086
The paperwork we intended to sign would show we were all agreeing to the relationship and what we planned and intended for one another.
I went out to the truck and got the paperwork out of my suitcase. I went back inside carrying everything.
Marcia said, "I'm going to remain here and wait for Sam and the others. Come get me if she wants to talk to me about anything or you do."
"Thank you, Marcia, for everything."
"No, problem."
I found room 112 and there was a serious looking woman of approximately 50 years of age seated behind the desk. She indicated I should close the door behind me and sit down.
"I'm Scott Rivers and Doctor Andrews wanted me to see you before I could see my wife."
She pulled out a file and a legal pad and paper, clicked on her pen and looked at me. "My name is Andrea Tyndall. I'm the night time social worker for the hospital. Do you know why you were sent to see me, Mr. Rivers?"
"The doctor said they were concerned about the items the women were wearing when they were brought in. Had to cut some of them off for their treatment."
"Let's be blunt then. Are you keeping those women in involuntary servitude?"
"No, I'm not."
"Why was your wife wearing items which had to be cut off, Mr. Rivers?"
"She wanted to. It was her desire to own them and wear them."
"Your wife wanted to wear what could only be described as slave manacles, though dressed up nicely to look like jewelry."
"That's correct."
"Enlighten me, Mr. Rivers."
Skipping the parts where we'd started by essentially fucking lots of other people, because it wasn't about that anymore, I explained how she liked those types of books. She read them all the time, fantasized about it, and how I offered to let her experience what it would be like to be a character in one of her books. How she took up my offer of a three week experiment and how much she loved the adventure, allowed her friend to join her and wanted nothing more than to continue, both of them, after the trial period. So much so, they convinced me to continue doing it to our mutual satisfaction. I handed her the paperwork Zoe prepared.
"Because Julia and I are married, she has a lot of legal protections in regard to things like hospital visitation, taxes, etc. which Lisa does not have from a similar status as she's single. No rights to property, child visitation, or anything else which might arise from a polyamorous relationship such as ours. To provide for her protection and legal rights, we had contracts prepared to spell out her part in our life. This is the paperwork we prepared. We haven't signed it yet because I just got it back today, in Los Angeles, where the Attorny lives. While our relationship may be unique in your experience, Ms. Tyndall, it is not involuntary in any sense of the word. We love each other very much and do not wish harm on anyone. I don't know anyone who loves one another more than we do. It may be bizarre to your way of thinking, but it's normal to us."
She read the document over. Some of it appeared to make her blush. I could imagine.
"I need to verify this with them," she said, setting the papers down.
"Please do, but could you please do so now. I'm desperate to see my wife. I've seen Lisa and she's sleeping now, but my wife and I are expecting our first child. I need to ensure she's all right."
"Very well. If she's awake, I'll speak to her now."
"Thank you."
"Wait in the lobby. There are confidential items in here. Let me keep these for the moment."
"Of course."
When I got to the lobby, not only did I see that Sam and the others had gotten here, but so had a detective. He was talking with Marcia. I went over and introduced myself by asking if he needed to speak with me.
"As a matter of fact, I do. My name is Detective Riley."
"I'd like to speak to you as well. I have very limited information myself and I'd like to know what happened, what you're doing about it, and if you got the bastard who did it? I'm still waiting to speak to my wife, so I'd like to speak to you here if possible, so I may see her in a timely fashion, but understand it may not meet with your plans. Tell me what you'd like to do."
"We can speak here for the moment. Do I need to explain your Miranda rights?"
"I'm familiar with my rights. If I need an attorney, my friend Zoe is here. She's an attorney."
"Why did you bring an attorney with you?"
"Strictly speaking, I didn't. She was asked to come by her employer; primarily because we didn't know what happened and if one would be required. If I found the asshole who did this. I'd probably need an attorney, because I'd kill the bastard."
"Who did you hear committed the crime?"
