“Yes.” A few tears rolled down Angela’s cheek. “But that doesn’t mean I didn’t still love him. He was the father of my children.” She raised a hand to block the camera. “I’m sorry. I just can’t.” Sobbing, she turned away. A few reporters followed her, but she hurried to a silver BMW sedan.
When Matt returned to interview room one, Bree had jotted down a quick list of bullet-pointed notes. She set down the pen and drummed her fingers on the table. “I’m not sure what to make of her. How much of her performance was an act?”
“Most of it.” Matt closed the door and described the parking-lot scene. “It was Oscar-worthy. She summoned tears and everything.”
“In here, despite all her crying, her mascara didn’t run. Her lipstick didn’t even smudge.” Bree added, “What did you think of her saying she didn’t read the PIs’ report?”
“I can’t see anyone not reading that report. Who could resist knowing who their spouse was banging? Everybody wants the dirty details.”
“Right?” Bree huffed. “I call bullshit on that too.”
“On the bright side, I know Lance Kruger of Sharp Investigations. He used to work for the Scarlet Falls PD. He’s a good guy. I only know his boss by reputation, but it’s solid. Whatever information they have will be valid. We could get a list of possible new suspects.”
Bree tapped her pen on her pad. “If Paul was shot with his own weapon, then whoever killed him knew he had one and where he kept it. They didn’t break into his garage and truck and conveniently find a gun.”
“Chances are, he knew his killer.”
“I agree.” Bree turned over the page of her notepad. “On that note, shall we talk to Noah?”
“Yes. The one question Angela flat-out didn’t answer is whether or not the boys knew about Paul’s gun.”
“It would be hard to believe Paul owned a weapon for many years without his adult sons knowing it existed.” Bree got up and led the way into the next interview room.
Matt had seen photos of the twins, but in person, Noah looked remarkably like his mother, tall and leanly athletic. His jeans, striped button-down shirt, and loafers had a nerdy/preppy vibe. But he was displaying none of his mother’s calculation. Noah was pacing the room, chewing on his thumbnail when Bree and Matt entered. She pressed a button, and the light on the video camera mounted in the corner turned green.
She introduced them and sat at the table, where she read Noah his Miranda warning. “I need you to sign that you understand.”
Noah faced them. “Why?”
“It’s the law, Mr. Beckett.” Bree adjusted her sling and winced.
“Please don’t call me that.” He yanked out the chair and plopped into it. “Mr. Beckett is my dad’s name. I don’t want to be him.”
“OK, Noah.” Bree’s tone softened. She had an instinctive ability to read people and tailor her interview style. For Noah, she’d morphed into a mother figure because that’s what he responded to. She handed him her pen, and he signed the paper without reading any of it.
He checked his phone. “I tried to call my mom, but she’s not answering.”
Bree gave him a stern look. “I’m going to ask you to turn off your phone during our interview.”
Noah responded with a respectful nod. “Sure. I’m sorry.” He switched the phone to silent and shoved it into his pocket.
Matt exhaled. He didn’t want Angela to return Noah’s call in the middle of their questioning session.
“You’re staying with a friend?” Bree began.
“Yeah.” He raised his thumb to his mouth and chewed on the nail. “At my girlfriend’s place.”
“I’ll need her name and address.” Bree poised her pen.
“Chloe Miller.” He gave them the address of an apartment in Scarlet Falls.
“When did you get back to town?” Bree asked.
“Last week. Thursday.” He dropped his hand into his lap. “I should have told Mom. But I know there’s nowhere to stay at her friend’s place, and I didn’t want to stay with my dad.” He sighed. “I just thought this would be easier.”
“You were going to have to tell her eventually,” Bree pointed out.
“I know.” Noah’s gaze fell to his hands. “I’ll talk to her later today. She’s going to be hurt that I’ve been here a week and didn’t see her.” He picked at his nail. “And that I lied to her when we talked last night.”
Bree’s mouth turned up in the corner. “She loves you. She’s going to be happy to see you no matter what.”