Interview with Carl Asher

Carl Asher worked for Victor Jennings as a researcher and factotum. The men had also been friends since high school.

Detectives Murphy and Parker interviewed him at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department.

*Participants*:

* Detective S. Murphy
* Detective E. Parker
* Carl Asher

*Detective Parker*: Please state your name and address before we begin.

*Carl Asher*: My name is Carl James Asher. My address is 2659 West Oxford Loop here in Oxford.

*Detective Parker*: Thank you. We have some questions to ask you, and we appreciate your willingness to cooperate with us.

*Carl Asher*: I’m a cooperative guy.

*Detective Murphy*: What do you do for a living, Mr. Asher?

*Carl Asher*: I’m unemployed. My boss is dead.

*Detective Parker*: Don’t play with us, Mr. Asher. What did you do before your boss died?

*Carl Asher*: I did a lot of different things. Mostly, I did research for Victor. You know, for his books.

*Detective Murphy*: Sure. Did you get along well with Mr. Jennings?

*Carl Asher*: We had our moments.

*Detective Murphy*: We've heard that you did the dirty work for Mr. Jennings. Is that true?

*Carl Asher*: Dirty work? Nah. It wasn’t always pleasant. Uncovering things that people want to keep hidden? That's hard work.

*Detective Parker*: Did you ever break any kneecaps?

*Carl Asher*: C’mon, do you think I’d answer that if I did?

*Detective Parker*: Did Victor have any enemies, Carl?

*Carl Asher*: You mean enemies that wished him dead? That would be a resounding yes.

*Detective Murphy*: Names?

*Carl Asher*: The famous Hawke couple, a couple of young college gals, members of his family, and the many people he had ruined with his books.

*Detective Murphy*: College girls?

*Carl Asher*: I don’t know who they are, but I'm sure that great detectives such as yourselves will be able to find them.

*Detective Parker*: Did you wish Victor was dead?

*Carl Asher*: If I did, that would make me a pretty stupid person. Victor was my paycheck. Why would you even ask me that?

*Detective Parker*: Did you or not?

*Carl Asher*: This is ridiculous! Arrest me or excuse me. I’m not answering any more of your stupid questions.

*Detective Murphy*: All right, Carl. Make it hard for yourself if you want to. We just want to find out what happened to your boss. He was your friend too, wasn't he?

*Carl Asher*: What if he was?

*Detective Murphy*: If someone killed him, don't you want us to find out who did it?

*Carl Asher*: I thought y'all said it was an accident.

*Detective Murphy*: The coroner hasn't made an official ruling yet.

*Carl Asher*: Well, if someone killed him, then I sure as hell want to know who did it.

*Detective Parker*: Was it part of your job to protect Victor?

*Carl Asher*: You saying something? You saying this was my fault?

*Detective Parker*: Where were you when Victor died?

*Carl Asher*: I don't appreciate you asking these questions. You can't put this on me. We about done here?

*Detective Murphy*: We can be. For now. But we'll probably need to talk to you again. You don't have any travel plans, do you?

*Carl Asher*: Not at the moment, no.

*Detective Murphy*: Good. Let's keep it that way for a while, okay?

*Carl Asher*: Yeah, okay.