Delicate, understated silver jewelry decorated her earlobes and wrist. A bottle of water sat unopened in front of her. Despite her put-together appearance, her nerves were showing. She was twisting her wedding band around and around on her finger.
Bree turned on the video camera. “This interview is being recorded.”
Angela nodded.
“Are we waiting for your attorney?” She eased into the chair at the head of the table, diagonal from Angela. Matt dropped into the seat opposite her.
“No.” As if suddenly aware of her fidgeting, Angela stopped playing with her ring and folded her hands on the table. “He was unavailable.”
“Are you sure you want to proceed without him?” Bree asked, wanting nothing to invalidate Angela’s statements in court later.
“Yes. I just want to get this over with.” Angela looked up, her face blank. “I still can’t comprehend Paul’s death.”
“Again, we’re sorry for your loss.” Bree recited her Miranda rights and slid a paper across the table. In a this is routine voice, she said, “I need you to sign that you understand your rights.” She offered her pen.
Angela took it, carefully read the paper, then signed it, her tight mouth locked in a brittle half smile.
Bree matched her smile and slid the second pack of candy across the table. “Mrs. Beckett, thank you for coming in to speak with us during what must be a difficult time.” She always liked to seem as if she were on the suspect’s side, at least in the beginning.
“Call me Angela. I haven’t decided if I’m dropping the Beckett yet. I hate the name now, but it’s my boys’ name so . . .” Angela touched the bag of candy with one finger, as if it would burn her. “I haven’t had a piece of candy in . . . I don’t even know how long. I was always worried about gaining weight. Paul liked me thin and fit. I play tennis five days a week.”
Bree ate a chocolate from her own bag. “Did Paul play tennis?”
“No.” She pursed her lips. “He liked golf and fishing, but he didn’t have much time for hobbies. The only thing he truly loved was his company.”
“But your sons play tennis?” Bree asked.
“Yes.” Angela’s face lit up in a smile. “They were both on the high school tennis team. They’re natural athletes.” Her voice rang with pride.
“You must miss them. When were they last home?” Matt asked.
“Christmas.” She frowned at the M&M’s. “Paul sent them to Florida for spring break. He didn’t want to drag the boys into our problems.”
Bree made a note. “How did you feel about that?”
“I don’t know.” Angela looked away. “As much as I wanted to see them, I also didn’t want to upset them. But I felt terrible when I had to tell them about the separation over the phone. Some things should be done in person.” She sniffed. “I had to tell them about their father’s death over the phone too. That was awful for them. But they weren’t supposed to come home for two weeks. I couldn’t have them hear it from someone else or on the news.”
“Then why not wait to tell them about the separation until they came home for the summer?” Matt asked.
“Because if they talked to Paul, he would slip, and I wanted them to hear it from me. I was afraid Paul would be . . .” She waved a hand, as if searching for the right word. “Abrupt. Paul wouldn’t have understood the boys being upset. He would have told them to suck it up.” She bit off the last three words with venom.
Or had she wanted the boys to hear her story before they heard Paul’s?
Matt’s shoulders tipped forward, his posture attentive. “It sounds like Paul was insensitive with his sons.”
“He believed men should be tough,” Angela backtracked.
“You disagreed on parenting styles,” Bree said in an understanding voice.
Angela paused to think before answering. “Paul thought I was too soft on the boys. Maybe he was right.”
She was cagier than Bree had expected and was trying to downplay her disagreements with her husband.
Bree shifted topics, hoping to throw Angela off guard. “So, Paul asked you to leave? That doesn’t seem right. It was your home too.”
“He didn’t ask. Not exactly.” Angela visibly gathered herself. “A friend told me she’d seen him with another—younger—woman.” She took a deep breath. “The really strange thing is that I was ashamed. My husband had been seen running around with another woman, yet I was the one who was embarrassed.” She