part0038

Eight hours to think about what to do once he had his wife back hadn’t been enough. Henberlin’s elation at hearing from Leyna allowed him to breathe again. Air lightened his head with oxygen for the first time since she’d gone missing. From days of not eating, sleeplessness, and expecting bad news, he now verged on elation. The first two hours, he distracted himself by searching the radio for a suitable station, changing every time the static overtook the sound of the music. Then the elation fluttered as the trip neared its end.

The thought of Leyna attempting a solo escape entered his mind. Could she take her own life? The longer he went without hearing from her, the heavier an expectation of a phone call informing him that his wife’s body had been found weighed on his mind.

This morning’s phone call from a number he didn’t recognize caused a rise in his pulse. He hoped it was her. He heard her voice when he answered. Contacting him meant she still wanted to survive. When she said she wanted him to come and get her, it meant she either needed his help to continue running, or she’d had enough and intended to pay the price for the murders she’d committed. He hoped she meant it when she said she’d had enough. Either way, a resolution to their life of limbo dangled a few hours down the highway.

The music began to get on his nerves when he realized he had a decision to make and he had to make it on his own. At the time Leyna came into his life, he began to make his decisions based on what most benefitted the two of them and their relationship. He disassociated with his previous acquaintances in order to resist the temptations he thought were bound to cause tension in his relationship with his wife. He avoided his family and their stubborn belief in their right to meddle in anyone else’s life. He knew they would clash with Leyna’s stubborn desire for independence, now that she no longer acted on her father’s will. They became their own self-sufficient unit once they were together. They chose goals for their lives, goals for all the important matters they would deal with as a couple, goals seeking to strengthen their quality of life. That was what caused his confusion over the last two months: She’d made bad decisions on her own. Decisions that forced him into a position where now he had to make a self-serving decision.

She’s taken herself away from me, even though she wants me with her, he thought. She’s changed, she’s become a killer. How can I live with a killer? If she goes on like this, she could run up against another person she deems a threat and she could cross the line again. She could kill again. Like it appears she did with the detective. It would be best if she saw this eventuality, best if she turned herself in.

She could get help, serve her punishment, and then return to a life with him. Not a normal life, but maybe they could cobble together a pleasant, loving world where they isolated themselves from society. If she asked him to run with her, there would be no hope for her to repair mentally, no hope of having a life that simulated a time before she thought an affair with Yanmei existed.

Could he run with her? Could he turn her in? Those two thoughts ping-ponged inside his brain, rebounding in different directions, colliding with each other on every bounce.

As he closed in on Weyburn, his speed increased without his realizing it. He pulled into the hotel entry going the wrong way, and angle-parked blocking the entire drive. It was luck that he managed to put the car’s transmission in park. He heard the engine still running as he pried open the auto-open doors. Words flew from his mouth the instant he saw someone behind the desk .

“My wife’s checked into your hotel under a phony name. I need to get to her right away,” he said, almost gasping.

He described Leyna to the clerk, who immediately told him which room she occupied. He thanked the clerk then asked if he could have a key.

“If you get over there now, I’m sure the police will let you in.”

Henberlin froze. What the clerk said sunk in. It was okay. “Which way?” he asked.

The clerk pointed, but said, “You can’t leave your car like that.”

Once outside, he ignored his car and ran in the direction the clerk had pointed. He saw two RCMP cruisers parked in front of one of the rooms. The room open, two officers standing outside the door. As he approached, one of the officers stepped toward him with his arms raised, palms outward.

“Officer, I’m her husband,” Henberlin said, leaning to look around the officer and into the hotel room. “Is she okay?”

The officer didn’t answer but asked him a series of questions. Once Henberlin had satisfied the officer that he was the husband, the officer led him into the room and introduced him to the officers inside. Henberlin paid them no attention as they sat at the bottom of the bed trying to talk to Leyna. Henberlin’s eyes went to her, sitting up at the top of the bed, blankets pulled up above her waist.

