The Theory of Death (40 page)

Ferraga looked down. “I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

“On the contrary, I’d say that you were thinking very clearly.”

“My client has already given you an answer,” Granger said. “Please move on.”

Decker said, “When did you type her suicide note?”

“After I … when I came back to her house.”

“You used the very words she used when she wanted to end your love affair.”

“I used them because it sounded like Katrina. I wanted it to be as authentic as possible.”

“Her suicide.”

“Yes.” Ferraga shook his head. “It was insane what I did. I was insane! I was … crazy. I will admit my part in this charade. But I didn’t kill her. You must believe me.”

Decker’s face remained flat. “What did you do after you left her body in the woods?”

“I went back to Katrina’s house and mopped up the mess with paper towels and threw them in with the bloody clothing. I washed the floor with dishwashing liquid.” He wiped his wet eyes.

Granger said, “In his confused mind, Ferraga felt like he was helping Olivia. Certainly he wasn’t helping himself by doing that.”

“Or just maybe he thought he could get away with something.”

“I don’t know what I was thinking,” Ferraga said. “I don’t remember.”

“What time did you leave Katrina’s house? Do you remember that?”

“I suppose it was around five.”

“And you went straight home after that?”

“Yes.” His eyes watered. “She was already dead. You have to believe me. If she was even the least bit alive, I would have called the ambulance. I loved her. I wasn’t ready to end our relationship. I kept telling her I would never leave Olivia, that she didn’t have to worry about the affair being too serious.” He swallowed hard. “She must have tired of me.”

Decker said, “You got to your house around what time again?”

“Maybe five-thirty.”

“You walked home or drove home?”

“I had Olivia’s car.”

“Okay. You drove home and it was around five-thirty.”

“Maybe a little later. It was still dark.”

“What did you do with the clothes you were wearing? I assumed you changed your clothes.”

“I did change my clothes.”

“So what did you do with your bloody clothing?”

“I must have put them in the same bag with all the other blood-stained clothes.”

“Where is the bag?”

“I threw it away.”

“Where?”

“I don’t remember.” When Ferraga’s comment was met with silence, he said, “I swear I don’t remember. I was completely insane by that time.”

“Aldo, our techs found remnants of cloth in your fireplace.” That part was true. Probably not enough to use for forensics, but there were definitely bits of cloth that survived even after Ferraga cleaned up.

Granger said, “That means nothing.”

“He burned his clothes in the fireplace,” Decker said. “That shows intent!”

“If I burned them, I don’t remember,” Ferraga said. “All I remember is showering a very long time. Then I shaved and went to work around seven. When I heard the news, I was truly horrified. It was as if I heard about it for the first time. It was as if someone else had to have done it.” He put his hands over his mouth and shook his head. “I was in a dissociative state.”

“Did you learn that word from your lawyer?”

Granger said, “We’re cooperating with you. No need to get snide.”

“Sometimes you just do things,” Ferraga said. “You know you’re not thinking optimally. You know you’re really not thinking clearly at all. But you’ve come this far and you see no other way out. You just go to the bitter end and hope for the best.” He looked up at Decker. “I’m not a criminal. I’m not a psychopath. I’m just a man who was trying to do the best I could.”

“You were having an affair.”

“Olivia and I have not been intimate for a very long time. It’s part of her medication. You lose the drive.”

“Did she know about the affair?”

“She found out about three months ago.”

“Was she surprised by it?”

“Excuse me?”

“Katrina couldn’t have been the first.”

Ferraga looked down. “She told me to end it and I told her I would.”

“You would what?”

“I told her I would end the affair.”

“But you didn’t.”

“I knew Katrina was tiring of me. It really was over by the time this tragedy happened.” Again he caught Decker’s eye. “What will happen to my children?”

“Do you have relatives who’d be willing to take them?”

“My brother, perhaps. He’s divorced. He doesn’t see his own kids very often.” His eyes leaked tears. “What charges do I face?”

“Tampering with evidence, defacing a body, obstruction of justice, aiding and abetting.”

“I will face prison time.”

Granger said, “Not necessarily.”

Decker said, “Diminished capacity. I get it. You know, Aldo, if you had called up right away—even anonymously—you wouldn’t have faced jail time. Yes, you were trying to shield your wife, to spare her for the ordeal, but judges understand mitigating circumstances.”

