by Stuart Woods
“I had lunch with her,” Stone said.
“And what time did you leave her apartment?”
“Around four.”
“Then maybe you can tell us how the lady got dead.”
27
STONE STARED AT THE COP. “WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?”
“And you were the last person to see her alive,” the cop said.
“Tell me what has happened before you ask me another question,” Stone said.
The cop consulted his notebook. “A gentleman named Brandon arrived at the Watergate apartments at five P.M., and the doorman, as instructed by Ms. Hart, sent him straight up. No phone call was made. Mr. Brandon arrived on her floor, and when the elevator doors opened, he found Ms. Hart lying in the vestibule, wearing some sort of negligee, dead.”
“How was she killed?” Stone asked.
“It’s too soon for the ME’s report,” the cop said, “but from the looks of her, she was bludgeoned to death with a blunt instrument.”
“Time of death?”
“We don’t have that yet, but it happened sometime between when you arrived for lunch, a little after one P.M., and when Mr. Brandon arrived at five.”
Stone looked at his watch. “It’s five forty-five. How’d you get here so fast?”
“There’s a captain, a lieutenant, four detectives, and a crime-scene team on the spot. They didn’t need us, so we were sent over here as soon as we arrived.”
“How’d you know where to find me?”
“Are you kidding?” the cop asked. “Everybody in town knows about you two.”
“Yeah, I know,” Stone said. “It’s Washington.”
“Right.”
“All right, then,” Stone said, “I left at four. She died sometime between then and five. You’ve got a better window.”
“We’ve got a better window, if we buy your story.”
“He got here at four-fifteen,” Dino said. “I’m your witness, and the hotel staff can put me here since breakfast.”
The two cops looked at each other. “Okay,” Paulson said, “she died between four and five.”
“I take it there was a lot of blood,” Stone said. “Was it clotting yet?”
“It was slippery,” Paulson replied.
“Then closer to five than four.”
“Makes sense,” Paulson said. “The woman was wearing a negligee with a kind of robe over it.”
“It’s called a peignoir,” Stone said, then spelled it for him.
Paulson wrote it down. “Okay, if you say so. Is that what she was wearing when you last saw her?”
Stone took a breath to answer, then stopped.
“Let me make it easier for you,” Paulson said. “There’ll be a rape kit.”
“All right,” Stone said, “she was naked when I last saw her. She walked me to the elevator.”
Paulson made a note.
“But your rape kit won’t show anything from me, she was too fastidious a person. The fact that she was wearing the peignoir is an indication that she bathed or showered, then got dressed.”
“And why do you think she was fastidious?” Paulson asked.
“You’ll have to take my word for it,” Stone said.
“The word around town is that the lady has been receiving paying guests for some time,” Padgett said, speaking for the first time.
“I think that when you investigate further, you’ll find that the rumors about that are untrue, that she doesn’t need funds from men. She did tell me she had had a number of lovers since her husband’s death, and I knew about Brandon.”
“She tell you about him?”
“Dino and I left there yesterday, just as Brandon arrived.”
“That’s true,” Dino said.
“You know Brandon, do you?”
“Only by sight,” Stone said. “We spoke with his wife yesterday at their home, as part of our investigation. We saw him leave the house just before we arrived. Ms. Hart told me she had a weekly appointment with him, always on a different day.”
“So Brandon saw her both yesterday and today?” Padgett asked.
“So it seems.”
“That doesn’t sound like weekly to me.”
“No, it doesn’t. She didn’t explain the extra visit this week. I have to tell you, fellas, Brandon sounds like a better fit for this than me.”
“Maybe,” Padgett said, “but why would he see her weekly for months, then get off the elevator one day, bludgeon her to death, then call us?”
“He made the call?”
“From his cell phone. He waited for us in the lobby.”
“Then maybe he isn’t such a good fit,” Stone said.
“You got any other theories about who might have done this?” Padgett asked. “Anything she said to you ... at lunch give you any clues?”
Stone shook his head. “Nobody comes to mind from what she said. I don’t have a name for you.”
“You think this killing might somehow be related to your investigation?” Padgett asked.
“I don’t have any evidence to support that theory.”
“All right,” Padgett said, and the two cops stood up. He handed Stone a card. “If you think of anything, you know the drill.”
“I do,” Stone said. “And I’ll call.” He showed the cops out.
“Well,” Dino said, “you didn’t actually lie to them.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“But you do think the killing is related to our investigation?”
“I have that hunch,” Stone said. “I think somebody thought Milly might tell us something and wanted to shut her up. But, as I told the cops, I don’t have any evidence to support that.”
“You don’t have any evidence to support anything,” Dino said.
“Don’t rub it in.”
“Well, if it’s any consolation, I think your hunch is right, and I think your theory about a lover inside the White House is looking better, too.”
“Thank you, Dino.”
“Why don’t you make that call and set up the meeting with the maids who clean the family quarters?”
Stone picked up the phone and called Fair Sutherlin’s direct line.
