An Act Of Murder by Linda Rosencrance Read Free Book Online Page B

contrary to what Kimberly was telling police and anybody else who would listen, Steve never said he and Kim agreed not to have sex while they were at Harbourtowne.
    Steve also told Mike he was on medication for his depression and he wasn’t drinking because of the medication. So when Mike started hearing that Steve was smoking cigars and drinking and trying to force himself on his wife, and then turning to Playboy when that didn’t work out, he knew Kimberly was lying.
    â€œThis was all about Steve trying to start up the relationship, so why would he go down there and totally blow it?” Mike asked. “Why would he get all liquored up and force sex on her? It just didn’t add up.”
    The whole Playboy thing was ludicrous, Mike said. And the way the Playboy was laid out next to Steve’s body really smacked of a setup.
    â€œI had never known Steve to view pornography. I mean, I can remember in high school, but he wasn’t an addict and he never viewed it online,” Mike said. “And I know they were given a bottle of champagne and Kimberly said he drank it, but Steve drinks beer and he chewed tobacco—Skoal—that’s the only tobacco product he used. He never smoked in the time I knew him. From junior high school to high school to college, I can’t recall him smoking a cigar.”
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    A little after 5:00 A.M. Alt and Elzey, along with Deputy Fire Marshal Paul Schlotterbeck, went up to room 1016 to interview Kimberly, who had been sleeping most of the morning. After she woke up, Kimberly told the officers pretty much the same story she had been telling everyone else, but with a few additional details.
    Kimberly explained that she and Steve had been having marital problems for about three months and decided to attend the Valentine’s weekend hoping to revive their marriage. According to Kim, Steve got “sloppy drunk” during the evening, drinking all but one glass from the complimentary bottle of champagne that was left in their room, as well as drinking wine at dinner, more champagne, and beer. And, after the dinner show, the couple purchased more beer to drink back at their room. Kim told the officers that Steve was taking several types of prescription medicine for his depression, including Xanax. She said he was also taking the over-the-counter liquid cold medicine Theraflu. According to Kim, Steve took the Xanax and Theraflu around 7:00 P.M. , just before they went to dinner. Kim also told the officers that her husband regularly chewed tobacco and always smoked cigars when he drank. However, she said she didn’t think Steve bought or brought any cigarettes or cigars with him to Harbourtowne. She said she didn’t, either.
    Kim said when she and Steve got back to their room they watched the movie Tommy Boy and then started watching the 11:00 P.M. news when Steve began “pawing” her. Kim said she was surprised because she and Steve had agreed there would be no sex during the weekend. She also said she was surprised at her husband’s advances because when he wanted sex he usually turned to pornography, not her. She said she left the room because of the fight over Steve’s drunken behavior, adding that it wasn’t a physical fight. Kim explained that Steve had never been physically abusive toward her.
    As Kimberly was relating the rest of her story, Alt asked her if she was able to continue and let her know that the officers understood that she had been through a great deal. Alt gave Kim a glass of water and asked her if she wanted anything else, or if she needed to use the bathroom. Kim didn’t take any breaks when offered, nor did she ask for any herself. Both Alt and Elzey said that Kim didn’t seem to be either emotional or in shock.
    â€œDuring the interview with Kimberly, I noticed that she exhibited little reaction,” Elzey said. “However, she was continually holding a damp face towel to her mouth while