She had on a jacket and blouse, appearing to be fully dressed under the blanket. Her hair lay flat against her head, signs of lipstick still on her lips, her skin pale. Still, in her eyes he saw the gleam of life, impossible to hide. The few faded freckles scattered on her nose and cheeks visible. She’d always powdered them, and he wondered why she would hide what he thought made her so attractive. Exhaustion and confusion didn’t diffuse her beauty. She stared straight ahead, not noticing he’d entered the room. He watched her for a minute, then crouched at her side.

“Leyna?” he said. She recognized his voice, turned, and smiled. “Leyna, are you okay?” His voice soft and solicitous.

“I just woke up,” she said .

The police officers yielded to him.

“How long have you been here?” he asked.

“Let’s see. When did I call you?”

“This morning at about seven.”

“Maybe another day or two. I’ve been sleeping.”

“Excuse me,” said one of the officers who had been in the room. “We found these.” He held out a prescription bottle. “Do you know how many of these she had?”

Henberlin took the bottle and read the label.

“Sorry, I didn’t know she was taking these. Don’t know what it’s for,” he said, shaking his head.

“It’s for anxiety.”

Henberlin nodded. “She’s probably got some sleep aids around here, too.”

He grabbed Leyna’s purse and reached in to find two more bottles of pills. He showed them to the officer.

“Mr. Henberlin, we’re here to arrest your wife for murder. You’re aware that there’s a warrant out for her?”

“Yes, I’ve been working with the detectives in Calgary to find her.”

The officer stared at him for a moment. “You have?”

“The detectives from Calgary said to expect no assistance from you.”

“Now that we’ve all found out they were right about the murders, they want to make it look like they solved the crime on their own,” Henberlin said. “I helped look for her. I only asked to be present when they caught up with her so I could make things a little easier for her. Her mental state is what’s important to me—and they couldn’t give two shits about her. How can I help you?”

The officer nodded a little longer than required to understand Henberlin’s meaning. “Because of the pills, it’s procedure for your wife to be examined by a doctor. She’ll be under arrest and considered to be in police custody.”

Henberlin smiled and nodded.

Leyna slept through the rest of the day handcuffed to her hospital bed, with Henberlin nodding off in the chair beside her from time to time. As soon as the hospital staff had settled Leyna into captivity, Henberlin left the room to place a call to Detective Sweetland. His cell phone had been taken from him and there were two guards assigned to the room, one for Leyna, one for him. His guard accompanied him to the pay phone. He knew Sweetland would be in a mood, but he could accept Sweetland’s chastisement without losing his cool.

“So you decided to check in, did you?” Detective Sweetland said.

“Yes, things have settled down here.”

“I know. They’re going to keep her overnight for observation. We’ll be coming to get her when they say she’s okay to be transported. Until then we’ll have guards outside her room.”

“I don’t think a guard is necessary, and two is overkill. But, suit yourself. She’s had enough. I decided on the way here she was going to turn herself in.”

“It’s easy to sound like you’re helping when she’s already under arrest.”

“I’ve been helping all along.”

“You hung up on me and turned your phone off without telling me where your wife was hiding. How is that helping?”

“I had to be with her when you caught her. I couldn’t trust you to allow me to be with her.”

“Why should we?”

“Because I’m the only one who cares about her. Your only concern is getting an arrest. You don’t care what harm you do to her. I’ve been trying to protect her from your badgering the whole time. If I’d hired a lawyer to protect her, you would have called it an indication of guilt. Okay, you’re right, you’ve proven she did it. I tried to pull the reins in on you because I didn’t believe the direction your investigation was taking. To me, she’d been innocent all along. That is until now, since you’ve proven she’s guilty. ”

“I figured as much, he’s standing right here, really close, doing his job. I ask again: Am I under arrest?”

“We’re working on it.”

“You’re all stuck on your belief that I knew. I know she’s guilty now, but didn’t until you proved it to me. I’m sorry for what she did.”

After a long pause Sweetland asked, “Where are you staying?”

“Here, with Leyna.”

Silence came from the phone receiver. It seemed forever before Sweetland spoke.

“I don’t like it.”

