CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Lachlan filled his lungs to capacity and then blew out his breath on a heavy sigh. Audrey Becker waited for him in one of the interview rooms. He could tell she’d been surprised when he’d asked her to come down to the station to answer a few more questions, but she’d eventually shrugged and arrived at the appointed time. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but after Ava’s bombshell, he owed it to Becker to find out.

Opening the door to the interview room, he walked in and took a seat opposite Becker’s wife. She glanced up and smiled. She was a pretty woman, small and petite and looked at least fifteen years younger than the superintendent. Lachlan wondered about their story; how they’d gotten together. Opening a notebook to a fresh page, he pulled a pen out of his pocket and began.

“Mrs Becker, let me tell you again how sorry I am for your loss. It must have come as a shock to you.”

“Yes, it did, Detective. I had no idea. I mean, I was aware Nigel was getting counseling, and though I don’t put much stock in that kind of thing, I truly believed it was helping. I can only assume the pressures of the job got to him. I’m sure you know what I mean. Police officers see way too much of the most awful things there are to see and nobody understands, nobody knows what to say.”

A tear formed in her eye and she patted it away with a dainty, lace-edged handkerchief. “Nigel used to try and talk to me about it in the early days, but to tell you the truth, I couldn’t handle it. I couldn’t handle hearing about all those awful things. It was the reason I suggested he get some counseling.” Her voice caught on a sob. “I thought it was helping him! He seemed to be getting better!”

Lachlan forced himself to remain unaffected by her display of emotion, even though it was difficult to sit back passively and witness her pain. After giving her a few moments to collect herself, he spoke again.

“Mrs Becker, when I talked to you at the house, you told me you knew nothing of your husband’s penchant for women’s clothing. Do you remember that?”

She blinked and stared up at him. “Yes.”

“But, that’s not the truth, is it, Mrs Becker. You did know about it. In fact, you and Nigel argued about it not so long ago. Isn’t that right?”

She lowered her gaze and stared at the scarred Formica table that stood between them. Fresh tears welled up in her eyes and trickled down her cheeks. A long moment later, she nodded.

Lachlan sat forward in his seat and pitched his voice low. “Why did you lie to me, Mrs Becker?”

The woman gasped on a loud sob and buried her face in her hands. “I’m sorry, Detective! I’m sorry! I was distraught, and embarrassed. I didn’t know what to say!” She lifted her head and stared at him, her eyes red with tears.

“My husband was the commander of the Barwon district. He was responsible for close to thirty officers in a town that has its problems. At night, in the privacy of his home, or our shed, he liked to dress like a woman. It was disgusting! It was shameful! How could you expect me to own up to knowing something like that? It didn’t make any difference. It certainly wasn’t going to bring Nigel back!”

Her sobs increased in volume and pressure and Lachlan clenched his jaw against her pain. She was right. He wasn’t sure he’d have admitted to knowing such a shameful family secret, either.

His gaze raked over her again. Even if she’d had sufficient motivation, there was no way she was strong enough to pull the hanging off. Becker had weighed more than two hundred pounds. It had taken four men to cut him down. No, she couldn’t be responsible for her husband’s death. It was time to reassure her and let her go home and grieve in private.

“I’m sorry, Mrs Becker. I know how hard this is for you. I didn’t want to upset you. I’m just doing my job.”

She raised her head and looked at him, her pretty skin blotchy and red from her tears, but she smiled at him kindly.

“I understand, Detective. I was married to a policeman for nearly a decade. I know all about how your job works.”

He nodded, grateful for her understanding. Pushing away from the table, he helped her to her feet.

“Thank you for coming in, Mrs Becker. I appreciate it. Do you have someone to drive you home? I’m happy to organize a ride.”

“No, thank you. I… I came here with a friend. I asked him to wait for me outside. He’s keeping an eye on the kids.”

At the reminder of Becker’s two young children, Lachlan’s gut twisted with dread. It would be a long, hard road for them to come to terms with their father’s death, if ever. He was glad he’d spared his own kids that kind of pain.

Showing the woman out, he thanked her once again. She nodded and left the station. She didn’t look back.

Lachlan dragged himself wearily back to his desk and collapsed into his chair. It had been a long and tiring couple of days. He wanted to find a hot shower and then sleep the sleep of the dead, but first, he had to call Ava. He missed her.

The phone dialed out and he waited for her to answer.

“Good morning, Lachlan. How are you?”

She sounded quiet and subdued, as if testing out his mood. The night before, he’d been so busy, he’d barely had a minute to speak with her.

“I’m fine,” he replied. “You’ll be pleased to know it’s over.”

“Becker’s investigation?”

“Yes.”

“What happened?”

“I just interviewed Audrey Becker. I’m satisfied she had nothing to do with his death. It’s going to be ruled a suicide, as we suspected from the outset.”

“Oh, well, I guess that’s good. At least you can be satisfied you know the truth.”

“Yes. Now all I want to do is finish up my report and sign off. I’m going to take a shower and catch a few hours’ sleep at the station and then I’ll hit the road. I hope to be in Sydney by this evening.”

“That sounds wonderful.”

He heard the excitement and happiness in her voice and couldn’t help but smile. Just the thought of being back by her side brought comfort to his battered soul.

“I love you,” he said.

“I love you, too. I’ll see you soon.”

He swallowed the lump of emotion that lodged itself in his throat and managed to reply. “I’m counting down the hours.”