Monday, April 6, 2009, 8:50 AM

The witness was identified as Blake Jenson's girlfriend. Detectives Murphy and Armstrong interviewed the witness at the Yoknapatawpha Sheriffs Department and recorded the interview on a portable tape recorder with the witness's knowledge and consent.

Detective Ted Armstrong
Detective Sam Murphy
Madison Spires

Detective Murphy: Thanks for coming in again. Could you please state your name and address for the record?

Madison Spires: My name is Madison Spires, and I live at 594 Hawthorn Road. Why do you keep calling me in like this?

Detective Armstrong: This is how we crack cases, we talk to people again and again, checking stories, looking for confirmations, looking for contradictions. As time goes on, people remember things, but they don't always call us.

Madison Spires: I don't remember anything that might help. So that's it, I can go?

Detective Murphy: We heard something we're hoping you can help us with. Kane Victory.

Madison Spires: What about him?

Detective Armstrong: From what we hear, he's had his eye on you. From what we hear, Kane and Blake almost came to blows over you.

Madison Spires: Blake misunderstood the situation.

Detective Armstrong: Maybe Kane misunderstood. Maybe he read into the situation as much as Blake did.

Madison Spires: What do you mean?

Detective Armstrong: Kane confessed he's been attracted to you. He admits feeling that Blake was a mistake.

Madison Spires: Everybody makes mistakes.

Detective Armstrong: Is that what Kane told you, that he made a mistake?

Madison Spires: Kane thought Blake was a fool to flirt with other women. Kane didn't want to see me hurt.

Detective Murphy: Is that why he did it?

Madison Spires: No, Blake thought flirting was just another game.

Detective Murphy: What about Kane? Did he think Blake flirted to punish you?

Detective Armstrong: Did Kane think Blake needed to be punished? Is that how it happened?

Madison Spires: I don't think I understand the question.

Detective Armstrong: Was Kane trying to protect you? Maybe he thought Blake was dangerous. Kane thought Blake needed to be stopped before you got hurt for real.

Madison Spires: Whoa. Don't drag Kane into this. Kane had nothing to do with what happened.

Detective Murphy: You expect us to believe that?

Madison Spires: I swear. It was just a prank that went horribly wrong. Blake was supposed to laugh. He always laughed. That's how we met. I painted his fingernails orange and convinced him they'd dry clear. We did that kind of stuff to each other all the time.

Detective Armstrong: What happened that day?

Madison Spires: I had this prank all worked out. A little shock, just enough to make the hair on his arms wiggle. And then he'd laugh. It was perfect, especially with the competition. I was so glad I had the opportunity that night in particular. I'd ground Blake, you know, remind him what was really important, our relationship. Not some stupid game.

Detective Murphy: Who helped you with it?

Madison Spires: Nobody. It was simple, once I had the idea. Perfect. The best prank since that first one. I even wore my spa gloves from work just to make sure I wouldn't get any nicks from the wires that Blake might spot before he picked up the guitar. He knows me. A little scratch on my hand? He would have been all over that, trying to figure out what I was trying to put over on him. We challenged each other that way.

Detective Armstrong: Did you tell anybody what happened? Afterwards I mean?

Madison Spires: Afterwards, I didn't even know what happened. Blake was just dead. I'm waiting for him to laugh, to toss the nearest pillow at me from across the room, and he's dead. I don't have a clue what's going on. What happened.

Detective Murphy: You were just pulling a prank.

Madison Spires: Exactly. And then he's dead.

Detective Armstrong: Did you know about him having Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome?

Madison Spires: I never even heard of it. His mother's to blame for that. Me, I was just pulling a prank. Blake and I, that's our thing.

Detective Murphy: That must have been a very difficult time. What did you do afterwards?

Madison Spires: I didn't know what to do. I had bits of wire and stuff in my jeans, The spa gloves. I like buried them in the woods and put up a wooden cross, like he'd died in a car accident.

Detective Armstrong: Could you show us where that is?

Madison Spires: Yeah. I've been back a few times.

Detective Murphy: Is there anything else you want to tell us right now?

Madison Spires: No, I'm just glad to get it off my chest.

Detective Armstrong: Madison Spires, you're under the arrest for the murder of Blake Jenson. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you can not afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you by the court. Do you understand these rights as I've explained them?

Madison Spires: Yes.

Detective Armstrong: Would you like to tell us how you came up with the idea for the prank?

Madison Spires: Not any more. I'm just tired. I want to stop now.

Interview ends: 9:46 AM