“Come on,” Henberlin said, “You have two guards, we’re on the third floor, and my wife doesn’t have her wits about her. The nurses and doctors are sworn to take care of her but I’m the only one who’s looking out for her. You have to let me stay with her. Handcuff me to my chair if you have to.”

“Look, Detective, you led me to believe you have some experience in the position that I’m in. She’s about to break and nobody’s trying to prevent that from happening.”

“Let me think about it,” Sweetland hung up.

“Will do,” Henberlin said to the dial tone.

Leyna slept the entire next day. The hospital staff gave Henberlin encouraging updates about her vital signs, and indicated she’d be waking up soon. Then she’d be able to travel. He knew these updates were also being supplied to the Calgary Police, so he wasn’t surprised when the following day Sweetland called and confirmed they were on their way.

Around midday Leyna sat dressed in jeans and a shirt, handcuffed to the chair. The guard had remained inside the room after the nurse and Henberlin helped her dress. She needed the help. She stood like a doll and allowed them to grab and move her limbs so they could be placed in the articles of clothing. She didn’t help in anyway, didn’t comment on anything they were doing. She didn’t answer to any questions they asked her, including requests to lift an arm or bend a knee to make dressing her easier. Her eyes followed her husband’s every move and remained on him the whole time. Her expression blank.

Sitting in the chair, she continued to watch her husband. No one else existed for her.

When Sweetland and another detective showed up, Leyna took her eyes off her husband. She stood up in front of the chair with one hand drawn back due to the handcuff attached to the chair’s arm.

“Please sit down, Mrs. Henberlin. We won’t be leaving for a while. I’d like to ask you a few questions before we go,” Sweetland stated.

Leyna sat. Her eyes returned to her husband.

“Mr. Henberlin, we want to talk to your wife alone.”

“No, I’m going to stay.”

“Mr. Henberlin because of our concern regarding your level of involvement in your wife’s crimes, we can’t have you in the room.”

“No, I can’t leave you alone with her. I still don’t have medical power of attorney for my wife but as her husband I feel I have a right to be in the room.”

“Sorry, but you have no such right.”

“Then I’m going to advise her―”

“That’s why you can’t be in the room, you aren’t allowed to advise her. Now please leave.”

“No, I have to be here.”

Sweetland shook his head as if admonishing himself. “Mr. Henberlin, I think I’ve been more than kind with you. I could have been a real bastard and kept you away from your wife this whole time. You say you intend to cooperate with us but you really are getting in the way. I’ve asked you politely to leave the room and now I’m going to have to insist.” Sweetland gave a slight nod to one of the officers who then walked toward Henberlin .

Henberlin balanced on a thin edge. What’s best for Leyna? I piss them off and I can’t help her from jail. I leave her alone and she could withdraw from me.

“Neil, just go. I’m not going to say anything.”

All eyes turned to Leyna and everyone froze looking at her sitting in the chair, legs crossed, the elbow of her free arm resting on the armrest with her hand in the air. Relaxed in posture, tight and explosive in attitude. Henberlin saw hatred beam from her eyes toward Sweetland daring him to be alone with her.

Sweetland turned to Leyna as the door shut on Henberlin and said, “Other than your prescriptions, we had your belongings shipped to us in Calgary. We were looking for a passport in your sister’s name—one you used when you came back from your trip with your husband to Los Angeles back in July. The passport was in your purse and it showed that you did travel using your sister’s identification.”

Leyna’s eyes stayed fixed on the detective but she remained silent and still.

Sweetland continued. “Because of that, we thought you may have travelled as your sister on previous occasions, and we did, in fact, discover that you had. Do you want the details, or will you concede that you did travel to Calgary on the Saturday that Mr. and Mrs. Albin were murdered?”

Leyna continued to glare. Her eyes still and still, she said nothing.

“Okay, then I will tell you,” Sweetland said. “Your sister’s name appeared on the passenger list for a flight leaving Vancouver for Kelowna at ten forty-five AM on the day in question. You had a layover of—”

“Spare me,” Leyna interrupted.