“I told you I wasn’t in my right mind. But whatever I did, I did it to protect my wife. She can’t go to prison. She isn’t stable.”

Decker said, “Aldo, if she isn’t stable, why in the world do you have a gun in the house?”

There was a long pause. Granger said, “You don’t have to answer that.”

“I will answer that because the answer is innocent,” Ferraga said. “Frequently, I am gone at night. And please do not snicker. It was not just the affair. I actually work in my office at night. I find the peace and quiet conducive to getting things done. Olivia told me when the hour gets late and I’m not home, she feels vulnerable and scared.”

A pause.

“She asked me to buy her a gun because she couldn’t buy one—her mental state is on record. So I bought it for her. I felt … I owed it to her.”

“You owed it to her?” Decker was floored. “You knew she was unstable. She could have killed one of your children.”

“She would never do that.”

“She could have killed you. She could have killed herself. She almost did kill herself.” Decker paused. “Or maybe that was the ulterior motive.”

“That’s a horrible, untrue, vicious thing to say. I have given my life to that woman.”

Decker said, “I apologize if my comment seemed rude.”

“It was …” Ferraga didn’t finish his sentence.

That was okay.

They both knew the truth when they heard it.

MCADAMS CLOSED HIS
duffel. His shoulder was still sore, but since it could have been a lot worse, he refused to complain. He hoisted up the bag with his good arm and walked into the hallway, where Decker immediately relieved him of it.

“I can do it, Old Man.”

“I know, but why should you?” Decker smiled. “You’re used to people doing your bidding anyway. I’m just one of many.”

“That’s true. Do I tip you?”

“Don’t bother. You’ve already done your good deed for the month.”

“Her gun wasn’t anywhere near you,” McAdams said.

“It was pointed right at me … or at Ferraga. It was pointed at both of us. Whether or not she would have hit him or me is another question. I’m glad you acted before we both found out.”

“I wasn’t thinking,” McAdams said.

“Not consciously, no. But your subconscious was thinking very well. You were there when it mattered. I’m proud of you, kiddo. You are the consummate professional.”

McAdams smiled broadly. “Thank you, Old Man. How about we do Kevlar next time?”

“How about if there is no next time?”

“Even better.”

Rina came in. “Here’s your lunch.” She handed Decker a paper bag. She turned to Tyler. “And here’s lunch and dinner for you.”

McAdams took the proffered bag. “Thanks, although I probably won’t eat too much. Not good to study on a full stomach. It shunts the blood to the gut instead of the brain and I’ll need every bit of brainpower I have.”

“You’ll do fine.”

“Yeah, I’m really not worried.”

Decker said, “When do you find out the results?”

“At the end of the next week. I still have the weekend to prepare. I’ll be fine. You know the administration told me that if I need more time to recuperate, I can take the exams a week later.”

“And?”

“I told them it was only a graze, that I’d be fine. Besides, you don’t know how venal people can be. For all I know, some of my classmates will think I shot myself to get more study time. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of them attempted a copycat.”

Rina laughed. She kissed his cheek. “Good luck.”

“Thank you.” He turned to Decker. “You know I really can hire a car.”

“I’m playing chauffeur for the day. Just don’t ask me to wear a uniform. I have a little business to do on the way back, so it’s no problem.”

“Okay. Let’s rock-and-roll.”

They stepped outside and Decker popped the trunk. After placing McAdams’s duffel inside, he slammed the trunk and turned around. From the corner of his eye, he saw Mallon Euler obscured by a bush. Gently, he nudged McAdams’s good arm. “I’ll wait inside.”

“What? Wait a sec.”

But Decker was already gone. McAdams made a face. “You can come out of hiding, Mallon.” She stepped out of the blind swaddled in a white parka, white pants, and white boots. She looked like a snowman. “How long have you been waiting there?”

“About a half hour.”

“You’re allowed to ring the doorbell.”

“I was gonna do it, but then you came out.” A pause. “I heard.” Her lower lip quivered. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, but thanks for asking.” Tears streamed down her cheek. “Really I’m fine. Stop.” His insistence turned the waterworks on full blast. He said, “Oh Christ. C’mere.”

