know. My brain’s fried. None of this makes a damn bit of sense. I’ve known Mary since she and Jason moved onto our street. She’s never shown an ounce of violence, and she certainly wasn’t crazy.”
Big amber eyes flicked up to his…searching.
“I would’ve seen it, right?” she sputtered.
“In truth? I don’t know. People surprise me every day, Mrs. Taylor. Can you tell me what you saw? How was her mood these last several days?”
Audrey shrugged. “I don’t know. Normal?”
“Define normal.”
“Uh. She’s got three kids, you know.” Her eyes widened. “Oh, shit. Those poor babies.”
“Go on. I need your help, Audrey.”
“Oh yeah, of course. They keep her running when they’re not in school.” She gave him a pointed stare, lips pursed. “You have to meet them to understand. Boys. So yeah, normal for Mary is tired, a little flustered, but still sweet as sugar. She never hit them or wished they hadn’t been born.” Her shoulders slumped.
“What?”
“It may be nothing, but I noticed yesterday she seemed sort of distracted. I figured she was preparing for school to let out for the summer. She had two days to get her act together before they were with her all day.”
“Did she ever hint at killing herself? Even as a joke?”
Arched brows arrowed downward. “You got kids?” she said with an air of disapproval.
“No.”
“Well, let me tell you, mister. At that age, they’ll have you pulling out your hair and wishing you could drink on the job. I’ve only got two, and they press me on the best days. No,” she stressed. “I never heard her utter those words. Serious or joking.”
“Had her hands full with the kids. Got it. Any other things weighing on her? Behind on the bills? House foreclosure looming?”
“No, nothing major. Jason makes decent money, and they didn’t live high on the hog. She was a little upset for putting on weight, but not out of control. I think she was about to take me up on the offer to work out. Other than that, nothing I can think of.”
“Did you ever see her take medication, even for weight loss?”
“No more than over-the-counter pain relievers or cold medicine. She’s always clear eyed.”
“Did she ever show you the gun Jason kept in the house?” The quick, derisive snort surprised him.
“Good grief, no way in hell. She’s scared of the damn thing.”
“How were she and Jason doing? Their marriage.”
Audrey’s features relaxed, a smile breaching the sadness. “They love each other so much. Been together since middle school. Even with the extra pounds, Jason looks at her as if she hung the moon. If there were major problems, I never saw it. Neither did Lou.” She paused, chewing a plump bottom lip and eyes searching the tabletop.
“Go ahead. Even the smallest thing might help.”
“I think she worried about Jason coming home late these last several days, but he’s working on a lake cabin to surprise her on their anniversary next week. He tried to—” She sucked in a breath.
Max settled back and let Audrey run with her volatile emotions the moment she gave her response a second thought. He had to admit it beyond sad the couple never reached their tenth year and Mary missing some happiness when learning what her husband had done for her. She died with suspicion still lingering in her mind. Audrey opened tear swollen eyes and worried the ball of tissue in her hand.
“This whole damn thing sucks all to hell and back.”
“I know, but if you had to guess what pushed your friend to do this, what would you say?”
Determined eyes flicked up and locked with his. “Her kids or Jason. Someone holding a gun to their temples and saying they were going to die. That’s it. They were everything to her.” She startled at the ringing phone.
“Excuse me for a moment. Browning…Be right there.” He gathered his notes and stood. “Your husband’s here. Let me walk you to the front. I appreciate you answering my questions. Look, Jason’s on his way to the school. I’m sure he’ll need help from the both of you when he gets home.”
Audrey scrambled from the chair and followed him into the hallway. “Of course. We’ll head right over there. Uh, Detective Browning?”
“Yes?”
“Thanks for allowing the other officer to tell me what happened. I know you didn’t have to since I’m not family, but will you keep Jason informed on what you figure out about all this mess? Someone forced Mary to do this. I’m sure of it.”
“A promise already made, and I won’t stop until I know.”
Relief bathed her pretty features. “Thank you.”
They walked in companionable silence down the congested hallway, winding their way through the multitude of personnel scurrying to-and-fro while dealing with all the other things continuing to happen out in the big, confusing world. This was just one more to add to the growing pile, and it would stick in his craw until a reasonable answer revealed itself.
Max knew the chief wanted this case closed soon so Oklahoma City and their precinct fell out of the limelight. But he also knew the victim’s families and Mary’s would want the elusive answer, as well. The “how” was clear. This case was all about motive now. Nothing more. They had a dead perp with enough witnesses to dispel any doubt of her involvement, but from what he learned about her character, it made no outward sense she was capable of such an outrageous act. However, the way she conducted the slaughter and her demeanor right before drawing on the officers didn’t scream of a woman believing her family in danger.
Then how does a somewhat harried, but loving mom and cherished wife morph into a calm, deadly killer overnight? He gritted his teeth. Or worse, was her sweet, innocent persona a fragile mask waiting to peel away this entire time?
Chapter 5
The slight edge of the sun rising above the horizon and painting a low blanket of clouds into an explosion of deep orange, yellow, and red brought a smile to Max’s face. He never knew what color would greet him. Whatever surprise the sky decided to offer, it never got old to him. This was the best part of living, he affirmed—seeing a new awakening and catching a tiny bit of hope something fresh and clean rode in on its coattails to wash away whatever clung to him the day before.
Match tip scraped across rough gray brick, Max turned his shoulder to block a slight breeze and lifted the flaming wooden stick to light his first cigarette of the day. On a quick snap of the thin, silver case Fergus’s wife, Danielle, gifted him years ago, he leaned back against the wall and let vivid memories flood an accepting mind.
While he and Fergus laughed it up in front of a backyard barbeque pit, she handed one over to her husband too. The little spitfire hadn’t
