“Yes,” I answer, wondering what it was Martin asked this Mr. Bigelow to do for him. Is he thinking of buying some property? Maybe he is thinking of buying us a place in the country, perhaps in a town closer to his route.
“That’s... that’s strange,” Belinda says. “James said your husband is in real estate development.”
I stare at my guest for a moment. Perhaps there are two Martin Hockings in San Francisco. There have to be. This poor woman has the wrong one.
“I wonder if we are talking about the same man,” I say with a smile. “Have you ever met this Mr. Hocking you’re looking for?”
“No, I only know James said he had something important he had to do for him. He thought he’d be back two days ago. He... he had your address in his coat pocket.”
The kettle in the kitchen begins to whistle slightly. I rise to attend to it, and as I do, my guest’s gaze travels to the mantel, very close to where I am now standing.
Color drains from Belinda Bigelow’s face and her mouth drops open.
“Are you all right?” I ask.
She lifts her hand and points to the mantel. “That picture...”
I turn to look at my wedding portrait. “That’s me and Mr. Hocking on our wedding day last year.” I turn back around. Belinda is rising on unsteady legs and then moving forward and reaching for the photograph, nearly falling over the hearth to get to it.
I reach out to steady her as the woman grabs the frame. “Whatever is the matter?” I ask.
Belinda Bigelow is now holding the photograph of Martin and me in trembling hands. She raises her head to look at me and her eyes are shimmering with alarm.
“What is it?” My own heart is pounding now. I can feel the collision of worlds—mine and hers—even before the next words are out of her mouth.
Belinda points to Martin’s face in the portrait. “That’s James,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. “That’s my husband.”
The teakettle in the kitchen begins to scream.
9
INTERVIEW WITH MRS. SOPHIE HOCKING
CONDUCTED BY AMBROSE LOGAN, U.S. MARSHAL
CASE NUMBER 069308
Official transcript
San Francisco, CA
November 6, 1906
QUESTION:Now, Mrs. Hocking, if we could return to the morning of the earthquake. You stated earlier that you and your stepdaughter, Katharine, were inside the house on Polk Street when the earthquake struck, but Mr. Hocking was away on business. You further stated that you did not see your husband that day, nor any day after that. Correct?
ANSWER:Yes.
QUESTION:And if the earthquake had not occurred, when would you have been expecting Mr. Hocking to return home?
ANSWER:Martin did not keep to a schedule I could rely on, sir. I never knew exactly when to expect him.
QUESTION:How long had he been gone on the day of the quake?
ANSWER:Two days.
QUESTION:Why was it your husband did not keep a schedule you could rely on?
ANSWER:It is the nature of his business. He assesses risk for an insurance company and he has to be out and about to do it. He doesn’t know how long each appointment will take until he gets there.
