“I’ll let you know when we’re done. Do you have a mortuary in mind?”

“Jeez, no, I don’t.” A pause. “I’ll call my brother and sister, and we’ll call you back when we’ve made a decision.”

“I’ll wait to hear from you,” Decker said.

“Keep me updated,” Marion said. “She was my sister, and even though we weren’t close, family is family.” Her voice had turned tearful. “Call any time.”

“Thank you.” Decker hung up.

McAdams said, “I’m already on Brook Baer.”

A moment later, the station’s phone rang. It was Cal Bruckner.

“Hello, sir, thank you for calling me back.”

His voice was deep. “No problem, Detective. What’s going on?”

“I’m going to put you on speaker so Detective Decker, my partner, can hear the conversation.” He pushed the button.

Decker said, “Hi, Mr. Bruckner, thanks for talking to us.”

“No problem.”

McAdams said, “We’re calling about your former wife, Pauline Corbett.”

“Pauline?” A sigh. “What’s she done this time?”

“I’m sorry to tell you this, especially over the phone, but she is deceased.”

“Deceased.” A pause. “You mean dead?”

“Yes, sir. We think she died about a month ago. Murdered.” Bruckner didn’t speak. Decker said, “When did you last have contact with her?”

“Years ago.”

“Two, three, four?”

“Last time I saw her was in court four years ago. And that was fine with me. Haven’t heard from her—except maybe two years ago, it was … She sent me a Christmas card. I don’t even know how she found my address. I can tell you one thing, though. My wife wasn’t too happy that my ex was still sending me a Christmas card.”

“How long have you been currently married?” McAdams asked.

“I married Rayette as soon as I divorced Pauline. It wasn’t what you think. I didn’t meet Rayette until after the marriage blew apart.”

Decker said, “Then the last time you had contact with your ex, other than a Christmas card, was when you both were in court four years ago.”

“That is the truth.”

“What did she say on the Christmas card?” Decker asked.

“Is that important?”

“I don’t know,” Decker said. “Is it?”

“I don’t know,” Cal said. “I think she said that she was happy but she missed me. That’s what pissed off the wife.” A pause. “I have no idea how she found me. I moved to Kenenntock so my wife could be with her family. It’s a small town. But that was Pauline. She was good with a computer. I’ll give her that.”

“How did you meet?” McAdams asked.