Time of Death

Ren put down the phone.

Gregory Sarvas did not report his wife’s rape? WTF?

7 (#ulink_b42eb396-7618-586f-b329-3113cc36a2b6)

Ren re-read everything she had on the Sarvases. How did this all work? She thought again about the good neighborhood Catherine Sarvas said she lived in, the security at their house. Why would Erubiel Diaz choose to rape someone with those odds stacked against him and – of all the houses on that street – why did he choose the Sarvases? Had he been watching her? And could it really be a coincidence that, two weeks later, her husband is killed and her teenage sons go missing?

Why would Gregory Sarvas not report his wife’s rape? Ren flipped to a new page in her notebook and began writing the first string of questions that came into her head.

To protect her? He was ashamed? He was angry? He blamed her? His reputation would be tarnished? Or … he planned to take care of the problem without any police involvement? She underlined the last question. Had he already done that? Had he been killed in retaliation? Had he killed someone’s son and now his own sons were taken away/killed? Rape … Murder … Abduction???

Ren picked up the phone and called Catherine Sarvas. There was a depressingly hopeful tone to her voice.

‘I’m sorry, Mrs Sarvas,’ said Ren. ‘I’d just like to go over a few things from our conversation.’

‘Yes, no problem. And please, call me Catherine.’

‘OK,’ said Ren. ‘You told me that your husband took care of reporting the rape.’

‘Yes, he did … I couldn’t bear going through all the details with a stranger … I mean, I knew I would have to talk to the police in the end, but at that time, I guess I was afraid that if I did nothing, if I waited too much longer, that he … the rapist … might … he … I just couldn’t bear the thought of one of my friends or my neighbors having to go through—’ She broke down.

‘I understand how difficult it would be to talk about.’ Ren paused. ‘So … you asked Gregory to take care of it, and he agreed that he would.’

‘Yes.’

‘And it was El Paso PD?’

‘Yes, it was El Paso PD. He said that he spoke with a Detective Hyde.’

Ren paused as if she was writing the name down. ‘Catherine, what was your husband’s demeanor before his murder?’

‘Well, he was concerned for me. He was worried. He didn’t want to leave me alone. But he had to work, too.’

‘What was his reaction to your rape?’

Catherine paused. ‘Well, he was devastated, like any husband would be. I’m not sure I know what you mean …’

Here goes. ‘I don’t know how to tell you this,’ said Ren. ‘But your husband didn’t report the rape to Detective Hyde.’

‘What? Who did he report it to?’

‘I’m afraid he didn’t report it at all.’

‘But … he did. That’s ridiculous. Of course he did. He came home and told me that evening. He even passed on a message from her, saying that I could speak with her in my own time.’

‘And did you speak with Detective Hyde?’ said Ren. Which I hate to ask, because I know the answer is no.

‘No,’ said Catherine. ‘But … but … why would Greg not report it? I don’t understand. There would be no reason not to. I asked him to. He had my permission.’

‘Maybe he wanted to protect you,’ said Ren. ‘What was your state of mind at this time?’

‘I had just been raped.’

‘Had you seen a doctor?’

‘No.’ Her voice fell to a whisper.

‘Could your husband have been worried about your mental health – worried about what reporting this could have meant for you?’

‘But … I told him to report it. I was traumatized. I didn’t want to report it myself. But I was adamant that he should.’

‘Did your husband override your wishes before?’ said Ren. ‘Did you ever ask him to do things and he ignored your wishes, maybe for what he felt was your own good?’

‘I’m sure every husband does that at some point.’

Not about reporting a rape, I would venture.

‘Catherine, can I ask you a few more questions?’ said Ren. ‘I know we’ve been over some of this already, but I’d like to make sure I have everything straight.’

‘OK.’

‘Who had access to your property?’

‘We each had a set of keys – Greg, Luke, Michael and I.’

‘What about tradesmen, a gardener …?’

‘No,’ said Catherine. ‘We hadn’t had any work done on the house in over a year. The boys look after the garden.’

Ren looked back at the notes she had taken when Catherine had described the rape. ‘You mentioned you had been shopping at The Homestore. Were you taking any delivery items in?’

‘No. I was just buying small things. I … just wanted to make the place nice. Greg had brought up the idea of us moving house, nothing concrete. I wasn’t interested, but I guess even the thought of moving made me want to dig my heels in a little more …’

And I’m sure you’d rather be any place but home right now.

‘So, no delivery people had access to your house.’

‘No.’

‘OK, Catherine, I’m going to go away with all this and start making enquiries. Thank you for taking my call.’

So Gregory Sarvas wanted to move house. His wife didn’t. If someone was hoping to sell their house, the last thing they would want to do is report a rape and stamp a black mark on the neighborhood.

Could a husband be that screwed up?

Gary walked into the bullpen. ‘Hey,’ he said. ‘Can I get an update?’

‘This Sarvas case is getting weirder,’ said Ren. ‘Erubiel Diaz rapes Catherine Sarvas. A week goes by, and her husband tells her he will report it on her behalf to spare her the trauma – yet he doesn’t. Within days, he gets murdered. And his two teenage sons go missing.’