Poison-pen | Enquêtes criminelles | W9

It’s Wednesday, 28 November 2007 in Farbus, a small village in the north of France. It’s 7:15pm when John Szablewski calls the gendarmes in a complete panic. His wife, Laurence Maille, 36, disappeared while out walking the dog. The family pet was found, wandering alone, some 5 miles from the couple’s home. What happened? Did she deliberately go missing, or was she kidnapped or murdered? The only lead available to the investigators comes from Laurence Maille’s colleagues. The day before she disappeared, Laurence suddenly left work claiming to have severe stomach pains. When questioned, her partner confirms that the next day Laurence remained at home in bed. In the afternoon, John Szablewski says he went to fetch medication for her and that she wasn’t there when he came back around 6 o’clock. There’s nothing to suggest the husband is lying. John and Laurence appeared to be a close and loving couple. And the husband is also moving heaven and earth to find the woman he loves. And yet the sorrowful partner will soon became the major suspect when the gendarmes discover that he’s suddenly sold jewellery belonging to his wife. When questioned, John Szablewski confesses that he buried his wife’s body in the nearby woods. The case appears to be closed until the day when the investigators learn about an anonymous letter sent by a mysterious poison-pen writer. A letter in which a certain Alain, ex-husband of Laurence Maille, is directly accused of the murder.