He’d go to prison, and she’d lose him. Nadia couldn’t bear
that. Nor could she face what might happen to OTIOSE,
which was her real home. Don’t make the same mistake as
Nadia did, Ava. Find a life—a
the chance.”
Ava was still staring at the carpet. “I have no family here.
Everyone is in Samoa. But I have some friends outside the
company. Maybe I could start to…” Her voice trailed off.
“We need your help,” Judith said abruptly. “We have to
trap Frank.”
Ava’s head jerked up. “What are you saying? There’s no
evidence? I thought you had…”
Judith slowly shook her head. “We have next to nothing.
These were virtually bloodless crimes. There will be fingerprints, yes, but not just Frank’s. We’ve all been in and out
of the guest rooms, either in groups or as individuals. For
all we know, Frank wore gloves. There may have been a
struggle with Ward—I suspect there was. We found a Bell
System service pin on the floor in his room, which may have
come loose when he tried to fight Frank off. But that doesn’t
prove anything. None of it does. All of his victims trusted
him—he was the boss. I imagine Andrea drank whatever
Frank gave her without a qualm. No doubt he told her it
would be good for her. Whatever Frank said was law. It’s
the way you corporate people think.”
“Good Lord.” Ava took another sip of juice, then rose from
the chair. “What do you want me to do?”
“First,” Judith said, also standing up, “we’re going to call
the park service. Their law enforcement personnel have jurisdiction at Mountain Goat. Then we’re going to restage
that little scene with you and Frank in the conference room.
Are you game?”
Ava grasped her throat. “I…I don’t know. It was terrifying
at the time. Just now, before you stopped me, I was about
to…But I really…” She lowered her face into her hands and
began to sob.
Judith bit her lip. Ava, like the rest of the OTIOSE executives, had been stripped of all surface emotions. The weekend
had pared them down to the bone. Judith saw the bruises
on Ava’s throat, and understood how deeply the young woman had been wounded.
“Never mind,” Judith said. “I’ll do it.”
“Whoa!” Renie grabbed her cousin by the arm. “Don’t
you dare! It’s not your fight!”
“Yes, it is,” Judith said grimly. “I threw down the gauntlet.
Let’s go.”
Renie was still arguing when the three women reached the
kitchen. Judith, however, had made up her mind. “I know,
I know. It’s a dirty job, but someone’s…”
“Why you?” Renie demanded. “What about me? I’ve got
the corporate connection. Let me stick my neck out for once.