“Ms. Sutherlin’s office, this is Charlotte Kirby,” a woman said.
“This is Stone Barrington, Ms. Kirby. Is Ms. Sutherlin available?”
“She’s got somebody in there at the moment,” the secretary said.
“Would you tell h
er that I’d be grateful if she would set up a meeting with the staff who clean the president’s family quarters?”
“Certainly, I will.”
“Tomorrow, perhaps?”
“I’ll tell her that, and I’ll probably be the one setting up the meeting. May I reach you at the Hay-Adams, Mr. Barrington?”
“Yes. And thank you, Ms. Kirby.”
“You’re very welcome, Mr. Barrington.” She hung up.
28
TODD BACON AND HIS TEAM MET, BY PREVIOUS ARRANGEMENT, in the parking lot at Langley, all seven of them.
“What’s going on, Todd?” his number two asked.
“I don’t know, and that’s the truth. What I suspect is that we’re being shut down and transferred. Certainly, there’s no reason to think we might be jettisoned. When the day is over, call my cell and leave a message. All I want from you is one of four words: one, ‘excellent’ means you got a better assignment; two, ‘satisfactory’ means it was a sideways move but acceptable; three, ‘unsatisfactory’ means a demotion but you’re still working here; four, ‘unacceptable’ means you got the ax or quit. I’ll respond when I can. Got it?”
There were positive mumbles and nods, and the group trooped to the front door and checked in with security. Todd was sent upstairs for his appointment with Holly Barker, while the others were told to take a seat and wait.
Todd took an elevator to the top floor and found her office. Her secretary wasn’t in yet, so he rapped on Holly’s door.
“Come in!” H
er voice was strong as ever.
Todd opened the door and stepped in. “Good morning.”
“Good morning. Take a seat.”
Todd sat and waited. She looked great in her business suit, he thought. If she hadn’t been his superior, he’d have hit on her a long time ago.
“I’ll give it to you without adornment,” Holly said. “The project you’ve been working on is discontinued. As you know, it was an off-the-books effort, so no records of any kind were kept of it. If you’ve made notes or kept any other materials, destroy them today, without exception. Neither you nor your former team members are ever again to speak of that effort, among yourselves or to any other person. Am I clear so far?”
“Perfectly clear,” Todd said, his heart sinking.
“I appreciate your written evaluations of your team members, which have already been burned, and I accept your conclusions. Therefore, each of them has had his records annotated positively and will be assigned to a new operation within thirty days, one which each will, no doubt, regard as an advancement.”
“Thank you for that, Holly,” Todd said. “I’m grateful to you.”
“Don’t be grateful too soon,” Holly said. “I’m not finished.”
Todd took a deep breath and let it out.
“Those above you have concluded that you are an able and resourceful officer who has had a run of bad luck. They have also concluded that your talents would be best used in other than an operational position.”
He was being demoted, that was clear; all that remained was to learn if it was bad enough that they would expect him to resign.
“The deputy director has had a long conversation about you with Ed Freely, the deputy director for Technical Services.”
Todd frowned and his pulse increased; this, he had not expected. Were they going to bury him in the basement of the Agency forever?
“Both Lance and Ed believe you have the technical skills and personal qualities to be a success in Tech Services. This is Ed’s offer: he will assign you as a tech supervisor, meaning you will oversee tech specialists who are equipping operatives for foreign assignments. He feels that you can both learn from your specialists and teach them, given your operational background.
“You will be evaluated after a year or so in this assignment, and you will either continue in that position, if Ed feels you need further experience, or, if he feels you are ready, be promoted to assistant deputy director for Technical Services.
“Personally,” Holly said, “I think you have what it takes to succeed Ed as deputy director, in time, and he is due for retirement in six years. That’s it, Todd. Give me your thoughts.”
Todd’s thoughts were that he had been handed a great gift. He had always worried about being killed or crippled on an operation, or failing abjectly. What Holly was offering was an opportunity for long-term success in the Agency. “Again, I want to thank you for your treatment of my team,” he said.
“You’re welcome.”
“I think your offer to me is a better than fair one, and I am very pleased to accept it.”
Holly smiled and stood up. “Ed Freely is waiting for my call now,” she said. “I’ll tell him you’re on your way downstairs.” She held out a hand.
Todd shook it. “Please thank Lance, too, for his recommendation.”
“I’ll do that,’ground.” Holly said. “Good luck down there, I know you’ll do well.”
Todd left her office, breathing deeply and sagging with relief. As he waited for the elevator, only one thing nagged at him: Teddy Fay was still out there, and now he would have no way to stop him.
HOLLY WENT INTO LANCE’S office and sat down.
“How’d he take it?” Lance asked.
“He seemed genuinely pleased,” she replied, “not to mention relieved. He was very happy about the fate of his team, and he asked me to thank you for his new opportunity.”
“I think it’s a good fit for him.”
“So do I.”
“I suspect that young Todd is relieved to be out of harm’s way,” Lance said. “He has always exhibited the kind of bravado that usually covers insecurity.”