She walked toward him and he embraced her in a big hug. “I’m
fine
.”

“I just … care.”

“Thank you. I’m glad you care.”

She pulled away. “You’re going back to Harvard?”

“Yes. I’m still officially enrolled.”

Her eyes looked at her boots. “Okay. So I’ll see you maybe …”

“I’m sure I’ll see you again before you graduate.” But she made no attempt to excuse herself. “Something on your mind?”

“I had a long talk with Dr. Tolvard. I’m taking over Eli’s work for my thesis. Tolvard said I could have it. He even said he’d work with me.”

“Eli’s research on space junk?”

She nodded but still couldn’t look him in the eye. “Yeah, I have to go to summer school anyway, now that I’m getting two degrees. Actually, Rosser, by being a butthead, did me a favor. I get to honor Eli by continuing his work.”

“That’s lovely, Mallon. I’m sure he would have wanted it that way.”

“Maybe.” She shrugged. “Besides, his ideas were way better than mine. It’ll make a much better thesis in both departments.”

McAdams laughed. “No sin in being practical.” He gave her a brief smile that she didn’t see because she was still looking down. “Any plans after summer school and graduation?”

“Actually yes.” She cleared her throat. “Eli must have written to Google at one point, telling someone what he was doing. He must have listed Dr. Tolvard as a reference. Dr. Tolvard got a call and referred them to me.”

She stopped talking. McAdams could see where this was going. “You’ve landed an internship at Google?”

“Actually, a job … in the fall.”

“Plotting space junk?”

“Yes. Satellites are expensive. No sense launching something if it’s going to collide with crap. Obviously, it’s what Eli would have wanted to do. Why let all his hard work go to waste?”

“Why indeed.” He placed a hand on her shoulder and she looked up. “Any organization that has you on board is very lucky. Congratulations.”

Again her eyes teared up. “I can finally visit my sister.” A pause. “I’ve never been to the West Coast.”

“The bay area is beautiful. The weather is lovely and it’s truly scenic country. All you have to remember is that the ocean is to the west instead of the east.”

There was an awkward pause. She said, “Can I e-mail you?”

“Anytime.”

“Can I text you?”

“Yeah, you can even call me.”

“I like texting better.”

McAdams laughed. “Whatever, Mallon. I would like it if we keep in touch.”

“You would?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not just saying that?”

“No. Let’s keep in touch.”

Another awkward moment. She kissed his lips gently. “Thank you for taking me seriously.”

“And thank you for having faith in my ability as a cop.” This time he kissed her gently. “I need to go now, I’ll miss my bus.”

“I thought Decker was taking you up.”

“Yeah, that’s right. He is. But I still need to go.”

“Trying to get rid of me.”

McAdams ignored her comment. “I’ll talk to you soon. I mean I’ll text you soon.”

“What
ever
!” She walked away, then she turned to him and smiled.

It was a radiant grin.

T
HE DAY WAS
crystal: deep blue skies, cotton-ball clouds, and a bright full sun. Decker pulled down the car’s visor to deflect the glare from the acres of snow-covered ground. The afternoon heat of forty-two degrees had melted some of the drifts and that made driving on the rutted road a challenge as the tires ground and stalled in mud and slush. He arrived at the farm just as the sun was sinking against a flat, white horizon.

Ruth Anne opened the door, in her eyes a mixture of surprise and alarm. “Detective Decker.” A pause. “How nice of you to visit.”

“I was in the area, so I decided to pop in. I hope that’s okay.”

“Of course.” She hesitated, but then she caught herself. “I’m so sorry. Where are my manners? Do come in.”

“Thank you.” He wiped his feet on the mat. “Am I interrupting anything important?”

“No, not at all.” She stepped aside and wiped her hands on an apron. “Is Mrs. Decker with you?”

“Unfortunately, no.”

“Please sit down. How about some coffee?”

“I’d love a cup of coffee.”

“Ezra’s gone to market. He won’t be back for a while. Do you need to talk to him?”

“Actually, I’d love to speak to Jacob if he’s available.”

Ruth Anne hesitated. “I think he’s in the barn.” She was fidgety. She probably wasn’t used to being alone with a nonrelative man in the house. “How about if I put on a pot of coffee and then get Jacob for you?”