Chapter 5

"You really do need to get along with people," Mack began. "She didn't do anything to deliberately upset you."

"Did you not hear her questions? She had nothing but attitude. Seeing as she is the new kid on the block, she's not trying to get along. She's trying to bully her way through her first big case—or her first case ever—all puffed up on her newfound power. So she was a dog catcher or a meter maid or something before this new position, right? Did she come from Vancouver, maybe?"

Mach sighed, knowing not to engage with Doreen right now.

"Insley did deliberately provoke me with her attitude and her assumptions. She thinks that I murdered my husband. She's not looking anywhere else. She was not forthcoming with her professional history nor in any way was she open-minded. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? Exactly how new is this new detective? Is she fresh off the turnip truck? She came here not liking that you already had me in your arms, when you first arrived."

"I can see where that might have been a bit of a problem for her," Mack noted. "Just keep in mind that she also doesn't know you and doesn't know our history."

"Exactly, and that was her problem." Doreen's shoulders slowly slumped, and she pinched the back of her neck.

"Are you okay?"

"Let's just say, it's been a heck of a day. I didn't even tell her about being threatened at my front door or being accosted in my backyard."

"No, and I noticed that. Any particular reason?"

"Yeah, I forgot," she stated simply. "It's been a pretty shocking day. Plus, after meeting her, I don't think she particularly cared about anything I had to say anyway."

"I've already contacted the captain and told him about her approach to interviewing," Mack shared.

Doreen snorted. "Finally you stick up for me. Yet you were criticizing me in front of her, not just once either. Why couldn't you criticize her in front of me?"

Mack sighed. "It's been a rough day. Still, you can expect her back again at some point, with further questions as the investigation proceeds."

"Great," she muttered. "Where did she come from?"

"She was transferred up from the coast," he said.

Doreen nodded. "Does she have anything to do with my ex? Did she know Mathew?"

"I don't think so. Why?"

She shrugged. "She's in his general area, and she's a beautiful woman, and Mathew has been known to attract multiple women, until he screws them over. It's just one of those things that makes me wonder."

"What do you mean? Do you think she's the one who killed him and somehow got herself assigned to the case in order to ensure it looked as if you did it?"

She stared at him. "Can she do that? Then, yes."