking a lot of questions in connection to a murder inquiry, it takes a strong soul not to be affected. Even innocent people tend to crack under the strain when seated across from Chase when heÆs got his copÆs cap firmly lodged on his cranium.

ôSo, Dennis. I couldnÆt help but notice that your name was on the Valina Fawn site,ö said Chase, opening the interview with a shot across the bow.

ôYes,ö said Dennis, shooting a quick glance at his wife. ôYes, it was.ö

Carlotta had turned her head away and was staring icily in the opposite direction.

We were seated in the clubroom, where usually a fun and frolicking atmosphere prevails, but which was now completely devoid of club members.

ôThough IÆd like to go on record and say that I never cheated on Carlotta. Not even once. Sorry, what did you say, darling?ö

Carlotta had produced a sort of disparaging snort, but otherwise kept mum.

ôNo, but what I mean to say, I never once went out with anyone. I never even swept up, or down, or whatever it is you do on these sites.ö

ôSwipe right if itÆs a match, I believe,ö said Chase.

ôYes. Yes, of course. Swipe right. Well, I never did. I only swiped left.ö

Carlotta turned back to her husband, looking furious.ôYou told me you never swiped at all! That the only reason you were on the site in the first place was to see what Jaymie was up to!ö

ôJaymie?ö asked Odelia.

ôOur daughter,ö said Dennis, nervously licking his lips. ôShe told us she was on the site, and so I created a profile just to see what it was all about.ö

ôTo spy on your daughter, you mean,ö said Chase.

ôNo! Absolutely not. Justà well, you know. Keep up, I guess.ö He smiled an obsequious smile that didnÆt quite meet his eyes. In fact he had a sort of hunted look on his face that reminded me of certain species of dogs when theyÆve been bad and are locked up in their kennel for the night, so they can have a good long think about their appalling behavior.

ôDo you think Dennis was locked up in the doghouse last night, Max?ö asked Dooley, proving he was on the same page.

ôIt wouldnÆt surprise me,ö I said as I took in the manÆs furtive behavior. He even looked a little unkempt, I thought. As if he had slept in these same clothes.

ôLook, darling, I never meant for you to find outùI mean it wasnÆt my intention for you toàö His voice trailed off, and he slumped a little more in his seat.

ôWhat can you tell us about your movements last night?ö asked Chase, deciding to put the guy out of his misery. ôLetÆs say between midnight and two oÆclock this morning?ö

ôI was home,ö said Carlotta. ôFast asleep at that time as usual. Early to bed, early to rise has been my motto ever since I was a professional archer.ö

ôAnd you, sir?ö asked Odelia.

ôMe?ö Dennis said in a small voice. ôWellà home, of course.ö

ôYou werenÆt together?ö asked Chase.

ôIf you really must know, Dennis slept on the couch last night,ö said Carlotta, with a seething glance at her errant spouse. ôAnd if itÆs up to me, heÆd better get used to it.ö

ôBut, darling, with my bad backàö

ôYou should have thought of that before you started fooling around with your whores!ö Carlotta spat.

ôBut I neverà I mean, I didnÆt evenà Oh, darlingùhow can you be so cruel!ö

ôCruel! YouÆre the one being cruel, Dennis. And on the evening of our wedding anniversary, too!ö She turned to Chase and Odelia. ôWe were going to organize a big party here at the club for our fifteenth wedding anniversary, but of course thatÆs all off now.ö

ôCaterers have been booked,ö Dennis murmured, looking in the dumps, ôa live band is going to playùthe HootenanniesùIÆve got the hippest DJ of the moment booked for the nightùDJ Carl Quickù invitations have been sentùtwo hundred of themàö He sighed, and chanced a quick glance to his wife, but her implacable expression spoke volumes.

ôSo no one can actually vouch for your whereabouts last night?ö asked Chase.

ôUnless I crawled down through the window, Dennis would have noticed if I left the house. And I would have noticed if he crept out during the night, since the garage is right underneath the bedroom. But why would he sneak out to murder Valina? She gave him everything he needed. An unlimited supply of backstabbing, home-wreckingwhores!ö

ôHoney, please!ö Dennis pleaded. ôWhat will people think!ö

ôTheyÆll think youÆre dog excrement, Dennis, and theyÆd be thinking correctly.ö

ôDarling!ö

ôSpare me the phony tears,ö said Carlotta, holding up her hand and turning away again.

ôDid any of you drop by Valina Fawn at any point yesterday?ö asked Chase.

Carlotta frowned.ôWhy would I want to go near the woman? And to think she was a member of the same book club and never even hinted that sheÆd lured my husband to his doom. Talk about duplicitous.ö

ôYou, Dennis?ö asked Chase.

ôNo, I certainly didnÆt go anywhere near the place yesterdayùor any other day.ö

ôDo you know Norwell Kulhanek well?ö