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Dooley and I had returned from our inspection and now sat at the womanÆs feet, studying her intently. They say you can tell if a person lies from the tone of their voice and their facial expression, but IÆve found that this isnÆt necessarily true. There are some skilled liars out there, who can look and sound truthful while still concocting one lie after another. Still, I like to think IÆm as fine a feline lie detector as has ever walked the earth, and I was determined to put my skill to the test now.

ôNorwell had told me he was going to work late, and not to wait up. So IÆd gone to bed and fallen asleep. I woke up in the middle of the night, and when I looked at my alarm clock I saw that it was close to two oÆclock. I heard a key in the lock, and then I heard how Norwell walked up the stairs and went into the bathroom, then into the spare bedroom. So I knew heÆd left the house at some point.ö She directed a pleading look at Odelia. ôBut I swear I didnÆt know where heÆd gone.ö

ôYou didnÆt ask him about it in the morning?ö

She shook her head.ôI just figured heÆd gone for a walk. HeÆs been under a lot of pressure lately, with this hack, and heÆs been working much too hard. I didnÆt want to add more pressure by questioning him.ö

ôBut when you heard about what happened to Valina you must have wondered, surely,ö said Chase.

ôI did, but thereÆs simply no way that Norwell would do a horrible thing like that. HeÆs a sweet man. He canÆt even kill a spider. He always captures it in a jar and puts it out.ö

ôThere are serial killers out there that wouldnÆt hurt a fly,ö said Chase, ôbut donÆt bat an eye when theyÆre filleting a human being or burying a person alive.ö

ôNorwell isnÆt a serial killer, detective. HeÆs a good, kind man. A wonderful husband and a great father. So to think that he could murderà ItÆs simply beyond the realm of possibility.ö

Chase and Odelia shared a glance, then decided to lay all of their cards on the table. It was simply too important to ignore.ôThis may come as a shock to you, Emma,ö said Chase, ôbut weÆve just discovered this morning that Norwell and Valina were having an affair.ö

EmmaÆs eyes went wide as saucers, and her face drained of blood, turning a sickly white. ôW-w-what?ö she stammered as she brought a distraught hand to her mouth.

ôThe affair ended three weeks ago,ö said Odelia. ôBy all accounts it was a brief fling.ö

ôAt least to Valina it was a fling,ö said Chase, intent on twisting the knife. ôTo Norwell it was more than a fling, and he was clearly heartbroken when Valina ended it.ö

ôButùsurely thatÆs not possible,ö said Emma. ôYouÆre not serious?ö

ôIÆm afraid we are,ö said Odelia kindly. SheÆd placed a hand on the other womanÆs arm.

EmmaÆs eyes now turned to the window, but it was clear she wasnÆt seeing the clear blue sky or even the sun as it rose ever tirelessly higher. Her skin had become almost translucent now, and I had the impression she was on the verge of a nervous collapse.

ôI donÆt understand,ö she said finally, a wobble in her voice. ôNorwell andà Valina?ö

Odelia nodded.ôIÆm sorry we had to spring this on you, Emma, but itÆs important that you tell us if you knew about the affair? Ever noticed anything? Strange phone calls, maybe, or Norwell hiding things from you?ö

But Emma was shaking her head, and it was obvious that this had come as a complete surprise to her.ôI thought he didnÆt like her,ö she said finally. ôI thought they were like cats and dogs. Always arguing, at loggerheads. I even told him he should be more kind to her. Suggested we all have dinner together one night. That it was important they get along. And all this timeàö Her voice died away.

ôCould be that he simply pretended to dislike her,ö said Chase. ôClassic trick of a person trying to hide an affair. Make you think they donÆt like the other person.ö

ôShe was tough on him,ö said Emma, trying to collect herself with a powerful effort. ôExtremely critical of his work. But then again, thatÆs simply how she was, Valina. She was a very demanding person, not just for others but also for herself. Nothing was ever good enough. She really pushedherself, and others, to the limit. I felt bad for the people who worked for her, Norwell included.ö She looked up. ôI spearhead the anti-bullying campaign here at school, you see. ItÆs very important for us to make these kids aware that bullying simply wonÆt do, and we strive hard to make this a school that says no to bullies. ItÆs a project thatÆs very close to my heart, and so when I heard Norwell complain about Valina, I never imagined they wouldàö Tears sprang to her eyes afresh. ôThat they wereàö

ôItÆs all right,ö said Odelia, rubbing the womanÆs back.

ôOh, God,ö sobbed Emma, and I saw we were in hugging territory now. Not one of my strong suits, I must admit. Still, I could tell that the woman wasnÆt deceitful in the slightest, and so I decided to do my bit and gave her a nudge against the leg and so did Dooley.