“I think most operational agents have insecurities,” Holly said.
“Don’t confuse anxiety, which is useful for keeping one on one’s toes, with insecurity, which has a large element of fear and foreboding.”
“A good point,” Holly conceded. “Something else has always bothered me about Todd,” she said.
“And what would that be?”
“He lacks charm, and I think that is an essential quality in an agent, who is constantly trying to recruit sources.”
“That’s an astute observation, Holly,” Lance said. “It’s the sort of thing I’ve come to expect from you, and reaffirms my assessment of your executive skills.”
“Thank you, Lance. I know you’d rather not hear his name spoken, but could I get you to speculate for a moment about what might have happened if we had not come to terms with Teddy Fay, and he had continued his existence as a thorn in our flesh?”
“You’re right, Holly, hearing his name is probably going to give me a rash in an uncomfortable place, but I will answer your question. It’s perfectly clear that Mr. Fay is a brilliant man, one whom I would prefer to have leading my most difficult operation than out in the wild, making trouble—in Lyndon Johnson’s words, ‘inside the tent, pissing out, rather than outside, pissing in.’ As to what could have happened if we had not agreed to stand down: well, it could have resulted in a series of minor but vexing incidents, but more likely it would have been big and very noticeable events that would have ended in the destruction of Kate Lee’s career, not to mention yours and mine, and the ruining of a fine president’s reputation. Is that what you wanted to know?”
“Yes,” Holly replied, “and I entirely agree.” She got to her feet. “I think I can go back to work now and get some things done.”
“You do that,” Lance said, then turned to his computer and began to
type. “Oh,” he said, looking up, “what’s happening with Stone and Dino’s investigation?”
“I saw them last night,” she said. “They have a lead, but if this one doesn’t pan out, their investigation will probably end there.”
“They think the FBI report is correct, then?”
“I think this new wrinkle is their last chance of proving it wrong.”
“Keep me posted.” Lance turned back to his computer, and Holly went back to her own office. owv>
29
TODD BACON WAS ESCORTED TO THE OFFICE OF EDWARD FREELY, deputy director for Technical Services, and Freely stood up to greet him. “Good to see you again, Todd,” he said. “When was the last time? When we equipped you for Panama?”
“That’s right, Ed, not since then.”
Ed waved him to a chair. “I take it Holly Barker gave you the overview of what you’re to do here?”
“She did, and I’m grateful for the opportunity and looking forward to the work.”
“Well, there’s plenty of it to go around. I’ve got a tech supervisor, Tank Wheeler, who’s retiring next month, and I had been having difficulty promoting from within, when Lance brought you to my attention. I’ve given you a small office next to Tank’s, and I’d like you to work with him until his thirty years is up. He’s involved in the equipping of three operations at the moment, and there’ll never be a better time for you to plunge in. After Tank’s retirement party, which should be a doozy, we’ll restore his office to a semblance of repair and order, and you can move into it. I’ve been told that you’ve got thirty days off coming, but I’d be grateful if you’d spend that with Tank and take the time later.”
“That’s fine with me, Ed.”
Ed looked up. “Here’s Tank now.”
Todd stood up and shook hands with the very large man whom he had met only once before, at the beginning of his Panama mission.
“It’s good to see you in Tech Services, Todd,” Tank said. “You’re go
ing to have a good time here, I can tell you that.”
“I know I will, Tank.” Then they all sat down, and Tank gave him an overview of what they were doing for the three pending operations.
A LITTLE BEFORE SEVEN that evening, Todd left the building and walked to his car. There was a note on the windshield: Never mind the phone calls, meet us at J.Paul’s as soon as you can.
Todd got into his rental car and drove away from the Agency. He was going to need a new car, and he was thinking Porsche. The promotion would make it easy to handle the payments, and he could drive it for a long time.
He found the pub in Foggy Bottom, and when he walked into the place, a reproduction of an old saloon, there was a shout from a big table at the rear. They were all there, and somebody handed him a double of his favorite scotch as he sat down.
“We’re alive!” his number two said. “All of us. Great assignments, though we’re not supposed to tell you or anyone else what we’re doing.”
“Then don’t,” Todd said, “but I’ll see you all again anyway, when you come to Tech Services for your gear.” He took a huge swig of his drink.
“You got Tech Services?” number two asked. “That’s cushy work—interesting, too.”
“Not as interesting as what you’re all going to be doing,” Todd said, “but I’ll never have to pull a stakeout on a cold night again, or save one of your asses from something dire.”
“I’ll drink to that,” someone said, and they all did.
“And we’ll never have to worry about what’s-his-name again,” Todd said, owv>n’t“and by the way, that name is never again to be mentioned by any of us, not even to each other. Everybody got that?”
There were grumbles and nods.
“That’s the way the cookie crumbles,” said number two.
“The cookie doesn’t exist,” Todd said. “Not anymore.” He tossed off the rest of his scotch. “Now, who do I have to fuck around here to get another drink?”