“There was no reason to,” he replied mildly. “I trusted them.”
There it was. The reversal.
I kept my tone even. “You can see how this all raises questions.”
“Of course,” he said. “I would be asking the same questions if I were you.”
I made a note, even though there was nothing new to record. I took my time intentionally, hoping that silence would makeWickham uncomfortable and talk. Wickham didn’t take the bait.
He waited.
“What is your relationship to Lydia Bennet?” I questioned.
“There is no relationship. She hired me to do a job, that’s all,” Wickham easily stated.
“She seemed to think there was something more,” I replied.
Wickham had a little laugh. “Did she tell you we were boyfriend and girlfriend, or something? I knew she was interested in me, but I’m a professional. I don’t mix work and personal life. Besides, she’s not exactly my type. She’s very chatty. It got on my nerves, the way she would talk, talk, talk.”
I paused, not bothering to write that down.
Wickham leaned forward, understanding flickering across his features. “Oh? You didn’t like that. Do you have a thing for her?”
“How long have you been back in Maple Ridge?” I asked, ignoring his comment..
“Just a few days." He tapped a finger on the table. “If you are questioning me and taking her side because you happen to be infatuated with the girl, I’m going to have to talk to your supervisor about police bias.”
I stopped and coldly looked at him, waiting before replying. “I can assure you, there is no bias and I am doing my utmost to uphold the law as a professional of the police force.”
“I hope so. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes if I find out it’s any different,” Wickham calmly mentioned.
“What is the reason for your return to Maple Ridge?” I asked as I made a note.
He smiled, small and unconcerned, leaning back in his seat. “Work.”
I looked up. “What kind of work?”
“Hale Lodge has hired me as event coordinator for their Holiday Gala. It’s a very prestigious event and they hire only the best,” Wickham boasted.
The words landed with quiet precision.
I kept my expression neutral, though something sharpened internally, a line snapping into place. The Holiday Gala was a very public event with high visibility. A lot of people would be there, creating enough confusion that it would be an excellent opportunity for Wickham to try to defraud the Lodge.
“I see,” I said.
He watched me closely, clearly assessing whether this information mattered. When I didn’t react, he relaxed again, settling deeper into his chair. “I told you that I have nothing to hide.”
“Are you aware of any concerns raised by the lodge about hiring you?” I wondered.
“None,” he said easily. “I came highly recommended.”
We went back through the timeline again, slower this time. Dates. Conversations. Responsibilities that were always adjacent to authority but never squarely within it. Wickham was careful to place himself just outside every point of accountability.
It was frustrating.
It was also deliberate.
I asked him for references for previous jobs he had done. I accepted his business card so I could contact him if I had further questions, and to look at his website.
