STATE OF ANGER: A Virgil Jones Mystery Series (Detective Virgil Jones Mystery Series Book 1) by Thomas Scott

forearms resting across his thighs,
his head down, hangdog. Virgil nodded at the paramedics and asked them if he
could have a few minutes. They climbed out and Virgil and Ron sat on the bench
opposite Rhodes. Miles spoke first. “Mr. Rhodes, this is Detective Jones. He’d
like to speak with you for a moment, ask a few questions if you’re up for it.”
    Tom Rhodes did not, Virgil
thought, look up for it. “Mr. Rhodes, I’m sorry for your loss, sir. I know
you’re going to think the timing is lousy, but the sooner we can get the
information we need, the better our chances are of catching who ever did this
to your wife.”
    Tom Rhodes looked up and shook his
head. “You don’t look like a cop. You damn sure don’t look like a detective.”
    Virgil gave him a sympathetic
grin. “Yeah, I get that a lot. Sometimes that’s the whole point though. Not to
look like a cop.”
    “I guess. I really wouldn’t know.”
    “I understand you’re a retired
fireman?”
    “That’s right.”
    “I want you to know that I have a
tremendous amount of respect for guys like you and what you do.”
    He nodded, looked at nothing. “It’s
been my experience that people who make that kind of statement are people who
have had a traumatic experience with fire.”
    “You’re absolutely right. I was
just a child, but it changed me. Tell you the truth, I always sort of thought I
might end up in your line of work.”
    “Why didn’t you?”
    “Ah, you know, my dad was a cop.
Marion County Sherriff until he retired.”
    He seemed to process this
information for a minute. “Jones. You said your name was Jones? Is Mason Jones
your old man?”
    “That’s right. Did you know him?”
    “No, not really. Just enough to
recognize him if we were on scene together. Hey, always voted for him though.”
    “I’m sure he appreciated that,
sir. Listen, I’ve got some questions, but tell me about your day so far, with
your wife.”
    He put a little gravel in his
voice. “Well it’s been just fucking splendid, Detective.” Then he caught
himself and raised a hand in apology.
    “What I mean, Mr. Rhodes—“
    “Call me Tom, okay.”
    “Okay. What I mean, Tom, is could
you tell me about your day with your wife up to the point she left for work?”
    He shook his head and chewed the
bottom of his lip. “There’s nothing to tell. It was a normal day. We got up,
had breakfast and went about our day. Then a little later, hell just a little
while ago, she left for work. I know she likes to stop off here for coffee
before getting to it. I think it helps her—or helped her I guess I should
say—to clear her head, know what I mean?”
    “I think I do. Anything out of the
ordinary, today in particular?”
    “No, nothing.”
    “Was she acting strange, like
maybe something was bothering her?”
    “No, absolutely not. If anything
it was the other way around.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I mean it was me. I was the one
who was acting strange. Well, hell, that’s not right. I wasn’t acting strange.
I was sort of pissed off if you want to know the truth of it.”
    “Why? Were the two of you arguing?”
    “No. Probably would have turned
into one though if she hadn’t left for work when she did. It’s been a bit of a
sore spot lately, ever since I retired. I’m stuck at home with nothing to do
except busy work, while she’s out doing real work. We’d talked about retiring
together, you know? Maybe do a little traveling, but that never worked out.”
    “Why not?”
    “Well, I guess because she just
couldn’t give it up. Her work, I mean.”
    “I understand she was a Hospice
nurse?”
    “That’s right.”
    “Okay. So you two had an argument
right before she left?”
    “That’s not what I said,
Detective. You’re putting words into my mouth. I said it probably would have
turned into one. An argument.”
    Virgil looked at the bandage on
his hand. “What happened to your hand, Mr. Rhodes?”
    “I scraped the ever-lasting shit
out of