We were arranging Wilson McDonald started, but Lucas waved him down.
Please let your wife answer, Lucas said.
McDonald looked down at Audrey, who said, falteringly, Well, we were arranging… talking about… votes on the board of directors. The board appeared to be split three ways, and if we could arrange an alliance with one or the other of them… She shrugged.
And Lucas recognized the voice as the woman on the telephone earlier that day. He wasnt absolutely positive, but he would have bet on it. The timbre of her voice and the pacing of the words were very close.
Did you see anyone in the hall when you left? Or downstairs? Swanson asked, swerving off the topic.
There were some people downstairs, but nobody I recognized, Audrey said. There wasnt anybody up here. The hallway is short… She pointed back to the hall through the open apartment door. Therere only two apartments.
Lucas pulled them back to the meeting: What did you decide? Did you get your alliance?
Well… Audrey looked at her husband, whose lips were pressed tight in anger.
This has nothing to do with who killed Susan ODell, does it? he asked. Youre trying to screw me so your pal Bone gets the CEOs job.
Hes not my pal, Lucas snapped back.
No? Who handled the money for your IPO and the management buyout? And you were in his office last week talking about me. I havent done anything and youve been spreading rumors that are killing me.
Lucas shook his head: Routine…
Bullshit. My lawyer used to be a cop, and he says its nothing like routine.
So get your lawyer down here if you want, Lucassaid. But I want an answer: Did you strike a deal with Susan ODell?
Wilson McDonald looked down at his wife, who stared back, then nodded almost imperceptibly. Wilson turned back to Lucas: Yes, we did. Between the two of us, we had the votes. She becomes president, I become chairman. I work on strategic issues, she works on day-to-day matters.
How about Bone?
He shook his head: Bone is committed to the merger. We couldnt talk.
So, if ODell hadnt been shot, youd have had the job.
And Bone would have been out, McDonald said. Why dont you go ask your pal about that one?
Swanson stepped in: Mr. McDonald, were gonna ask you to step out into the hallway while we talk to your wife. No big problem, you can take a chair if you wish, but we need a statement from her, a sort of blow-by-blow account of everything that happened.
I thought she had a right to an attorney, McDonald blustered.
She does, Swanson said, And if she wants one, we can wait until you get somebody here. But were not accusing her of anything at all. We just want to hear what happened.
Then why cant I stay?
Because you have a way of answering her questions for her. Weve been through this before, and weve just gotten to the point where we ask the spouse to step outside. An attorneys fine, if she wants one now, or she can ask for one at any time.
McDonald looked at his wife for a moment, as if weighing the possibility that she would say something strange under questioning, then looked back at Swanson and nodded. Ill take a chair. And to Audrey: The minute they push the wrong button, you come get me, and well have Harrison get up here.
Okay, she said, swallowing nervously. Dont go far away.
WHEN WILSON MCDONALD HAD GONE, LUCAS SAID, Detective Swanson is going to talk to you for a few minutes, then Detective Sloan will want to ask a few questionsDetective Sloan has already spoken to your husband…
Up at Dans cabinhe told me about it, Audrey said. She seemed more assertive when her husband wasnt around.
I have to leave in a minute or two, but Id like to talk to you privately just for a moment, you and I, Lucas said. He looked at Swanson. I just need to speak to her for a second.
Sure.
Lucas escorted her into ODells kitchen, lowered his voice: I believe I spoke to you earlier today.
What? Was she really surprised? he wondered. There was an instant of surprise in her eyes. I dont believe so.
Mrs. McDonald, you have a rather nasty bruise on your leg, just above your ankle: Is that new?
I just… She looked away, groped for a word… bumped myself.
No, you didnt, he said. Your husband beat you up last night. Would you like a call from the domestic intervention people?
No, no, we only had a little argument.
If we took you downtown and had one of our policewomen take a look at you, shed find a lot of bruises, wouldnt she?
Thats illegal. I want to see my husband.
Okay. Lucas raised his hands. Like I said, this is just between you and me. If you dont want to make a complaint, Im not going to insist on it. But you should. It never gets better, it always gets worse.
Things will get better. Wilsons been under a lot of stress. This job…
Just a job, Lucas said.
Oh, no. She was shocked. This… this is everything.
BEFORE HE LEFT, LUCAS TOOK SWANSON ASIDE: TREAT her very carefully. Get as much as you can on her personal history, everythingand tell Sloan that I want her wrung out, but not scared. Dont push her into getting an attorney.
Are we trying for anything in particular? Swanson asked. He turned half sideways to look at Audrey, who was perched on a chair in ODells home office.
If we can do itvery gentlyitd be nice to get a wedge between her and her husband. Dont be obvious, but if the opportunity comes up, itd be good to let her know that her interests and her husbands are not necessarily the same.
BACK IN HIS CAR, LUCAS PICKED UP THE CAR PHONE and called St. Annes College, which was located a few blocks from his house in St. Paul. He told the St. Annes operator that he knew it was late and nuns commonly dont take calls from men in the middle of the night, that this was an emergency and perhaps a matter of life and death, that he was with the police department… and he got his nun.
Sister Mary Joseph, a psychology professor and childhood friend hed always known as Elle Kruger: Lucas? Is somebody hurt? A sharp, somewhat astringent voice, becoming more so as they got older.
Nothing like that, Elle. Im sorry to disturb you, but I have a couple of questions on a case.
Oh, good. I was afraid… Anyway, have you read theIliadlately?
Uh, no, actually. He looked at his watch. Had to get to Bones place.
Have you ever read it?
Thats the one… No, thats theOdyssey. I guess not. Same guy, though, right?
Lucas… She sounded exasperated. I keep forgetting you were a jock. Listen, go down and get theIliad, the one thats translated by Robert Fagles, thats the one Im reading now, and Ill tell you what parts to read if you dont want to read the whole thing.
Elle…
The thing is, this translation is much coarser, in all the right places, than the old onesmy goodness, the Trojan War resembled one of your gang wars. That was always obscured by the language of the other translations, but this one… the language is brilliantly apt.
Elle, Elle tell me later. Im calling from my car and Ive got a serious question.
She stopped with theIliad: Which is?
If a woman is routinely beaten by her husband, is it likely that she might betray him behind his back, while defending him when he was around?
Of coursewouldnt you if you were in her shoes?
No.
