Oh, thank you, she said. Her voice was soft, though not because she was whispering There was a hoarse and almost gravelly nature to it. Rachel imagined the poor woman had been howling and screaming over the loss of her husband for the last few days. I appreciate you coming, she went on, but Im afraid youre wasting your time. Theres no real crime around it from what I can tell. He jumped. He…killed himself. The last two words came out with an undertone of anger on them.

Were in town because there have been some similar incidents lately, Rachel said.

Something like confusion spread across Ellens face for a moment. You think they might be connected somehow?

We just dont know. Thats what were trying to find out.

How many others?

Two, Jack said. Including your husbands, its been one a night for the last three days.

I hate to ask such personal questions, Rachel said, but what was Josephs demeanor like over the last few days?

He seemed perfectly fine. As I told Detective Branson, Joe used to deal with depression. It got pretty severe for a while, but he started taking medicine and seeing a therapist. It took a while, but he turned a corner. I mean…there were days where he was like a different person altogether. Now, given whats happened, I cant help but wonder if he was faking it. But…

She stopped here and started to weep softly. She turned her head away, looking out the window as she tried to get herself under control.

Shes right, Pam said from the doorway. I saw it, too. He was like a changed man. If he was playing a part or just acting, he had everyone fooled.

He wasnt acting, Ellen said, now sounding quite confident. He was better. His doctor said so, the therapist discharged him, and he stopped going to the support group he sometimes attended. He was happy.

Another support group, Rachel thought. Little alarm bells started to chime in her head.

Did anything happen over the last few weeks or so that may have upset him? Jack asked.

Nothing here at home, Ellen said. If there was anything, like with work or friends, he never told me.

What did he do for work? Rachel asked.

He was a developmental programmer for a few different software companies. He worked some very long days every now and then, but it was always form home. And he loved his job, so the long days never bothered him. I dont think his reason for…for doing what he did stemmed from work.

You mentioned a support group, Rachel said. Would you happen to know the leader? Maybe the name of it?

Im not sure of the name. But the leader is a woman named Becky Height. She called to ask if she could do anything for me. Shes a real sweetheart from what I can tell.