Sweetland stopped. He waited while watching Leyna before he said, “Very well. Let me just state that we have considerable evidence that will be presented to your lawyer before and during trial. Enough evidence to justify the charge of murder for which you are under arrest. You do understand why you are in custody?”

“What?” Leyna said. “Since when? ”

“You were arrested three days ago when we found you at the hotel. You’d been there for two days before calling your husband to come and get you. We got to you first, and arrested you for murder.”

Leyna held a twisted smile. “Yeah, that’s right. My husband thinks I killed his mistress. I didn’t deserve to be treated like that.”

With Leyna talking, Sweetland’s energy level increased as he suggested some thoughts. “No, not at all. You deserved to be treated better. He did a bad thing to you, and for that his mistress must be killed,”

“It wasn’t his fault. They made him do it.”

“Who made him do it?

“The other men he works with.”

“What other men?”

Leyna shook her head. “I don’t know. He doesn’t tell me things anymore and I find him going to an apartment with another woman.”

“I guess that’s her name.”

“Mrs. Henberlin, you killed Mrs. Albin because she was taking your husband away from you,” Sweetland said.

“No,” Leyna said, shaking her head.

“And you couldn’t stand the way it made you look. The embarrassment from seeing the story of your husband’s mistress’s murder in your husband’s secret apartment in all the papers and on television. You thought your friends and coworkers laughed at you. You thought all the people who admired you for your poise and control during your father’s political career were now seeing you as not good enough for your husband and you couldn’t stand that. Reporters who’d lived to hear your opinions, politicians who wanted to know where you stood on issues, and citizens losing their respect for you because your husband had to go find another woman to fill some of his needs. It didn’t matter who made the problem, you knew how to solve it. You had to keep what belonged to you, so you killed the Albins. Now you need to get it off your conscience. We have all we need, but don’t you think you’ll feel better if you fill in some of the details?” Sweetland crowded her as he drilled in his insinuations .

Leyna continued her eye contact, ready to challenge Sweetland. Then she gave up. Her eyes softened and sought the floor. She focused on some deep, low point while emitting a soft, single-tone hum. Sweetland watched her for a few minutes then turned and asked for the nurse to come and check on her. Niether could extract any further response from her.

Detective Sweetland stood and towered over Leyna.

“Okay, Mrs. Henberlin, if that’s how you’re going to cooperate I’m going to unlock the cuff connecting you to the chair and add a waist lock to secure you while we move you to the squad car. It’s about time you started to feel like the criminal you are.”

The detective pulled a key from his pocket then bent over to the side where Leyna’s right hand was cuffed to the chair. He unlocked the cuff and separated it from the chair’s arm so that it dangled loosely from Leyna’s hand. Leyna looked up at Sweetland then placed both of her hands on the arms of the chair and began to push herself up. As she rose, she burst a scream at Sweetland and swung her arm, whipping the dangling cuff to catch Sweetland under his left eye. She whipped it again and again catching Sweetland on the head and shoulders.

Henberlin, waiting outside heard the first screams and shot up out of his chair, brushing the guard aside and flew through the door. He saw Leyna flailing at Sweetland and charged into his wife, tackling her, taking her to the ground and holding her body as tight as he could so he could shield her. As he landed he could feel the grip of the other police officers in the room ripping at his shoulder, their hands trying to peel him away from his wife. His head pounded with blows from the officers trying to separate them. He hung on even tighter, willing to take the blows that he knew were meant to land on his wife. One of the officers locked his hands under Henberlin’s chin and pulled back on his head, stretching his neck, crushing his throat. Henberlin’s hold on his wife slipped and the officer swung him to the floor, pinning him so he couldn’t interfere. He watched the other officers toss his wife like a rag doll to establish control over her. They dragged her along the floor, flung her face down and yanked her arms behind her, almost lifting her from the ground so they could attach the handcuffs behind her back.

The nurses had turned their attention to Sweetland as soon as he went down. They had pads of gauze pressed to his face. The other officers yelled instructions at Leyna and Henberlin, hyped on the adrenalin speeding through their veins.