The Turin Shroud Secret Read Online Free PDF

him earlier.’
    Now Nic gets the picture – a rich married man approaching the autumn of his life comes out of the closet. Probably, for his
     wife’s sake he agrees to maintain a veneer of heterosexual respectability for as long as possible. ‘Mr Jacobs, in a moment
     an officer from the New South Wales police will knock on your door and show you a photograph we’ve scanned and emailed to
     him. We need you to officially confirm it is your wife – do you understand?’
    ‘I do. Is there, then, a chance you could be wrong?’
    ‘We really don’t think so. The ID is more of a formality.’
    ‘Oh.’
    ‘I’m very sorry for your loss and for the fact that we have to do this. I’d also like the policeman to ask you a few questions,to see if you can help us find whoever was responsible for your wife’s death. Are you able to do that for us?’
    Your wife’s death.
The words stun Dylan Jacobs into silence. He and Tamara have been apart for some time but he can’t imagine never seeing her
     again. Never wondering about her. Never hoping she’s forgiven him and is having a good life without him.
    ‘Mr Jacobs, did you hear me?’
    He’s still struggling as he nods at the phone. ‘Yes,’ he manages finally, ‘I heard you.’ He places the receiver back on its
     cradle feeling hollow.
    His world has changed. His wife is dead. He is no longer a married man.

13
    SATURDAY MORNING
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA
    Eight a.m. and Nic rolls out of bed more tired than when he got in. He crashed in the early hours then woke four or five times.
     Insomnia has been habitual since Carolina and Max’s deaths. He turns on the TV as background noise – virtual company – and
     because his apartment is so small he can still listen in the shower.
    He’s towelling dry when his cell phone rings. Withoutlooking he knows it’s Mitzi. She’s the only one who ever calls at weekends and as it was too late last night to update her
     on his conversation with Jacobs. She’s probably itching for info.
    ‘Morning,’ he says, still rubbing his wet hair. ‘I’m fresh out the shower and was going to make coffee then call you.’
    ‘You mean I caught you naked? Lordy lordy. Please answer yes, even if it’s not true. You know how us married women need a
     little harmless fun.’
    ‘Butt naked and in all my athletic glory.’
    ‘Enough, now I’m having flushes. How’d it go with Jacobs?’
    He drops the towel and dresses with one hand as he talks. ‘Husband turns out to be gay and living with a partner half his
     age in Sydney, Australia.’
    ‘No way.’
    ‘Every way, by the sound of it. Aussie cops tell me he and his wife split several years back after he admitted to his homosexuality,
     but they never divorced.’
    ‘Why so?’
    ‘Bit vague. Dylan said Tamara didn’t want everyone laughing at her and as he always worked away a lot he just went along with
     the story that he was always travelling and working.’
    ‘But now he has a
home
in Australia?’
    ‘Yeah, and the South of France and Bali. He’s a property guy, sells top-end stuff to the rich and famous, gets a few bargains
     for himself along the way.’
    ‘Sweet deal.’
    ‘Cops in New South Wales were really helpful. I wired a photo that one of our CSIs recovered from Tamara’s house and Jacobs
     ID’d it as Tamara.’
    ‘Where was Mr Property Tycoon when she was killed?’
    ‘Sydney, where he’s been for the past month. His story checks out. He couldn’t have done it.’
    ‘No motive?’
    ‘Don’t think so. He gave us his lawyers’ details so we called them. Dylan Jacobs signed an agreement more than a year back
     giving his wife the LA property and dividing stocks, shares and savings. Seemed a strange but amicable affair.’
    The sound of teenage girls shouting at each other spills down the phone. ‘Keep it quiet!’ Mitzi with a hand over the receiver.
     ‘Don’t go annoying your father, he’s trying to sleep.’ She waits for them to shut up then speaks