Paul’s eyes looked upward. Suddenly, his eyelids started fluttering.
“Oh Lord.”
“What?”
“Nothing.” Paul made a face. “I didn’t realize my sister-in-law was up there with her.”
Decker looked at the woman descending the staircase. The anorexic woman with short, short platinum hair who had glommed on to Bram at the memorial reception yesterday.
“Luke’s wife?”
“Certainly she’s not Bram’s.”
Decker smiled. “Ask a stupid question…”
Paul turned around. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
“It’s fine. Her name is Dana?”
Paul nodded. When she came to the bottom of the stairs, Dana appraised her brother-in-law with a cool eye. “Hello, Paul.”
“Dana. Didn’t know you were here.”
“Mother and I were just reading Bible together.” Nearly colorless eyes looked at Decker. “Who’s this?”
Paul made the introductions. She offered Decker a slender hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Thank you. Is your husband around?”
Dana’s eyes clouded. “He’s at work.”
Decker said nothing.
“Actually, that’s a good thing,” Dana said. “Don’t you think that’s a good thing, Paul?”
“It’s an excellent thing, Dana.”
“You’re being snide.”
“Not at all, Dana.” His eyes darted back and forth. “It’s a very good thing that Luke’s at work…occupied. Where’s Mom?”
“Michael is helping her freshen up.” To Decker, Dana said, “She hasn’t gotten out of bed all day. She’s very depressed.”
Decker nodded.
Dana wrung her hands nervously, “Do you know when Bram’s supposed to show up? He seems to have a calming effect on her. Maybe I should call him.”
Paul blinked hard. “I think he’s pretty tied up right now, Dana.”
“Too busy to see his mother?”
“Maggie told me he was here this morning. He does have a parish to run.”
“I’m sure his parishioners would understand-”
“I’m sure, but-”
“I think I should call him.”
From above, a strong, low female voice said, “Dana, leave him alone. He’s busy.”
Dana became flushed. Through clenched teeth, she called out, “Of course, Mother.” She checked her watch. To Decker, she said, “I must be going.”
“Nice to have met you.”
“Same.” She turned around and scurried out the door before her mother-in-law made it down the stairs.
Dolores “Dolly” Sparks. An imperfect name for her. Because she was anything but a plaything. Tall, large-boned, stately, stern. A coif of gray hair framed a sturdy face. Her eyes, though red-rimmed, were hard and threatening. Decker saw none of the vulnerability and shock he had witnessed when Michael had first broken the news to her. She wore a black caftan, her feet were housed in mules.
She gave Decker a once-over. “That girl is something else. First, she tries to seduce Bram into marrying her. By the skin of his teeth, he finally manages to get rid of her. So what does Luke do? He goes ahead and marries her himself. He did it for spite. Well, good for Luke. He got his spite. He also got her, still mooning over his twin-”
“Why don’t you sit down, Mom,” Paul said.
“Why don’t you stop trying to shut me up.”
No one spoke.
Dolly’s lip began to tremble. “Where is Bram?”
Michael said, “Would you like me to call him for you, Mom?”
“Please.” She hid her face in the palm of her hand.
Paul took her arm. “Mom, sit down.”
This time, Dolly didn’t protest. Allowed herself to be led to the couch. Paul said, “Mom, this is Lieutenant Decker. He’s leading Dad’s investigation.”
Dolly wiped her eyes and nodded.
Decker nodded back. “I apologize for interrupting your rest.”
“What rest? With Dana keeping me awake, reading me Psalms…trying to be spiritual. She should try making it to church on time. A good start in spiritual development.”
Paul said, “She means well, Mom.”
“I suppose.” Dolly looked at Decker. “How can I help you, Mr. Decker?”
“It’s lieutenant, Mom.”
“Whatever,” Decker said. “You can help me by answering a few questions.”
“I don’t know who’d want to harm Azor,” Dolly stated. “Far as I know, he didn’t have an enemy in the world.”
“If I could start with something even more basic. What do you think your husband was doing at Tracadero’s?”
“I’m sure I don’t know.”
Decker looked at Paul, then back at the widow. “I hate to ask you this. But is it possible he could have been meeting a woman?”
Paul’s eyes twitched. But Dolly’s face remained placid. “You mean Dr. Fulton?”
Decker said, “No, I mean a paramour.”
Dolly remained unperturbed. “No, it’s not possible. I didn’t know much about Azor’s life outside the home. But I do know that much.”
“Okay. Then who might your husband have been meeting?”
“I don’t know.”
Decker nodded. “What do you know about your husband’s weekend friends?”
Paul said, “He means the bikers.”
“Them?” She grimaced. “They’re lowlifes, of course. Azor brought them here once. Came roaring down the street, looking like a bunch of hoods. I refused to let them step foot in my house. I almost kicked them out yesterday. But I didn’t…for Azor’s sake. If they wanted to honor him, so be it.”
Michael came back. “Bram said he’ll be here in an hour. Unless you need him right away.”
Dolly thought a moment. “An hour is fine. I’ll just take a nap.” She stood. “Anything else?”
“A few more questions, Mrs. Sparks. I’ll try not to tire you.”
She sat back down and waited.
Decker said, “Were you aware of the fact that your husband gave money to his riding buddies for a cause of theirs?”
Her mouth tightened. “Yes. Some freedom act. Everyone should be free. You know what, Mr. Decker? Some people shouldn’t be free. Some people should be locked up in jail the rest of their lives, instead of taking money from naive do-gooders.”
Inwardly, Decker agreed. He said, “You felt the cause was a scam.”
“Of course it was a scam,” Dolly pronounced. “But it was Azor’s money. He never left me wanting for anything. Provided well for me and the children. Gave to the church and to the hospital. I suppose if he wanted to squander a little excess…well, there are worse vices, believe you me.”
Decker smiled.
Dolly stood again, this time teetering on her feet. “I really am tired, Mr. Decker.” Her eyes suddenly watered. “Perhaps another time.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Sparks.”
“You’re welcome.” She leaned over to Paul, and he kissed her cheek. “When’s the first installment of the tuition due, Paul?”
Paul turned red. “Three weeks, Mom.”
“We should have this will thing straightened out by then. Send me the papers. Dad made you a promise, I’ll honor it.”
“Thank you very much, Mom.”
She patted his cheek. To Michael, she said, “Walk me up to my room, pumpkin.”
“Of course.” Michael shook hands with Decker. “Anything you need, we’re here to help. Right, Mom?”
“Right.” She started walking, then her knees folded. Michael grabbed her arm. “Lean on me, Mom.”
Decker followed them up the stairs until they disappeared. A moment later, he heard a door close.
Paul said, “She’s exhausted.”
“Can’t say I blame her.” Decker smoothed his mustache. “She seems to have an inner strength. Guess you’d have to have energy to raise six children, especially triplet boys.”
Paul nodded.
“You get along well with your brothers?”
Paul shrugged. “Not too bad. Being as Luke and Bram are identical, it was hard to compete with that genetic bond.”
“They were close growing up?”