Again, have you ever played "the telephone game?"  Who knows at this early stage what she said to the lieutenant and what was understood, let alone what was conveyed further down the line?  My underlying point is that at the very least, she put her husband "above the radar" as far as the police were concerned and was not in an easy position to ensure that everything intended was relayed to any officers who paid him a visit.  She just wasn't there and on the spot - yet she alerted law enforcement nevertheless.