"Lisa McManus's ex-husband, Jack. Has that information changed?"
"How did you hear he did it?"
"Deputy Evans was expediting my return to Fresno and was in contact with Los Angeles County dispatch, who made inquiries for us. All we had was my wife made a 911 call and neither Julia or Lisa was responding to my attempts to call them."
"How do you know they made a 911 call?"
"Technology. Our iPhones and watches are set up so if we make an emergency call, an alert goes out to our next of kin. If you check Lisa's phone, she would have received a similar alert."
I showed him on my phone how it was set up, showed him the text I'd received, the many attempts I'd made to call Julia's and Lisa's numbers.
"What did you think had happened to them?"
"Julia and Lisa have been starting their own business making specialty furniture. They use power tools. My first though was there'd been an accident involving a tool. My second thought was there was a problem with Julia's pregnancy. Neither of those would explain why no one would answer the phone. Then I worried about a fire, something which made them abandon the house without their phones. I never considered an attack on either of them until told by Marcia's dispatch."
"What reason would Jack McManus have to attack your wife?"
"I was informed last Monday that Jack attempted texting Lisa Sunday night to set up a meeting with her. Their divorce was acrimonious due to an affair on his part. She told him she was through with him and never wanted to have contact with him again. His texts became abusive to the point they had to block his number. They intended to file a restraining order against him on Wednesday, which I was told, they did."
"What is your relationship to Lisa McManus? Why is she living at your house?"
"About six weeks ago, Lisa became our lover, to the point where we've decided to live together as a polyamorous triple."
"Our lover, not your lover?"
"My wife has sex with her as much or more frequently than I do."
"This doesn't bother you?"
"No. Why would it? My wife hasn't stopped having sex with me and I have sex with Lisa as well. I get to watch two women have sex. I'm probably living most men's fantasies."
"Maybe your wife didn't care to share you with another woman?"
"She was the one who invited her to join us. Why do it if she cared not to share?"
"Your wife invited her to join you?"
"Initially, I suppose it was only intended to last a couple weeks, but everyone liked it enough to keep it going."
"Would Lisa want to become more than second fiddle in this arrangement?"
"None of us consider Lisa to be a second fiddle. We consider ours to be a co-equal partnership."
"She's not married to you. Only Julia is."
"Excuse me, officer," Zoe said. "I'm sorry to interrupt. The three of them asked me to do up a contract which would do contractually, what marriage does for people. Under the terms of the contract, Lisa becomes a co-equal beneficiary in all assets, property, life insurance, parental rights, etc. Lisa has no reason to feel like she's any less than a full partner in this relationship. Even if she did, I doubt she'd instigate an attack on herself which resulted in a broken nose and ribs and her own rape. I know you're required to investigate all aspects of a crime and I applaud your due diligence, but I would tend to believe myself it is what it appears to be, an attack by an angry ex-husband which resulted in an attack on the other person in the house, and not some conspiracy which is what your questions seem to be implying."
"Where are these contracts and documents?"
"The hospital social worker has them," I said. "She was going to speak to my wife about them, perhaps Lisa McManus as well. I don't know. They haven't been signed yet. I just received them today. Excuse me, the social worker is back. She can show you the documents and I'd desperately like to speak to my wife. I'll be happy to continue answering any more questions you have after I do. Have you caught Jack McManus?"
"No. He's still in the wind. I don't have more questions at this time, but I may have you come down to the station and sign a statement later."
"I'm happy to help. These other people can confirm a lot of what I told you. I'm sure they'll answer any questions you might have pertaining to me they might know. When can I return to my house. A friend and co-worker came by earlier trying to find out what happened before we heard back from the police. He said there's crime tape all over. Will my friends be able to stay in my house, or will I need to put them in a hotel?"
"I'll check with the crime scene techs. If they're done, you can go back. If not, we'll have to keep everyone out. I'll let you know before you leave the hospital."
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